Gobos

Dappled Shadows from Nature Gobos

Nature gobos: patterns of trees and foliage that break up flat light with shadow. Lay one over a plain wall or interview backdrop for a late-afternoon feel, or use it as a projected pattern on set or in 3D. More leaf shadows are in the plants set extensions.

Category information

Shadow or light?

Gobos download as transparent PNGs, and you can use them two ways.

As shadow: set the layer to Multiply, or use it as a matte on a darkening adjustment, so the wall's texture stays visible.
As light: use it as an inverted matte on a warm color layer set to Screen (in After Effects, the timeline's Mode column), so sunlight falls through the gaps.

Category help

How to cast gobo shadows

Distort the pattern onto each plane it crosses. Where a wall meets the floor, split it into two layers so the shadow bends at the corner.
Let it fall across your subject too, masked to their shape, so they share the wall's light.
Animate a slow drift or sway for leaves in a breeze, and add light rays with the free Easy Godrays plugin.
In Blender, put the PNG on a plane, with its alpha connected, between a light and your set, and the render casts the shadow. A warm flare completes the low-sun look.

Gobo Light and Shadow Patterns

Gobo patterns as transparent PNGs: nature shadows of trees and foliage to cast dappled light across walls, floors, actors and 3D sets.

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