Shadows and PS7

[Digital_Dude]

Is there an easy way to pivot shadows from a certain point in PS7? I know that I can set the shadow angle using the drop shadow layer effect but that doesn't allow me to alter the angle of the shadow in respect to the subject.... both end up sharing the same angle. That's fine if the subject is close to a wall or something upright or when you want the subject to appear elevated or floating.

I'm trying to pivot the shadow of a standing person at their feet and make it appear to be a long shadow on the ground behind them, like the effect of early evening sun.

Take care,
Jason

[snooze4592]

Have you tried manipulating the shadow by putting it on a separate layer first? I'm not a photoshop pro, but I would think if you can isolate the shadow from the rest of the photo and then manipulate it, you might be able to make it work. Then you could go back in and clone out the original shadow.

Like I said, I don't know if this would work or not...

Susan

[Digital_Dude]

Hi Susan,

I tried doing that and it's possible with several additional steps. I haven't found a way to make an effects layer of a drop shadow as it's own individual separate layer... maybe it's possible, but I'm unaware of it. :cry:

To do it this way I have to put a large distance setting on the drop shadow to completely isolate the shadow from the subject....then copy the entire layer with shadow and suject... next, extract the shadow and copy it to it's own individual layer then use the transform feature to stretch the shadow and turn it to the right angle... then I have to adjust the opacity of the shadow layer to make it look right.
Doing it this way I lose some of the shadow qualities that are available with the drop shadow effect.

It is possible but it's time consuming. There's probably a third party plug-in out there that does this very thing more efficiently, but I'm hoping it's possible within PS itself.

Thanks for your response.

Take care,
Jason

[JimL]

If you can, select the object you are wanting to shadow, promote that selection to a layer, add your drop shadow (which will be outside the selection) then delete your selection and you have a free standing shadow, on it's own layer, on which you can use the distort tool to spin or stretch any way you wish. Eye Candy has the option to place the shadow on a seperate layer in one step if you have it.
JimL

[Digital_Dude]

Jim,

That worked fine. It's fewer steps than what I was doing before and it retains the original properties of the shadow on it's own layer....and most importantly, I can still edit it with the drop shadow effect dialogue box.

Thanks!

Take care,
Jason

[Browser]

Photoshop lets you do this very easily. There are 2 ways both have advantages.

First - when you open the drop shadow dialoge box set up the basics as you like - then to get the shadow in the exact place you want it simpley place the CURSOR over the shadow and it will change to the move tool. Move the shadow where you want it. Click ok.
This is one of a few dialoug boxes that the Cursor is still active in photoshop.

The second method is also very simple. Create the shadow close to how you want in the normal way and click ok. Then RIGHT click on the shadow thumbnail in the layers tab.(If you dont see the shadow thumbnail then click on the little black arrow on the right of the layer the shadow is on and you will see the effects layers) From the pop out click on CREATE NEW LAYER. A message box will appear telling you some options will not be available but just click ok. Your shadow will now be on it's own layer and you can do what you like to it.

Hope this helps
Browser :-D

[Digital_Dude]

Eureka!

Browser, the first method works perfectly. I knew there had to be an easy way to do that. THANKS!!!

take care,
Jason

[DarkAlchemist]

Browser is our resident PS expert so treat them well and maybe, just maybe they will teach us even more. :-)