Shadow Manual - Andromeda Software Inc.
Contents
1. To exercise the Backlight Shadowing capability you would expect to do the fol lowing for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image paste on a white background slightly to the side and up so that there is fore ground room for the shadow You could also use the object on its original back ground or paste it onto a layer select the background Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode from the Preset Browser if object was selected or on a layer choose either the Selected or Layer category and then a preset Backlight under MoreLight If the object was unselected choose the equivalent Unselected category the preset sets the Shadow Light behind the object and the Casting Plane hinged to the Input Image Plane Select the Casting Plane Feature in the FastView Window use the cursor changes to Hinge Grabber icon and hinge the shadow to the base of the object Page 33 Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Shadow Lights feature in the FastView window use the triangular cursor to drag the shadow to position Gradual and intermittent adjustments such as moving the hinge and dragging the shadow are better than rapid move ments when working with features that work in 3D space click OK for high quality high resolution rendering Footlights Footlight shadows tend to run up the length2. In the simple UNSELECTED image recommended above the white background Lams _D was selected therefore select category Selected SELECTED J Then select a subcategory based on a feature i e casting plane The subcate gory reflects the feature emphasized when creating the Preset Page 2 We recommend moreLights emphasizes the Shadow Lights feature to begin your orientation Use the arrows to scroll through the Presets in each R subcategory A description of each Preset will appear in the text window as the cursor passes over each Preset window Step 6 Choosing a Preset Since factory set Presets were built with our images for best results with your image there are two options a Make your Input Image similar to a Preset Browse through the Andromeda Preset Library Decide on a Preset that has a shadow effect you want Exit the Filter Prep your Input Image in the host appli cation For an exact and instant effect on your image make the object approx size but same position as the object in the Preset See Using Presets in Sessions for Left Brain Section 5 b Select a Preset that is similar to your Input Image Pea oe i O d E EN Choose a Preset with an object that has same posi tion as the object in your Input Image a Once you have the effect on your image adjust the shadow See Shadow Session Using Adjusting Presets Step 5 Select the Preset you want to use
3. ture turn on Expert Mode and select the multiple lights icon to the left of the Feature Pad Page 35 Andromeda Shadow Filter Turn ON 2 or more Shadow Lights See Multiple Lights if you need to know more about turning Lights on and off in the FastView Window you see the shadow associ ated with currently selected light Drag the shadow into position If you need to change the size of the shadow select the Trackball icon adjacent to Multiple Lights icon Use the inner arrows to move the lights closer or further away making the shadow bigger or smaller select the next light and repeating the above two steps customize your shadow for each light Multiple shadows may also be cast shadows However all shadows are cast on the same plane In other words to mix cast and drop shadows use multiple object copies on layers and then use the filter with different set tings on each copy 3 2 Perspective Capability When the top button in the Output Mode Pad is selected only your input image contributes to the output Image There is no shadow only a possibly transformed copy of the input image This mode is useful for generating perspectives of your input image using the Camera feature in this filter In this mode all the controls which manipulate the shadow are dis abled to remind you that they will not have any visible effect Your Input image as you see it in the host applica tion is a 2D flat image The Camera fe
4. Filter developed by Dave Dyer Steve Gray Donn Gladstone Barry Burns LouAnn Barbeau Sumeet Pasricha UI Design Barry Burns Donn GLadstone Technical Completion LouAnn Barbeau Quality Assurance Guy McCool Lou Ann Barbeau Third Eye Consultancy Documentation Louann Barbeau Guy McCool Barry Burns Sumeet Pasricha Sales Support Jane Narramore Elie Soriano Florine Pasricha 1997 98 Andromeda Software Inc 699 Hampshire Rd Suite 109 Thousand Oaks CA 91361 USA Tel No 805 379 4109 Fax No 805 379 5253 Table of Contents For Installation see Installation Guide on Andromeda Shadow Filter Product CD 1 0 Starting amp Troubleshooting 1 1 1 Starting User Services in the Filter 1 Live Helper Panel 1 QuickReview amp QuickGuide Card 1 Shadow Sessions 1 Preset Effects Library 2 1 2 Troubleshooting 4 Installation Issues 4 Before entering the Filter 4 Check the selection of Object 4 Inside the Filter 4 Preset Effect does not work 6 Cannot see the Shadow 6 Shadow appears cutoff 6 2 0 The User Interface Annotated 7 2 1 The Ambience 7 2 2 Novice Controls 9 2 3 Expert Control s 10 2 4 Preset Effects Browser 11 2 5 The 3 Main Features 12 Casting Plane 12 Shadow Lights 12 Camera 12 2 6 Feature Positioning Presets 12 2 7 Feature Controls 13 2 7 1 Casting Plane Controls 13 Elevator 13 Tilter 14 Rotater 15 Get Hinge 16 2 7 2 Shadow Light Controls 17 Opacity Light Dark Slider 17
5. inversely selected d preserve transparency is unchecked OFF in the Layers Palette Adobe Photoshop 4 0 Page 4 If you are using a selection tool here are some selection Tips for Photoshop users Inside selection The ability to create accurate selections in Photoshop directly impacts the effectiveness of the shadow filter in rendering higher quality shadows Like most Photoshop users you probably use both a feathered edge and or anti aliasing unless of course you are working with type in small point sizes L 82fered selection making feathered selections can cause some loss of detail at the edge Adjusting anti aliased or feathered Selections before calling the Andromeda Shadow Filter will improve shadow quality by eliminating stray pixels How to adjust for better shadows Inside selection To cut out stray pixels inside a selection of an object you want to shadow try modifying the bor ders by one or two pixels Choose Select Modify Contract For inverted selections Choose Select Modify Expand The same selection as above after a 1 pixel modification For some color based selections such as Magic Wand or Color Range which can leave extra pixels both inside and outside the selection area first use smoothing Choose Select Modify Smooth and then contraction In most cases use low pixel values 1 2 for a sample radius 1 or 2 pixels may not be enough for some low resolution images since the
