[Tutorial] Simple Shadows (PS CS3)

[JD]

Heya guys, so here we go!

Let's say that we want to give this picture a nice shadow



We throw it in photoshop and we give it a random background, I went for black with a white pattern so you can see the shadow.
Then you duplicate the worm's layer:




You change the HUE of the new layer you made (the shadow layer)



Then you have the shadow, move it a little so it looks real:



Change the opacity a little so it looks real


And then you can easily make something funny like this:




If you want to do this on a human so it looks real make the shadow a little closer to the render.

Ciao,
JD

[Aznex]

Wee! That's awesome. +2

[JD]

Glad you like it mate

[Narudan]

Blending Option-> Drop Shadow?

[JD]

I know but I prefer this way Narudan, dunno why just do

[Reflection]

A one pixel Gaussian blur might make it better yet. Good job Mea.

[JD]

Oe, good one mate Ta

[Xel]

I also pretty much prefer this way, very good tut for beginners

[JD]

Thanks for the good feedback Xel

[DesertDarky]

You could aswell just right click your layer, go to fill options and check the first option. Thats the fastest and easiest way to make a shadow of this kind.
BUT if you wanna make a shadow below your character,like when the light source is coming from a low corner and the shadow is gonna be huge and long, you gotta copy it as described in your tut. After that you right click the picture in the center and chose to transform it "perspectively". Worked fine for me here.

DD

[JD]

I know, I just prefer this :P