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How to add drop shadow in After Effects

Shadow gives depth and makes objects pop off the background — it’s the simplest way to add dimension.

Steps to add drop shadow

Select a layer and go to Effect → Perspective → Drop Shadow.

Applying Drop Shadow from Effect Perspective Drop Shadow menu in After Effects

Adjust Color, Distance, Softness, and Opacity until it looks natural for your scene.

Adjusting Drop Shadow color distance softness and opacity in After Effects Effect Controls panel

Reposition Direction to match your scene’s light source so the shadow falls the right way.

Changing Drop Shadow direction in After Effects to match scene lighting

One more thing

Duplicate the shadow effect for layered, realistic depth — one soft shadow behind a sharper one creates much more believable dimension.

Related how-tos

How to make glowing text in After Effects
How to create a blur effect in After Effects
How to add stroke around text in After Effects

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