Master Shadows & Lighting in Compositing with Photoshop!

Summary by Krater

This tutorial explains step-by-step how to paint realistic shadows, match color and lighting, and blend elements when creating a composite in Adobe Photoshop.

From the video

Answers: How do I paint realistic shadows and match color and lighting in Photoshop composites?

• shadow painting
• color and lighting matching
• composite creation
• Photoshop blending techniques

What it concludes

• Extracting original shadows and placing them on a flat, clean surface aligned with the new background creates a natural composite.
• Converting subjects to smart objects allows non-destructive scaling without quality loss.
• Adjusting the shadow length relative to other objects in the image establishes proper perspective and realism.
• Adding contact point shadows at the exact points where the subject touches the surface anchors the composite effectively.
• Using a curves adjustment layer limited to the subject helps match the overall lighting and tone to the background.