Creating Depth of Perception in Photoshop

The original image using a black area to convey the cut-out area where the shell would be removed by the ring-pull. There is no depth of perception and it looks just like a black area painted on the egg.

1. Double click the background layer in the Layer palette to turn it into an editable layer. ( F7 to bring up the layer palette )

Use a magic wand to select the black area and press delete to remove the black, leaving a clear hole.

2. Generate a new layer and drag this to the bottom of the layer stack.

Using the eliptical marque, click and drag an oval selection as shown opposite and fill with a radial gradient using a light to dark yellow.

Ensure the lightest area is in line with the cut-out hole in the egg.

3. Make a new layer above the 'yolk' layer and fill with black.

Make two copies of this layer and invert the top layer ( Image > Adjust > Invert )

Set the opacity of the bottom black layer to about 40%.

Click the top layer and using the magic wand, select the cut-out. Select the topmost black layer and delete the selection. Select the white layer and delete the selection from this layer

5. Click on black cut-out layer in the layers palette to make it active and then apply Gaussian blur to the whole layer.

This is the drop shadow on the yolk.

6. With all layers visible, activate the white layer and using the move tool ( + shaped tool top right in the tool palette ) move the white layer down slightly - use the arrow keys to nudge it more accurately. This gives the shell its depth ( thickness )

Use the eraser tool to remove any white from the ring-pull.

Activate the black cut-out layer and move this with the move tool until the shadow looks right.

Activate the black layer and change the opacity by pressing 1 to 0 when the move tool is active. Using the opacity of this black layer increases the options on the colour of the yolk.