In "Photoshop Image Synthesis Example: Let the Tiger Return to the Mountain" we focused on learning how to use Photoshop mask technology to achieve occlusion. This occlusion technology is often used in synthesized photos. If you want to make the fake look real, in addition to occlusion, there is also a very lethal technology, which is the application of light and shadow. In this issue we will experience the charm of light and shadow in Photoshop.
The color of the tiger in "Photoshop Image Synthesis Example: Let the Tiger Return to the Mountain" does not match the surrounding environment very well. The main reason is that the lighting is wrong. In this issue, we learn how to process shadows to blend the tiger with the surrounding environment and make the picture more realistic (Figure 1).
Technology in this issue: The use of soft light mode and overlay mode
Material 1
Where to add shadows
The environment of this photo is a jungle. The light is scattered from top to bottom. There are tree trunks, branches and leaves around the tiger. We can only determine the shadow position of the tiger based on the brightness of the surrounding light. Fortunately, the light and shade in this photo are very clear. Below we directly use black to determine the dark parts.
Material 2
1. Add a new layer in the layers panel.
2. Select the brush tool and set the foreground color to black.
3. Select a soft-edged pen tip and adjust the size to about "50" (you can press the shortcut keys: "[" to reduce the pen tip, "]" to enlarge the pen tip).
4. Draw the position of the shadow according to the surrounding light environment.