With a cast shadow, the shadow stays attached to the base of the lamp while the rest of the shadow skews away from the lamp and onto the wall. The shadow makes the flat photo appear three-dimensional but not just floating in space. The upper right and two bottom images show just some of the possible cast shadows including solid and fading, hard and soft edges.
Build a Better Cast Shadow
By Jacci Howard Bear, About.com Guide
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Anchor Objects to a Surface
Drop shadow (top left) leaves the wall lamp floating. Cast shadows keep lamp anchored to the wall.
© J. Bear
A drop shadow gives the illusion that the object is floating in front of or above the surface. The drop shadow on the light (upper left) doesn't help to anchor the light to the wall (visible or invisible).
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- Add Perspective With Cast Shadows
- Base Cast Shadows on Imaginary Light Source
- Create Quick & Easy Cast Shadows
- Anchor Objects to a Surface
- Make Cast Shadows Part of the Background
- Match Cast Shadows With Form Shadows
Create Better Shadows
Create Cast Shadows in Photoshop
Create Cast Shadows in Graphics Software
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