How to Create Amazing Shadows Using Adobe Photoshop Elements
Hello peeps! Are you ready for another, fabulous edition of Q & A Wednesday — the new weekly VIDEO feature here at Simply Tiffany Studios that answers your digital scrapbooking questions? I hope you are because today’s topic is stellar! And since I featured a typography tip specific to Photoshop users last week, it’s time to show Photoshop Elements users some love.
But before we jump into the video, save the date of October 18, 2012 at 9 pm EDT. I’ll be at Renee TV for my monthly webinar called Building Better Pages for Digital Scrapbookers. This month’s topic is all about the Q & A baby and everyone is invited to attend. Ask me your question LIVE and I’ll answer, or demonstrate the answer, using my library of digital software. Join, enjoy, and learn!
Q & A Wednesday for Today
In this week’s fabulous Q & A, you’ll discover my beginner’s process for creating amazing shadows using Adobe Photoshop Elements and …
- How to craft realistic and dimensional drop shadows.
- My go-to Adjustment Layer and Filter for creating dedicated shadow layers.
- See more differences between PS & PSE.
- And the three reasons why my process works better than Element’s preset drop shadow settings.
Onward to the show …
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below and tell us: your tips for creating realistic and dimensional shadows using PSE or if the techniques shared have elevated your process.
Thanks for sharing your digi scrapping love!
About Tiffany
Tiffany Tillman is the Owner of Simply Tiffany Studios, an online resource with tutorials and page-design interviews for digital scrapbookers. She's also a Designer for Pixels & Company and professionally trains digital crafters developing e-learning content.
jennybean
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I’m still fairly new to digi scrapping and PSE, and I was completely confused by shadows until now!!!
Tiffany Tillman
You’re welcome JennyBean! Glad to help clear up that confusion. Here’s to better shadows!
Barbara
Great tutorial Tiffany!
Tiffany Tillman
Thanks dear!
cincymom2
Loved this tutorial! Thank you for sharing.
Tiffany Tillman
It’s my pleasure.
Jenny B.
Thanks Tiffany! I often duplicate my element layers to basically have two shadows on an object (like for a bunting – those are SO difficult to shadow), but I’ve never made a dedicated shadow layer like this! Great tips. I will definitely have to try it!
Tiffany Tillman
Bunting is difficult to shadow, that’s for sure! This might definitely help. And you can duplicate the dedicated shadow layer too if you find you need more “umph” behind that bunting. Cheers, dudette!
Debra
Than you for the tutorial Tiffany.
Tiffany Tillman
You’re welcome! It’s my pleasure.
Stefanie
Awesome, I really appreciate that it was for PSE users. I generally do this for things like strings. I have done edit-fill and chosen a colour deeper than the element instead of the adj layer. Then I use the eraser to lighten the ends of the strings and the highest points of the arches. The smudge tool works wonderfully for nudging the shadow and tweaking it too.
Why can’t I think up a brilliant PSE question? Sigh!
Tiffany Tillman
Absolutely, I know a lot of PSE digi scrappers use the Smudge tool to fine-tune their shadows with wonderful results. Thanks for sharing your shadowing process too. Cheers!
CraftCrave | Blog | Scrapbooking Tutorials (large): Thursday, 18 Oct 2012
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Ami
This was awesome. Now I understand a bit better and will feel some confidence when I next attempt to shadow and then post a layout.
Tiffany Tillman
You’re welcome! Confidence is certainly key with shadowing and this trick will help with that result. Have fun!
Eva
Fabulous tutorial! Thankyou so much for sharing. The difference truly is amazing!
Tiffany Tillman
My pleasure, Eva!
Thanks for watching.
Donna P.
Thanks for this tutorial! It was awesome! Any chance of getting a PDF so I can add it to my trusting tutorial notebook that I keep?
Tiffany Tillman
Hi Donna! Thanks for the suggestion. You’re right, a PDF with step outs would be helpful. I’m going to research the cost of doing this and see what I can offer. Cheers!
Donna P.
That would be great! Thanks!
Samantha
Thank you! You saved me a headache. I knew there was a way but had not taken the time to figure it out. With this method the shadow can be transformed (skewed, distorted) to give it more life too.
Tiffany Tillman
Very insightful Samantha and I’m glad you caught on to that and shared it! From my basic step you can adjust your shadows using many of the Transform options in the Edit menu and beyond. Thanks for sharing! Cheers!
Tami Taylor
This was amazing!
Tiffany Tillman
Thanks Tami!
Shelle
You ROCK, Tiffany!
LizJ
Thank you so much!
Gina Comer
That was THE most helpful tutorial on shadowing ever. Thank you!!!
Diane Howard
This was such a good tutorial. I played it SO-O-O many times so I could write down every word you said in the tutorial. I referred to it when I shadowed a twisted ribbon for the first time. I feel like a superstar! Thank you!!
SueR
Wow, I can do fancy stuff with PSE! Thanks a bunch.
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[...] How to Create Amazing Shadows Using Adobe Photoshop Elements [...]
Amy
Thank you for the amazing quality tutorial. Thank you for being a great designer and teacher.