Shadowing

Sherri Tierney

Sherri Tierney

New member
I don't want to hijack Leotine's thread so I'll start a new one.

I have a love/hate relationship with shadowing. I CAN do it and I can get great shadows but it takes more time than I am usually willing to spend (so I end up with pages with 'ok' shadows but nothing I'm thrilled about). I need to learn to do it faster. I have shadow actions from a few different people but I don't like to use them. I prefer to do my own shadows but then I get frustrated with how long it takes me to get a shadow I'm 100% pleased with. Perfectionism sucks sometimes. :p

I seriously think I am going to enroll in Peppermint's shadowing class just to see if I can gleem anything from that.

Anyway, what is YOUR one tip for making the shadowing process quicker and easier for yourself?
 
I just use a mix of actions... I have my favorites from each set and then I found the tweaking doesn't take as long... and I only separate and smudge a few things but not all the flowers and not always... that would take forever LOL :p
 
Hm... shadowing does take time, but it's the one thing that really makes or breaks a page in my opinion. This is how I go about shadowing:

First I place my papers & photo, those things have similar shadows (I try to think of how paper lies pretty close to the paper below it... so it's a small shadow with a slightly harder edge). I'll work at making one shadow just right and then copy the layer style and select all the layers of paper/photos and paste layer style. I do the same things with similar elements like buttons, big flowers with loose petals, big flowers with tight petals, small flowers, and embellies that sort of layer underneath closer to the paper. So, once I get the shadow right for one object I select all similar objects and paste the style. OR I will right click to find the object in my layers if they're not all right next to each other. Does this make sense???

Usually after the page is nearly finished I will fiddle with the global light direction on the entire page until it looks right. Then I'll rotate a few things that might not be lit in the same direction... only if it's noticeable (depending on what direction the designer made her shadows it can seem off sometimes). Then I will make a layer from shadows on ribbons or anything that might have varying distances from the page and do transform: warp (like greenery or if I want to make a pennant banner look like it's anchored at the ends and lifting away in the middle). THEN I am finished.

This all becomes faster the more I scrap. It's not the quickest routine, but I don't use shadow styles because I like tweaking things a little differently on each page. Some kits look better with softer shadows and some look better lit starkly. Also, I use Multiply sometimes and other times Linear Burn.
 
I select all of the layers from my layers palette that I think will have the same shadow style and apply it in one click. Similar components tend to have the same shadow style. For example, papers that are lying flat have one style, etc ... then I tweak from there. Shadowing is actually my favorite part of the process!
 
SeattleSheri said:
I select all of the layers from my layers palette that I think will have the same shadow style and apply it in one click. Similar components tend to have the same shadow style. For example, papers that are lying flat have one style, etc ... then I tweak from there. Shadowing is actually my favorite part of the process!
Click to expand...

This is pretty much how I do it. I also enjoy shadowing!!! It's like magic! :wub:
 
I have a good set of styles I have built with my basic shadows, adapted from a mish mash of styles I had purchased. I start with my basic shadows that everything gets- paper, element. Then go from there(wrinkled/folded paper, chipboard, button, flower, string, acrylic), and just work my way through. I like to shadow, but I stopped stressing about perfection earlier this year and it made me a LOT happier.
 
Its great that some of you love shadowing. It bores me. I want a great shadow but I don't want to mess with it. I just want the layouts DONE.
 
Sherri Tierney said:
Its great that some of you love shadowing. It bores me. I want a great shadow but I don't want to mess with it. I just want the layouts DONE.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on this one Sherri. I took Peppermint's class and found it very helpful. I also use her shadow styles and really love them.
 
SeattleSheri said:
I select all of the layers from my layers palette that I think will have the same shadow style and apply it in one click. Similar components tend to have the same shadow style. For example, papers that are lying flat have one style, etc ... then I tweak from there. Shadowing is actually my favorite part of the process!
Click to expand...

Same here! I love finishing my page then adding shadows and warping them. It's so fun!
 
I love seeing how the page comes to life when I apply the shadows, but by the time I get to them I'm ready to finish up. I wrote my own shadow styles and actions, and I only take the time to tweak shadows for the few elements on each page that need it the most. So things like curled ribbon, large flowers, and greenery that are in prominent locations on the page. For me, that's the best balance between speed and realism.
 
I'm not aware of any shadow styles for PSP, I guess they would be scripts. I have tried writing my own script for the basics like paper, but that is it so far. I still do it a shadow at a time and I know that I am not the best at it, but I think I've improved in the last few months. For me shadowing may always be just a work in progress. :)
 
Sherri Tierney said:
Its great that some of you love shadowing. It bores me. I want a great shadow but I don't want to mess with it. I just want the layouts DONE.
Click to expand...
I don't know how you're currently applying your shadows, but If you employ the method I mentioned, you will get a good result in a very short period of time. I do not spend much time on my shadowing, but I get a lot of compliments on my technique. Obviously, you get out of it, what you put into it, but you can get a pretty good result just by using layer styles. You really only need 3-4 styles per page.
 
For all my shadowing needs I use Peppermint's styles. Occasionally I'll tweak those a little bit-but most of the time I go with that and am pretty satisfied. She's done all the hard work for me and I can just keep scrapping!
 
