How To Create Realistic Shadows In Photoshop For Product Images – Using shadows correctly can take your product photos from amateur to professional. This helps make the product more natural and realistic, adding a sense of shape and depth.
And the best part is, creating professional product images doesn’t require a big budget or a huge team. All you need to do is spend some time photographing your product and the post-processing process.
How To Create Realistic Shadows In Photoshop For Product Images
There are many types of shadows, but in this blog we will focus on the most versatile type of shadow that applies to all types of products – drop shadows.
Ultimate Guide: How To Use And Create Shadows In Your Product Images
If you’re photographing products in a studio, it can be difficult to create the perfect shade, especially if you’re not a professional photographer. Luckily, adding shadows is very easy in post-production using Adobe Photoshop. I’ll explain exactly how to do this, step by step.
While the steps I share here are easy to follow, ultimately you need to make sure you follow these two basic rules. Otherwise, your online store will display unprofessional product images.
To begin, open your image in Photoshop. Be sure to start with a high resolution image. I want to demonstrate the process on an existing white plate on a white background. You can see that it looks a little flat.
In the Layers panel on the right side of Photoshop, select the Background layer window and duplicate it. You can either right-click on the layer and select Duplicate Layer, or press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (Mac) on your keyboard. You will see a background copy appear. This allows you to edit a duplicate layer without worrying about accidentally damaging or distorting the original image.
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Create an outline around your product in Background Copy and remove the background. You can see that the background has been removed by looking closely at the Layers panel; Your product should have a gray and white square background (Photoshop mode with transparency) on the top layer. Alternatively, you can hide the original background layers.
You also need to duplicate this layer. A little organization goes a long way in Photoshop, so get into the habit of organizing your layers. Name this layer something like “Product”. I also suggest renaming the “Background Copy” layer to something like “Shadow”.
Select the Shadow layer, then press Ctrl + Tor Command + T to select the Transform tool. Hold down the Ctrl or Command key, then click on the top center control point (the point at the top of the image) and drag the mouse to position the transform at the appropriate angle to match the incoming light source on the subject. If necessary, use the Move tool to reposition the converted image by clicking and dragging it into place. Don’t worry about making sure it’s perfect because you’ll have the option to change its position later.
In the Layers panel, click the Lock Transparent Pixels button next to the word Lock. This will ensure that the next step only affects the transformation you just made (which will become your shadow). To learn more about the powerful transparent pixel blocking feature, check out this short tutorial from SitePoint.
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Select the Gradient Tool (shortcut G), then use the drop-down menu next to the gradient bar at the top of the Photoshop window to select the third black and white gradient option. Also select Linear Gradient from the menu bar icons on the right.
To apply a gradient, simply click the base of the shadow closest to the object, then drag it to the end of the shadow. This should turn the converted image into a smooth gradient, but it doesn’t look natural. Let’s get out now.
Just above this button, from the drop-down menu, select “Multiply” as your blending mode. For a lot of reading, click on this tutorial on blending modes from Photo Blog Stop.
Click Filter in Photoshop’s main menu, then choose Blur and then Gaussian Blur. Specify the pixel radius for the blur. You may want to experiment here, as this effect will look different depending on the specific resolution and file format of the image. If you go out of bounds, use Ctrl+Z or Command+Z to correct the mistake, and Control+Shift+Z or Command+Shift+Z to go back more than one step.
How To Make Realistic Shadows In Photoshop
Now you can do some additional conversions. Activate the Free Transform tool again and transform your shadow. Try to follow the light source and move the shadow accordingly. This may require some trial and error. You can also use the Opacity function in the Layers panel to change the opacity of the shadow. This will make the shadow more accurate.
For the finishing touches, use the Eraser Tool (E) and set the Opacity to 20-25% and Pressure to 60%. Right-click on the canvas and adjust the brush size and hardness. The brush size will vary depending on the image resolution. Set the Hardness to 0. Quickly brush over the shadow layer to soften any harsh shadows you may have created. You can use Ctrl + Z/Command + Z to undo the last action. Just play around until you find what you think sounds best.
Like this! You have now created a shadow from scratch! And if you’re looking for more tutorials on photo editing in Photoshop, check out the blog. The number one secret to staying on top of ecommerce success: great product images. And when you only have a few seconds to grab your audience’s attention, small details matter a lot. For example, adding a shadow to an image.
Subtle retouching of your photos can give them a more luxurious and high-quality look. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to add shadows to product images, here’s a tutorial in Photoshop and Illustrator, plus an intuitive, automatic, and blazingly fast option: Designify.
How To Make Realistic Shadows In Photoshop
Think about the last product you bought on Amazon or Shopify—you probably chose it over other products because something about it was right. right? This is the power of a professional product image. And with simple details like shadows, your photos will look sharper, more professional, and more realistic. (All the details that convince your customers to click “buy”).
All of these different types of shading give your product images a professional look and make your customers more likely to make a purchase. But if you’re wondering if the difference is that big, let’s take a look in practice.
So while this in itself is great, you should also avoid photos of products that look like they’re floating. This can create the feeling that there is something wrong with what you are selling. (Which makes your customers less likely to buy.)
On the other hand, with shadow editing, you can create a better e-commerce experience. Aka works with (not against) your customers’ deep perception of how your product fits into their environment:
5 Tips For Creating Realistic Drop Shadows In Photoshop
Even with such fine details, shadows help make your product images appear clearer and more vibrant. This means it’s easier for the buyer to visualize in 3D – and even click “buy” in real life.
With all that said, let’s figure out how to naturally add shadows to your product photos while you’re busy shooting them.
If you’re just getting started in photography, check out our comprehensive guide to editing product photos, it covers some key points that will help you improve your photos. Here are some tips to help you add shadows to your 100% natural product images:
You may have noticed that most eCommerce images have a white, neutral, or solid background—this helps your customers keep the product front and center. (Instead, a background that is too saturated can be distracting.) Plus, adding a shadow to a plain background is one of the best ways to make your product stand out.
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So, here’s a simple trick to create a crisp background by hand: using blank or thick paper. (Like the example below.) You can install them on a flat surface (like a wall) at a 90-degree angle to create an elongated, flat wallpaper, as shown below:
This way, the shadows of your product images look natural against the lighting, adding more depth and dimension to your images.
Shadows in product photos look best when you have a constant light source – natural or artificial. The resulting shadow usually depends on the angle of the camera depending on the lighting. So, if you find that your shadows are a little dramatic, you can make the effect more subtle by using:
Using these techniques, you can soften the shades so they are less dominant, allowing your product to shine instead.
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Different angles create different shadows—to the side for natural shadows and directly above the shadow for shadows. Depending on what you’re selling, you may find that a certain angle works best. For example:
This is not a complete list – we recommend playing