Light Layer not showing any preview

[TC5]

When creating a Point Light layer (or any other light layer) I'm not seeing any preview of the effect. I'm only seeing the green and red arrows. Adjusting any light parameters shows nothing. I assume the light effect should be visible in preview by default? What's missing?

[Andrew Yoole]

Lights don't create any content of their own, they react with 3D layers in your composition. Do you have 3D layers in your composition that are oriented toward the light source?  Is the camera positioned appropriately to see the layers that are being lit?

[TC5]

[TC5]

Thanks for your message. I saw from a video that a light layer previews as defaulf when created and affects non 3d layers as well? I have no 3d object but a Fractal noise animation in the background. 

[Andrew Yoole]

Not sure about the video you watched, but it's wrong.  2D layers are not affected by lights in any way.  (The only 2D layers that react to lights are those that do 3D simulations, such as Videocopilot's Element 3D, Trapcode Lux, Trapcode Particular etc.)  After Effect's 2D and 3D rendering are effectively different worlds sandwiched together: nothing in the 2D world interacts with the 3D world.

 However, the hierarchy of your layers may also cause problems.  2D layers in the layer stack between two or more 3D layers can cause the 3D layers to be separated into different 3D "worlds" so they no longer interact.  It's as if the 3D layers below the 2D layer have a wall keeping them out of the world aove the 2D layer.  Lights and cameras work across the wall, but the 3D layers won't intersect.

I can't see from your screengrab if any of your layers are 3D as you have the indicators hidden, but I presume you do not.  Try switching all your layers to 3D and create a Spot Light at 100% Intensity.  This should give you a clear idea of whether the light is working.  At least then you'll get a sense of what the light can do for your underlying animation.

[TC5]

Thanks for your help!

I found the controls to make a layer 3D. I made the fractal noise background layer 3d, and this screws up my Kaleidoscope effect, and also the light layer applied now just result in a full black screen regardless of the position of the layer in the stack. I tried turning all layers 3D but some of my adjustment layers need to stay 2d according to the alert when trying to turn them 3d. Incredibly messy business for something that should be relatively straight forward to accomplish.

[TC5]

As I will export this project to Premiere, it looks like a spotlight effect will be much easier to apply there instead.