6. more dragging options by dragging in the Proxy Window access to additional Shadow Lights and access to Histograms for Input Object and Shadow images Expert Controls click on the larger Composite Mono default or button Stereo Swap Windows Upper arrow to Swap Render on in Shadow only Output Mode Composite shadow with Input Image See Section 6 0 output Stereo may be seen on screen or on paper w 3D Glasses supplied weight ball are additional controls indicat ed on this page Window for larger and better rendering Lower arrow to Swap 3D Proxy Window for easier drag ging see Filter Windows gt a lt TIMES U r 2 lt SNE me Click to switch td Expert ModeNgr basic controls plus advancedNptions al S K Protect Outline or Grid Outline or Grid on Selection on Input Image Shadow Casting turn ON if a Plane Plane active selection for better per for better perspec tive viewing will not will not output output Exchange current state with or Replace previous Save Presets state of the filter in MacOS or Windows Directory must be spective viewing protected in Input Image Expert Controls adds additional Features and Controls See Feature Controls 2 4 Preset Browser Click on the gold Presets Effects Access frieze on the Main UI to access the Preset Browser It is highly recommended that you start here First select a category based on
7. natural envi ronmental shadows that reflect the time of day morning twelve on the noon late evening can be simulated k y A A Left to right Morning long shadow near noon stronger dark shadow twelve noon exactly small strong shadow evening long diffused shadow Page 30 To exercise the Outdoor Shadowing capability you would expect to do the following for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image select the background if you want the Filter to impose the shadow on the background or paste it in the center into a white background layer or on separate Photoshop 4 0 layer Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode select the Casting Plane feature in the Feature Pad click on Get Hinge control icon in the FastView Window you should see a blue Hinge Line move the cursor to the window and use the Hinge Grabber icon to Hinge the shadow to the base of the Object select the Shadow Lights feature in the Feature Pad drag the shadow in the FastView Window decide on direction of rising sun and or setting sun For early morning bright day shadow drag it to be long and somewhat diffused For twelve on the Noon drag it to be tight around the base of the object and sharp For late afternoon or evening drag it in the opposite direction to be long and diffused
8. panel refreshes itself to describe the Ul object under the cursor AA SE Presets Browser Ul click onPresets Frame in Main Ul a ray 2 2 Novice Controls The Filter opens with lighter ball on the Scale top left indicating Novice Controls Novice Controls are an abbreviated set of filters controls Starting in Novice Controls gives you access to necessary controls for manipu lating the Filters three main features Casting plane Shadow Lights and Camera to generate a shadow Preset Effects Access opens the Presets Browser Center Frame shows last Preset selected Novice Controls click on the small er ball on the scale Expert Controls see next page About Info Version Prefs Credits Aie Invert or Preset Inverse Selection by name made in from Drop host Down Menu Page 9 Andromeda Shadow Filter Render Preview Window Fast View Window Proxy Zoom 3D Proxy Window Reset Filter controls are set to Standard Drop Shadow Cancel exit Filter do not save settings OK High Res Render amp save state of all settings sele t from several levels of numbered Undo s 2 3 Expert Controls Click on the heavier ball on the Scale for more controls on the main UI Expert Controls provide access to additional technology for advanced manipulation of shadows Expert Controls allow for Swapable Windows exchange window positions for larger views
9. range and the middle one controls the gamma Page 23 Andromeda Shadow Filter Selecting an item from the histogram drop down is the easiest way to manipulate the levels It only affects the histogram currently being displayed and no other settings The browse mode presets on the other hand affect all settings including histograms There are six identical settings in each of the three his togram drop downs Reset Causes both the Input and Output Levels to get reset to their default positions Remember that you need to Reset each of the three Histograms independently Trim Input Cuts down the range outside triangles on the Input Histogram This causes fuzzy edges to become sharp This is useful if you are using a selection with anti aliased edges to cast a shadow and you want sharp edges You may trim either the Object Histogram which casts the shadow or the Shadow Histogram the shadow itself Invert Output Reverses the Output Levels black becomes white and white becomes black This actually causes the two triangles to cross by moving the right one all the way to the left and the left one all the way to the right Normally you would use the Invert Object button in the middle left part of the Ul rather than selecting this item if you want to invert the object or selection casting the shadow Transparent Adjusts the Gamma middle triangle of the Input Levels to make the object very faint Normal Adjusts t
10. rela tionship between physical distance and pixel distance varies depending on the resolution of the image For more information on selections see selecting an Object to Shadow in the QuickGuide card shadow Session Making Selections for Transparent and Opaque shadows Page 5 Andromeda Shadow Filter 2 Inside the Filter If you made an active selection make sure that the Inverse Selection button in the Filter reflects the correct Direct or Inverse Selection For example if the shadow appears inversed then click on this button to reverse it If you made an active selection then make sure that the Protect Selection but ton is ON the button shows moving marching ants when you need the Input Image protected from the shadow OFF if you are going to use the Camera 3 Preset Effects Preset does not work with your Image Check the following to apply Preset effects correctly you selected the correct category Selected Unselected Layers based on selection made in the host application is the same approx size within the Image canvas is the same approx position within the Image canvas See Preset Effects Library in this section and Shadow Session Using Adjusting Presets 4 Cannot see the Shadow Check the following the Output Mode is set to Input Only Set it to Input Shadow or Shadow only if a Preset was used and you cannot see the shadow the object in your Input Ima
11. use the Sharp Blur and Light Dark sliders to fine tune the shadow click OK for high quality high resolution rendering Indoor Shadows In the Shadow filter simulating natural shadows created by artificial light within the interior space of a room is best shown by moving the filters shadow lights closer to an object and imposing a dramatic shadow on a wall casting plane This is similar to what you would see if you held a point light source such as a candle in front of an object Page 31 Andromeda Shadow Filter Shadow lights in the filter may be moved closer to the object making the shadow larger In a sim ple drop shadow try the Preset ParallelDropBlur the lights are in front pointed at the center of your image canvas and not at an angle As you move them closer or away the shadows grow propor tionally larger or smaller respectively Since the filters shadow lights are in 3D space they may be at an angle to the object Therefore when you move them the shadows may not grow proportionally However shadows are true and are due to the overall positioning geometry of the lights casting plane and the object The filter will provide you with many more dramatic shadow rendering options To exercise the Indoor shadowing capability you would expect to do the follow ing for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input
