I would like to know how to create this effect for black and white images, i refer to the shadow that makes the image look as if it is floating.
I get that i need to enlarge the canvas and i have tried a few different ways to create that drop shadow but can't get it to work properly. If some one could point me to a tutorial or explain step by step please.

1. Make a duplicate layer of your image
2. Increase canvas size (try 1 as an example with the relevant box checked in the canvas size dialogue box. Make sure canvas is white)
3. Layer effects (little f at the bottom of your layers pallette).
4. Drop Shadow (I usually use these numbers
145
10
5
10
5. You can vary the opacity and color as you wish.

Is this close to what you were wanting. Created the drop shadow on a duplicate layer after enlarging the canvas size.

not sure if its drop shadow or stroke.....but start with your figure seperated from the bg, and as others have stated go to layer options and toy around witi the drop shadow or stroke...more likely stroke since you can change the color of the aura effect.....memory is failing if you can do that with the drop shadow options.

Thank you everyone that is exactly what i wanted to know. I was playing with drop shadow just couldnt get the settings quite right.

You could also paint black a copy of the picture (or use a gradient), apply Gaussian blurs & opacity as you wish.
Position the shadow wherever you like. You could manipulate the shadow layer to get different effects.


DWThomp, I hope you don’t mind me using your photo

DWThomp, I hope you don’t mind me using your photo

Not at all.

sorry..thought you meant the glow coming off the figure itself....meh