Layering shadows and highlights is an important skill in digital art. It helps make a scene look more real. By changing how light and shadow work together, artists can make flat pictures seem three-dimensional and full of life. Here's how they do it:

1. Creating Depth

• Contrast: When you use strong differences between light and dark, it helps show how far away things are. Objects that are closer to you look brighter and more colorful. Things that are farther away have softer shadows and seem duller.
• Volume: Shadows help objects look three-dimensional. For example, a ball appears round when shadows show how it curves. The way shadows look can follow math rules, but you don't need to worry about that!

2. Realistic Lighting Effects

• Highlights: Adding bright spots to the surface of objects makes them look shiny or reflective. For example, shiny things can bounce back most of the light, making them stand out in the picture.
• Shadow Layers: Using several layers of shadows helps create a feeling of depth, where areas not hit by light look darker. This can greatly change how you see the texture of the artwork.

3. Enhancing Textures

• Surface Variations: You can use shadows and highlights to show different textures. For instance, shiny metals reflect a lot of light, while flat surfaces tend to soak up light instead.
• Layering Techniques: Using soft brushes for highlights and sharp brushes for shadows helps create smooth changes, making the image feel more real and engaging.

Conclusion

By using shadows and highlights wisely, digital artists can create amazing depth and realism. This makes their stories more interesting and emotional for viewers.