Sometimes it happens that the object inserted into the collage does not want to fit into it in any way and looks like a flat picture, and not part of a realistic image. And all because this object has no shadow. However, this is not difficult to correct.
Necessary
- - Photoshop program;
- - image for processing.
Instructions
Step 1
Open the image you want to add a shadow to in Photoshop using the Ctrl + O key combination or the Open command on the File menu.
Step 2
Select the object that will cast the shadow. To do this, select the Polygonal Lasso tool from the Tools palette. Click with the left mouse button on any point on the outline of the shape, casting a shadow. Drag the selection along a straight section of the contour and click again with the left mouse button in the place where the contour bends. Select the entire shape this way. Close the selection by clicking on the point from which you began to select the path.
Step 3
Create a new layer by clicking on the Create new layer button at the bottom of the Layers palette. You get the same result using the New command on the Layer menu.
Step 4
Fill the selection with black. To do this, select the Paint Bucket Tool ("Fill") in the palette "Tools". Click on the colored square at the bottom of the Tools panel. In the palette that opens, select black and click on the OK button. Left-click inside the selection. The resulting shape will serve as the base for the shadow.
Step 5
Deselect the shadow using the Deselect command from the Select menu.
Step 6
Transform the shadow. To do this, use the Distort command from the Transform group of the Edit menu. Dragging the corners of the frame around the shape with the mouse, position the shape in the projection in which the shadow of the selected object should be located. Apply the transformation with the Enter key.
Step 7
Apply Gaussian Blur from the Blur group of the Filter menu to the shadow layer. Set the blur radius depending on the nature of the light in the image: a strong light source at a close distance from the subject will give a shadow with sharp edges and, accordingly, the blur radius should be chosen smaller. Diffuse light produces rather blurry shadows. On average, two to three pixels are enough to blur the shadow. Click the OK button.
Step 8
Change the Blend Mode of the shadow layer from Normal to Multiply. To do this, right-click on the shadow layer and select the Blending Options option from the context menu. In the window that opens, select Multiply from the drop-down list.
Step 9
Increase the opacity of the shadow layer. To do this, click on the arrow to the right of the word Opacity in the layers palette and drag the slider to the left to a value of 50%.
Step 10
If any parts of the shadow are superimposed on the object that should cast a shadow, delete them using the Eraser Tool ("Eraser").
Step 11
Save the image using the Save or Save As command found on the File menu.
