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Continuation of 3D drop shadows

This is the second part of the shadow tutorial. This will show how to make a shadow that is cast over an object (the blue rectangle) behind a fore object (hammer). Start with the hammer image with the transparent background.



Next make a new layer. Select that layer and make a rectangular selection. Fill that area with blue.



Move the hammer layer so that the hammer appears in front of the rectangle.



Now use the magic wand and select the transparent area, then inverse the selection. Create a new layer. Move to the new layer. Fill the selected area with black. This will become the shadow.



Next make a duplicate of this shadow layer. Select this new layer.



Using the "Skew" transform, shift the duplicated shadow.



Now duplicate the skewed shadow layer. Also move the hammer layer so that it is in front of all the other layers.



Next select the upright hammer shadow layer. Slide the shadow over until the bottom-edge of the rectangle, the left-edge of the skewed shadow and the left-edge of the upright shadow are lined up.



Using the eraser tool, erase the bottom part of the upright hammer shadow until you reach the bottom-edge of the rectangle.



Now select one of the skewed shadows layers. Turn off the other skewed layer so that only one that you selected is visible. Starting from the top of the shadow, use the erase tool to erase the shadow down to the bottom-edge of the rectangle. You show now have a L-shaped shadow.



Now select the remaining skewed shadow. Turn off the other skewed shadow so you can see what is being eraseed. Starting at the bottom of the skewed hammer, erase the shadow beyond the bottom-edge of the rectangle.



Once that's done, make all shadow layers visible.



You'll notice one of the skewed shadows should be behind the rectangle. Move that layer to be behind the rectangle layer.



Oops, forgot to remove the top of the upright hammer shadow. Reselect that layer and remove the top part of the shadow down to the top-edge of the rectangle.



Now we need a shadow for the rectangle. Select the rectangle layer. Use the selection wand to select the rectangle area.



Make a new layer and fill the selected area with black. This will become the rectangle shadow.



Move the rectangle shadow layer behind the blue rectangle layer.



Using the Skew transform again, skew the rectangle so that the slant matches the slant on the skewed hammer.



This is bascially the final image.



But lets add a nicer background. Create a new layer that is behind all layers (make a layer at the bottom of the layers list). Fill it with a color (green in this case).



Now use the Lighting effects filter and make a spotlight shining on the hammer. And now you have a hammer shadow that is cast on a upright rectangle.



Hmmm, forgot to blur the shadows. Oh well, everyone knows how to do blurs (LOL).

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Really don't know what I'm doing but try to make it look like I do.