It is the visual appeal in an image that attracts the buyer’s attention and draws them towards the product. This is especially important for e-commerce platforms as they present products such that they comply with the user’s needs. For online retail marketing, the products have to be displayed such that they look natural and realistic so that viewers get the feel of touching the product physically. The drop shadow is one such photo editing technique that brings about real results.
What is drop shadow?
The drop shadow technique is used for making high-quality 3D images. It is a very simple technique where a shadow is added just below the object to bring about the 3D effect. This kind of shadow is formed when light falls directly from above on an object. The shadow of the object created should be accurately placed. While this technique looks very simple, it requires the eye and hand of an expert drop shadow specialist to position the shadow accurately. The shape, color, and tone of the shadow too, must be correct.
Application of drop shadow techniques
Drop shadows are added to digital photographs. After the photoshoot, the original shadows are manipulated or removed if they do not seem very apt in the picture. And then using the drop shadow technique, shadows are added to enhance the natural beauty of the scenery. The drop shadow technique is majorly used for adding shadows to products and portraits to make them more presentable and marketable.
Effect of light on shadows
The light and shadow effects play an important part in drop shadow technique. Without a proper light source, the shadow gets misplaced. The graphics expert should have an extensive knowledge of the source, intensity and effect of light on the object. Thereafter, the shadow should be created. If the image editing expert is not skilled enough for the task, the shadow could become misplaced and disoriented. It is important to detect the correct light angle.
The dimension of the shadow is determined using the direction of the light source and the size of the product image. The shadow and its image should be in the right proportion. The position of the shadow is vital in determining the quality and look of the image. Correct shadow effects make the picture look more realistic.
Elements to consider in the drop shadow process
- Background color
- Color of the object
- Size of the source of light
- Size of the object
- Direction of the source of light
Wrap-up
There are various types of shadows that can be added to an image. Hard shadows, soft shadows, drop shadows and reflection shadows are some of the shadows that can be added to an image, depending on the requirement of the client and quality of an image. Along with drop shadow, other image processing techniques like clipping path, image manipulation, photo masking, and more, that aid in enhancing the look of an image. Experienced image editing technicians use a combination of these processes to make their images more appealing.