SeattleSheri said:
I don't know how you're currently applying your shadows, but If you employ the method I mentioned, you will get a good result in a very short period of time. I do not spend much time on my shadowing, but I get a lot of compliments on my technique. Obviously, you get out of it, what you put into it, but you can get a pretty good result just by using layer styles. You really only need 3-4 styles per page.
Click to expand...

That is actually pretty similar to my process. Its the tweaking of certain elements that takes me longer. I mess with warping the shadows, etc. and it seems to take forever. Maybe because its the final thing I do and by that point I'm ready to move on to the next layout.
 
ok, I used to use a collection of actions from Traci Murphy, but I don't know if they will work in CS5 .... anyone know?
 
Does anyone know where I can change my blending mode from multiply to linear burn in PSE9? I really can't find it....otherwise all tutorials I am finding are ?

Switching to CS5 is very expensive....is it worthy for me?
I am like Sherry though...I want to improve but not at all cause...I don't want to spend hours on shadowing.
 
Last edited:
Ok, the longer I am googling the more I think: OMG! What am I looking for exactly. I just don't know.

I see CS5 (your girls use this a lot)
I see Photoshop 7.0 (I never hear anyone about this one)
I see Photoshop Elements 10 (I have 9 now)

What's the main difference between the three of them?
 
I have 3-4 shadow styles of my own that I use all the time. I don't spend a long time on my shadowing at all and I get compliments about them all the time. The only thing I adjust sometimes, is the opacity. I rarely warp my shadows anymore, I will occasionally use the smudge tool on them but that's rare.

@Amber: I have Traci's shadowing actions, they were the first thing I ever used that took my shadowing skills to a higher level and I recently used one again on some acrylic elements. I use CS5, so yes, they work.
 
Yep, PS 7.0 was the last PS version before the introduction of the CS line. I used to scrap with it in the beginning. As PSE finally has layer masks, too, and you don't plan to go overboard with things, I don't think it makes any sense to get it.

Photoshop is a FANTASTIC program, but if you cannot get a student discount, it's only worth it, if you plan to do extensive work in it. If you are happy with PSE and it's JUST for shadowing, I would rather spend a few dollars on good shadow styles. I know there are some available for PSE, too.

Oh and btw, if PS is what it's going to be, I would wait a few months and get CS6. You can already use the Beta for free til then. What I heard and saw on youtube sounds/looks really good. Plus Adobe has come out with a drastically reduced price for the latest Lightroom version, so I'm curious how they will price CS6. In any way I highly recommend downloading a trial before you invest so much money.
 
I really don't want to spend a lot of money for just shadowing.
I am happy with my layouts but I just wanted to upgrade my shadowing.

Can anyone show me how to make metadata files of the styles? Only Jenn's come directly with these files and you need them before use in PSE9.
 
Amber1279 said:
ok, I used to use a collection of actions from Traci Murphy, but I don't know if they will work in CS5 .... anyone know?
Click to expand...

I don't know if they work in CS5 but using layer styles is WAY easier than using the actions so I'd look into those over using the actions. It's really easy to make your own styles as well.
 
I took peppermint's class and saw a huge difference in my shadowing after that and received a lot of compliments too. Now I use what I learned in her class.
 
I asked one of my favorite scrappers how she made her shadows and found out she used PSP, too! So, she was nice enough to send me the scripts she made. I tweek and play with them from time to time, but find they really work for me as is for most everything.

I spend very little time with my shadows and usually don't do a lot of warping.
 
Leontine78 said:
I really don't want to spend a lot of money for just shadowing.
I am happy with my layouts but I just wanted to upgrade my shadowing.

Can anyone show me how to make metadata files of the styles? Only Jenn's come directly with these files and you need them before use in PSE9.
Click to expand...

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I do know that Peppermint's shadow styles use the linear burn method and when you use them in Elements it somehow translates. I use PSE 10. Peppermint also has a tutorial on her blog for installing the layer styles. It's called "Scream into a Pillow Like Me". And for those of you who haven't heard of Peppermint, she is a regular on the DigiShow Podcast, which I LOVE to listen to.
 
Peppermint is awesome. :) She was on our CT at ES back in the day and she is a real hoot. I sure miss hanging around with her (virtually LOL), she has a great and quirky sense of humor. :)
 
ok, so I did some searching/reading and downloaded some free styles from Megan Turnidge. I used them on the 2 layout I uploaded last night. Would anyone care to give me a little cc on them. It was my first time using styles and I am still not 100% sure I did them right. The styles didn't go on their own layer like I thought they would, I guess I need to read a little more.
 
Amber, what program are you using? For example in CS, you can click on your layer and choose 'create layer' and it will put your effects (shadow) on it's own layer...
 
Leontine78 said:
I see CS5 (your girls use this a lot)
I see Photoshop 7.0 (I never hear anyone about this one)
I see Photoshop Elements 10 (I have 9 now)

What's the main difference between the three of them?
Click to expand...

Ginger's right, PS 7 is the last one before Adobe developed the CS line. I started scrapping with PS7, at a time when CS2 was what most people were using. I admit, I had upgraded to CS2 PURELY because I wanted the Warp tool for my shadowing! And it's proven to be well worth it. :)

And I LOVE Peppermint and am a regular listener at The Digishow too! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top