Req: Product Photography shadows technique

[stevie_boy]

I do quite alot of product photography and light my white backgrounds accordingly with seperate lighting, inevitably sometimes the products have to be cut out.

I would like to know a good technique to create a convincing product shadow, I have tried a few techeqniques but non seem to be realistic and the internet is pretty sparse on this subject, would welcome any links or instruction.

many thanks in advance.

 

[Garry79]

Do you mean that you want to create a shadow in Photoshop for something that you've cut out?

If so try http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/cast_shadow/cast_shadow.htm

 

[Garry79]

There's also this one that shows you how to retain the shadow that you captured and transfer it to a different background. http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/create-a-shadow/photoshop-shadows.html

 

[stevie_boy]

i tried this demo this is the result, still not quite right, i think it stems from where the shadow starts from, ie the base, this looks like. anybody got any suggestions.

 

[andrewc]

that one doesn't look right because you assume the wheels would be touching the ground and therefore that is where the shadow of the wheel would meet the wheel itself.

 

[Garry79]

Andrewc is right. You need to consider where the shadow should start. A fair bit of visualisation is required and if the end result doesn't look right then it probably isn't. If it looks convincing then you've nailed it!

 

[Chappers]

I think the angle of the shadow looks wrong to, It should be more behind the trolly. If you look at the wheels the light seems to be coming from the right and the shadow is in the same direction. The eye gets mixed messages and this makes it look wrong.

I seem to remember that an episode of Photoshopuser TV had a feature on adding shadows like this. I just had a quick search of the archive but couldn't find it

Sorry

 

[stevie_boy]

It seems you have to treat the product shadow in 2 or maybe 3 dimensions, ie: width, depth and height. On this version the base of the trolley has no shadow as its flat on the floor yet the height of the truck starts from the wheels upwards and moves into a perspective vanishing point I assume.

The example URL posted above was a very thin wheel which doesnt illustrate the depth of the product and associated problems.

I think this looks ok, anyone give me some more tips.

cheers,

great forum by the way

 

[andrewc]

i think the shadow is too long. Where is the light coming from? high up so it casts a short shadow, or low down, causing a long shadow?

 

[stevie_boy]

very good point about about where the sun was shining from and the height in the sky. Not something i thought of to be honest as mostly all the products are shot on a white backdrop with a lightbox, this one was taken in my front garden