DROP SHADOWS AND CAST SHADOWS

Let’s begin by understanding the need of shadows in graphic designing. Designers incorporate shadows in their designs to create an illusion of depth. It is used to make a flat page appear three-dimensional.

To have a better understanding of shadows, consider the analogy when light strikes an object. The objects cast a shadow in the opposite direction of the light source. Adding interest and realism to a printed page is achieved by using fake shadows from an imaginary light source. Two common effects used to add interests to graphics and text in page layout are Drop shadows and Cast shadows.

Shadows serve a very important purpose in graphic designing. They help in determining the spatial relationship between objects and backgrounds. They show the difference whether an object is floating above the surface or sitting on it. They are used to add contrast or color. They even help in revealing the shape of objects. In this article, we discuss about Drop shadow and Cast shadow.

Drop Shadows

While using this effect, designers place the drop shadow behind the object and offsets depending on the imaginary light source position and the imaginary distance of the object from the background. It replicates the shape and size of the object and makes it appear as if the object is floating.

Cast Shadows

This is also called a perspective shadow. It is a more realistic approach. It gives an illusion of being in front of another surface. It’s like a shadow cast by a person or a tree. Instead of making objects appear as if they is floating (as in the case of a drop shadow), cast shadow detaches behind the object and extends from the object to one or more surfaces.

Other Shadow Effects

Graphics software helps in designing other special effects like a glow effect, wind or motion blur etc.

PHOTO RETOUCHING SERVICE

Photo retouching has become a common phrase in recent times. Every other photo around you is Photoshopped or Doctored. For instance, an overweight friend of mine had 30 pounds taken off her frame to make her look slim and attractive. Lately, a Photo and retouching service has been getting more visits than some plastic surgeons. These services are pretty popular because people like to upload their best possible image of themselves on dating websites. ‘Digital Dermatology’ has helped a lot of people to get the look they love in reality to their photographs. Little touch ups like erasing blemishes and lightening under eye circles are the common retouches that are done.
When you perform a Google search on “personal photoretouching”, you find at least 2,350,000 results for professional services. There are even do-it-yourself software and YouTube tutorials available on the net. Digitally manipulating pictures is not at all a new concept. However, today’s technology has made the practice omnipresent.

Photoshop everywhere

Photoshop has made it pretty easy for anybody to add personal touch ups to their photographs. For professional models there are specialized and trained people available who work on their photographs to a great deal. These services make your skin look smooth and shiny and remove irritating skin flaws. They even remove red-eyes and auto-correct colors

Drawing a line

‘That the camera does not lie’ is no truer. The amount of manipulations that can be done using the recent software is unimaginable. But how do we realise how far is just too far. It can get frustrating for a reader to open up a magazine and be unsure of what they see. On a dating site, there are numerous photographs that are found which are so drastically Photoshopped that it seems like the person is cheating.

Conclusion

One must realise that however impressing Photoshop can make your photo look, it’s after all doctored. Doing it to a little extent is always favourable but make sure the intension never crosses the line.