Trapcode Particular

Shadowlets

This set of parameters provides a soft, self-shadowing for the particle volume. Shadowlets create a shadow off the main light and work as a sort of projected shadow. This is a volumetric, cone-shaded simulation of the shadow from the light's perspective.

Why a Shadowlet?
Let's say your composition has a lot of particles. Realistically, the center of that particle cluster would be obscured by all of the particles around them. You will want the clustered mass in the center to not be so brightly reflected. Shadowlet takes care of this issue, and adds to the believability of the scene.

How it works.
If you move a composition Light across the Comp Window, you'll see that the shadow it creates reacts to the Shadowlet input. If you rotate the comp to look from behind or at another angle, you'll see the Shadowlet stays in its central location but its shading shifts with the angle.

Shadowlet Settings

Emitter > Light Naming: (Primary only)

Light Naming brings up a dialogue to specify name(s) of lights to be utilized by Particular for either Light Emitters or Shadowlets.

Click Choose Names… , then enter the name for your light in the Shadowlet Light Name : field. Using the same name as a Light in your composition will show Particular which light to use to control the location of the Shadowlets.

By default, this Light Name is named 'Shadow'. But the Light Name can be changed to anything as long as the Light's layer name matches.

Match Particle Shape

Dictates whether the Shadowlets within the emitter match the particle shape. This setting is enabled by default, but can be disabled either out of preference, or to have older presets/compositions match a look they may have previously had.

Softness

Controls the feathering along the edge of the Shadowlets.

Shadowlet Color

Controls the color of the Shadowlet. Should typically be a dark color that corresponds to the darker parts of the scene. Color lets you choose a color that makes the Shadowlet shading more believable.

Color Strength

Color Strength sets how the Shadowlet Color is blended with the original color of the particle. Set to 100 by default, which gives full coverage. Lower values make the Color less blended.

Shadowlet Opacity

Sets the opacity of the Shadowlet, which controls how strong the shading is. Default value is 5. Opacity should typically have a low setting, somewhere between 1 and 10.

You can increase the value to crank up the opacity of the shading. In some cases higher values can work, for example, if particles are very spread apart. But in most cases, particles will be pretty densely packed and if so, a low value should be used so the shadow does not appear too dense.

Adjust Size

Adjust Size affects the size of the Shadowlet shadow. Default value is 100. High values give more coverage. Lower values create a smaller shadow.

Left to right, Adjust Size is low and high.

Adjust Distance

Adjust Distance is the distance the Shadowlet moves from the direction of the Shadow Light. Set to 100 by default. Lower values place the Shadowlet closer to the Light and therefore the shadow cast is stronger. Higher values move the Shadowlet farther away from the Light source and the cast is lighter.

It is useful to set Distance to 0 initially if you have multiple Lights and you don't know which one to set as the main shadow-casting light.

Left to right, Adjust Distance set low and high.

Placement

Placement controls where the Shadowlet is positioned in 3D space.

• Auto : The default option, which lets Particular decide the best position setting.
• Project : Positions the Shadowlet at a depth that depends on where the Shadow Light is.
• Always behind : Positions the Shadowlet behind the particle. This setting is useful if the Auto setting causes unwanted flickering.
• Always in front : Positions the Shadowlet in front of the particle. This setting is also useful if the Auto setting causes unwanted flickering. Since the shadow is always in front, it can give an interesting sense of depth to the particles.