Do one of the following:

• To create a new light, press Shift-Option-Command-L (Mac) or Shift-Alt-Ctrl-L (Windows).
  
  
• To modify a light in the composition, double-click the name of the Light you want to modify in the layer outline of the Timeline window.
  
  

The Light Settings dialog box appears (Figure 14.59).

Figure 14.59. In the Light Settings dialog box, specify the settings available for the type of light you're using.

In the Light Settings dialog box, specify the following options:

Intensity— Adjust this value to set the brightness of light. Negative values create nonlight—that is, they subtract color from an already illuminated layer, in effect shining darkness onto a layer.

Cone Angle— Adjust this value to set the angle of the cone used to restrict a Spot type of light. Wider cone angles emit a broader span of light; smaller angles restrict the light to a narrower area (Figure 14.60).

Figure 14.60. Both spot lights are the same intensity and distance from the layer. The light on the left uses a 45-degree cone angle; the light on the right uses a 90-degree cone angle.

Cone Feather— Adjust this value to set the softness of the edges of a Spot type of light. Larger values create a softer light edge (Figure 14.61).

Figure 14.61. Both spot lights here are identical, except the light on the left uses a Cone Feather setting of 25 while the light on the right uses a Cone Feather setting of 50.

Color— Use the color swatch or eyedropper controls to select the light's color—comparable to placing a colored gel over a light.

Casts Shadows— Check this option to make the light cast shadows onto layers with the Accepts Shadows property selected.

See “Using 3D Material Options” earlier in this chapter for more information.

Shadow Darkness— Adjust this value to set the darkness level of shadows cast by the light. This option is only available when the light's Casts Shadows option is enabled.

Shadow Diffusion— Adjust this value to set the softness of shadows, based on the apparent distance between the light and the layers casting shadows made by the light. Larger values create softer shadows. This option is only available when the light's Casts Shadows option is enabled.