This Tutorial will show you how to create an objects shadow and transform it. (I am supplying my "Homegrown" eggplant object in PSD format for you to have fun with in this tutorial). Download here.

1.) Begin by putting an object on it's own layer. (If you are unfamiliar on how to do this, you can read Extracting objec from background prior to proceeding). Alternately, you may use the object file supplied below.

2.) Drag object layer to bottom of Layers palette and drop on New Layer icon. Press the letter D to change the Foreground color to black, then (Shift + Alt + Backspace) to fill the object copy layer with black.

3.) Next, press (CTRL + T) to bring up the Free Transform function. When the bounding box appears, right-click inside the box. A pop-out menu will appear, choose Distort. Now, grab the top center adjustment point and drag it downward and across as shown: (Press Enter to complete).

4.) Next up, go to Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay. Make sure the gradient is black to white.

Play around with the Opacity and Scale sliders until you obtain something similar to shading below. In the Layers palette, move Layer 1 copy below Layer 1, to put shadow behind object.

5.) Select the Rectangular Marquee tool and draw a rectangle that covers the top one-quarter of the shadow. Now, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Add a 2-3 pixel blur then hit OK. (CTRL + D) to de-select selection.

6.) Repeat Step 5, this time create a selection that covers half of the shadow and repeat the Gaussian Blur effect.

7.) Repeat Step 5, this time create a selection that covers all of the shadow and repeat the Gaussian Blur effect.

The resulting cast shadow should now look close to the finished image below: ( I finished off by adjusting the opacity of the shadow layer to 66%. This can be done from top right in the Layers palette).

Last of all, clean up any stray unwanted pixels generated from shadow using the Eraser tool. Have fun.

About the Author - Glenn Schemenauer

Thanks for reading.