12. you want the Filter to impose the shadow on the back ground or paste it in the center into a white background layer or on separate Photoshop 4 0 layer for opaque shadows select the background if it is on a layer no selection nec essary for transparent shadows the object must be on a flat white background or background layer Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode select the Casting Plane feature in the Feature Pad click on Get Hinge control icon In the FastView Window you should see a blue Hinge Line move the cursor to the window and use the Hinge Grabber icon to Hinge the shadow object on ground In the FastView Window grab the blue Hinge and move it to the base of the object Page 29 Andromeda Shadow Filter Unhinge the shadow Object above ground In the FastView window grab the blue Hinge and move it away or down from the object For either Unhinged or Hinged cast shadows select the Shadow Lights feature in the Feature Pad drag the shadow in the FastView Window to position click on the Check OK icon Outdoor Shadows Outdoors and indoors strong light means strong shadow and weak light means weak shadow Bright single source light such as the sun on a warm summer day generates strong shadows as the day progresses the light reflects the time of the day and the shadows do the same Using the Shadow filters movable casting plane and shadow lights
13. Andromeda Shadow Filter Copyright 1998 Andromeda Software Inc ol Licensing and Copyright Agreement Copyright 1997 98 by Andromeda Software Inc All rights reserved Except as permitted under copyright law no part of the program or this user manual may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Andromeda Software Inc The program and this manual are licensed only for individual use on a single computer Limitations on Warranty and Liability Neither Andromeda Software Inc nor its distributors and dealers make any warranties or representations either expressed or implied as to the software and documentation including without limitation the condition of software and implied warranties of its merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose Andromeda Software Inc shall not be liable for any lost profits or for any direct indirect incidental consequential or other damages suffered by licensee or others resulting from the use of the program or arising out of any breach or warranty Trademarks Series 1 Photography Filters Series 2 Three D Filter Series 3 Screens Filter Series 4 Techtures Filter Andromeda Shadow Filter Andromeda Velociraptor Filter Andromeda Series and Suite Filters are trademarks of Andromeda Software Inc Adobe Photoshop is a trademark of Adobe Systems Inc All other products are trademarks of their respective companies Andromeda Shadow Filter
14. Image select the background if you want the Filter to impose the shadow on the back ground or paste it in the center into a white background layer or on separate Photoshop 4 0 layer Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode from the Preset Browser if object was selected or on a layer choose either the Selected or Layer category and then a preset under MoreLights such as BkWallight Ltwall CloseBlur RtWallFarDark If the object was unselected choose the equivalent in Unselected category select the Shadow Lights feature in the Feature Pad drag the shadow in the FastView Window to position If it grows while dragging stop dragging and use the Trackball to get control to move the lights closer click on the inside IN arrow the shadows will grow bigger to move the lights further away click on the inside OUT arrow to make the shadow smaller Page 32 use the dragging in the FastView Window and Trackball inner arrows to posi tion and size and create the drama you need for a indoor shadow Click OK for high quality high resolution rendering Backlights Footlights and Multiple shadow lights Movable four Shadow Lights feature unique to this filter make these effects possible There are several Presets in the Andromeda Library that should be used as a Starting point to generate these effects Backlights Shadows generated by backlighting are cast in front of the object SHADOW
15. Indoor Shadows Session 5 3 Tips 5 3 1 Spot Partial and Combination Shadow 5 3 2 Rendering Shadows over Irregular 60 Surfaces 6 0 Special Output Capability 6 1 Compositing a Shadow from an implied object 6 2 Colorizing Input Image amp Shadow Background 61 61 62 ANDROMEDA SHADOW FILTER USER MANUAL 1 0 Starting and Troubleshooting The Filter is the most advanced shadowing plug in available Its uniqueness is in using 3D geometry to cast realistic shadows There are several user services that will help you start your orientation to this true 3D shadowing plug in Troubleshooting section has a list of items that you could check when inside the Filter to determine possible cause of a problem 1 1 Starting User Services in the Filter 1 Live Helper Panel Familiarize yourself with User Interface using the Helper Panel This is not a separate window or a read me file but a live helper text as you pass the cursor over any Ul item buttons windows controls etc text in the Helper Panel explains the item 2 QuickReview and QuickGuide Card This card accompanies the User Manual QuickReview is an overview with images showing the filters shadowing capabili ty It will take a few minutes to read and it is highly recommended QuickGuide to Making a Shadow has two quick hands on recipe oriented tech niques for making shadows Going through these two recipes with a simple image will quickly orient you to the feel of the shadowing f
16. K icon The result is a high quality anti aliased transformed Input image Page 37 Andromeda Shadow Filter 3 3 Stereo 3D Capability Stereo Stereo Inside the Filter Stereo mode is a visual aid sometimes the position of Casting Plane in relation to the Image Plane the Camera and Lights are easier to visualize if you don t have to imagine depth The Stereo mode switch toggles between normal and stereo mode views In stereo mode you need red green ff stereo glasses to view the image For Output Stereo mode works on RGB and CMYK images It does not work for gray scale images because RGB separation is necessary Convert your gray scale image to RGB and then Output in any of the three Output Modes Input Only Input Shadow Shadow only In Stereo mode there is an additional slider Stereo Separation Slider which controls the separation of the two eyes of the camera Move the slider UP to move the eyes closer together or DOWN to move them farther apart You should adjust this control to help you fuse the red green pictures into a stereo picture Page 38
