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Author Topic: PhotoShop Question  (Read 7676 times)

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« on: September 22, 2008, 13:55 »
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In Photoshop it seems that the drop shadow is created

Layer - Layer Style - Drop Shadow

Which seems to be geared toward text.  In Corel I can add my dropshadows on a separate layer and then manipulate it, but I can't figure out how to put it on it's own layer in Photoshop, can this be done? 

Anyone know? 


RT


« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2008, 14:26 »
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What do you mean by manipulate it, I can send you instructions on how to add a shadow to an isolated object if that's what you mean? and it will be on a seperate layer that you could manipulate to your hearts content.


« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2008, 15:10 »
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RT, I need to bend and warp the layer so the shadows look like they are falling more naturally over the curves a little body.

I have a layer of long stem roses over a baby and they need to cast a shadow, but when I tried the dropshadow it is attached to the roses themselves.

I might have worked around it on my own:  duplicated the layer, reduced the levels so it's black, added a heavy gaussian blur and reduced the opacity. Now I'm working on making it look natural, almost there. 

This is a step that I will use frequently:  but is there a better way than I worked out above?  I also like that you can pick the colour of your drop shadow when you use that feature.

I am slowly learning photoshop, I am pretty advanced with another program and it is so very frustrating to be such a beginner at PS, if I am in a rush I just don't use it (I know that I am nuts to have not learned it by now!)

Thanks


« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2008, 15:21 »
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You're on the right track.

Concentrate first on getting the right shape of the shadow, then add blur. For the final touches, duplicate the shadow layer a few times and try combinations of "multiply", "color burn", and "soft light" until you get a pleasing appearance.

For the baby's sake, I hope the roses are dethorned!

« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2008, 15:27 »
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When you right-click on the effect layer, you can create a layer from the effect and you can manipulate this layer in any way you want.. Hope this helps a little..

« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2008, 15:34 »
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Thanks Sharply, you are very right to add the blur after getting the shape and I like the layering tips.   The roses were still on the truck to Costco when I took her photo, so no thorns.   ;)

When you right-click on the effect layer, you can create a layer from the effect and you can manipulate this layer in any way you want.. Hope this helps a little..

Great tip that I will find useful.  Thanks!

RT


« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2008, 16:18 »
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I might have worked around it on my own:  duplicated the layer, reduced the levels so it's black, added a heavy gaussian blur and reduced the opacity. Now I'm working on making it look natural, almost there. 

Yep you're on your way there, and from what you've described I'm not sure drop shadow is what you wanted anyway, distort,warp and skew around until you're happy.

I'd be interested to see your final result.

« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2008, 22:51 »
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Getting back to this and my shadows keep looking like dirt against her sweet skin, so now I've turned down the opacity to barely there.    (Sigh, I just previewed the image and I guess in this small shot you can barely see my attempt at shadows anyway.)

If it looks familiar the mom came in with her baby and a page from a calendar and no roses.  It sure looks like the roses were propped there for the original. 


« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2008, 00:03 »
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Nice!  ;)

RT


« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2008, 01:07 »
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Good job, hope she's paying you well.

« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2008, 13:38 »
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Thanks!   (T'is hard to make a baby look bad) 

Ah yes, price.  She would die if I charged my hourly rate but if I could use this *template* again (it's not my original concept so I likely wouldn't) it would take a fraction of the time to replicate for the next mom.  So, I think I'll be going into a debit balance with the time bank for this one.  There used to be a popular greenscreen studio in town and they specialized in this work but have closed up shop.   I thought their prices were pretty steep, but after doing a few of these *angel baby* setups I know better :D.  The referrals are starting to roll in for this type of work but I can't say I have much time for it.  If I had dozens of templates that I could push on the parents that would be another story, but starting from sratch with each new one... ugh.  Not that it isn't a nice diversion during slow seasons...

But, I have to say I am getting better at PhotoShop ;D.  First entire project almost done.

« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2008, 14:10 »
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...
Ah yes, price.  She would die if I charged my hourly rate but if I could use this *template* again ...

I think that's a typical reaction for non-commercial work. Sure, people like the image, but don't want to pay for it.

« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2008, 14:26 »
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The Pixart style :-) Good job :)

zymmetricaldotcom

« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2008, 17:28 »
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Lorraine, if I may, my first impression was same as Sharply .. 'ouch'.     The concept of this shot as it is would seem to create a bit of tension based on the pain factor as every guy learns annually on valentines - so with the baby it seems to be a bit too.. dunno, dangerous.    On the flip side the basic arrangement reminds me of a  pendulum - maybe there is something more that could be explored with this original usage of an upside down rose bouquet, a tie in with a time concept maybe.

Unless you are going for edgy, i think seeing the babies on the softer side of the arrangement, ala http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=american+beauty+soundtrack&btnG=Search+Images  would be an easier concept.

From the small preview picture, my thoughts are that the shadows on the stems are indeed to harsh relative to the skin so it approaches a recognizable 'photoshopped' scenario by the layman. The quickest way to clear up this type of issue: get a toy doll or any object with the same tonality and shoot the same shot without the actual model and compare the results with the artificially composed shot - i've been Photoshopping since v1.0 and more often than not the difference between the elements you manipulate is greater in your mind than in reality. Erring on the side of a vanilla blend of elements works more for me, more then getting caught up on focusing on the differences between objects.

« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2008, 17:58 »
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Yeah, I don't love the pendulum composition either, I gave her some more pleasant and plausible options still using roses but she really has her heart set on the tear sheet that she brought in!   (You think that's bad, the original has a stem going right across the baby's face!) 

And yes, the best solution would be observation of real shadows, I thought about that too late when I was driving away after taking the roses and they were dead when I got home :( .  Shucks, now I'll have to buy more beautiful roses.

P.S. I met a Tuomi today and all day I was trying to remember who I knew with that name... must be your long lost cousin.

zymmetricaldotcom

« Reply #15 on: September 23, 2008, 19:12 »
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Lol .. well I think, as Leaf knows, Northern Ontario/Praries is a prime tropical vacation spot for early 20th century Scandinavians.   I met a Tuomi here on MSG, running a photo agency even.. but it's not a huge event normally: Tuomi = Smith in Finn.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2008, 19:14 by zymmetrical »

« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2008, 09:01 »
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Hehe... she was from Thunder Bay so I guess that's Northern Ontario and I met her in Winnipeg I guess that's the prairies  :D


 

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