question

[scyechilde]

any enlightening ideas on dodge and burn ,,,i know how to use the tools, but .. anybody got any ideas to figure out light and shadow besides "look at your surroundings" like a rule or something to begin with

 

[Smokey2011]

don't know what to say... it's as simple as saying that shadows are cast in behind any objects blocking the source of light.

Just decide where your light source is coming from, and paint the shadows in accordingly. It's easier than you think and when painting, never has to be exact.

 

[Paul]

Is this some sort of community for sarcastic questions and replies?

I don't think so, but of late it reads that way...

 

[Smokey2011]

i wasn't being sarcastic... maybe the original poster was, I don't know

 

[Paul]

Maybe, your subconscious got the better of you in reply.

 

[Smokey2011]

methinks i've gotten under your skin, Paul

 

[Paul]

I have no skin, i am a computer program.

 

[Jessicayla]

It would be a good idea to start with the basics as far as shadows and lighting goes. There's a good article here: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/drawing-light-and-shadows.html

 

[ibclare]

I don't quite understand what you're getting at either. Every photograph is different. Light sources are different and can come from multiple directions. "Look at your surroundings" is good advice, but sometimes translating from 3D to 2D is not as simple as it seems. I would say, look at lots of photographs by renowned photographers. Examine how light and shadow are used.

Art History. I can't say it enough sigh. Look at what has gone before; don't discount it because it isn't "the latest." We wouldn't have computers if the apple hadn't hit Newton in the head. Or something :mrgreen:

 

[Paul]

On the head Clare, on the head........please. xxx

 

[agentmoeller]

Here's an answer.

Start with dark core colors. Build up, out, and lighter, as that is how natural hilights are - on the outsides, borders, and edges.

Pick a light source (left, right, up, down, behind, in front), and keep that light source in mind as you color each object or portion thereof. Think to yourself, is this part facing the light, or away from the light.

Sample your own colors, so you have continuity in your shades and hilights.

Use lower opacity to build up hilights.

How's that?

 

[mattattack347]

you can duplicate the layer with the thing you want to change the lighting on,
then make one of them not visable,
Then change the mode of the layer untill you see the lighting sort of blend.
From there you can grab the not visable layer and make sure it is on top of the other layer that you changed the settings on.
then you can make it visable then change the layer mode to multiply.
From there you can change the opacity or add another multiply layer until your lighting matches.
But this is the Very lazy method and does not always work perfectly.
And I would still suggest her method.