Photoshop Shadow Services for E-commerce & Catalog Photos
Our Photoshop shadow services give cut-out products a believable base again, so they sit on the page instead of floating. Online sellers, catalog teams and product photographers send images after background removal, and an editor paints drop, natural, reflection or cast shadows by hand on a separate layer. Simple shadow work is priced from $0.50 per image.
- Shadows painted on their own layer, never baked into the product
- Drop, natural, reflection and original shadows in one order
- Files back in 24 hours, or from 6 hours on rush
- QC on every file, two free revisions, refund if it misses
What Are Photoshop Shadow Services?
A shadow service adds, restores or removes the dark area that tells the eye where an object meets the ground. Once a product is clipped from its backdrop it often looks pasted on; a soft contact shadow or a mirror reflection underneath gives it weight, depth and a sense of scale on a white or colored background.
- Light direction matched to the original shot
- Soft falloff with no hard, cut-out edges
- Shadow layer kept editable in the PSD
Shadow Types We Create in Photoshop
Choose one style for the whole catalog or mix them by product line. Every shadow is drawn to suit the angle of your lighting.
Drop Shadow
A soft, even shadow under the item that lifts it off a plain white page without pulling attention from the product.
Reflection Shadow
A faded mirror image beneath glass, cosmetics, bottles and electronics, as though they stood on a glossy tabletop.
Natural Cast Shadow
A directional shadow that follows the light in your shot, for products photographed with no visible surface.
Original Shadow Kept
The real shadow from the shoot is lifted with the product when the backdrop changes. Cut-outs start with our background removal service.
Shadow Removal
Harsh, doubled or cross-light shadows taken out of the frame when they compete with the item itself.
Floating 3D Shadow
An offset shadow suggesting the item hovers slightly above the surface, popular for packaging and hero banners.
Highlights & Contouring
Dodge-and-burn light and shade on models or products, adding shape where flat lighting left them dull.
Text & Graphic Shadows
Depth given to logos, titles and badges placed over product photos for ads or marketplace banners.
Shadow Samples: Original and Edited
Two edits from our studio. The original sits on the left, the photo with its new shadow on the right.
Motorcycle cut out with a ground shadow
Sunglasses given a reflection shadow
Who Orders Shadow Work From Us
Teams whose cut-out photos look flat once the background is gone.
Photoshop Shadow Pricing
A plain drop or natural shadow starts at $0.50 per image. Reflections on curved glass, multi-item sets and shadows inside composites take longer, so they are priced higher. Your exact figure arrives in our emailed quote before you pay anything.
- Standard return in 24 hours
- 2 free revisions with a refund promise
- Settle by PayPal, Visa or Mastercard
- Shadow files as JPG, PNG, TIFF or PSD
Large Catalog? Lock In a Shadow Style
Send ten typical products and the shadow look you want. We set the style once, quote the full catalog from that sample and keep every later batch consistent.
- Shadow style fixed from your sample products
- Same light angle across every new batch
- Monthly invoicing for regular uploads
- Unbranded files ready for your own store
Shadows usually follow a clean cut-out. Pair this work with our background removal service or hand-drawn clipping paths, see how we treat furniture catalog images, or return to the photo editing services overview.
Why Sellers Send Their Shadow Work to Us
Drawn, not generated
Each shadow is painted with brushes and gradients to fit the item; no one-click action is stretched across your catalog.
Follows your light
Editors read the highlights in your photo first, so the shadow falls the same way the studio light did.
Editable to the end
The shadow sits on its own layer in the PSD, so your team can soften it, move it or switch it off later.
Brooklyn studio, three shifts
A US company since 2010 with 40+ in-house designers working round the clock and a QC pass on every file.
Auto shadow plug-ins & filters
- Same blob under every product, whatever its shape
- Shadows pointing against the studio light
- Hard edges that look pasted on
- Reflections that copy dust and labels
Painted by a Vector Design US editor
- Shape follows the product’s footprint
- Direction taken from your lighting
- Gradual falloff into the background
- Clean reflections faded to the right depth
How a Shadow Order Runs
Example: a skincare brand sends 40 bottle and jar photos already cut out on white, and every one of them seems to hover.
- The brief
- Add a soft reflection under the glass jars and a light drop shadow under the tubes, keeping one light angle across the range.
- What we do
- We read the light from the original shots, paint each shadow on its own layer, fade the reflections and check every edge at full size.
- What you receive
- 40 JPGs on white for the store, plus layered PSDs so the shadow strength can be adjusted later.
How It Works
Upload your cut-outs
Send product photos with or without backgrounds, and tell us the shadow style you want.
Approve the quote
We check each file and email a price and delivery time; a PayPal, Visa or Mastercard payment starts the job.
Shadows and QC
Editors paint each shadow by hand, then a reviewer compares direction and softness across the set.
Download and publish
Get JPG, PNG, TIFF or PSD files, with 2 free revisions if a shadow needs adjusting.
What Repeat Clients Tell Us
“I often receive jpg logos from clients who need to do signage or embroidery, where vector art is required. I’ve used Vector Design for several years and they are always extremely quick and the quality of their vector files is excellent.”Merili LoucksSignage & embroidery · Google review
“I’ve been in the promotional products industry for 45 years and they are the most efficient design company I have worked with.”Don GardinerPromotional products · Google review
“I have used their services on several projects, always timely and very professional. They are our go-to partner.”Scott TurnerRepeat client · Google review
Rated five stars in 500+ Google reviews.
Photoshop Shadow Services: Questions and Answers
What is a Photoshop shadow service?
A Photoshop shadow service adds, restores or removes shadows in product photos by hand. After a background is removed, items can look as if they float, so an editor paints a drop, natural, reflection or 3D shadow that lets each product sit on a surface again and look real on the page.
How much do Photoshop shadow services cost?
A simple drop or natural shadow starts at $0.50 per image. Reflections on glass, groups of products and shadows inside composites cost more because they take longer. Upload a few samples and we reply by email with an exact price and delivery time before any payment is taken.
Which shadow type suits my products?
Drop shadows suit apparel, boxes and most items on white. Reflections work well for glass, cosmetics, jewelry and electronics. Natural cast shadows fit furniture and footwear shot from an angle. If you are unsure, send three products and we will suggest one style for the whole catalog.
Can you keep the original shadow from my photo?
Yes. When the shadow from your shoot already looks right, we separate it from the old backdrop and move it onto the new background with the product. That keeps the image honest to the set, and it is often the most natural choice for shoes, furniture and large items.
How fast will my shadow edits come back?
Most shadow orders return 24 hours after payment. Our rush option can deliver in as little as 6 hours, and it may carry an extra charge. For catalogs running to several hundred products, we confirm a realistic schedule in the quote once we have looked at the files.
What about payment, revisions and refunds?
You upload images, we review them and email an exact quote, and work begins when you pay by PayPal, Visa or Mastercard. Each shadow order includes 2 free revisions. If the result still misses the brief you gave us, our 100% money-back guarantee lets you ask for a refund.
Will I get a layered file?
Yes, on request. We deliver JPG or PNG for direct upload, and layered PSD or TIFF files in which the product, shadow and background sit on separate layers. Your team can then change the background color or soften the shadow without sending the image back to us.
Give Your Products Somewhere to Stand
Upload a few cut-out photos and tell us the look you want. We send an exact price and delivery time by email, then start once payment clears.