How to Use Shadows in the ACM

Once you have created your scene, the next step is to pick a shadow. There are 6 options for your shadows. Mask Shape, Contact Points, Rectangle, Round, Draw, and Photo. These shadows will help your asset to look grounded in the image you are creating. Let's take a look at these Shadows one by one.

Shadows: Mask Shape 

 

 

The mask shape shadow option is a shadow in the shape of the asset. In this case an end table. With the sliders you can blur the edges of the shadow, adjust the length of the shadow, and can adjust the shadow strength making it lighter or darker. 

Contact Points 

 

 

You have the ability to put contact points under the legs, for example, to give the appearance of a shadow. To add them, simply click where you would like to place them. Click on edit if you would like to delete them. As with the mask shape, you can click on adjustments and control the blur, shadow length, and shadow strength. 

Rectangle 

 

The Rectangle is precisely just that: a rectangle shadow. With the sliders you are able to control the angle of the shadow, horizontal position, distance, length of the shadow, the depth and the shadow strength. 

Round

 

The Round is precisely just that: a round shadow. With the sliders you are able to control the angle of the shadow, horizontal position, distance, length of the shadow, the depth and the shadow strength. 

Draw Brush

 

In this option you are able to draw your own shadow if you would like. Use a brush to draw, erase, or blur the edges of your shadow, You can also use a shape to draw your shadow. If you wanted to combine a couple of shadow options, you are able to do that as well with the copy function. 

Draw Shape

 

Use the draw shape tool to use a polygon shape to draw in your shadow. Click on your screen to add points and stretch the lines to your liking. Fill draws the shadow in, and erase, erases the shadow for you. When you get the shadow the way you want it to look click apply shape. 

Copy

 

You can replace a shadow with a previous choice by clicking on replace and then choosing the option you would like from the “copy from” and clicking apply. You can also combine shadows. For example: you can combine a round shadow and a rectangle shadow. Select combine, “copy from,” round and then click apply. Then select combine, “copy from,” rectangle, and click apply. The shadows will have been combined for you. 

Photo

 

Selecting the “photo” shadow selects the actual shadow produced when the capture is taking place. With this option you can control the shadow strength.