Adding shadows to pictures
Monday, September 2, 2002 by Tarkus | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I've been trying to come up with easy ways to add quality shadows to pictures (on a permanent basis) with varying degrees of success.
I found a program called Pic2Mail that I think does a real good job, but unfortunately, it re-sizes the images. (Its primary function is to prepare images for email.)
I have Photoshop LE 5.0 and have been playing with the Eye Candy 4000 demo filter, and have had decent success with it, but I'm still not totally satisfied.
Can anyone recommend some good EC4000 settings, or perhaps another filter and/or utility? This is mostly for fun (and for a web image here and there), so I'm not really looking to spend any money (or at least not much).
I found a program called Pic2Mail that I think does a real good job, but unfortunately, it re-sizes the images. (Its primary function is to prepare images for email.)
I have Photoshop LE 5.0 and have been playing with the Eye Candy 4000 demo filter, and have had decent success with it, but I'm still not totally satisfied.
Can anyone recommend some good EC4000 settings, or perhaps another filter and/or utility? This is mostly for fun (and for a web image here and there), so I'm not really looking to spend any money (or at least not much).
moshi
Reply #2 Monday, September 2, 2002 8:12 PM
Reply #2 Monday, September 2, 2002 8:12 PM
that Kaaza thing wasn´t very clever (actually even dumber than my occasional rants).
BoXXi
Reply #3 Monday, September 2, 2002 9:26 PM
Reply #3 Monday, September 2, 2002 9:26 PM
Photoshop is very good at drop shadows, you don't need third party filters to get a good effect. Just right click on the layer you want to add a shadow to, and click "effects". A shadow will automatically be added to your layer, and then it's just a matter of tweaking it until you get the desired effect. Play with the opacity and colours of the shadow, and you will be surprised at the great results you can get.
You can also paint your own shadows with the airbrush too, just select the area you want to add the shadow to, then invert the selection, and then you can airbrush around the selection using a low flow rate.(if you make it on a new layer, you can always remove it if you don't like it, and you can also play with the layer blending settings.) I often use this method for adding shadows to spheres so that I can get just the right shape.
The main point is that you should try to master Photoshop without resorting to third party stuff, it's ultimately more satisfying.
Good luck.
You can also paint your own shadows with the airbrush too, just select the area you want to add the shadow to, then invert the selection, and then you can airbrush around the selection using a low flow rate.(if you make it on a new layer, you can always remove it if you don't like it, and you can also play with the layer blending settings.) I often use this method for adding shadows to spheres so that I can get just the right shape.
The main point is that you should try to master Photoshop without resorting to third party stuff, it's ultimately more satisfying.
Good luck.
Koasati
Reply #4 Monday, September 2, 2002 9:42 PM
Reply #4 Monday, September 2, 2002 9:42 PM
I use the built in drop shadow filter in PSP, and like BoXXi is saying, just tweak the color (I generally use a very dark gray), the opacity, and the blur.
Wasupboy.....careful, we don't play the Kazaa/warez game here.
Wasupboy.....careful, we don't play the Kazaa/warez game here.
paxx
Reply #5 Monday, September 2, 2002 11:07 PM
Reply #5 Monday, September 2, 2002 11:07 PM
Shadows is the easiest thing in the world to do. 
No need no stickin' program or filter.
1- Duplicate your object and place behind original
2- Fill with black
3- Gausian blur (1 to 1.5)
4- Change opacity to 30%
5- Nudge a few pixels to the right and down
Voila. Takes about 15 seconds.
No need no stickin' program or filter.
1- Duplicate your object and place behind original
2- Fill with black
3- Gausian blur (1 to 1.5)
4- Change opacity to 30%
5- Nudge a few pixels to the right and down
Voila. Takes about 15 seconds.
paxx
Reply #6 Monday, September 2, 2002 11:09 PM
Reply #6 Monday, September 2, 2002 11:09 PM
And to add to the Kazaa comments, Kazaa is a huge piece of crap. And spyware too.
Tarkus
Reply #7 Tuesday, September 3, 2002 2:06 AM
Reply #7 Tuesday, September 3, 2002 2:06 AM
Yeah, I have no desire to steal a new version of Photoshop (or whatever). PS LE is plenty of a graphics program for my modest needs anyway.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll play tomorrow and get back to you.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll play tomorrow and get back to you.
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Reply #1 Monday, September 2, 2002 8:10 PM
Good luck with your images,
WasupBoy