Create a Simple Shadow Using Photoshop CS3

Adding a shadow to an image can create a dramatic effect, especially when you're experimenting with camera angles. You can create a simple shadow in Photoshop CS3 by duplicating the image layer, doing some distortion, and activating the shadow layer. Easy as pie.

Steps

  1. Open 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. <br=clear>
  2. Duplicate 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". <br=clear>
  3. Set 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. <br=clear>
  4. Distort 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. <br=clear>
  5. Activate the shadow layer and set the opacity lower so it becomes greyish, about 70-80% is good. Now copy the shadow layer.
  6. Activate 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.
  7. Resize the copy of the shadow layer. Make it just a bit bigger than the shadow layer.
  8. Save 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.

Tips

  • 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.
  • You can merge the two shadow layers later, then blur them.
  • 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.

Warnings

  • Try not to use Choose Between RAW or JPG, it will remove the opacity, and create a white background in your image.
  • Remember to remove the white background later, this way you can import the image anywhere you want without it having a background.
  • 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.

Things You'll Need

  • Photoshop CS or higher - Photoshop CS3 is used in this article
  • A picture

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