White backgrounds and adding shadows at PP time

FlyTVR

FlyTVR

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,234
Edit My Images
No
If you shoot subjects against a white background, you've probably come across the age old problem of non-pure white sections e.g around the feet.

I'm happy to clean this up - doesn't take long. HOWEVER, I hate the floating effect i.e where the subject appears to be floating. If I wanted to add a 'clean' shadow under the subject, what's the best approach?

Cheers.

Dav
 
If I remember correctly one way is to create a new layer, draw around the subject and fill with black.
Filter, lightly Blur
Transform (rotate, width and height, angles) until it looks right
Create new layer from shadow
Blur again but a bit more this time
add layer mask
add gradient to soften the shadow as it gets further away from subject
Change blending mode to muliply (I think)
Change opacity of top shadow layer to about 50%
Change opacity of bottom shadow layer to about 30% (but play around with these settings until it looks right).
 
Sorry Christine. Not tried it yet. But thanks ever so much for your suggestion. I will definitely try it.

Dav
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top