17. Trackball 17 Light Size Sharp Blur Slider 18 Multiple Shadow Lights 18 Light Share Slider 20 Light Shape Selection 20 2 7 3 Camera Controls 20 Trackball 20 2 8 Filter Windows 21 2 8 1 FastView Window 21 Dragging in FastView window 21 2 8 2 Render Window 21 2 8 3 3D Proxy Window 2 8 4 Spinners and Zoom Slider 2 8 5 Swap Window Arrows 2 9 Histograms 2 9 1 Input Histogram 2 9 2 Object Histogram 2 9 3 Shadow Histogram 2 10 Selecting Colors for Shadow Lights 3 0 Filter Capability 3 1 Shadowing Capability 3 1 1 Perspective Shadow 3 1 2 Transparent Shadow 3 1 3 Opaque Shadow 3 1 4 Projected Drop Shadow 3 1 5 Cast Shadow Object on Ground Object Above Ground 3 1 6 Outdoor Shadow 3 1 7 Indoor Shadow 3 1 8 Backlights Footlights Multiple Lights 3 2 Perspective capability 3 3 Stereo 3D Capability END OF MANUAL THE FOLLOWING SHADOW TUTORIAL SESSIONS IN PDF FORMAT ARE AVAILABLE AS A SEPERATE DOWNLOADABLE FILE AT ANDROMEDA COM 4 0 Shadow Sessions for the Left Brain 4 1 Using Adjusting Loading Saving Presets 4 2 Perspective Capability with the Camera 4 3 Simple Drop Shadow 4 4 Projected Drop Shadow 4 5 Making Selections for Opaque amp Transparent Shadows 4 6 Removing anti aliased pixels on gray and color backgrounds 4 7 Using the Casting Plane Hinging amp Tilting Shadows 4 8 Using the Casting Plane Rotating and Floating Shadows 5 0 Shadow Sessions for the Right Brain 5 1 Outdoor Shadows Session 5 2
18. anged perspective Since your Input image had no dimensional depth the transformation cannot dimensionally change or extrude an object in the Input image All objects will continue to be flat even with the changed perspective Top Perspective change using the Camera of two objects on a flat white background Right Same two objects this time each on a separate giadh wi layer panning the Camera on each layer separately you have two perspectives on the same image W Page 25 Andromeda Shadow Filter To exercise the Perspective Shadowing capability you would expect to do the following for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image paste it into center on a white background or on a layer Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Shadow Output Mode click on Standard Preset in the drop down below the gold Presets Browser Pad pan the camera to change perspective when you see what you like in the Render Window of the Filter click on the Check OK icon The result is a high quality anti aliased perspective of the object amp shadow Transparent Shadows Transparent Shadows are for specific images where you would expect light to pass through the object The shadow then would not be opaque but transparent and show features of the object in the shadow To exercise Transparent shadowing capability you
19. ards the center of your image canvas creating a closely fitted Drop Shadow With the I and O button the Shadow Lights move In and Out This is a more lin ear movement and should be frequently used for dramatic large projected shad ow effects When the light gets closer I button the shadow becomes large When the the light gets further away O button the shadow gets smaller Shadow Light Size Sharp Blur Slider This slider adjusts the size of the light source When the slider is at the top of its range a very small point light source is being simulated and the shadow that is produced will be very distinct with sharply defined edges When the arrow is placed at the bottom of the slider range a very large light source is simulated by the filter and the resulting shadow is very fuzzy with soft cloudy edges aE roro Multiple Shadow Lights brane ee ere You can turn ON up to 4 Shadow Lights In the graphic above with four Shadow Lights ON the filter generates multiple shadows as seen in the far right Render Window Page 18 With Multiple Shadow Lights ON you must select an ON Shadow Light to adjust its shadow The selected ON Shadow Lights shadow is the only one displayed in the FastView window and the controls will manipulate only that shadow How to turn ON turn OFF and select a specific ON Shadow Light so that you can adjust only its shadow and not disturb the other shadows The Filter will always have one S
20. ature Pad drag the shadow in the FastView Window to position select the Casting Plane feature in the Feature Pad use the Elevator to move the Casting Plane Up and closer towards the Image Plane and watch the shadow become larger or use the Elevator to move the Casting Plane Down and further away from the Image Plane and watch the shadow become smaller click on the Check OK icon The result is a high quality projected shadow of the object Cast Shadows Object is on the ground When you see your shadow outdoors it is cast on the i ground To cast a ground shadow of an object using the Filter you need to Hinge its casting plane to the base of the object The Filter will impose the shadow on the casting plane with the shadow starting at the hinge The adjacent graphics show soft shadows starting at the base making the object appear on the ground This is the traditional cast shadow Page 28 Cast Shadows Cont Object above ground Since the casting plane is movable it can be unhinged from the base of the object so that shadows are below and not attached to the base of the object As seen in the adjacent graphic the object then appears above ground To exercise the Cast shadowing capability you would expect to do the following for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image select the background if
21. ature in the Filter can be used to transform the Input image so that it appears as if it is being viewed at an angle The Input image can then be output with a changed perspective Page 36 Andromeda Shadow Filter Since your input image had no dimensional depth the transformation cannot dimensionally change or extrude a object in Input image All objects will continue to be flat even with the changed perspective To exercise the Perspective only capability you would expect to do the following for more advanced work see Shadowing Sessions Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image paste it into center on a white background or on a layer Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input only Output Mode select the Camera feature Use the Trackball outer arrows to pan the camera Panning the Camera to the left brings your viewpoint closer to the left side of your Input image The FastView Window shows what your image looks like per spective when viewed from this angle use the Trackball smaller inner arrow to move the Camera closer to the image and the larger inner arrow pointing towards you to move the Camera further away optionally move the cursor to the FastView Window changes to a triangular icon and click to shift the image canvas back to the center of the Window when you see what you like in the Render Window of the Filter click on the Check O
