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Photoshop - Natural Shadows

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Morning all,

 

I'm working on a composition of several cut out images, but they look incredibly static without any shadows.

 

I've played around in Photoshop creating shadows, but it just doesn't seem to look right. I'm hoping a fresh set of eyes will be able to see where i'm going wrong.

 

The image is attached. I hope this makes sense!

 

Do you guys have any suggestions?

 

Ta.

post-19991-057933200 1286174451_thumb.jpg

Morning all,

 

I'm working on a composition of several cut out images, but they look incredibly static without any shadows.

 

I've played around in Photoshop creating shadows, but it just doesn't seem to look right. I'm hoping a fresh set of eyes will be able to see where i'm going wrong.

 

The image is attached. I hope this makes sense!

 

Do you guys have any suggestions?

 

Ta.

 

Try making a wall behind it and make the shadows come off it. Like what i have just done.. Please dont laugh it only took 2 minutes to do :)

 

post-19822-071143200 1286181585_thumb.jpg

 

If this has helped press the +

  • Author

Thanks for the advice!

 

I've used a bit of both of your responses. How do you think it looks now?

post-19991-088039900 1286183075_thumb.jpg

Thanks for the advice!

 

I've used a bit of both of your responses. How do you think it looks now?

 

 

when it hits the wall angle it up slightly so you can see the angle change. It will look more realistic then.

 

Looking much better though

Hi,

 

 

I have seen your attached images and from my experience I can say to create a drop shadow round the screw head, right click on the screw head layer (highlighted in grey) a new sub menu will appear as shown in the image on the left.

 

Then click on effects, the effects menu has lots of options to choose from, for this i'm only going to use the Drop Shadow effect, but its well worth taking a look at the others and play around to see what they do in the future.

 

In the Drop Shadow section you can alter all the variables of the shadow, I think these are pretty straight forward, the best thing to do if in doubt is alter the settings and watch to see what happens to the image (make sure preview is ticked) nothing is approved until you click on the OK button. I never use any rules, I just alter the settings and look to see how the image looks, and when its looking good i press OK and save it (great believer in messing about to see what happens).

 

Thanks !!

You just need to think about what a natural shadow does from the angle you are directing the light. I think the main shadow image is much darker than it would be in real life and definitely not as blurred as you have it at the minute. Also the far end of the shadow will be slightly lighter than the front. It also helps if you have a very close darker shadow directly under the objects standing point as this helps to make them look planted firmly to the ground.

 

------------

 

Graphic Design Leeds

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