I know there is a tutorial on here about shadows, but it is supposed to be a multi part thing.


What kind of methods do you guys and gals use when it comes to applying the right type and amounts of shadows?

hard shadow soft, along a wavy surface, up stairs, ect and what not.

http://photoshopcontest.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=8364

http://www.bluetorials.com/free%20stuff/TUT%27S/ps/cast_shadow.swf

http://www.bluetorials.com/free%20stuff/TUT%27S/ps/shadow_highlight.swf

http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/shadows/realistic.html

Hope my noisy GOOGLING isn't bothering you there, SQUID. I'd hate to make this uncomfortable for you while you sit there and watch me GOOGLING.

http://www.creativepro.com/article/create-photorealistic-reflections-and-shadows

http://www.blogfullbliss.com/Over-The-Top-Shadows

And this is just the GOOGLING on THIS site. I'd GOOGLE google, but I'm getting a headache now. Sorry I could not help with more GOOGLING for you.

i think you missed my point... i wasn't asking what google can show me..lol

i asked what methods do you guys and gals use...

Oh. Ignore my post then.

i make a new layer
and set a soft black brushes
draw a shadow in the place i want
set opcity lower
then erased it with soft eraser the one that overdrawn

as simple as that...
hahaha

no, there are some good links and info in there too, thanks rein... im not going to ignore it.. shadows seem to be my worst enemy when chopping.






thanks sanctuary, i will keep that in mind as well..

keep em coming

observe reality there's shadows all around you

Coming from airbrush art to this, the biggest thing I have learned with shadows (as with highlights) is that less is more. That and shadows are darker versions of the colors they shadow, not black or a dense muddy brown or grey. And what that one guy said about observing nature. Grab a flash light and some stuff (grass blades, tennis ball, someones face) and study it. Seems like a pain in the butt, but it'll help.

good points..

I like to create shapes using shadow and highlights. I can take a flat, evenly lit surface image and turn it into, for instance, a face, usually by changing the brightness/contrast values using the 'levels' adjustment. I do this by using a lasso tool to select the portion I want to lighten or darken. Then I go to 'Select ---- Refine Edge.." and adjust the feathering of the edges of my selection. Then I adjust the levels, usually making it darker. A lot of times after making my levels adjustment, I'll use the lasso tool or marquee tool to drag the selection (instead of drawing another selection, just move the selection I already made) closer to the edge of my object and then do another levels adjustment to make the edge of an object even darker.... this has a nice blending effect.
My method is pretty much for single layered/flattened images.
Let me know if you need an illustration of what I'm talking about, and I'll see if I can find some time to do a quick video demo.