Tutorials

Make Shadows

05/13/2002

On today's show, I'll show you how to make shadows. Shadows give your images more depth and detail. Here's how it's done.

I started with a file that had a tree in a layer. The file also contains an alpha channel with a gradient from white on the left to black on the right.

1. The layer that contained the tree was duplicated.

2. Make sure to lock the Transparency. The duplicate was filled with black.

3. The black tree layer was duplicated again and skewed to travel along the ground plane.

4. Transparency was unlocked and Gaussian Blur was applied through an alpha channel to soften the shadow as it traveled away from the tree.

5. The Opacity was lowered.

6. A Layer Mask was applied to hide the area of the shadow that bled over the wall.

7. The second black tree layer was moved into position over the wall.

8. It was reduced in size to simulate distance.

9. It was blurred and reduced in opacity using the same parameters as the first shadow.

10. A Layer Mask was added to hide the portion of the shadow bleeding onto the ground.