Perspective effects

Last updated on Jun 23, 2025

Explore the Basic 3D effect for manipulating clips in 3D space and the Drop Shadow effect for adding realistic shadows behind clips.

Perspective effect

Description

Basic 3D

This effect lets you rotate and move clips in 3D space, adjusting them around horizontal and vertical axes, and bringing them closer or further away.

You can also add a specular highlight, simulating light reflecting off a rotated surface. The light source for this highlight is always positioned overhead, behind, and to the viewer's left, so the image needs to be tilted backward to see the reflection. These highlights can make the 3D effect look more realistic. 

Drop Shadow

This effect adds a shadow that appears behind the clip. The alpha channel of the clip determines the shape of the drop shadow.

When you add a drop shadow to a clip, a soft-edged outline of its alpha channel appears behind it, as if a shadow is cast on the background or underlying objects.

Unlike most other effects, Drop Shadow can create a shadow outside the bounds of the clip (the dimensions of the clip’s source).

To render the shadow without the image, select Shadow Only.