Simulating real shadows inside Filter Forge - compilation of threads

I think that the topic of simulating ( or faking) real shadows according to a light source inside Filter Forge is a very good and interesting thing, and useful for many projects and things that could be done, and this makes a great difference in some filters that can benefit from this, from having or not this shadow effects, please see the examples shown below in the examples part so you can see the difference.

I would like to research more and learn more about this topic and that this thread can be a source for others interested in this topic, and I am making a thread compilation

NOTE: This thread would be better if it was in the FF wiki instead, and I want to put it there, but I am sorry that I still have not learn how to do it and the editing is done in a different way than the forum

POST MADE IN 5 PARTS

1 - There are 3 different shadows styles

2 - Compilation of threads in the forum I have found about about shadows

3 - Filters already available in the FF library for you to use and experiment, and also you can see how they are built

4 - Filters I have found that uses shadows

5 - Examples showing the shadows effect and how it looks

THREE DIFFERENT SHADOWS STYLES

As far as I know when looking at all the shadow filters that I have seen I could see that there are 3 different shadows styles

1 - Simple Drop Shadow (that does not matter the height)

2 - Simulating Real Shadow lighting using height information but without using Surface filter (no lighting tab)

3 - Simulating Real shadow lighting using height information with surface filter (Using the Lighting tab and have also AO (Ambient Occlusion)

Here is explained each one in more detail and with an example

1 - Simple Drop Shadows (that does not matter the height)

This is the most simple and easy one, and is used to simulate a shadow to appear under the object or shape so this makes a separation between the top and lower objects and makes the image deeper and as if it was in different layers

An example of this is done on my own

Simple drop shadows by SpaceRay

2 -Simulating Real Shadow lighting using height information but without using Surface filter (no lighting tab)

Here is a more complex shadows and is more realistic as it will take the height information available and will use that to make shadow projection

The best example of this is done in this filter

Fast cast shadows or Blast Shadows by ThreeDee

3 - Simulating Real shadow lighting using height information with surface filter (Using the Lighting tab and have also AO (Ambient Occlusion)

This is better than the second one as you will have more control and be able to use also the lighting tab and also have available the AO

The best example of this is with this filter

Hard Shadows filter snippet by Jitspoe

COMPILATION OF THREADS ABOUT SHADOWS IN FF

In some (or most) of these threads there are inside filter examples for you to try and experiment and learn more about this topic

Shadows play by Betis and others

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This very well done and easy to use shadows technique made by ThreeDee

Fast cast shadows or Blast Shadows by ThreeDee
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Another very well done technique made by Jitspoe also easy to use in your filter and there is also more information on the comments

Hard Shadows filter snippet by Jitspoe

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Also this thread from 2006 that is also interesting and good now started by Crapadilla

New Processing Components: Illumination, Shadow, Reflect
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Sphinx Shader v0.2 (alternative shader)

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Sphinxmorpher An attempt to create a custom shader/ligtning system. It is not meant to be a ready to use filter, but rather an alternative to the build in surface mode result module.

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Basic Shadow by CFandM

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CFandM There are a lot of filters with shadows to look at. This is just a shadow snippet or a how to sort of filter.

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Shadows thead asking Vladimir Golovin by Jitspoe

Using GPU for Shadow?

Shadows started by Jitspoe
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'Directional Shading'

How to make Shading from bump channel?

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CorvusCroax Wow: I'm thoroghly impressed ThreeDee... that's very impressive

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Shading Any shape started by James

In this thread there are two filter snippets
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Script based shadow by ThreeDee ?

Script-component-based filter ideas

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ThreeDee How about cast shadows from a height map?

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FILTERS AVAILABLE IN THE FF LIBRARY FOR SHADOWS

Hard Shadows by Jitspoe

Cast Shadows by Jim Niehues

Illumination/Shadow by Crapadilla

Topdown dropshadow by Totte

Sphinx Shader v0.2 (alternative shader) by Sphinxmorpher

I have made a simple snippet for making simple drop shadows and then Skybase has made a better or alternative version available in the comments page

Simple drop shadows by SpaceRay
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FILTERS AVAILABLE THAT USE SHADOWS INSIDE

Cube Wall by ThreeDee

Polygon Fill by ThreeDee

_T_Rain Drops Hard Shadow by MathOrWhat

CUT IT OUT !!! by Carl

pile of stones by Totte

Float On by garbanzo

Ball Pit by Morgantao

Checkered Racing Flag (triangular) by jffe

The Ripper Modified by Bill DeBekker

Photoweave 2 grids of stripes by SpaceRay

EXAMPLES SHOWING THE SHADOW EFFECT IN FF

Here below I have used my simple drop shadow to make a great difference that is shown in this thread
Fractals by Bomber


This shown here is the normal filter version without any shadow, and for me this is not good because all the layers looks like they are "glued" together and there is no separation between them and looks too flat


I think looks much better than the above one here and you can see the real layers and it looks more deep and better

In the same way this other example



This one above is too much plain and can´t really see well the different elements, so let´s give shadows that make it pop.

Which one do you think looks better from this two ? For me is clear that this second one with shadows

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Here is a more complex lighting and shadow made by Threedee

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ThreeDee Using the built-in preview images as reflection environments Lights, shadows, reflection are all from gradients, refractions, blast shadows, etc.

More information and examples are here in this thread

Other Interesting Ideas by ThreeDee

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From Betis this other very good and well done example



shown in this thread --> The Disquisitions of Betis

And also from Betis, this other Lego bricks simulating real shadows



This is found in this other thread on page 15 at the top

LAB#3015 Skybase

Hi SpaceRay,

Thanks for the compilation. I didn't see the Derivative Component method mentioned (maybe it was). That is the fastest shadow creation method from height maps.

Hello again, I started this thread in 2013 and I wonder if in 2017 with FF 6.0 and the new FF 7.0 beta there could be possibly any additional new ways to add shadows that could be faster than any of the previous ways already done.

Do you know if in all this time from experimenting and testing anyone have made or discovered a new way to do it?

Do you know any filter not shown here that may include an interesting and cool way to add shadows that is not included in this thread?

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In 2014 I made also this thread

Best way to add shadows to Bomber result? Making shadows without blur?

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How was done the shadows made by Sphynx shown here? Is it using some kind of depth map? as it looks that is a progressive depth shadow
( the example comes from this thread here)



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And another reason is to find the best way to add shadows without using blur to this awesome filter from Ramlyn

Scratched Rectanglex by Ramlyn

Thanks very much for your interesting and helpful answer Skybase.

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Skybase wrote: What I would say is that I think the way we make shadows in FilterForge differs based on what kind of input is available

Yes, I agree that making shadows will depend on what you are using (shapes, images, polygons....) and what components you are using that have different kind of inputs.

Will see how you Papercraft filter works and how it is done, thanks

I have found new shadow ways using loops that seems interesting. Do not know if these may be faster or better than any of the above

Loop shadows with layers by Truman

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Fake point shadows for black and white source images.Three layers version of “Loop shadows” filter

Loop Shadows by Truman

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jffe wrote: I don't know if it's relevant,

Yes, is relevant, because is about a way to do shadows, so is good, will see it how is done. Thanks for showing your filters.