Edit
How to Create a Simple Shadow Using Photoshop CS3
Edited by Elyne, D rae, Ilias Ismanalijev, Krystle and 6 others
Adding a shadow to an image can create a dramatic effect, especially when you're experimenting with camera angles. This article will explain how to create a simple shadow in Photoshop CS3.
Edit Steps
- 1Open your image. Make sure that your image is cut out and on a transparent layer. Name the current layer to your liking. Leave enough room for the intended shadow.
Open your image. - 2Duplicate the image layer. Open up a new layer, change its color to white, and drag the layer under your image layer. Rename the layer copy to "shadow".
Duplicate the image layer. - 3Set the foreground color to black. Fill the copy of the image layer by pressing the CTRL, Shift, and Delete buttons. Go to Filters - Blur - Gaussian blur and set the blur around three or five.
Set the foreground color to black. - 4Distort the shadow. Look to see if the shadow layer is active and press CTRL and T at the same time. You will see a bounding box with 8 little squares; see where the light is hitting your image and move around the arrows to the right places. Warp the bounding box by pressing CTRL and clicking on the squares. Move the shadow to fit nicely with the image. When you're done, press enter or press apply.
Distort the shadow. - 5Activate the shadow layer and set the opacity lower so it becomes greyish, about 70-80% is good. Now copy the shadow layer.
Activate the shadow layer and set the opacity lower so it becomes greyish, about 70-80% is good. - 6Activate the copy of the shadow layer. Set the opacity of this one low so you will see a gradient going from black to grey and lighter.
Activate the copy of the shadow layer. - 7Resize the copy of the shadow layer. Make it just a bit bigger than the shadow layer.
Resize the copy of the shadow layer. - 8Save your image. Save your image to PNG or to GIF and enjoy your hard work. Saving with opacity will allow you to import your image anywhere.
Save your image.
Edit Tips
- When setting the opacity of the shadow layer play a bit around and look how the opacity looks like while moving the settings.
- You can blur the shadow again after you've completed the steps above for a better effect.
- You can merge the two shadow layers later, then blur them.
- If you see anything wrong with your shadow, or when it falls incorrectly or not where it should, you can remove those pieces by using a soft eraser.
Edit Warnings
- Remember to remove the white background later, this way you can import the image anywhere you want without it having a background.
- Try not to use JPG, it will remove the opacity, and create a white background in your image.
- If the project is going to be printed, save in a lossless format such as TIFF in case you need to size up for printing. .tif files will also retain alpha (opacity) channels so your shadows will blend in during compositing.
- This is a rough technique and it will often look forced if the goal is a realistic image. This method creates a single, high-contrast shadow that would only really exist in very strict circumstances. However, it will add a dynamic quality if the piece is supposed to be abstract like the example shown.
Edit Things You'll Need
Edit Related wikiHows
Article Info
Featured Article
Categories: Featured Articles | Adobe Photoshop
Recent edits by: Nicholas, BR, Teresa
