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Introduction to Shadow Usage Inside Photoshop

According to designing, shadow has necessary role inside Photoshop depending on your design. In this lesson of Photoshop Tips I have decided to introduce you to shadow usage inside Photoshop, and you will get the answers of What is shadow? How to create shadow inside Photoshop? How many effects are inside Photoshop to give shadows, in order to learn these things, do whatever I do, just copy and paste it.

What is shadow?

  • A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
  • Ashadow is a space where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque  It occupies all of the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross section of a shadow is a two-dimensional silhouette, or reverse projection of the object blocking the light.

Shadow Usage Inside Photoshop

In order to create shadow inside Photoshop I will introduce these two methods:

  • Using Gradient Tool
  • Using Eraser Tool

Using Gradient Tool:

In order to create shadow with gradient, first type in anything which you desire, or insert any picture. Next Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the layer which you want to give shadow for it, after that put the copied layer the real layer like screenshot.

Move Down - Shadow Usage inside Photoshop
Move Down – Shadow Usage inside Photoshop

Next Press Ctrl+T to enable to Free Transform or navigate to Edit menu- Free Transform. After enabling Free Transform right click and then select Flip Vertical to rotate the layer -90 degree like screenshot.

Flip Vertical - Shadow Usage inside Photoshop
Flip Vertical – Shadow Usage inside Photoshop

Now it is time to give shadow, in order to create shadow by our own, navigate to layer menu and click on Add Layer Mask to create layer Mask.

Layer Mask - Shadow Usage inside Photoshop
Layer Mask – Shadow Usage inside Photoshop

Next press G to select Gradient Tool, Remember the color in gradient settings must be black and white. And with Gradient Tool selected draw it on the layer Mask to create shadow like screenshot.

If you can’t do with Gradient Tool, then you have the option of Brush tool also.

The Shadow usage inside Photoshop
The Shadow usage inside Photoshop

2nd Method Eraser Tool:

This method also easy and will be followed those which I told but with some difference.

Type or insert your image, duplicate it by pressing Ctrl+J, rotate it by pressing Ctrl+ T with right clicking and selecting Flip Vertical. After this step you will not create layer mask, just press Shift+E to select Eraser Tool and eraser tool selected Remove the unwanted areas. Remember while working with eraser decrease or increase opacity or flow of eraser tool.

Introduction to shadow usage inside Photoshop
Introduction to shadow usage inside Photoshop

Effects of Shadow inside Photoshop

Whenever the word Effect comes inside Photoshop then you have to know we are taking about layer Effects which is known as Blending options and filter menu.

Go to layer Panel, right click on the layer and then select Blending Options. You can see Drop shadow, inner shadow.

Note: Remember Drop shadow and Inner shadow are not working like Gradient and eraser tool; they only give some simple shadows as effect.

Layer Effects - Shadow Usage inside Photoshop
Layer Effects – Shadow Usage inside Photoshop

The best thing about these effects are, they have different options, 1st let’s take a look at Drop shadow. The complete window of Drop shadow is divided into two sections of Structure and Quality.

Structure is divided into

  • Blending Modes: Blend Modes are also divided into Normal, Darken, Lighten, Contrast, inversion, cancelation and Each of them different effects, you can try them into different designs for understanding more.
  • Opacity: You can decrease or increase opacity of the effect.
  • Angle: Angle has also important role depending on your own design.
  • Distance: You have the ability, where to put the shadow.
  • Spread: You can change spread of shadow.
  • Size: You can change size of shadow.

Quality section is also divided into two sections of Contour and Noise.

Drop shadow - Shadow Usage inside Photoshop
Drop shadow – Shadow Usage inside Photoshop

Inner Shadow:

It gives shadow inside the text, image, shape and etc. It is also divided into two sections of structure and Quality which have the same effects of drop shadow.

Inner shadow - Shadow Usage inside Photoshop
Inner shadow – Shadow Usage inside Photoshop

I hope you have learned something from Photoshop Tips, and your comments will make my article better.

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