22. by clicking on its picture and click the va to exit the Presets Browser and return to the filter Ul Page 3 Andromeda Shadow Filter 1 1 Troubleshooting Installation Issues The Filter is available for PowerMac OS 7 6 1 or higher and Windows 95 NT The product sent to you was for one of the two platforms The product is on a CD ROM After installation the CD ROM need not be in the CD drive For Installation instructions see the Readme file on the product CD For prob lems with installation call Andromeda Technical Support at 805 379 4109 or go on line to site andromeda com and request answers to your questions from tech sup andromeda com A frequent installation problem is inability to see the installed filter in your host application This is probably due to installing the filter in the wrong folder MacOS or directory Windows 95 NT Use the Finder MacOS or Windows file search mechanisms to make sure that the filter is among other third party Adobe Photoshop compatible filters such as from MetaTools Xaos or Alien Skin Before entering the Filter 1 Check the selection of object to be shadowed You have an object in your input image that you want shadowed The filter requires that the silhouette of this object be identifiable To do this make sure that a you isolate the object onto a white background or b place the object on Photoshop 4 0 or higher layer or c select the background so that the object is
23. dow to the right to make a darker shadow Light Shape Round Square Icons The round shape is the best match for most common light sources the sun light bulbs spotlights but square lights are also encountered The round light is on by default In practice the difference in shape is very subtle 2 7 3 Camera Controls With the Camera feature activated in the Features Pad the controls Trackball appears in the control field immediately to the left Other than dragging in FastView or 3D Proxy Window this is the only Camera Control To operate the Camera there should be no active selection in your de Image If there is the Protect Selection in the Filter Ul should be off The Camera is always pointed to the center of the image ee Panning the camera using the U L D R I O buttons in front lt ma of an object changes the viewpoint of the object The cam Y era then shows a transformed object with a perspective v If you generated a shadow the shadow will also be transformed to perspective shadow Page 20 2 8 Filter Windows 2 8 1 FastView Window Contains a rough rendering of the current output It is always up to date but with some limitations It only shows the effect of the selected light and it renders the Shadow Light source with hard edged shadows Dragging in FastView Window With the Shadow Light feature 2 selected the arrow cursor changes in this window to a cursor click down with this c
24. e top right is the Get Hinge visibly HINGE CASTING PLANE TO IMAGE PLANE Elevator The Elevator changes the distance of the Casting Plane from the Image Plane As the Casting Plane comes closer to the Image Plane the Render Window middle graphic shows the shadow becoming sharper Move the cursor near the Elevator it will change into a Hand icon with the hot point in center or top of thumb the Elevator shaft and the Casting Plane will turn red Click down and move the Casting Plane Ste ro away or towards the stationary Image Plane For controllable incremental movement press down on the CTRL key to activate the Governor Motion The geometry and location of the Casting Plane and the Image Plane is better visualized when you see the 3D Proxy Window The plane shown with a grid is the Casting Plane The plane with the letter a is the Image Plane Page 13 Andromeda Shadow Filter Tilter The Casting Plane with grids has three distinct positions relative to the Image Plane with letter a shown below Variations from the above offer unlimited positioning of the Casting Plane In the Hinged position the Casting Plane can intersect the Image Plane at any point or line on the Image Plane and the angle of the Casting Plane can be opened from 0 to 360 degrees The angle between the Image Plane and the Casting Plane is controlled by the Tilter Moving the ball with the wrench cursor changes the angle The Ti
25. ed by E adjusting the Blur slidef aie H LE KZ ty g l i a oo Fane Le EN di gt o ji A pia 4 a Load a saved Scroll Preset Show smaller Substitute your Cancel exit Filter Browser or larger image to show Preset do not save set Preset images Preset effect Identifies your Navigate to tings current Preset saved presets OK High Res selection folder Render amp save state of all settings Page 11 Andromeda Shadow Filter 2 5 The 3 Features CASTING PLANE SHADOW LIGHTS AND CAMERA You can activate a Feature by clicking on its icon in the Features Pad on the extreme right of the Main UI With Expert Controls the Feature Pad also shows the icon for Histograms Clicking on this icon shows Histograms for Input Image Object and Shadow Images Camera Feature Shadow Feature Casting Plane Feature Change Perspective by Natural Drop or Cast Shadows Shadows are imposed upon a Panning Camera around the with realistic soft edges plane that can be hinged to Input and Shadow Image generated by upto 4 shadow the or floating lights Histogram Feature Expert Controls only Manipulate Histograms for Input Image Object and Shadow Novice Controls Expert Controls 2 6 Feature Positioning Presets Shadow Lights Camera Casting Plane are all movable in the space surrounding your Input Image To make positioning easier each Feature has several posi tioning Presets s
26. ge is not in the same position as the object in the Preset See Preset Effects Library in this section for Tips if you cannot see the shadow at all click on the Get Hinge control to ensure that there is a shadow you will see a cast shadow Or select the Standard Preset from the Drop Down Menu below the gold Preset Access Pad you will see a Drop Shadow Then adjust the shadow if you are generating a backlit footlight or multiple shadows that require extreme light and casting plane positions use Presets However make sure that your object size and position is same as Preset Using a Preset is a good start ing point for further manipulation 5 Shadow appears cutoff The Camera probably cannot see it Move the Camera up in the 3D Proxy Window for approx positioning Use Camera Presets for more accurate positioning Page 6 2 0 User Interface Annotated 2 1 The Ambience The Shadow Filter opens with the main User Interface shown on the next page Immediately you should notice a large pulsating gold frame This is the Presets Access Pad Its size and prominence is an invitation to click it and enter into Presets Browser UI where you can see a library of Preset shadow effects creat ed by Andromeda artists We recommend that you start your shadow work using Presets whenever possi ble When you select a Preset and exit the Presets Browser the Filter controls get set to render the selected Preset effect There may be some adjust
