Add Layer Style in Adobe After Effects

3 Parts:

Instructions

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Adding a layer style in your Adobe After Effects shape objects and text is really important. This will make your presentation look more attractive and not boring to the eyes of your viewers. You can actually add any effects to your shape objects or text by adding a layer style. Well, in this article I will show you on how to add some layer styles like drop down shadows, inner shadows, glows, reveal and emboss, overlays and strokes. These layer styles will enhance your text and shape objects to make them more impressive.

1. 1
   Drop Down Shadow

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   First, go to Adobe After Effects > Create a Composition > Add a Text. The next instructions can be found in the screenshot illustrations below. You can see the difference between the original and the new with the text drop down layer.

   

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2. 2
   Inner Shadows

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   We will go over how to apply a layer style to your text or shape object layer. Now let's talk about the inner shadow. Again, go to Create a composition > Add a Text or shape object. Right-click your text or object layer, and follow the same instructions in applying a drop down shadows. Click on "Inner Shadows." You can see a three-dimensional shadow attached to your text or shape object. Note: You can change the color, opacity angle and distance of your shadows. See screenshots below to see the difference.

   

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3. 3
   Glow

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   Let's go to another layer style Glow. Go again to Create a composition > Add a Text or any shape object. There are two types of Glow -- the outer and inner glow. Right-click your layer that you wanted to add a glow layer. Choose the layer styles and hit the inner or outer glow. As you can see, the rendered glow to your text or shape object layer are not glowing very brightly. You can adjust it by going to your layer styles panel and hitting glow to make it brighter. See the screenshots below and follow the instructions.

   

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4. 4
   Emboss

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   This is a very useful layer effect, especially in creating your slideshow presentation. Now go to again to Create a composition > Add a Text or shape object layer. Right-click your layer and follow the same procedure to your previous layer styles. See screenshots below and notice the differences.

   

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5. 5
   Overlays and Stroke

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   This can be done by applying the same instructions given in any of your layer styles (Create a composition > Add a Text or shape object layer). You can adjust any settings like your opacity, gradient, color angle and distance by following the screenshots below.

   

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How to add drop shadow/border around text in After Effects?

White text lower thirds need a border around only the text to stand out against white shirts/backgrounds. I have tried: Nothing. I think it was caused by: Nothing

1. 1
   Click the selection tool and select the text by clicking it if it has not been selected automatically.

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2. 2
   In the menu at the top of the Adobe After Effects window, click "Effect".

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3. 3
   Select "Perspective".

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4. 4
   Click "Drop Shadow"

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   A window will pop up.

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5. 5
   Edit the parameters as required

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   You can edit

   • "Shadow Color";
   • "Opacity";
   • "Direction";
   • "Distance";
   • "Softness";
   • "Shadow Only". Enable it to see how the shadow looks.

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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