What type of light in After Effects is described as being like a bare light bulb?

The type of light in After Effects that is akin to a bare light bulb is a Point Light. This light source radiates light in all directions from a single point, much like a light bulb does in real life. When you position a Point Light in your scene, it emits light uniformly, creating effects such as soft shadows and light falloff based on the distance between the light and the objects it illuminates.

Point Lights are particularly useful for simulating local light sources in a composition, enabling you to create realistic lighting effects that enhance the depth and dimension of 3D elements. This feature makes it ideal for scenes that require dynamic lighting changes or highlights.

Ambient Light, on the other hand, casts a uniform light across the entire scene without creating shadows, lacking the directional quality of a Point Light. Directional Light produces parallel light rays, similar to sunlight, affecting the entire scene uniformly but not simulating a local light source. Spot Light projects light in a cone shape and can cast shadows, but it is directed rather than emanating equally in all directions like a standard bulb.