How to Remove Shadows from Live Footage in After Effects

Introduction

Shadows in video footage can sometimes be distracting or interfere with the visual clarity of your scene. Fortunately, Adobe After Effects provides powerful tools like Content-Aware Fill to remove unwanted shadows cleanly. In this guide, you’ll learn how to eliminate shadows from live-action clips using masking or the Roto Brush Tool.

Step 1: Choose Your Shadow Removal Method

If you’re working with live-action footage, you’ll need to remove the shadow from the actual video content.

Use the Pen Tool (G) to draw a mask around a static shadow.
Or, if the subject is moving, use the Roto Brush Tool (Alt/Option + W) to isolate the foreground while excluding the shadow. After defining the selection, press Freeze to lock the roto.Step 2: Mask the Shadow

Using the Pen Tool, draw a mask around the shadow and set the Mask Mode to Subtract. This will exclude the shadow area. If you used Roto Brush instead, make sure only the foreground object is selected — not the shadow.

Step 3: Open the Content-Aware Fill Panel

Navigate to Window > Content-Aware Fill to open the panel. Select your masked or roto-brushed layer and position the playhead at the beginning of the shadow’s visibility.Step 4: Set Fill Options

In the Content-Aware Fill panel:

Set Fill Method to Edge Blend for smoother results.
Adjust Alpha Expansion to around 2–5 px to cover edge artifacts.
Once ready, click Generate Fill Layer.Step 5: Generate the Fill Layer

After Effects will analyze your composition and create a new Fill Layer that removes the unwanted shadow. The process can take a few minutes, depending on the duration and complexity of the footage.

 

Step 6: Preview the Result

Scrub through the timeline or hit the Spacebar to preview the changes. Check that the shadow has been successfully removed and that the fill blends naturally with the background.Step 7: Final Check and Export

If you’re satisfied with the result, export your project. Go to Composition > Add to Render Queue to finalize your video in the desired format. Conclusion

With Content-Aware Fill, Adobe After Effects makes it possible to remove unwanted shadows from live-action video. Whether your subject is static or moving, these tools help ensure a seamless, clean final composition that’s ready for professional output.