Shadow Caster
is a script for After Effects that adds natural shadows and lighting to any layer. It's easy to customize, fast to render, and can even be dynamically controlled by another layer's position.
Natural shadows in After Effects
Subscribe to my mailing list to download for free.
You can unsubscribe at any time. I promise not to spam you.
Already have an account? Log in to download
Panel Controls
- Apply Shadow Caster: Adds shadows to selected layers. Shift + Click to select SC layers. Alt + Click to remove from selected layers, or all layers if none are selected.
- Global Controls: Creates and links selected/all SC layers to a global controller null object.
- Light Source: Creates a visible light layer with custom controls. Automatically parents to the global controller if it exists.
- + / - Shadow Samples: Increases or decreases the number of shadow samples for the selected (or all) SC layers.
- Push To / Pull From Global: Transfers all SC properties from selected layer to the Global Controller, or from the Global Controller to selected/all SC layers.
Shadow Caster Controls
- Global Control Layer: Choose which layer acts as the global override controller.
- Color: Color of the shadow.
- Opacity: Opacity of the shadow.
- Direction: Direction of the shadow.
- Distance: Length of the shadow.
- Softness: Uniform softness of the shadow.
- Falloff: Falloff strength of the shadow.
- Spread: Variable softness of the shadow based on the distance from the layer.
- Distance Offset (Global Only): Length of the shadow when using a global controller.
- Enable Bevel: Bevel visibility.
- Bevel Color: Color of the bevel highlight.
- Bevel Thickness: Thickness of the bevel.
- Bevel Intensity: Brightness of the bevel.
Global Controls
These controls override all layers with a global control layer selected.
- Use As Light Source: Dynamically control shadows based on their proximity to this layer.
- Color: Color of the shadows.
- Opacity: Opacity of the shadows.
- Direction: Direction of the shadows.
- Distance: Length of the shadows.
- Softness: Uniform softness of the shadows.
- Falloff: Falloff strength of the shadows.
- Spread: Variable softness of the shadows based on the distance from the layer.
- Distance Offset: Length of the shadows when using a global controller.
- Bevel Color: Color of the bevel highlight.
- Bevel Thickness: Thickness of the bevel.
- Bevel Intensity: Brightness of the bevel.
Light Source
This layer will automatically move to its parent layer's location.
- Color: Color of the light.
- Size: Size of the light.
- Opacity: Opacity of the light.
Installation
- Download the script from your Jake In Motion account
- Place the
Shadow Caster.jsxfile in your After Effects Scripts folder:- Windows: \
Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects #version#\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels\ - Mac:
/Applications/After Effects #version#/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels/
- Windows: \
- Restart After Effects
- Find Shadow Caster in Window > Scripts > Shadow Caster
Changelog
Shadow Caster Script - 1.0.0
Released: 2026-2-11
Complete rebuild as a ScriptUI panel:
- Apply/Remove Shadow Caster from the ScriptUI Panel
- Increase/Decrease shadow samples
- Push/pull between local and global control values
- KBar toolbar included
Shadow Caster Presets - 1.0.0
Released: 2024-2-13
Initial Release