Screen shade for digital camera how to#

To apply the initial illuminations to set out the terminator, paint the layer mask black. Next apply a Layer Mask to the top copy of the layer (The rectangular shaped donut if you are using photoshop). You should be able to see that the layer has become darker and will act as the core shadow. Step 3: Core Shadow and Terminatorĭuplicate the Layer and change its blend mode to Multiply. Then fill in the selection with the grey colour ( Edit -> Fill). Tip: To quickly fill in the area inside your shape use your magic wand tool (Shortcut W) to select either everything inside your shape or what often works better select everything outside the shape and Invert the selection. This could be a 50% gray colour, acting as basic coloring. Then fill in the shape as the base layer. Now you can draw an outline around the object you want to shade whether this is done using a paint brush, a shape tool or a pen tool. Next, create a new layer below the reference piece – this will be where you begin your drawing! (I suggest you lock the reference layer!) Step 2: Outline and Base Layer Lower the opacity of this layer so that you can draw over it and properly see what you are doing. Step 1: Sketch and LoadĮither bring your own sketch or any reference piece into your editing or drawing software. Because it’s so hard to reach, it’s darker than any other shadow in the scene. This shadow is called a contact shadow or an occlusion shadow. Occlusion Shadowsīut there are some areas where even the reflected light can’t reach-for example, when two objects touch each other, creating a tiny area of shadow. You should think about a shadow as having 3D properties to better imagine its shape.

The border of the shadowed area will show a new terminator on that other object. It might have another object inside it, outside it, or even partially inside it. But the area of blocked light is not always flat. This is called a cast shadow, because it means that there is an area where the light cannot reach that object.Ī shadow’s shape is flat. For example, if there is a sphere between the light and another object, then the other object will not get as much light. We need to look at how objects interact with each other. The farther away it is, the softer and lighter in color. The closer an object is to the light source, the sharper the terminator (edge). When it is pointed at a distant wall, the edge will be softer and lighter in color. If you point a light at a close surface, the edges of the light will be sharp. Now cast shadows can get a bit more complicated – but don’t be alarmed. Objects also cast shadows and these shadows are called cast shadows. If the light source is above or below the sphere, imagine the shape:Īpply this shape to your sphere, choose which side you want to be the core shadow and there you have it.

If the light source is in front or behind the sphere, visualise the shape: Generally, the placement of the terminator comes with practise but to start you off, follow this simple rule. To demonstrate what this means I will start by stating: whatever side of the sphere faces the light source is shaded brighter while the other side, the core shadow, is shaded darker. This very simple concept defines the position of the light source in relation to the position of the object and the viewing angle. The line between the core shadow and the half of the sphere lit up by the light source is called the terminator. The half of the sphere not lit up is called the core shadow.

Naturally, when a light source hits a sphere, only half of the sphere is hit by the light, leaving half of the sphere dark. Core shadow, cast shadow and the terminator. Let’s start by keeping it simple(ish) – a sphere.

Screen shade for digital camera how to#

This tutorial will help you to understand how light and shadow works and how to improve at shading your digital artwork!įor this tutorial we will touch on some Photoshop specific guides although almost any software can use these techniques including ProCreate, Clip Studio or any software that can be found on a Tablet, Mac or PC. If you want your digital artwork to be realistic or even represent your own twist of realism – mastering these fundamentals relating to how to shade digitally on a computer or device will catapult your work into a better place. Grayscale Light and Shadow is a very basic and fundamental part of any artwork trying to reach any resemblance of realism in the real world light and shadow is the only way humans can see the world around them – forming depth.