Other then drop shadow , What kind of shadow filters do you use to make shadows? anyone do it from scratch? What is you process?

Here is another way:
Copy the object you want to shadow, then paste it in the same picture. Reselect it and fill it with black. Move it to the shadow area, and turn it vertical etc. to get the correct position for the shadow, then reduce the opacity of the shadow layer to create the appropriate level of shadow intensity.. Also you might have to erase parts of the shadow layer, if it overlaps areas you don't want shadowed.
Hope it works for you..

patre has the idea. but you also might want to blur the shadow. the closer the object is to the ground, the shadow is going to be more sharp. so if its a shadow of a person... the shadow from their feet and legs are going to be sharper than their head. not by much, but if you do it, itll make it more realistic

Yes, I have made the mistake of not appropriately blurring a shadow and ending up with with one that is too sharply cut all over to ever be considered realistic.

thanks guys that helps alot!!!

Some other options:
duplicate the layer you want to shadow and drop shadow the underneath layer
erase parts of this duplicate layer to adjust to your liking (erase tool with a very soft edge)

the same object but then in black.... make it transparent... skew and distort till you start to like it.... than some motion blur.. experiment with the direction etc.

don’t always try to make it accurate.. a real shadow is most of the time not as sharp as you would like to make it…and almost never realy black…. Use a few shadows sometimes(more than one light) etc. etc. etc.

the illusion is what counts I think, sometimes illusion looks more real than the real thing

I make tha shadows like this.sorry for my english

Good question phoenixtilt, I would have asked it sooner or later if you hadn't. Nice to see all the responses... as usual

i use drop shadows as a basis, then paint the part i want to make stronger with black and very low opacity

My advice : stand in front of the sun, and you'll create nice shadows

Ok here goes,... this is the way I do it.

First I maka a selection from f.i. a path for the shape of the shadow,... feather it.

When I want to create a shadow, I create an new adjustment layer (preferable Levels) beneath the subject-layer. I choose the shadow colour by moving the slides.

You will see the shadow appear,... the great thing about adjustment layers is that you can alter it endlessly. If it's not dark enough just adjust the layer again,... so easy. The cool thing is that you can paint some more shadow to it by selecting the airbush-tool and having the foregroind-colour set to white. Erase some more of the shadow by setting the background-colour to black. By toggling these colours you can create very natural shadows.

I usually duplicate that layer again and erase some of the shadow again. You will have more depth that way.

Photoshop provides so many ways to create shadows, but for me this is the best way to create the most natural shadows.

Good luck.

This method has always worked for me.
(well, in truth, only on sunny days...)