|
This lesson demonstrates how to create shadow casts from a photograph. To work
along, download the start image Here. Unzip the file and open the image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Shadow Casts from Photographs Tutorial Here!
Custom Shapes
Utilise one of Photoshop’s default Custom Shapes, or create your own from
Photographs, parts of photographs or photo objects. My creating Custom Shapes lesson can be found Here.
My comprehensive Layers lesson can be found here.
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 your image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
2/
Then activate the Custom Shape Tool, and set the following attributes into its Options bar. Note: Set the Colour to 50% Grey, and choose a custom shape of your choice;
I am utilising a foliage shape.
3/
Drag a custom shape onto the image, then reposition and resize it using the Free Transform command, and the Move Tool. Free Transform Lesson, Move Tool Lesson.
 
4/
To create a realistic shadow effect, (working on the Shape 1 layer), reduce its Layer Opacity to around 25%, and change the Blend Mode from Normal to Multiply.
 
5/
Then hide the visibility of the Shape 1 layer by clicking to remove the layer’s eye icon. Your custom shape will now be (temporarily) invisible. Activate the Background layer.
6/
Now, save the Background layer’s image as a .psd file. It is important that you save it as a .psd file, and that you save it to a memorable folder.
7/
Click back the Shape 1 layer’s visibility (eye) icon, and activate the layer.
8/
Then from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort then choose Displace.
Click OK to Rasterise the layer, when prompted.
In the subsequent Displace dialogue box, enter the following settings then click OK.
Note: Because I am working with a small image, I have chosen Horizontal and Vertical Scales of 2. However, when working with larger resolutions, experiment with different Vertical and Horizontal Scale settings.
Alternative Displacement Map Lessons can be found Here, Here, Here and Here.
After clicking OK a Choose a displacement map dialogue box will appear. Navigate to (and highlight), the .psp file you saved in Chapter 6, then click Open. The custom shape should now follow the contour of your background image.
9/
Carefully remove parts of the shadow that fall behind the subject, using the Eraser Tool.
Eraser Tool Lesson.
 
10/ Adding Light Diffusion
To add light diffusion, where the shadow is darker at its base than at its end, we will apply a Gradient Overlay. Therefore, press your keyboard’s D key to set Photoshop’s default Black and White colours. 
11/
Then from the foot of the Layers palette, click the Add a layer style f-fx icon and choose Gradient Overlay from the drop-down list. In the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, set the following attributes, then click OK.
The shadow will now appear to be graduated.
12/
When you are happy with your shadow’s position and opacity, flatten the layers and save your work.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
|
|
