If you are looking to market your online business properly you need to leverage the power of quality product photos. The better your photos are, the more likely you are to attract and convert your target audience. The power of quality product photography in eCommerce can never be underestimated.
We, at Clipping Path Finder, know just how effective product photos can be and we know many tricks to enhance them. One truly effective method is by creating shadows in product photography.
We will be sharing our secret to improving your product photos through shadow creation.
Why Do You Need to Create Shadows in Product Photography?
Along with helping you attract more customers, product photos with proper shadows have other uses. Here are some of the reasons for why you need to create shadows in product photography:
Depth and Dimension
Shadows help create depth and dimension to produce images. This makes them seem more real and less fabricated. With shadow creation editors will make it appear as if the product has more volume. This in turn will make viewers see more depth thus making the product image more engaging.
Texture Enhancement
For certain products, texture is a must, even in photos. However, it’s only sometimes possible for photographers to highlight the product’s texture in the initial photos. However, with shadow creation services, we can enhance the tactile quality of the image. This allows viewers to better appreciate the texture and feel of the products.
Visual Interest
Shadows can greatly enhance the quality of product photos and make them more attractive and memorable. With the right kind of shadows editors can change the composition of the product photo to make it draw in more attention. The overall visual appeal of product photos can be greatly changed with shadow creation.
Mood and Atmosphere
With shadows, it’s possible to create a particular mood or atmosphere. This can bring out emotions, aesthetics, or style that might not have been there in the initial photos. From the soft and romantic feeling of a candlelit dinner setting to a film noir-inspired scene with dark shadows, shadow creation can bring in different moods and enhance the story in the photo.
Highlighting Product Features
By properly creating shadows in product photography, we can showcase the unique and interesting features of the product. This will help you draw in more customers because they will see the product and its features more clearly. With shadow creation editors can more easily highlight the products’ shape, form, and design in the best light.
Steps to Create Shadows in Product Photography
Natural Shadows
Here is how you can create natural shadows in product photography:
- Prepare Your Image: Start by opening your product photo in a photo editing software. Ensure you have a separate layer with a white fill background behind the product image.
- Mask Out the Product: Use the selection tool to carefully outline and select the white area around your product image. This will allow you to separate the product from the background. Refine the edges of your selection to ensure a smooth transition between the product and the background.
- Create the Base Shadow: Select a small area around the bottom of your product. This area will be the darkest part of the shadow. Refine the edge of your selection to create a soft, curved shape. Create a curve adjustment layer and darken it to create a dark oval shadow under the bottom of your product.
- Add Secondary Shadows: Select a space just to the right of your product, resembling a “talk bubble.” Refine this selection to be soft. Create another curve adjustment layer and darken it to match the tiny shadow. This will bring in depth and realism to your overall shadow effect.
- Refine and Blend: Use a brush tool to blend and refine parts of your adjustment layers, ensuring a smooth gradient from dark to black. Adjust the layers’ opacity if needed to achieve a more realistic shadow effect.
Reflection Shadows
Here is how you can create reflection shadows in product photography:
- Prepare Your Image: Open your product photo using photo editing software. Create a layer with a white fill background behind the product image.
- Mask Out the Product: Use the selection tool to carefully outline and select the white area around your product image. This will allow you to separate the product from the background. Refine the edges of your selection to ensure a smooth transition between the product and the background.
- Duplicate and Transform Layer: Duplicate your product layer. Transform the duplicated layer vertically to create a mirrored image of your original product. Position this mirrored image directly below your original product so it mirrors.
- Add Faded Gradient Mask: Apply a faded gradient mask to your reflection layer to create the illusion of it fading off into the ground. This will make the reflection appear more realistic and natural. Adjust the gradient mask to achieve the desired effect.
- Apply Blur Effect: Add a slight blur effect to your reflection layer to soften the reflection and make it blend more seamlessly with the background. Adjust the blur radius to control the intensity of the blur, keeping it subtle yet noticeable.
- Add Tiny Shadow: To enhance the realism of your product further, add a tiny shadow below the bottom of your product. Use a feathered selection tool to create selection curves and make them darker. This will help ground your product and make it stand out.
Drop Shadows
Here is how you can create drop shadows in product photography:
- Prepare Your Image: Open your product photo using photo editing software. Create a layer with a white fill background behind the product image.
- Mask Out the Product: Use the selection tool to carefully outline and select the white area around your product image. This will allow you to separate the product from the background. Refine the edges of your selection to ensure a smooth transition between the product and the background.
- Duplicate and Fill Layer: Duplicate your product layer. Make your product selection on the duplicated layer and fill this selection with 50% grey. This layer will act as the base for your drop shadow.
- Blur the Layer: Apply a blur effect to the duplicated layer to create the desired shadow effect. Adjust the blur radius to control the intensity and softness of the shadow. Experiment with different blur settings to achieve the desired look for your product.
- Mask and Brush Out: Create a mask on your shadow layer. Brush out the top portion of the top and bottom of the product. This will ensure that the shadow appears only where the product would ” touch” the ground, creating a more realistic effect.
Conclusion
The process of creating shadows in product photography is essential as it helps to enhance the quality and attractiveness of your products. If you want to make it big in the eCommerce market, you can’t deny the leverage that quality photos bring.
Therefore you must use the best shadow creation service available to you. With proper shadows in your product photos you will be able to make your products seem more real, highlight key features, and set the right mood. All of these will help to bring in more customers and convert them.
There are multiple forms of shadows you can create for your product photography. Between natural, drop, and reflective shadows you need to decide which is the best for your products. If you are still deciding, we recommend you contact shadow creation experts who can guide you more thoroughly.