Add Shadows to Image
Lesson 23 from: Using Composite Photography to Create a Fantasy WorldKaren Alsop
Add Shadows to Image
Lesson 23 from: Using Composite Photography to Create a Fantasy WorldKaren Alsop
Lessons
Class Introduction
03:01 2Adding Fine Art Compositing to Your Business
24:28 3Background Plate Workflow
22:54 4Setting Up Studio for Shoot
09:04 5Photograph the Rabbit
05:09 6Mock Up of Rabbit in Photoshop™
08:56 7Photograph The Rabbit Costume
34:34 8Setting up the Studio to Shoot with a Green Screen
03:41Photographing the Child in Segments
27:22 10Photographing Hair in Motion
29:46 11Getting a Great Costume Shot
11:21 12Use Lightroom to Choose the Best Images
13:07 13Make Selections in Photoshop™
15:08 14How to Use Photoshop™ Brushes to Mask Out Images
22:36 15Crop Out & Add Costume to Rabbit
27:41 16Warp Techniques to Fit Costume to Rabbit
20:31 17Shading & Shadows on & Under Rabbit
31:50 18Change color of Rabbit Costume
12:00 19Remove Green Screen from Child Image
08:22 20Background Plate Workflow
21:40 21How to Create a Brush
11:25 22Add Layers to Create Full Looking Hair
27:49 23Add Shadows to Image
05:57 24Workflow: Group Rabbit & Child Images
10:47 25Match the Scene with Color
05:31 26Spill Light: Painting with Light to Blend
09:46 27Levels Adjustment Layers: Shading & Rim Lighting
04:59 28Finalize Image Workflow in Lightroom™
08:36 29Export Image in Different Formats
15:44 30Marketing Composite Photography to Clients
17:13 31Presenting Image to Client
23:06Lesson Info
Add Shadows to Image
Now we just need to add the shadows So we're repeating what we did with the rabbit. We click on the Alice group. And then underneath the Alice group is where we want to create the levels adjustment layer. So we actually need to click on the layer below Alice, and, levels, turn that down. So we're taking the light out of the scene and this is our sharp shadow. So we call that sharp shadow, labeling as we go. And invert, so Control + I if you're on a PC, make sure we clicked on there. And Command + I on a MAC, and then painting that sharp shadow in. So zooming up under the feet. Now this one's a little bit different because her foot is coming up off the ground. So, looking at this shadow here we do want sort of a solid shadow underneath her foot here. In the same way that we painted in the rabbit's. But here, there is a little bit of distance between her foot and the ground. So it softens off at the back, it's not as dark as down below where it's really close. So you imagine, you've gott...
a actually imagine how the shadow looks. So, I'm always putting my hand on the table and lifting it up and working at how that shadow would look. But that shadow needs to sit like that so it looks like there's that angle in underneath her foot. And then, the soft shadow. So we've got that one. Levels adjustment, bring that slider up to the middle, invert it. Call this one soft shadow. And the same thing as with the rabbit. So we're looking at the rabbit's shadow there. And we're imitating that with Alice's shadow as well. So soft brush, low flow. Make it a bit more obvious to start with and then we turn the opacity down. So more under the feet imagining we can sort of see her dress it's much softer as it comes out here, a bit more distance. Some shadow under there, some shadow under here, softening it off as it gets further away, and then, turning it down. Zooming out to assess, to have a look, I think I wanna turn that one on multiplier mode as well and turn that down, so you're again bringing in that texture of the ground and the color. And, perhaps just a little bit more near the feet. Okay. So, we have a roll. We have our shadows. We have our Alice, our rabbit. We are up to the fun part of painting with light. and bringing in all the color tones. All right, fantastic. Well, do we have any questions here in the studio? Let me double check again with the folks at home. Let's see. Oh, yes. Just a couple of clarifications for people. You mentioned earlier the setup that you use at home when you're not using the tablet. Sure. Could you just mention that again, and in particular, the monitor-- Yes. That you talked about. I will spell it. And maybe, spell it. That's exactly what people were wanting to know. It's, yeah, okay it's pronounced a-zo, but it's actually spelled E-I-zed or Z-O. Yeah, Z-O. And, yeah it's available in only high-end photography stores in Australia, Kayell Australia supply. But that monitor has changed my world. I got it at the start of the year. And, prior to that I was working on the iMac monitor and I was printing. And to try and get my print correct with the color and get it how I wanted it I was wasting a ton of paper. I print on Canson Infinity paper, it's beautiful fine art paper. It's not cheap. And I'm a perfectionist and I was just printing, and obviously for awards you need to get things perfect. And I would have to print, check, change colors, make adjustments, print again. Whereas with this monitor, I can actually see, I have it set so that I can see what it's going to look like on the paper. So, I've actually calibrated it to the paper, so I can see on screen virtually what it's going to look like when it prints. So I'm wasting a lot less paper. I'm printing, and really happy with the prints that come out. So, it's well worth it. It's one of those big monitors that have the sides on them, so it cuts out the light, and it calibrates itself, it pops up every night and calibrates itself, so, it's pretty amazing.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
Judy Mitschelen
I've found many great instructors at CreativeLive and Karen ranks right up there at the top! With her relaxed, thoughtful manner of presenting, I was immediately hooked. Her organization, clear explanations and demonstration, and on target response to questions are superb. This course covers an amazing range of skills and tricks of the trade. Whether you're interested in getting better shots to work with, better workflow at the computer, or better output at the end, Karen covers it all.
Kim
Karen is very talented and a great teacher and I enjoyed every minute of the course. But what I found to be the best part was seeing what an amazing person she is. The video of compositing the disabled children to make their dreams come true had me in tears. It has inspired me to use my talents to help others and not learn photo manipulation for self enjoyment. God bless you Karen.
Endigo Rae
This was such an amazing class! Karen is so talented, inspiring, and such an amazing teacher. Very forthcoming and open about all of her techniques. I'm so looking forward to jumping into compositing, I feel like this is definitely something my soul desires to explore and Karen has made it so easy and accesible through her beautiful course! Thanks so much Karen and CreativeLive!
Student Work
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