Creating believable light and shadow effects in Photoshop is both an art and a science. Knowing how to manipulate these elements gives you the power to transform ordinary images into visually striking compositions.
Coming to you from Unmesh Dinda with PiXimperfect, this comprehensive video walks you through creating light streaks and realistic shadows step by step in Photoshop. Dinda begins by showing how to use the rectangular marquee tool and layers to create light streaks. After shaping them with distortion and blending techniques, he demonstrates how to apply them as highlights using adjustment layers. This approach allows you to define the light flow while preserving the image’s details. It’s a practical way to add depth and drama without overcomplicating the process.
The video also dives into shadow creation, emphasizing the importance of realistic detail. Dinda explains how to make shadows appear harsher near objects, like the nose or lips, and softer as they fade. By using nested masks, he shows how to add intricate shadows without affecting other parts of the image. These techniques give you full control, whether you're working on facial features or refining edges. Dinda’s emphasis on non-destructive editing ensures that you can adjust or fine-tune your work later if needed.
Another key segment involves enhancing realism with subtle color adjustments. Dinda highlights the natural red tones that occur around areas where light interacts with skin, simulating the effect of blood under the surface. By layering soft orange-red highlights using solid color layers and blend modes, you can make the lighting feel more organic. These small details elevate the overall effect and help the image appear more lifelike.
The final touches include color grading and enhancing the image’s atmosphere. Dinda uses tools like curves and color lookup tables to add warmth and richness, creating a cohesive mood. His process balances creative freedom with technical precision, allowing you to experiment while maintaining control over the final result. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Dinda.
So the goal now is to completely fabricate an artistic lighting scheme and call it intentional? I guess this is cool for digital artists but for photographers, there's just no credibility to the work.