Matthew Roderick - W.C.C.


Shadow Creation Worksheet


I. Creating a Realistic Shadow

A. Design from Image Information

1) Begin with separate image layer containing subject information.

Original Image
Image>Grayscale

2) Duplicate subject layer by dragging layer to copy Cpy. Name Shadow.

Image>Grayscale   Color Balance


3) Go to Image>Adjust>Brightness/Contrast to shift the subject layer to complete black. Click OK.

Discard color
Color


4) Go to Edit>Transform>Distort and align shadow to normal lighting conditions. Click Enter/Return to accept transform.

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Discard color


5) Adjust the Blend Mode to Hard Light and Reduce the Opacity allowing for detail to show through the shadow layer.

Color Balance
Hard Light
Original


6) Next, go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur to reduce the sharpness of the shadow edges.

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Discard color


7) The final presentation can be tweaked to gain a realistic shadow.

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Screen



© 2007, Matthew Roderick