Hello

I have taken some images using a digital camera at 2m Pixels for a
website. The original image has been taken aginast a black background.
The original image can be found here
http://www.weddingcards.biz/Images/original.gif then using [Adobe
Photoshop 7] the magic wand tool (30%) I deleted the black background
and the result can be found here
http://www.weddingcards.biz/Images/white_bg.gif.

I would now like to add a realistic/subtle shadow to the image SO THAT
it ends up like this http://www.weddingcards.biz/Images/result.jpg
(this pic has not been done by me).

The picture from the digital camera is "single layer" (background) so
please make the instructions specific to this file type as I do not
have "layers".

My questions are

1) Is this the best way (ie taking pic on black b/g and then using the
magic wand to delete) to end up with a clean white background? I dont
mind doing it some other way if it is easier/better.

2) The edges of my picture are not very good. How can I improve?

3) How can I add a subtle shadow like http://www.weddingcards.biz/Images/result.jpg

I would like the result to be clean clear and chrisp and approprite
file size for the website.

I would like to have detailed instructions, please, as I am not an expert. 

Thank you.

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Request for Question Clarification by sgtcory-ga on 12 Apr 2004 09:58 PDT

Hello mysite,

I don't have the new version of PhotoShop, but I may be able to assist
you. If you look at the comments below, it is one of a few ways of
doing this.

1) Open up the image you have on the white background.

2) Change the image to RGB. Image > Mode > RGB Color (more colors)

3) Then, using the wand tool, select the white background.

4) Right click after the background is selected and click 'Select Inverse'

5) Hit Control and X (cut) or cut in the Edit Menu

6) Click on File > New . This should automically be sized to your cut image.

7) Click OK. Then Hit Control and V (paste) or Paste in the Edit Menu


Now you have a layered image to work with. Your image should be on a
white or transparent background - depending on what you choose when
you create the new image. Now for the next steps.

8) Click on Layer > Layer Style > DropShadow

You should now be able to fiddle with how the drop shadow looks and appears.

I find that when seleting color ranges - I still have to go in and
correct a few pixels for perfect work.

Let me know if this method works with your version of Photoshop or you
need further instructions. If it works - I will post an answer with an
example using your image.

Thanks -
SgtCory

the simplest way to do it is to cut the image , paste it to a new
picture and make it gradient black and fuzz the edges

then copy the original image over the 'blackend image' in such a
fashion that you just see the edges of the blackend picture to the
right and lower ends

other ways to do it are by varying the light source but i do not know
if the program you are using is capable of that

The best way to do this and yield the best results is to open your
image and click the Quickmask Icon to enter quick-mask mode. (Located
in the Layers Pallette)

Using a soft, round brush, brush in "Black" to Mask away the image's
contour. Once that's done, create a new background and use Layer
Styles' Drop Shadow feature. Layer styles can be accessed by
Double-Clicking the Layer.

I have given steps a bit different than above. if you have a chance, I
suggest shooting objects on a background near the color you wish to
use so that the shadows and reflections of the background in the
object are logical.

To proceed with the object you provided:

1. First I had to change the image>Mode>to RGB in order to be able to
work in the file.

2. Then I unlocked the image layer by double-clicking on the Lock icon
and clicking OK.

3. Using the Magic Wand and a Tolerance of 22 with the Contiguous box
checked, I clicked on the black background in the upper left corner of
the image. This results in a selection and there are a couple of areas
where the selection is a bit rough.

4. To fix the rough areas, I clicked on the Quickmask button then,
using a paintbrush tool, I painted with white where the selection went
off the object and into the background. I painted with black where the
selection needs to be filled in over the object.

5. Selection>Save Selection, name the selection, and click OK. (This
way if needed you don't have to make the selection again, you can
simply reload this saved selection in the Channels tab.)

6. Go to Select>Feather and type in .02. This will soften the edge of
your selection just a bit so it doesn't look raggedy. Now, delete the
background. It should now be a cleanly silhouetted object.

7. Go to Layer>Layer Style and select Drop Shadow

8. Adjust the settings, click Preview to make sure you are happy. Then click OK.

9. Go to File>Save the file as a PSD (a native Photoshop document) to
save this work file with the layers. Then go to File>Save for Web and
choose JPEG and maximum for the best quality. Click Save to place the
new file on your desktop.