27. hadow Light ON To turn on another Shadow Light approach it with the arrow cursor it will change to a Match Light cursor Click on the OFF light with the Match to light it and it will highlight green showing a lit flame 7 a t T r i A 13 fai t T 3 i F I ee 4 ae i Lecce ME TA Two Shadow Lights are now ON But one Shadow Light pointed to by the cursor is selected The FastView Window amp Shadow Light controls will show amp manipulate its shadow only Though the FastView Window and Shadow Light controls will show and manipu late the shadow of the selected highlighted green ON Shadow Light the Render Window will render shadows of all ON lights To work on the shadow of another ON Shadow Light that is not selected not high lighted approach it and the cursor turns to a Select Hand cursor Click to select this ON Shadow Light green To turn off an ON Shadow Light first select it highlighting it Approach it the cursor turns to a Snuffer click down to turn it OFF Page 19 Andromeda Shadow Filter Light Share Intensity Slider This slider appears at the bottom of the bank of four Shadow Light icons when more than one Shadow Light is ON When more than one Shadow Light is ON each light contributes a share towards the final shadow and this slider controls how much the selected ON light contributes towards the shadow Move the slider towards the left to make a lighter sha
28. he Gamma middle triangle of the Input Levels to its default position Opaque This adjusts the Gamma middle triangle of the Input Levels to make the object very dark 2 10 Selecting Shadow Colors The Andromeda Shadow Filter allows the user to select a color for each of the four Shadow lights This is accomplished by clicking on the Artist s Palette while the Shadow Lights button is selected The Color Picker then allows you to select colors for producing colored shadows Page 24 3 0 Filter Capability 3 1 Shadowing Capability The Filter is the most advanced shadowing plug in available Its uniqueness is in using 3D geometry to cast realistic shadows A shadow from an Object in your Input Image is imposed on a Casting Plane that can be oriented in 3D space behind or in front of the Input Image Shadow itself is result of the Object obstructing light that is in the front or behind it In the Andromeda Shadow Filter up to 4 lights can be oriented in the space surrounding the Input Image The Shadows therefore are not fake perspective blurs as in other products but realistic soft shadows resulting from a setting that simulates natural light conditions Perspective Shadows Your Input image as you see it in the host application is a 2D flat image The Camera feature in the Filter can be used to transform the Input Shadow image so that it appears as if it is being viewed at an angle The Input image can then be output with a ch
29. he Photoshop Levels Dialog then you already know how to use them They allow you to control the brightness contrast transparency and inversion of the elements that produce your final Shadow Filter output To work with Histograms make sure you are in Expert Mode the right ball of the scale and click on the Histogram button ay in the Feature Pad 2 9 1 The Input Histogram controls the levels of the input image If the final output is Image and Shadow then the input image is part of the out put and its appearance may be controlled Changing Input Levels does not affect the shadow 2 9 2 The Object Histogram controls the levels of the object which casts the shadow Although this may be the same as the input image this histogram allows you to manipulate its shadow casting properties while the Input Histogram allows you to manipulate its appearance If there is a selection being used to cast the shad ow the Object Histogram will affect the edges of the selection which is usually a soft edge 2 9 3 The Shadow Histogram controls the appearance of the actual shadow The three histograms may be adjusted in two ways The three input and two output triangles may be dragged left or right with the mouse or one of the Histogram presets may be selected by clicking on the down arrow under the histogram button at the lower right of the UI The triangles work the same as in the Photoshop Levels dialog the two outside triangles control the
30. hown below Selecting a Feature Preset immediately moves that feature into selected posi tion As an example select the Casting Plane then the Camera feature setting both to Standard Position Then select the Shadow Lights feature and try the various presets to get a visual of how shadow moves as Light position changes The Andromeda library of shadow effects seen in the Preset Browser are a combination of Feature Preset positions shown below Shadow Lights Casting Plane Histogram Presets Presets Presets Standard Position Reset Rotation and Zoom Standard Position Standard Position TILT OR JOINT HIGH TOP 30 DEGREE TILT HIGH RIGHT 45 DEGREE TILT HIGH BOTTOM 60 DEGREE TILT 90 DEGREE TILT JOINT AT TOP LOW TOP RIGHT LOW BOTTOM RIGHT LOW RIGHT LOW BOTTOM LOW BOTTOM RIGHT LOW BOTTOM LEFT LOW BOTTOM PLANE CLOSE LOW LEFT LOW BOTTOM LEFT PLANE MIDDLE LOW TOP LEFT LOW LEFT PLANE FAR AWAY LOW TOP LEFT Page 12 2 7 Feature Controls When a Feature is selected approaching its control the arrow cursor will change to a special cursor and the Control s will turn from green to red to show that is is active 2 7 1 Casting Plane With the Casting Plane feature activated in the Features Pad the Casting Plane controls appear in the control field immediately to the left These control the 3 basic movements From left to top right Elevator UP DOWN Rotator ROTA 1 1 TIONAL Tilter CHANGE ANGLE On _ e a th
31. ilter 3 Shadow Sessions These are procedural and creative hands on shadow making sessions con tributed by Andromeda technical support staff The sessions exercise the impor tant features that you will be using to make shadows Page 1 Andromeda Shadow Filter 4 Preset Effects Library Presets are instant shadow effects created by an Andromeda artist Using Presets will make your shadowing work more productive Step 1 To orient yourself start in the host application by preparing a simple Input Image with an Object to shadow A simple image would be a black and white image such as lower case letter a on a white background Place the lower case letter a in the center of the image canvas Now select the white background The Object to be shadowed is the lower case letter a It is now inversely selected You are ready to call the Shadow Filter Step 2 With the simple Input Image open in the host application call the Andromeda Shadow Filter Step 3 Your filter opens with the last Preset effect selected and the final settings saved as the filter was last exited Ignore this for now Click on the Reset button This resets the controls to a standard drop shadow Go directly to the Presets Browser by clicking on the frame of the large rectangular frieze shown above located in the top left of the Ul Step 4 Click on the selection category based on selection made in host application
32. k Slider trackball Multiple Shadow Lights Shadow Light Size Sharp Blur Slider Om Expert Controls toggle between Multiple Lights and Trackball con trols select up to 4 Shadow Lights i select Round or Square Light for each Opacity Light Dark Slider The overall darkness of the shadow can be adjusted with this slid er For Drop Shadows lighter shadows are recommended con strain gray values to less than 30 For Cast Shadows the darkness of the shadow may need to be increased for more intense outdoor noon shadows For special effect shadows such as backlit footlight shadows the shadows may need to be darker still Trackball ae 4 R Consists of 6 buttons UP U DOWN D LEFT L NN FF RIGHT R IN I OUT O 7 Y Page 17 Andromeda Shadow Filter The direction indicated by the selected arrow is the direction of shadow move ment The moving shadow is shown in real time in the FastView Window With the U D L R buttons the shadow effects do not grow or shrink proportion ately this is because the cause of the shadows the Shadow Lights are moving in 3D space in the opposite direction to the shadow For these trackball but tons use the Governor press down the CTRL key for more controlled incre mental movements The Shadow Lights that cause the shadows are always pointed at center of the image Selecting the Standard Position Presets puts the light directly overhead tow
