Photoshop Elements >

Shadows & Highlights >

1 - Introduction

Highlights and shadows are how we see shape, volume, and texture.

Compare the two Picasso paintings below.

One has very little volume, the other, much more.

Gelber Gürtel: Marie-Thérèse, Pablo Picasso, 1932

Nahmad Collection, Switzerland

Seated Bather [La Baigneuse], Pablo Picasso, 1930

If your photograph needs more shape, volume, or texture, add some chiaroscuro.

Add highlights and shadows.

Before

After

Study the Light Source

You have to study the light source in order to add highlights and shadows.

Geography of Lighting

Highlights are "attracted" to the light source.

Shadows "hide" from it.

Size of the Light Source

A small light source produces a small highlight.

The shadow is dark with sharp edges.

A large light source produces a large highlight.

The shadow is bright, with fuzzy edges.

Height of the Light Source

If the light source is high, the highlight is high.

The shadow is shorter and fatter.

When the light source is low, the highlight is low.

The shadow is longer and narrower.

3 Types of Shadows

There are three types of shadows.

Subject Shadow

The side of your subject opposite the light source is in shadow.

Cast Shadow

The subject casts a shadow away from itself.

Drop Shadow

A drop shadow appears behind and below text, banners, and the like.

We won't use drop shadows here.

Airbrushing

Airbrushing may be useful if you have a pressure-sensitive tablet.

If so, select Airbrushing in the options bar of the Brush tool.

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