Affinity Photo v1 Ipad - How To Copy The Shadow Of The Model To Another Backdrop

[Mainecoon364]

 

I know how to 

+ isolate, copy and paste the model.

+ Change the backdrop color.

 

But I can’t select, copy and paste the shadow of the model to another backdrop.

(In front of another wall or something.)

 

How can I do this?

 

[Ldina]

@Mainecoon364 Copying shadows with feathered edges can be challenging. You could use the selection brush tool, then refine it, feather the edge, etc.

Honestly, I'd probably use the Pen or Pencil tool to draw the outline of the shadow shape I want, which doesn't need to be super accurate since it will be very fuzzy along the edges. Blur it with a Destructive Gaussian blur (which will rasterize the vector layer), then add a mask and use the Gradient tool on the mask with a linear gradient to vary the opacity of the shadow as it becomes more distant from the model. Select a white to transparent gradient to control the falloff of the shadow. Finally adjust the opacity as desired. You can then edit the mask as desired. Here's an example done quickly and sloppily. 

You'd want to add some harder shadows under her one foot to "ground her" so she doesn't look like she's floating in the air. (which I didn't do here)

[NotMyFault]

Another approach to get more realistic shadows, but more effort.

This is only a rough guide. To get it really realistic it must be tweaked, specifically the blur and perspective adjustment needs much attention.

1. isolate the model to a separate layer
2. duplicate layer.
3. one copy stays on top, but deactivated for now
4. Focus on the other.
5. add layer fx, black color overlay
6. add perspective live filter
7. in this case light was from left above. So move upper nodes down, then tune them to roughly match the old shape. Important: the feet’s must perfectly match the model feet.
8. put  this layer into a group. Add layer fx Gaussian blur. Better results require tilt shift blur, to keep shadow of feet less blurry and the rest more blurry
9. add a rectangle shape to reduce opacity in the upper shadow area
10. last step: activate the top layer again so the model is above the shadow
11. add a different background (green in this case)

 

[carl123]

Ouch...

 

 

dropkick.afphoto

[Mainecoon364]

@Ldina

In Which mode do you draw in pen, pencil? It creates nodes on all modes on pen or pencil tool?

[Ldina]

I usually use the Pen Tool. I'm not sure what you mean here... "It creates nodes on all modes on pen or pencil tool?"

• Draw a shape with the Pen tool.
• Fill closed shape with black, gray or another color of your choice, set stroke to None.
• Blur using FX or a Live Blur Filter.
• If needed, reduce layer opacity. 
• position this "shadow layer" below your subject in the layer stack.

[Mainecoon364]

@NotMyFault

 

Question 1) When I add perspective layer It can be editable  in the way I can give It a skewed look. 

And It has square holders.

However sometime later It got circle holders and I can only rotate It.

In this case how can I make the square holders visible again.

 

Question 2) I made the shadow a skewed look by dragging the square holders.

 

Two problems occured;

 

One is some areas in the shadow are not black. 

 

The other problem is shadow is placed in front of the model.

[NotMyFault]

31 minutes ago, Mainecoon364 said:

The other problem is shadow is placed in front of the model.

This will be corrected in step 10.

[NotMyFault]

37 minutes ago, Mainecoon364 said:

One is some areas in the shadow are not black. 

Don’t know, would need your file for inspection what went wrong,

 

attached you can find my file, maybe helping you.

natural shadow tutorial v1.10.afphoto

[NotMyFault]

41 minutes ago, Mainecoon364 said:

However sometime later It got circle holders and I can only rotate It.

It is tricky to tap the nodes of the live filter. If you try to touch them and touch a bit away, Affinity will close the filter UI and switch to the move tool and select a pixel layer whose pixels are in the touched area. You need to open the layer studio and double-tap on the perspective live filter to open the filter UI again. 

[Mainecoon364]

Shadow looks like this. Some of the shadow are not black. The shoe of the woman.

 

???

 

 

method 2.aftemplate

[carl123]

35 minutes ago, Mainecoon364 said:

Shadow looks like this. Some of the shadow are not black. The shoe of the woman.

I can reproduce it in V1 (Windows 11) but looks like a bug in V1 as it works correctly in V2

 

[NotMyFault]

Put both layers into a group, and do the color overlay fx on the group instead of the pixel layer. This solves the issue.

alternatively, use brush tool, color black, activate protect alpha, paint the pixel layer fully black, deactivate protect alpha. Then no layer fx is needed.

[Mainecoon364]

Your new first method does not work. You can check It out on my screenshot video.

 

I do not understand your new second method at all. What is project alpha?

[NotMyFault]

Did you download the file I added earlier? 
there you can inspect the result.

[NotMyFault]

The perspective layer must be in the group, but on top of the pixel layer.

When you add the live filter, by default Affinity nests it to the pixel layer. You must move it out of nested position and above.

[NotMyFault]

[Mainecoon364]

Ok. I am at step 9 now.

 

“add a rectangle shape to reduce opacity in the upper shadow area”

 

I checked out your file. I could not see where you add rectangle shape.

 

Could you share a screen shot please?

 

[Mainecoon364]

Answers, suggestions

[NotMyFault]

More details:

the rectangle is use as a vector mask. It uses a gradient with nodes transitioning from full opacity to zero opacity. It can be used just the way a regular mask is used, but has one big advantage: you can re-edit the gradient any time later with fill tool.

from memory, there is a swatch for white to transparent gradient which you can use to simplify. If it is missing, create it yourself:

• add a rectangle large enough to cover the model
• use gradient fill tool, drag a gradient from bottom to top (vertical direction)
• set one node at the bottom, in the vicinity of her feet, to white and 100% opacity
• Set one node at the top, to white and 0% opacity
• move the rectangle as child layer into the group containing the shadow.

the rectangle is visible in every screenshot as 3rd layer from top in the layer stack.

 

[Mainecoon364]

Sorry, I think I understand the technique but I don’t think I can make It look as cool as much as you do.

 

Could you share a screenshot video of It please? So I can see the best application. 

[NotMyFault]

I trained a few hundred hours to build the skill of editing Photos like this (from scratch), and I have a background as computer scientist, so I know the theory and mathematics behind the apps very well much longer. This is nothing you can learn just by watching videos. You can learn it on your own, it will take it’s time, or speed up the process by hiring a personal instructor, or take sessions in a school or university teaching these skills.

We are beyond the limits what can be done within a forum with reasonable effort.

[Ldina]

3 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

You can learn it on your own, it will take it’s time, or speed up the process by hiring a personal instructor, or take sessions in a school or university teaching these skills.

We are beyond the limits what can be done within a forum with reasonable effort.

Agreed....I'd recommend watching and working through the Official Affinity Tutorials (for iPad, and even Desktop) and the many great tutorials you can find on YouTube. They will give you a solid foundation, so you will become more proficient and be able to come up with your own solutions. There's no substitute for learning the fundamentals, but it takes time and effort.

Here's one good link. She's very good at presenting information in an easy to understand manner. She has hundreds of tutorials and even some paid lessons if interested. There are plenty of other good resources.

https://www.youtube.com/@AffinityRevolution/playlists

[Mainecoon364]

Thank you very much for the answers. Appreciate a lot.