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Home / Services / Image Editing / Shadow Creation
Image editing service
Shadow Creation
Natural, drop and reflection shadows that put a cut-out product back onto a real surface — the difference between a listing that floats and one that sits.
- From $0.50 per image
- Typical delivery 24–48h
- Revisions included in the rate
- Layered files kept intact
What shadow creation is
Cutting a product out removes its shadow along with the background, and a product with no shadow looks pasted onto the page. Adding one back is what makes an isolated shot read as a real object on a real surface rather than a floating graphic.
The shadow has to agree with the light in the photograph. If the key light came from the upper left, the shadow falls to the lower right, softens as it moves away from the contact point, and is darkest where the product actually touches the surface. Get any of that wrong and the image looks worse than it did with no shadow at all.
We build shadows to match the original lighting rather than dropping a generic ellipse under everything. Where a product was shot on a reflective surface, the reflection is rebuilt with the same falloff and opacity, so a range of products photographed on different days still looks like one shoot.
Who it is for
- E-commerce teams whose cut-out products look flat and pasted-on.
- Marketplace sellers meeting a white-background rule but wanting depth on the page.
- Furniture, footwear and homeware brands where the product needs to sit on a surface.
- Agencies compositing products into campaign artwork that must look photographed.
- Studios standardising a shadow treatment across a catalogue shot over many sessions.
What we provide
Shadow types
Natural shadow
The original shadow rebuilt and cleaned, keeping the exact light direction from the shoot.
Drop shadow
A constructed shadow at a defined angle and softness, applied consistently across a range.
Reflection shadow
A mirrored reflection with realistic falloff, for products shown on glossy surfaces.
Floating shadow
Product lifted off the surface with a soft shadow beneath, common in footwear and tech.
Examples
Before and after
After
Before
Drag the divider to compare. This is real production output, not a demonstration file — the same standard every batch is measured against.
Most of what we produce is delivered white-label and published under our clients’ names, so only cleared work appears in the public portfolio. If you need to see something closer to your own sector, ask — we can usually share a relevant example privately, under NDA if you prefer.
Our workflow
Four steps, every time.
01
Upload
Send files by Dropbox, Drive, WeTransfer or straight to your shared folder.
02
Share instructions
Add the spec once. We turn it into a style guide and reuse it on every batch.
03
We edit
Assigned editors work the batch, with an internal QA pass before it leves.
04
Review & delivery
Typically 24–48 hours, in your formats, with revisions included.
Production capability
A short, professional toolchain.
No novelty software. The industry standard, used properly, with layered files kept intact so your team can pick the work back up at any point.
Editing & finishing
- PsAdobe PhotoshopRetouching · masking · compositing
- LrAdobe LightroomBatch colour · exposure · consistency
- AiAdobe IllustratorVector paths · raster-to-vector
- CrAdobe Camera RawRAW conversion · exposure recovery
Files & handoff
- DbDropboxShared production folders
- GDGoogle DriveReview & approval rounds
- WtWeTransferOne-off bulk delivery
- FTPYour FTP / DAMWe work inside your system
Quality, turnaround & revisions
What you can hold us to.
Turnaround
24–48h
Rush slots available on request for campaign deadlines.
Revisions
Included
Included in the rate, not billed as a second pass.
Formats
JPG · PNG · TIFF · PSD
Layered files kept intact and delivered on request.
Minimum order
1 image
No monthly commitment, no retainer required.
Why Fix The Subject
What working with us actually looks like.
Reliable workflow
A named contact, a documented spec per client and a predictable 24–48 hour cycle.
Clear pricing
Per-image rates that scale with volume, quoted per account after a test batch.
Support that answers
Overlapping cover across North American, European and Asian hours.
Secure file handling
NDA on request, white-label output and free storage for up to six months.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Which shadow type should I choose?
Natural suits products photographed on a surface where you want the original lighting kept. Drop is the safest choice for a large catalogue because it applies identically to everything. Reflection suits glossy and premium categories. If you are unsure, send one product and we will return all three so you can pick.
Can you keep shadows identical across a catalogue?
Yes. Once you approve the treatment on a first set it becomes the written spec for the account — same angle, same softness, same opacity — so products shot months apart still match on the page.
How long does a batch take?
Typical delivery is 24–48 hours, depending on image quantity, complexity, resolution and quality requirements. Larger catalogue drops are booked into a scheduled slot so you get a committed date rather than an estimate, and rush work can usually be accommodated if you tell us the deadline up front.
How is shadow creation priced?
Per image, starting from $0.50, adjusted for complexity and volume. Recurring accounts are quoted after a test batch so the rate reflects your actual files rather than an average. Send a representative sample and we will tell you which tier your work falls into before you commit.
What do you need from me to start?
The files, the output you need, and any reference. If you have approved finals from a previous shoot, send two or three — we will match those rather than applying our own defaults, and we write what we derive into a style guide reused on every batch that follows.
Are revisions included?
Yes. If a file did not match the written spec, correcting it is our cost, not a second charge. Revisions are part of the rate.
Need more clarity?
Ask us anything about the work, the process or the commercials — you will get a straight answer from a person, not a sales sequence.
Related services
Often ordered together
Send ten images. See the shadow creation.
A free trial on your first order, no card required. If the output isn’t at your standard, you owe us nothing.
- NDA on request before you send a single file · typical delivery 24–48h