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 SHADOWS

Before we'll proceed to a different tutorial on shadow, let us review the default process on how to create shadows on Photoshop.

Layer » Effects » Drop Shadow...

There are seven values you can experiment and tinker with: Mode, the shadow color picker (right side of Mode shadows don't have to be black all the time you know), Opacity, Angle, Distance, Blur and Intensity.

Experiment on changing the values for each option and play with it. If you're already tired playing we can proceed to the next process.

Some of the advantages of the process of creating shadows mentioned above are:

A. It is easy for lazy humans like Azkarom. So easy that you can do it hands-free with closed eyes.
B. It remains consistent even if you'll rotate the picture in any direction you prefer.
C. You don't need to read tutorials such as this.

 

 

But there's another way. A process that i often use and which i find easier to manipulate according to my preference.

(The sample here contains two layers. A white background and a 3D render (LAYER3D_001) randomly selected from my previous works)

01 Select LAYER3D_001. Press ALT while dragging that object. A duplicate layer will be created (That's a shortcut/process you should have included in your photoshop instincts already).

 

 
02 Rename that duplicate layer to SHADOW and move it underneath LAYER3D_001. For newbies you can drag the SHADOW layer inside the Layers Window downwards... no need to chant spells to do this one.

 

 
03 Darken that layer.
Image » Adjustments » Brightness/Contrast...
Play with your settings. I use these settings for this example: Brightness: -100 | Contrast: +72


04 Go to Filter » Gaussian Blur and once again play with the settings until you have reached your desired 'shadow'.


05 Play with the OPACITY settings of the SHADOW layer if needed.


 
06 You can also distort the shadows to your likings or to emphasize the source and magnitude of light sources.

Edit » Transform and you can choose either one or two combinations of the following processes: Scale Rotate Skew Distort and/or Perspective.


07 Do experiment more and try out other settings. You can also change the color of the shadow:

Image » Adjustments » Hue/Saturation

Click the Colorize and Preview checkboxes.



The shadows you see in Kernel0725 was created using this process.

 

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