What It Does
LightMan simplifies light placement in After Effects’ 3D environment by letting you look through a light as if it were a camera. Instead of guessing where a light points, you position it using the same Unified Camera Tool you already know, then confirm with a single button click.
How It Works
Click one of four light type buttons (Point, Spot, Parallel, or Ambient) to create a light. After Effects switches to a view through that light. Use the Unified Camera Tool to position and aim it exactly where you want. A compact inspector window provides quick access to common properties without hunting through the timeline.
The Light Properties Inspector gives you direct control over Intensity, Cast Shadows, and a Solo mode that shows only that light’s contribution. For Spot Lights, Show Cone Angle displays a visual guide in the viewer. Once positioned, click SET LIGHT POSITION to confirm and close the inspector.
Who It’s For
Useful for anyone working with After Effects’ native 3D layers, particularly title animations and simple 3D composites where precise light placement matters. Saves time compared to the standard workflow of creating a light, guessing at position values, scrubbing the timeline, and adjusting parameters in the Effect Controls panel.
Current Version
Version 1.0 (released January 2015) lacks features like changing light color. The developer welcomes feedback and feature requests. Compatible with After Effects CS6 through CC 2015.3.
Pricing
Pay-what-you-want model with a suggested minimum of $14.99. Individual users can choose their price; commercial teams are expected to pay the suggested amount for a valid license.