How to Add Shadows in Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop allows you to add a shadow to any object. You can create a simple shadow with Blending Options and a realistic shadow with layers. This guide will show you both methods.

Creating a Simple Shadow

This method is ideal if you want to add a 3D effect to text or if you want to add a simple shadow behind an object.

1. Right-click on the layer you wish to add the shadow on, then click on Blending Options.

   

2. Check the box next to Drop Shadow, then click on Drop Shadow.

   

There will be different options within the Drop Shadow window to help you adjust the appearance of the shadow.

1. First, select the color of your shadow. You can do that by clicking on the square beside the Blend Mode.

   

2. Opacity controls the opacity of the shadow. You can adjust it by moving the white arrow or typing in the % number.
3. You can adjust the Angle at which the shadow drops by dragging the line in the circle. You can also manually change the angle by typing in a different number.

   

4. Distance controls the distance of the shadow, Spread controls the spread of the shadow, and Size controls the overall size of the shadow. You can adjust these by moving the small white arrow or changing their value by typing in a % number.

   

5. Noise controls the noise aspect of the shadow. You can see its effects in the screenshot below.

   

Disable or Delete Shadows

1. To disable any shadows you added, uncheck the box beside Drop Shadow and click on OK.

   

2. To add a shadow to another object within the project, click on the + sign next to Drop Shadow. You can add as many shadows to one object as you want. They will stack on top of each other.

   

3. To delete the extra shadow you added, click on Drop Shadow, then click on the trashcan icon.

   

Creating a Realistic Shadow

To create a realistic shadow, you first need to transfer that object to a separate layer. The easiest way to do this is using the Quick Selection tool.

Separating the object from the background

This method shows you how to separate the object from the background using the Quick Selection tool.

1. First, click on the Quick Selection tool.

   

2. In the top toolbar, you can choose the + tool to make a selection and the – tool to delete a selection. Click on the + and then on the object you wish to select.

   

3. The selection will automatically be created, but it will not be perfect. Use the + and – selection options to add/remove from the selection until it looks realistic.

   

4. Once you are happy with your selection, press Ctrl + C (Cmd + C on Mac) and click on the three lines in the “Layers tab.”

   

5. Click on New Layer, then press Ctrl + V (Cmd + V on Mac).

   

Adding Color

There are different ways to add color to the newly pasted layer. This is the simplest option:

1. Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and left-click on the small picture next to your layer.

   

2. Click on the Color Picker in the toolbar on the left. Select the color black. Then click OK.

   

3. Click on the small arrows above the Color Picker to make the black color go behind.

   

4. Hold Ctrl and press Backspace (Cmd + Delete on Mac). This will color the selection black.
5. Right-click on Layer 1, and duplicate it.

   

6. Left-click on the eye icon beside the duplicated layer to make it invisible.

   

Positioning the Shadow

It’s time to position your shadow so that it looks realistic.

1. Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and left-click on the picture beside Layer 1. Then select Layer 1 by left-clicking on its name.

   

2. Press Ctrl + T (Cmd + T on Mac) to activate the Free Transform tool. While holding Ctrl, click on the top middle white square and move it to a position you feel is appropriate. If you are happy with the position, click on the checkmark on top to apply the changes.

   

3. Go to Select > Deselect or press Ctrl + D (Cmd + D on Mac) to deselect your selection.

   

Adding Blur to the Shadow

1. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

   

2. With Preview turned on, adjust the Radius by moving the white arrow or typing the value in pixels. When you are happy with the blur effect, click on OK.

   

3. Click on the arrow next to Opacity, and adjust the opacity of your shadow.

   

4. Left-click on the layer we have hidden (in this case, ‘Layer 1 copy’), and toggle the eye icon by clicking on that empty square.

   

5. Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and left-click on the small image next to that layer to make a selection. Then, press Delete.

   

6. Click on Layer 1 and press Delete again. This will delete the shadow on top of the object and leave only the shadow behind her.

   

7. Go to Select > Deselect, and you are done!