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This lesson demonstrates how to apply drop shadows to images, and how to blend them with specific backgrounds; for example, the background pattern of this tutorial. Before commencing - if your background is a specific pattern, or gradient, ensure it is tiled, then save it to Photoshop’s Patterns folder, then return to continue this lesson from the start.
Utilising the Solid Colour, Gradient and Pattern Fill Commands
Note
Photoshop has a Drop Shadow Action - however, I prefer to create my own, then blend my image with a particular background.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
1/
Open a completed image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
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If the Background layer displays a padlock; it means it is locked, therefore, to unlock it, double-left-click the layer and reply OK to the New Layer dialogue box. Your layer will then display as Layer 0.
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Now, to make room for the drop shadow, you need to create a transparent area around your photograph. Therefore, from the top menu, choose Image then choose Canvas Size. In the subsequent Canvas Size dialogue box, enter a low setting for Width and Height, and ensure the centre Anchor active, (click it, if it is not). Additionally, ensure Relative is marked.
Note
Because you are adding a canvas extension to layer that is unlocked - has no
padlock - the Canvas extension colour has been deactivated. To apply a coloured canvas extension, ensure the layer you are working with is locked - has a padlock displayed, as demonstrated here. 
To ensure the layer is locked, (has a padlock), from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Flatten Layer. Layers Lesson.
The Canvas Extension tab will then be active - and you can choose a colour for your extension (border).
After you have entered your settings, click OK.
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Now, grab the top-right menu of your photograph, (highlighted below) and drag it diagonally, upwards - to extend the grey canvas. You will then see the border that surrounds your photograph.
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Click the tiny black triangle next to the following Add a layer style (f-fx) icon, and click Drop Shadow from the drop-down list.
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In the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, set a drop shadow you prefer. I set the following default settings - changing just the Opacity to 65. Then click OK.
7/ Canvas Fill
To fill the (transparent) canvas with your background tile, it (the tile) should have been previously saved to Windows Patterns folder. Now, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose New Fill Layer. You will notice that you have a choice of either, Solid Colour, Gradient or Pattern. Whatever option you choose, after you click it - the New Layer dialogue box will appear. Click OK, and accept the default settings.
You are then presented with either, a Colour Picker dialogue box. Click to set a solid colour that matches the colour of your background the closest, then click OK. Or a Gradient Fill dialogue box, in which you select a gradient and settings of your choice, then click OK.
Alternatively, if you are filling the layer with a pattern, you are presented with the following Pattern Fill dialogue box.
Click the tiny black triangle, highlighted top-left, (next to the Scale tab), and your current Patterns library will display. If your pattern is not displayed, click the black triangle - (above-right). Then locate and click to set your choice of pattern, demonstrated by my screen capture here! Now, double-left-click your pattern swatch, and it will display in the box highlighted below-left. Then click OK.
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Your pattern is immediately applied, as a new layer - demonstrated below.
 
9/
Now, to display your photograph, left-click, then grab the Pattern Fill 1 layer, and drag it below Layer 0.
 
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Then from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Flatten Image. To reduce the size of the file, Crop away the extraneous outer pattern. Then link Here to learn how to save your image as a Jpeg, prior to sending it via e-mail - or uploading it to your web page.
Because I have filled the area surrounding my photograph with the same pattern as the background of this lesson, it appears seamless - as shown below.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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