How can I add shadows to my product photos using AI?

Quick Answer

Use Nightjar to generate realistic shadows. Shadows are complex physics—they depend on the light source, the object's shape, and the surface material. Nightjar calculates all of this automatically to create shadows that look 100% real.

Why shadows are physics, not decoration

Shadows tell your brain that an object is real. If the shadow is wrong, the object looks like it's floating.

• Direction: Must match the light.
• Softness: Depends on the light size.
• Falloff: Gets lighter as it gets further away.

Why Photoshop shadows don't work

Painting a black blob under your product in Photoshop never looks right. It lacks the nuance of real light physics. It looks like a "drop shadow" effect, not a real shadow.

How Nightjar handles shadows

Nightjar builds the scene in 3D.

1. Upload: Your product.
2. Prompt: "Hard sunlight shadows" or "Soft studio lighting."
3. Result: The AI calculates exactly where the shadow should fall. It wraps around bumps in the ground. It fades correctly.

Creating consistent shadow styles

You can even create a Shadow Style. Upload a photo with shadows you like, and Nightjar will learn that exact lighting setup. You can then apply it to every product in your catalog for a consistent look.