***CLOSED*** Technique Challenge | DSD 2022 **winner announced**

Technique Challenge
Darkness | working with shadows
(photos and elements)​

Removing a Shadow from a photo (from Photoshop Cafe')

Let's take for example the shadow on the baby elephant in this photo


Step 1.
Choose Filters>Camera Raw filter (Photoshop CC)



Step 2. Isolating the shadow area.
Let’s select the shadow. Choose the Adjustment brush.



At the bottom of the panels, choose Auto Mask.This will detect the edges.

Turn on Mask, so you can see where you are painting.



Step 3.
Paint over the shadow area. Auto Mask will keep it inside the lines.



Step 4.
Turn off Mask overlay, so you can see the image.



Click on the hamburger menu, at the top of the adjustment brush panel and choose Reset Local Correction Settings. This zeros out all the adjustments.



Here is the area we want to work on.



Step 5. Balancing the shadow area.
Now we want the selected area to match. There are 2 things to pay attention to. Brightness and color.

First of all, move the Exposure slider until the brightness matches the surrounding areas. (Also try the Shadow slider)

It’s looking good, but notice how the color temperature in the shadows is cooler than the rest of the image.



Step 6.
Move the color temperature to the right to warm it up.



See how we have almost matched the shadow area just with exposure and temp?



Step 7.
Make more adjustments to try and get the match even better.



Click ok to apply the ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) adjustment.



Step 8, Fixing the edges.
Choose the Spot Healing Brush.



Move the brush over small areas at a time.



click here for the tutorial and additional video: https://photoshopcafe.com/remove-shadows-photoshop-photoshop/

Adding a Shadow to an element

The most common shadow is the drop shadow at 45 degrees, but I'm lazy and don't create a new shadow for each item. Like most digi-scrappers, I use a commercial set of shadows. I use Shadow like me from One Little Bird.

Shadow Styles
https://the-lilypad.com/store/Shadow-Styles.html
https://the-lilypad.com/store/Shadow-Like-Me-PU.html
https://the-lilypad.com/store/Realistic-Drop-Shadow-Styles.html
https://the-lilypad.com/store/My-Shadow-Box-Layer-Styles.html
https://the-lilypad.com/store/CU-3D-Lined-Shadow-Actions.html
https://the-lilypad.com/store/Storyteller-Reed-Digital-Scrapbooking-Kit-Collection.html
https://the-lilypad.com/store/Story...le-2016-Free-for-Storyteller-Subscribers.html

Tutorial links
http://www.lynngrieveson.com/#!Realistic-Shadow-Video-Tutorial/i1ve2/56a987a60cf22a61ccd59f32
http://www.lynngrieveson.com/#!Using-the-Warp-Tool-Video-Tutorial/i1ve2/56b2633a0cf2fb0f6feca5c1
https://the-lilypad.com/forum/threads/★-tutorial-how-to-rock-your-shadows.36305/#post-593140
https://the-lilypad.com/tutorial-shadowing-doilies/
https://the-lilypad.com/forum/threads/curling-shadows.32242/#post-507217
http://onelittlebirddesigns.com/2010/03/shadow-files-the-basics/
https://the-lilypad.com/shadowing-tutorial/

BUT......for this challenge, we are NOT going to be lazy!!!!

ADVANCED SHADOW TECHNIQUES​

Cut-outs
A super easy way to make a cut-out shape in a paper is to use the inner shadow style, which puts the shadow on the inside, making the shape look like it's lower than the background paper.


Distorted shadows
A fun way to add even more depth to your objects is to first, create a new layer for just the shadow, and then distort it by dragging a corner, or using the wave distort filter.

There is a great blog post about this: https://the-lilypad.com/shadowing-tutorial/



More Shadow techniques:
You can do soooooo much with shadows....some ideas:
- add depth to a 3D element, such as a paper clip to emphasize the but under the paper
-use the burn tool to enhance a shadow
-create a 3D element out of a flat paper....ie: folded corner or round ornament
-fold an element: https://the-lilypad.com/forum/threads/how-to-fold-elements.63410/

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INSTRUCTIONS

For this challenge, you will use at least one of the 2 techniques listed above. Either use a photo with a shadow and remove it (make sure you also post the original photo) OR alter the shadow of an element OR do both

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Challenge Prize/Rules:
One random winner will be chosen to receive a $3 store coupon (GC) to the Lilypad!
Layouts must contain a minimum of 50% TLP products to comply with our gallery standards. Any templates used counts for a total of 15%.
This challenge closes on Tuesday, October 4 at 11 am EDT.

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Congrats @Kayteapea as our winner!