33. k on the Check OK icon The result is a high quality transparent shadow of the object Projected Drop Shadows The Shadow Filter imposes shadows on a movable shadow casting plane If you have worked with other competitive Drop Shadow plug in most if not all impose the shadow at a fixed distance from the Object casting the shadow The Shadow Filter has much more flexibility With its movable casting plane you can gener ate large or smaller projected drop shadows by simply moving the casting plane further or closer away respectively Just as you would expect with natural shadows To exercise the Projected Drop Shadowing capability you would expect to do the following for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions Page 27 Andromeda Shadow Filter Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host applica tion isolate an object in your Input Image paste it in the center into a white background layer or on separate Photoshop 4 0 layer for opaque shadows select the background if itis ona layer no selection necessary For transparent shadows the object must be on a flat white background image Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode from the Preset Browser if object was selected or ona layer choose either the Selected or Layer category and then a preset such as RtWallFarDark If the object was unselected choose he Unselected category select the Shadow Lights feature in the Fe
34. lter affects cast shadows as shown below when the angle is decreased When there is a tilt between the two planes geometry students will remember that there will be an intersection of the two planes The Proxy Window last column shows the intersecting Casting Plane with grids and the Image Plane They will also remember that the intersection defines a line This line is shown in the FastView Window middle column as a blue Hinge line As you change the angle between the planes Hinge position does not change Similar to opening a hinged door where the door represents the Casting Plane Page 14 Rotator In the hinged position the Casting Plane can intersect the Image Plan the Casting Plane and the Image Plane are then at an angle The Rotator can be used to rotate the Casting Plane about the center of the Image Plane Rotator affects the hinging orientation of the cast shadow When you use the wrench to move the ball on the racetrack the hinge position of the cast shadow is changed The ball moves on the racetrack which is set around the Image Plan The adjacent graphics shows the ball at the base of the Image Plane The position of the ball is same as center of the hinge line As the ball is moved around the racetrack the hinge line rotates You can see that hinge line remains tangent to the circumference of the cir cle The circle that it rotates around has its center the sa
35. me as the center of the Image plane The circle of rotation can be made smaller or tighter by moving the casting plane closer to the image plane You can do this using the Elevator move it up or clos er to the Image plane When the Casting Plane is parallel to the Image Plane for Drop Shadows as shown in the adja cent graphic this control has little or no effect on the shadow N Page 15 Andromeda Shadow Filter Get Hinge To hinge the Casting Plane to the Image Plane click on this control In this drop shadow the Casting Plane is parallel to the Image Plane It is not hinged An easy technique to generate a cast shadow from a drop shadow would be to click on the Get Hinge control Clicking on Get Hinge hinges the Casting Plane at approx 60 degrees near the center of the Image Plane This is an easy first step to generate a Cast Shadow The next step is to move the cursor to the FastView window and use the Grabber Cursor to move the Hinge line to the base of the object for a cast shadow Page 16 2 7 2 Shadow Light Controls With the Shadow Light feature activated in the Features Pad the con trols appear in the Control Field immediately to the left Expert Mode adds more controls to the Novice controls set Novice Controls opacity Slider Light Dark Slider trackball shadow Light Size Sharp Blur Slider Expert Controls opacity Slider Light Dar
36. ments that you may still need to make for your image However using Presets is a good starting point for further shadow manipulation The Filter has three main Features that you will be manipulating to make shad ows Casting Plane Shadow Lights and Camera Page 7 Andromeda Shadow Filter The Filter has the following distinct User Interface areas Novice or Expert Controls Clicking on the heavier ball accesses Expert Controls Expert adds more controls specifically for Shadow lights and access to Histograms for Input Object and Shadow images Presets Access Frame We recommend that you use Presets often The selec tion of Andromeda provided presets is large and comprehensive An important Shadow Session Using Adjusting Presets is a must read Output Mode Buttons Sets the output rendering mode to Input only or Input Shadow middle button or Shadow only Feature Pad Contains the activation buttons to bring up Feature controls for the three main Features Casting Plane Shadow Lights Camera There is also a activation button for accessing Histograms for Input image Object that will cast a shadow and the Shadow Controls Field An area for Feature Controls specific to Feature you activated in the Feature Pad Filter Windows Multiple Windows provide a look into the working of the Filter a Fast View window a Render Window and a 3D Proxy Window Helper When you move the cursor over different areas of the UI this
37. of the casting plane They are generated by a low major shadow light source such firelight or footlight photoflood in front of the object This kind of light is impossible during the day and implies darkened environ ment whether indoors or outdoors To exercise the Footlight Shadowing capability you would expect to do the fol lowing for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image paste on a white background You could also use the object on its original background or paste it onto a layer select the background Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode from the Preset Browser if object was selected or on a layer choose either the Selected or Layer category and then a preset Footlight under MoreLight If the object was unselected choose the equivalent Unselected category the preset sets the Shadow Light at the foot of the object the shadow should appear to run up the length of a wall behind To achieve this effect select the Casting Plane Feature in the FastView Window use the cursor changes to Hinge Grabber icon and hinge the shadow just near the base of the object click OK for high quality high resolution rendering Page 34 Multiple Lights The Shadow filter has four movable Shadow Lights All Lights can be selectively turned on or off Each ON Shadow Light genera
