Which shadow is best?

Natural shadows look most real; drop shadows are the easiest to keep consistent. Many catalogues use one style for everything.

Can we get the shadow on a separate layer?

Yes, so your team can adjust or remove it later.

Can you match the shadows in our existing images?

Yes. Send a few approved images and we copy their style.

Product shadows and reflections for e-commerce

Which product shadow should you use: natural, drop or reflection?

The short answer

A natural shadow keeps or rebuilds the real shadow from the shoot, a drop shadow is a soft shadow created beneath the product, and a reflection shadow mirrors the product on a glossy surface. Whichever you choose, use one style at one angle across the whole catalogue, so products sit together on a category page.

The three kinds

Natural shadow: the shadow from the shoot, kept or rebuilt after the background is replaced. The most realistic.
Drop shadow: a soft shadow created under the product. Clean and easy to repeat across a range.
Reflection shadow: a mirror image beneath the product, as if on glass. Common for footwear, watches and accessories.

How it is done

After the cut-out, the shadow is separated or built on its own layer, so its strength, softness and angle can be set to your rules and changed later if you need to. Every image is then checked against its neighbours, because a single shadow at the wrong angle is visible across a grid.

What we need from you

The shadow style you prefer, or a few approved images to copy, and whether you want the shadow delivered on its own layer. Original shoot files help us keep natural shadows where they exist.

Repeatable work, judged by eye

Once the shadow is defined, much of it can be applied consistently with tools. A person still checks where the product actually touches the ground, so a heel, a bag base or a watch strap sits convincingly instead of floating.

Why it is worth getting right

Shadows are what make a cut-out look like an object. Consistent ones make a catalogue look considered; mismatched ones make it look assembled from different shops.

How ALT FIX helps with this

We set one shadow style, angle and softness for your catalogue, apply it to every image, and deliver it on its own layer if you want to change it later.

Image post-production

Questions

Which shadow is best?: Natural shadows look most real; drop shadows are the easiest to keep consistent. Many catalogues use one style for everything.
Can we get the shadow on a separate layer?: Yes, so your team can adjust or remove it later.
Can you match the shadows in our existing images?: Yes. Send a few approved images and we copy their style.