Friday, December 21, 2012

Slicker Reflection Shadows with Amazing Grace

There is no shadow of doubt that making reflections work on digital photos can be a creative exercise. It impacts the entire process of photo manipulation.

But there is a difference between a shadow and reflection. A professional editor knows the difference between the two. And this he can make them look more vibrant in digital photo formats. He can make smoother reflection shadows with amazing grace. Why are the two forms so vital to photo editing? They have some qualities that can make photos look much better. For example, no matter how much perfect the composition is when a snapshot is taken, there is some error. This happens when a series of photos need to be taken (of products or group of items). To highlight the quality of each product/item, the best way is no just changing a background or adding more elements. A dramatic effect can be created by use of a shadow or reflection. A seasoned editor will judge if the shadow will enhance the beauty or not. When a product is shot in flat light or the source of the illumination is not correct a shadow can be created with image editing software. With a shadow the actual product gets more focused. And the problem of bad lighting is solved. There are several products that can be enhanced this way. Many vendors who sell products like electronics or jewelry can avail of this facility from a photo studio. A small item like diamond ring or a pair of ruby earrings can be flashed on the website with élan using the shadow work. The detail or the design of the product is highlighted enough for the buyer to know if he would like to make a click and purchase the item.

Reflection shadows also are an integral part of image editing. While the shadow alone brings out the details, a reflection makes it appear more appealing. This is another characteristic of lighting that is important in photography and also image editing. While the shadow gives a spatial look, the reflection can handle the uniformity of the lights used on flashing the products. If you have seen a montage or a pack shot of foodstuff all in a row, it can be accentuated with a reflection. Text is usually treated with varying amount of reflection work. It may be the easiest thing to make a reflection but with the use of shadows, various gradients it can be done with a level of authenticity. There are several examples of reflection that are used on any kind of external material like water, ground or even glass.

Both these techniques can be done with advanced Photoshop imaging software. Both reflection shadows can be used in a single image. The ideal thing to do is to make the shadow first and then create the reflection. Shadows can be added to any side of the main subject, i.e top, bottom, long and distant, right or even left- but its positioning matters with the source of light. Getting the layers in order, reviewing the final look should be a patient job. Yes, it a culminated effort of the editor who knows how to differentiate and use the service with amazing graces.