Separate Photoshop Shadow Layer
When rendering to a layered Photoshop file, it would be extremely helpful to have the Object on one layer and the Cast Shadow on a separate layer. This will allow a designer the ability to manipulate shading and integrate it better into the picture. I have worked in 3D for many years (multiple programs) and this separate layered technique is one of the most used by artists and extremely powerful.

Hi everyone. I wanted to let you know we do plan to add more layers to the .psd output including shadow/light passes, reflection and some other helpful bits. I’ll keep you updated as we get closer on this one.
12 comments
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Connor Hammond commented
Hi Jeanette,
today I was looking for a way to render cast shadows as a separate file. Has there been any progress with this update? -
Wojtek Tilbury commented
@Christian Oxenvad Right now my work around is to render a scene twice. First with Shadow Opacity at 100% then a second time with Shadow Opacity at 0%. Then copy the non-shadow layer over from resulting PSDs.
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Christian Oxenvad commented
Can anyone show me how to separate layers in Dimension, so I can render with the expected shadows and watch and export them from Photoshop? The shadows sadly disappear, when image has been rendered.
(As the anonymous user tells in his post from 14. dec 2016)
Regards
Christian -
Hector Cabarcas commented
How can this not be a thing yet? Last first requested instance of this was 2 years ago :(
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Peter Chambal commented
YES!
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Franck Payen commented
Hope we get more news on that someday :)
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ussnorway na commented
Wow you upgraded to CS2?
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Ken Petty commented
am desiging a new banner for my client https://www.videocubix.com/ the propblem is i used old version on photoshop and now got updated to PhotoShop CS2, how can I merge layers without losing or changing the layers that have drop shadows applied?
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SD commented
improvement of shadow rendering quality is important. Particulary the "coreshadow" (do not know if that is the right english term) in the near of an object standing on the ground should be improved...
shadows and Reflections should be separated passes... -
Anonymous commented
I want separated shadow layer.
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Anonymous commented
I would like to get the shadow and reflection pass separate.
Now all I get is a 3D model with the shadows in in one layer. When I change the color of the background the shadows don't look right. -
David Lloyd commented
+1 for this