What It Does
Dynamic Shadow 3 generates realistic shadows and lighting effects for layers in After Effects. The plugin automatically adjusts shadow angles based on layer positioning to simulate natural sunlight. Select multiple layers, choose a shadow or light style, and the plugin handles the directional calculations.
Key Features
Visual Shadow engine. Applies shadows and light reflections to selected layers with automatic angle adjustment. The plugin simulates sunlight by calculating directional shadows based on where layers sit in your composition. You can preview styles before applying them.
19 shadow styles and 12 light styles. Each style offers different shadow and lighting treatments. All styles include adjustable parameters for shadows, lights, and reflections. The variety covers everything from soft ambient shadows to sharp directional ones.
3D Shadow mode. Creates directional 3D shadows from any shape layer. This mode generates basic shadow effects with fundamental reflection options. Settings remain flexible for customizing shadow direction, intensity, and reflection properties.
The plugin is useful for title animations, motion graphics work where depth matters, and compositing scenes where lighting consistency across multiple layers saves time. The angle automation helps when repositioning layers, you don’t manually recalculate shadow directions.
Who It’s For
Motion designers working with layered compositions where lighting sells the depth. Useful if you’re building title sequences, logo animations, or graphic elements that need consistent shadowing across multiple objects. Also practical for compositors adding shadows to text or shape layers without manually animating every shadow angle.
Pricing
Dynamic Shadow 3 costs $32.75 for a single-user license. The developer offers upgrade pricing: $4 if you purchased Dynamic Shadow 2 after July 1, 2024, or $17 for earlier Dynamic Shadow 2 purchases. Dynamic Shadow 1 licenses are not eligible for upgrades. A trial version is available through the aescripts download page.