Volumetric Lights

Posted on 06. Apr, 2007 by Jerzy Drozda Jr in After Effects

Learn how to create volumetric lights without using external plugins. Enhance the “look and feel” of your projects by lightening them a bit.

Volumetric lights are very simple way to add mood to your projects. Light going through the clouds, through the window, through the water surface, or whatever really. It makes a whole difference.

After watching this tutorial you will know how to create simple volumetric lights without using any 3rd-party plugins. Just match your volume lights with your footage, apply some blending modes, maybe even colorize the lights a little bit, and you’ll achieve next level of quality. You must try this one out.

Download: Tutorial project file (After Effects CS2)

Tags: light, Tutorials

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

28 Responses to “Volumetric Lights”

Sander Joon

08. Apr, 2007

Hi,

Very useful tutorial for making underwater scenes.

Thanks!

Reply to this comment
Andrew

10. Apr, 2007

Cool Vid,
Andrew Kramer
VC

Reply to this comment
Serge Hamad

17. Apr, 2007

Yeah, very cool vid

Reply to this comment
Bill Oneal

17. Apr, 2007

Yeah, you right Serge,it`s cool

Reply to this comment
Dave

17. May, 2007

I’m using AE 5.5 Pro Bundle and do not have CC Fast Radial Blur effect. Is there a way to do this without that effect?

Reply to this comment
Maltaannon

01. Jun, 2007

yes. you may try using traditional radial blur effect, and probably some blending modes

Reply to this comment
antek cryst

02. Aug, 2007

świetne!
W końcu ktoś w polszy robi tutki do AE.
Pozdrawiam

Reply to this comment
george

14. Aug, 2007

Very nice! And hey! When Andrew Kramer said for some tutorial and some work that is cool – it’s something! Keep on with your nice work!
I have proposal for every one visitor of this site, and for the owner of course. Lets talk about hardware needed for work with graphic. I’m working on TV for 12 years and didn’t yet found ‘the right one’ configuration. Every time there is ’something that could be better’ and/or is not working the best way with some other thing in that box called PC. Interested?

Reply to this comment
ftown

21. Aug, 2007

it would be cool if you could put a fractal effect on the light beams themselves, and then animate those fractals. It would add another layer of complexity and really see the shot. maybe project them by using a gobo on front of another light? great vid by the way, thanks for sharing the info.

Reply to this comment
Craig T

13. Sep, 2007

Great tutorial, I have used this at work many times since I first visited your website. I look forward to seeing more froom you. I’ll be back for more!

Regards, Craig

Reply to this comment
Tobias

22. Oct, 2007

Realy neat effect!

Reply to this comment
Vinh

15. Feb, 2008

It looks like background video on Window Vista…really cool !

Reply to this comment
Richard

28. Apr, 2008

Nice

Reply to this comment
Shavkat

25. Jul, 2008

Prety nice Tut Well Done
I’m from Uzbekistan

Reply to this comment
Hafeez

01. Aug, 2008

Hi, Lovely tip and a great effect. I was wondering if the time emitting can fall on some Text or another layer and act like a light effect. Possible?

Reply to this comment
imon

19. Aug, 2008

Hi, thanks for the very useful tutorial. I’m having some trouble trying to modify the angle of the rays. I want them to be more vertical as if the light source was higher up, but somehow I just can’t make it work. Any ideas?

Reply to this comment
Maltaannon

19. Aug, 2008

yes. if you’re using CC Radial Fast Blur than you need to make your comp bigger, because the source point can’t read pixels if it’s outside the comp. As an alternative solution you can use Trapcode Shine instead.

Reply to this comment
sliman (arab)

16. Nov, 2009

very good

thank you maltaannon

Reply to this comment
sliman

16. Nov, 2009

i have cs3 ?

Download: Tutorial project file (After Effects (((CS2))) !!!

Reply to this comment
Rob

02. Dec, 2009

Hey, great tutorial!

I was wondering.. when you say in this tutorial you cant use the background as its a volume light.. Im just trying to apply this over a painted background. How would i go about this.

Sorry im just trying to get used to this stuff

Reply to this comment
- Jerzy Drozda Jr
  
  02. Dec, 2009
  
  You just need to close the Light itself in it’s own comp. In this tutorial I’d grab the first two layers and precompose them. Then I could turn the BG on.
  
  Reply to this comment
джaн

05. Jan, 2010

Только вчера на эту тему думал, так что пост определенно в тему!

Reply to this comment
ranz

09. Feb, 2010

i wanna marry u..u r awesome after effect teacher..

Reply to this comment
- Jerzy Drozda Jr
  
  09. Feb, 2010
  
  I hope you’re a hot chick with green eyes. :)
  
  Reply to this comment
valga tamizhan

09. Feb, 2010

unngal ‘tutorial’ migavum nalla irukirathu..nandri..vanakkam

ninggal enna pada eyakunar ah????

Reply to this comment
alpaproductions

08. Jul, 2010

Very useful. WOW!!
Thank you very much!

Reply to this comment
wholesale mlb jerseys

19. Jul, 2010

Thank you for your sharing.I’m very interested in wholesale mlb jerseys.There are so many famouse mlb stars jerseys,we have New York Yankees Derek Jeter Jersey.So I an fascinated to the Philadelphia Phillies Chase Utley Jersey,no matter any one of mlb stars juse like Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer Jersey and Boston RedSox Dustin Pedroia Jersey,which are my best witness as the St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols Jersey fans!

Reply to this comment
Chris Vinson

21. Aug, 2010

Really nice, and easy too. Thanks so much for sharing.

Reply to this comment