38. pace You can drag the Casting Plane Camera and Shadow Lights Features in this window Dragging in this Window should be for approximate 3D positioning only For more accurate positioning use the Feature Presets A Zoom slider next to this window allows you to enlarge the entire structure for better viewing Remember to switch to Expert Mode to enable dragging in Proxy Window sy 2 8 4 Spinners and Zoom Slider They rotate and enlarge the image canvas The generated shadow is not affect ed The final shadow output is rendered honoring any rotation or enlargement y o Next to the clockwise spinner is a drop down to reset and rotate the image canvas If you need to reset your original Input Reset rotation zoom and Camera Reset rotation and zoom Reset to 0 degrees Rotate to 90 degrees clockwise Image to original aspect ratio and orienta tion select Reset rotation zoom and camera Rotate to 180 degrees Rotate to 90 degrees anticlockwise 2 8 5 Swap Window Arrows Using these arrows you can relocate windows temporarily to get a larger view offered by the center larger window Page 22 2 9 Histograms ADVANCED IMAGE AND SHADOW MANIPULATION Most users will never need to use Histograms or Levels since the settings are built into the presets However experts may want to go beyond the default set tings to achieve certain effects There are three Histograms Input Object and Shadow If you are familiar with t
39. tes a shadow multiple ON shad ow lights generate multiple shadows Multiple shadows may or may not overlap depending upon the position of Shadow Lights in 3D space in front of the object These shadows imply an indoor lighting environment The adjacent graphic shows this filters unique capability to generate multiple shadows Four Shadow Lights are ON Each light can be adjusted for its intensity relative to other lights distance size and position With these controls you can cre ate a natural mix of shadows In the graphic above the larger shadows were a due to some lights being closer than oth a ers to the object An even more natural mix was created by missing less intense more diffused larger area shadows with more intense sharper shadows To generate multiple shadows you would expect to do the following Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image paste on a white background You could also use the object on its original background or paste it onto a layer select the background Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode from the Preset Browser if the object was selected or on a layer choose either the Selected or Layer category and then the preset ParallelDrop under MoreLight If the object was unselected choose the equivalent unselected category the preset generates a standard drop shadow Select the Shadow Lights fea
40. the type of selection you made on the object that will cast a shadow in the host program Then select a subcategory of Presets based on Feature Using a Preset is a good starting point for further shadow work Please note that the selection type position and size of the object in your Input image should be similar to the position of the object shown in the Preset for the Preset effect to be exactly the same on the object in your image Preset Selection Categories Andromeda library of Presets are Andromeda designed and installed Library is your Preset library Shadow Preset Effects Filter You can scroll and select from several Main Ul is Preset Effects relevant to your shadow behind the ing needs Browser Designed by Andromeda these effects were created by manipulating the Features in this Filter Casting Plane Lights and Camera Left choose how the Object that is to cast a shadow was selected in the host program Right browse a effect category that emphasizes Shadow filter feature pe Lu TO i ee Fr _ ANORDHEDA mt net e ee i Casting Plane Morelights f Unselected g gt AddCamera Layers p Advanced Studio FOB ur Studios0Sharp al nae wet x 4 Bk allLight Paralle Yop lur SS A FarallelbropElur E F This is a drop shadow cregted with the Casting Plane 4 parallel and very close tg the Image Plane The Light is i slightly above center anfi a soft blur was add
41. ursor and drag the Shadow in any direction dow to a Ls it were paper in any direction With the Casting Plane feature selected and a blue Hinge line in view in the window the arrow cursor changes in this window to a cursor click down with this cursor grab the blue Hinge line and drag it up or down 2 8 2 Render Window Contains an accurate representation of the final output of the filter with all light sources rendered and realistic soft edged shadows Page 21 Andromeda Shadow Filter It can take a awhile to update and while a new output image is being calculated it is overlaid by a progress bar You never need to wait for the update to be com plete unless you want to see the picture There is no interaction in this window 2 8 3 3D Proxy Window Contains a schematic 3 d line drawing of the 3 main Features Casting Plane Camera and Shadow Lights To complete the scene an Image Plane with letter a is also shown In Expert mode the entire structure can be rotated and turned for different perspectives by using the in the white space In Expert mode each feature drawing is mouse sensitive when the Feature is selected On selecting a Feature Casting Plane or Shadow Light or Camera the line drawing of the Feature in the window turns green When you approach la the Feature it is identified by a red box q around it You can click down with the special cursor and move it Its movement will be in 3d s
42. would expect to do the following for more advanced shadowing see Shadowing Sessions Before you call the Shadow Filter in the host applica tion isolate an object in your Input Image paste it into a white background layer Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode from the Preset Browser click on Unselected category and then Parallel Drop preset drag the Shadow in the Fast View Window to desired position click on the Check OK icon The result is a high quality transparent shadow of the object Page 26 Opaque Shadows Opaque Shadows are created from the silhouette of a Object in your input image Unlike Transparent Shadowing the Filter requires that you select the Object Since the shadow is opaque there are NO object features visible in the shadow a To generate Opaque shadows you would expect to do the followingbefore you call the Shadow Filter in the host application isolate an object in your Input Image paste it in the center into a white background layer or on separate Photoshop 4 0 layer select the background no selection necessary if it is on a transparent layer Call the Andromeda Shadow Filter select the Input Image Shadow mode from the Preset Browser select Selected or Layer category and then a preset such as Studio90Blur select the Shadow Lights feature in the Feature Pad drag the shadow in the Fast View Window to position clic
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