- Getting started
- Importing footage using Adobe Bridge
- Creating a new composition
- Working with imported Illustrator layers
- Applying effects to a layer
- Applying an animation preset
- Precomposing layers for a new animation
- Previewing the effects
- Adding transparency
- Rendering the composition
- Review questions
- Review answers
Applying effects to a layer
Now you’ll return to the main composition, Explore Hawaii, and apply an effect to the BlueCrabLogo layer. This will apply the effect to all of the layers nested in the BlueCrabLogo composition.
Click the Explore Hawaii tab in the Timeline panel, and then select the BlueCrabLogo layer.
The effect you create next will be applied only to the logo elements, not to the background image.
Choose Effect > Perspective > Drop Shadow.
A soft-edged shadow appears behind the nested layers of the BlueCrabLogo layer—the logo graphic and the words Explore Hawaii—in the Composition panel. You can customize the effect using the Effect Controls panel, which appears in front of the Project panel when you apply an effect.
In the Effect Controls panel, make sure that the drop shadow’s Distance is 5, and increase its Softness to 4. You can set each value by clicking the field and typing the number or by dragging the blue value.
The drop shadow is nice, but the logo will stand out even more if you apply an emboss effect. You can use either the Effect menu or the Effects & Presets panel to locate and apply effects.
4. Click the Effects & Presets tab to open the panel. Then click the arrow next to Stylize to expand the category.
5. With the BlueCrabLogo layer selected in the Timeline panel, drag the Color Emboss effect into the Composition panel.
The Color Emboss effect sharpens the edges of objects in the layer without suppressing the original colors. The Effect Controls panel displays the Color Emboss effect and its settings below the Drop Shadow effect.
6. Choose File > Save to save your work.