PS Drop Shadow Help

[Dustin Mustangs]

I was wondering if there is a way you can have a drop shadow from one layer be visible on the background layer but not on other layers in photoshop.  For example, here I want Qbert's shadow to appear behind the layer he is standing on...

 


PS - Please ignore the crappy quality of the background.

[dirkamiss]

well you could just freehand the shadow behind the layer.  Which shouldn't be hard to do assuming the area is fairly small.

Or an easier way would be to select that part of the shadow with the polygon selection tool or the magnetic lasso.  then you can just copy it, delete it, then paste it to a new layer.  Then you can rearrange the layers to your liking.

Good Luck.

[Dustin Mustangs]

Thanks for the reply dirkamiss.

Well, your second idea was my original thought but it won't let me select or modify the shadow, just the object that is casting it unless I am missing something. 

I could do it free hand, but I have a number of areas, some of which are pretty complex, where I want to do this.  For example, the text "Admin." in the photo.  Doing that and the others by hand would suck. 

I guess I could flatten the layer with the ds and then modify the shadow but again that would be really tricky and not look to good because of how intricate the text is.  It also would lock me into my ds settings, which I would rather wait to do.

Any other ideas?

[motorfish]

You can't do what you're wanting to do with an actual drop shadow filter effect, since it will be attached to the layer it's affecting, but you can fake it nicely.
I'd do it this way:

1 - Start out with your layers as follows:

Qbert
Red Line
Background
http://motorfish.homestead.com/files/1.gif


2 - Duplicate the Qbert layer and move it down and to the right a bit, like so:
http://motorfish.homestead.com/files/2.gif


3 - Using the Brightness/Contrast option, adjust the Brightness to -100 and the Contrast to -100, like so:
http://motorfish.homestead.com/files/3.gif


4 - Move the duplicated Qbert layer underneath the Red Line layer, like so:
http://motorfish.homestead.com/files/4.gif


5 - If you wish, you can make the shadow layer softer by adding a Gausian Blur effect, like so:
http://motorfish.homestead.com/files/5.gif


6 - If you have a semi-opaque field behind the Red Line layer, and want the shadow to not be visible, you will have to remove it, as it will be visible through a semi-transparent field. Make a selection around the part you want to remove, like so:
http://motorfish.homestead.com/files/6.gif

7 - ...and then press the Delete key to remove that part. All done.
http://motorfish.homestead.com/files/7.gif

[Dustin Mustangs]

Wow, thanks motorfish.  I think that should do it. 

What you said brings me to an objective question though.  Do I want my shadows to be seen through my semi-opaque layers?  I noticed they aren't by defualt, but I was't sure if I liked that.  Any opinions?