Creating Shadows & Layers

Topics covered in this Photoshop tutorial:

Adding effects to layers, Drop shadows

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

This exercise shows you the basics of using layers and how to create drop shadows.

Silhouetting the Turtle

1. From the Photoshop Class folder, open the Turtle.jpg file.

2. Choose the Select > Subject.

   Wow, Photoshop figured out the subject matter and selected the turtle! This doesn’t always work, but it’s great when it does.

3. We’re going to use a Layer Effect to create a drop shadow. The Drop Shadow effect is found in the Layer menu, under Layer Style. However, you can’t access the menu now, because we are currently working on the Background layer. Photoshop can not put a shadow on a Background layer.

   To separate the turtle from the Background layer, do a Layer > New > Layer Via Cut.

4. The turtle is now on its own layer, ready for the Drop Shadow. In the Layers panel, double–click the layer’s name and rename it turtle.

Adding the Drop Shadow

As previously mentioned, you can add a drop shadow by choosing it from the Layer menu, but let’s do it an easier way.

1. At the bottom of the Layers panel, click the Add a layer style button and from the menu, choose Drop Shadow, as shown below.

   

2. When the dialog opens, you will notice a little shadow underneath the turtle. Try moving it around by clicking inside the image window and dragging it around.

3. Set the following options in the Layer Style dialog:

   Blend Mode:	Multiply
   Opacity:	50%
   Angle:	This one’s up to you! (Distance and Angle are determined when you drag the shadow in the window.)
   Distance:	Also up to you!
   Spread:	0%
   Size:	8 px
   Noise:	0%

4. Click OK.

5. That’s how easy it is to create a drop shadow! Look in the Layers panel. To the right of the turtle layer, there is an effects icon , which indicates there is a layer style. Below the turtle layer, the Effects are listed.

   

6. To clean up the Layers panel, click the up arrow just to the right of this symbol. Notice how the Drop Shadow listing is hidden.

7. Click the arrow again, and you can see the list of Effects once again.

8. If you double–click on the name of the effect, you will be able to alter the shadow’s settings like distance, light angle, opacity, etc. Try it out for fun.

Moving the Turtle onto Another Picture

1. Open water.psd. We want to make this the new background for the turtle.

2. Switch back to turtle.jpg using the tab at the top. Then do the following to copy its turtle layer (make sure it’s still selected):
   • Do an Edit > Copy.
   • Return to water.psd.
   • Go to Edit > Paste.

3. Look in the Layers panel and notice that the turtle layer (the turtle and its shadow) go copied into this document.

4. Close the Turtle.jpg file and don’t bother saving changes.

5. The water.psd document is now active, so you can move the turtle around. Notice that the shadow is still there, moving with the layer.

6. Move the turtle so he’s nicely centered in the water.

7. Let’s make it look like he’s underwater. Go to the Layers panel and make sure the turtle layer is highlighted.

8. Change the Opacity to around 30% or whatever you think looks realistic.

9. It looks like he’s underwater but his shadow doesn’t look right. In the Layers panel, double–click the turtle’s Drop Shadow effect. Adjust the Angle, Size, and Opacity to make it look like the shadow is hitting the ocean floor.

10. If you want to save this, choose File > Save As and:

    • Make sure Format (Mac) or Save as type (Windows) is set to Photoshop.
    • Name the file yourname-dropshadow-layered.psd and click Save.

    NOTE: Remember that a .psd is a fully editable layered document that you can make changes to later on. If you’re taking this image into InDesign, you don’t have to do anything else, as InDesign can import/print the .psd file. For further explanation, refer to the Print File Formats reference at the back of this workbook.