How to Create a Cast Shadow in Photoshop

Nothing looks flatter than a Photoshopped digital photo with no shadow, or worse, a fake-looking drop shadow. Luckily, making a cast shadow is a pretty quick process. This article will walk you through the basic steps to make your very own cast shadow.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop

1. With your digital photo opened in Photoshop, use the lasso or other selection tools to select your object. Cut and paste the object into a new layer--we'll call this object 1.

2. Duplicate object 1, by going to Layer/Duplicate layer. We'll call this object 2.

3. Click on object 1. Go to Edit/Transform, Flip vertical. Use your move tool (black arrow) to position the upside-down object for the correct position for the shadow.

4. Now go to Edit/Transform/Distort. Distort the object to a realistic perspective.

5. Add color by clicking the Layer Effects button at the bottom of the layers palette. Choose Color Overlay. Click in the rectangle to pick a medium gray color.

6. Duplicate that layer by going to Layer/Duplicate Layer. Highlight this layer and its copy with your cursor, holding down the shift key. Press control-E to merge the two layers.

7. Turn your blending mode (at the top of the layers palette) from Normal to Multiply.

8. Blur your shadow by going to Filter/Blur/Gaussian blur. Congratulations--you've made a cast shadow.

Tips & Warnings

• Always duplicate your file before beginning any photo-editing project