How to Create Realistic Shadows in Illustrator
Beginning digital artists often create shadows with drop shadows or by filling a selection with black. Once you study shadows, however, you realize they share color with the object they cast across. Shadows also vary according to light source and intensity. With a little study and application, you can easily create a realistic shadow with Illustrator.
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Instructions
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Create your image objects. At a minimum you need an object to cast the shadow and a shadow surface. Place the object to cast the shadow where you want the shadow to appear (you will actually make it into the shadow.)
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Decide on the location of your light source. Spotting your light source is the most important strategy in creating shadows. You will place the shadow on an opposing diagonal from the light source (for example, light source top left, shadow bottom right.)
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Make a duplicate of the object casting the shadow. The duplicate should appear on the layer above the original. Move the duplicate between the original and the light source (the duplicate will become the object casting the shadow).
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Merge the elements of the original (shadow) object into one path. Select the original object and click on "Add to Shape Area" in the Pathfinder palette. The multiple paths will become a single path.
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Select the path and click on the background object with the eyedropper tool. Remove any stroke. Darken the background color(s) with the color palette. Adjust the tint just enough create a shadow.
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Blur the edges. Choose "Gaussian Blur" from the Effects menu's Blur submenu. The amount of blurring will depend on the shadow's distance from the object.
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Tips & Warnings
Study shadows in other images. It's impossible to create a realistic shadow if you haven't examined shadows in photographs and art. Pay attention to shadow edges, colors, and how shadows from different objects overlap.
Try to use a realistic texture or a gradient for the shadow surface. The more color you can mix with the shadow, the more realistic the effect.
The closer an object is to its shadow, the darker the cast and the better the edges are defined. The further an object, the lighter the colors and the more blurry the edges.
Use the Distort filter to add perspective and depth to your shadow.
To really enhance the shadow effect, work with multiple selections and cast shadows over other selections that are also casting shadows. The shadows from the higher layers will blend with the shadows on the lower layers.
