Expert: LizaL - 9/29/2004

Question
I am on Photoshop 5.5 (Mac G3, OS 9.2) and am wondering if there is a simple way to create a basic shadow for an image, TIF or EPS. I have used ShadowCaster, in another job setting, but do not have that program on my current computer. Is there a shadow function/filter available, or do I need to purchase a third party program?

Thanks,
Susan

Answer
Hi Susan,

Tell you what, since I don't know what you're casting a shadow from, I'll refer you to a few tutorials I found that might help. And if they don't help, please post back with a good description of the image, or even email the image to me, and we'll go from there, OK?

To answer your question about another program, no, I don't think you need another program -- unless you're getting into really involved shadows, maybe things with landscapes or images with very fine, involved details. For most purposes, just plain Photoshop works fine.

There is a Shadow plugin you can buy, though, if you want to spend $109:
http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/Photoshop-plugins/info/Lighting-effects-plugins/...

But personally, I'd first work just with Photoshop and see what I could do before I'd lay out cash for a plug-in or third-party program.

Here are the tutorials I found for you:

1. This is for casting a shadow from a person. It looks pretty straightforward, although the Web page itself is hard to read, LOL!
http://www.decile.net/tutorials/photoshop/techniques/castshadow/

2. Here's a souped-up drop shadow they're using for the image of a drawn hand:
http://www.handson.nu/HTML/dropshadow.shtml

3. This is a pretty neat site, although kinda busy on the home page -- but the tutorials are good. Here's a good shadow tutorial:
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/cast%20shadow/cast%20shadow.htm

4. This link will take you to the HTML version of a PDF:
http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:BONQB07TLJEJ:users.evtek.fi/~ilkkamtk/steps...

If that link doesn't work, tell me and I'll email you the PDF. It's a pretty good tutorial.

5. Here's another nice drop shadow effect; notice that the tutorial in #3 is on this site, too!
http://www.tutorialoutpost.com/count/148

Like I say, it would help to see your image, but maybe these tutorials will give you some guidance. If not, please post back!

Lisa