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Posted on 10/11/06 9:11:43 PM |
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Jonathan
* Posts: 9 Reply  |
adding shadows to the guards
Hello everyone! Ok, I've created a website for my family using photoshop and I'm creating pages for all my siblings...but having some troubles with my sister's page. The problem is I want to create shadows on all the guards to make it more realistic. I know that the shadows need to be pointing towards the viewers since most of the light is coming from the monitors (which I'll make glow later). So, the shadows need to be pointing towards the viewers. I tried painting in the shadows by hand and also copying each guard, filling with black, and skewing them to make the shadows...but nothing seems to look right. If somebody could offer some suggestions, that would be a big help...thanks a bunch! Here's a link to my website if you want to take a look at my other photoshop work...most of it is in the photos > family page... www.richardsnews.com  |
Posted on 11/11/06 02:09:07 AM |
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Babybiker
Shadow Spectaculator Posts: 151 Reply  |
Re: adding shadows to the guards
Hi Jonathan, I am not sure that the Guards need shadows in this particular case. I am alway conscious that a lack of shadows leave items floating, but in your montage the guards seem to be fairly well grounded. This is possibly due to a number of reasons- 1) the flooring, door and Guards' uniforms are fairly flat in colour, giving an almost cartoon effect (and most cartoons don't have shadows, so the viewer does not expect to see shadows). 2) The curved screens as a light source is multi-directional and not strong enough to cast a definitive shadow. This coupled with the strong lighting on the Guards' faces on the opposite side to the screens would suggest multiple light sources (eg neon tubes) within the room. 3) The Guards' toes are touching the red carpet, which even without a shadow, gives the illusion of them being grounded. A more convincing option in this case might be to have faint reflections on the polished wood floor? If you are adamant that you want a shadow for each guard, try a very faint one over the carpet at 45 degrees towards the viewer, for both sides - so that they almost meet and create V's. You might also want to try either multiple shadows (again very faint) or just a small "blob" of shadow around their feet. Personally, I would leave it as it is. BB |
Posted on 12/11/06 00:34:08 AM |
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Pierre
Constructional Confabulator Posts: 637 Reply  |
Re: adding shadows to the guards
I agree with Babybiker. You don't need very defined shadows with the screens as sources. I like the idea of the reflection on the wooden floor. Or a dab of a very soft brush at a small opacity under each guard. Don't get mad at me (well, you can, but don't kick me) but there is a discrepency in your perspective... The heads of the guard define a vanishing point that is consistent with the proper height within the door we see at the end of the red carpet. But the curvature of the screens suggest a horizon that is aligned right below the nose of the lady. You can find this by extending the bottom edges of the blue screens on each side until they meet and you will see tha this point does not correspond to the same vanishing point as the guards. I don't want to sound picky, but perspective is one thing that the brain sees quickly and makes it say: "Somethng is crooked here..."  
By the way, I like your site. I'm planning to do one with the same goal but I haven't figured out what to do yet. _________________ |
Posted on 13/11/06 01:43:40 AM |
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Jonathan
* Posts: 9 Reply |
Re: adding shadows to the guards
Thank you both for your input. I ended up not adding any shadows, but added a faint reflection in the floor for each guard and added some lighting effects. It looks a lot better and am happy with it. Thanks again. |