Contact shadow
The soft shadow directly underneath an object where it touches or nearly touches a surface.
Why it matters
Our eyes use the shadow under an object to judge where it sits. A small, dense shadow says the piece rests on the surface. A wide, soft shadow suggests height or diffuse light. A missing shadow makes even a perfectly lit ring look pasted in.
Shadow styles
- Soft and small, a clean catalogue look for marketplaces.
- Larger and softer, a gentle studio feel for brand sites.
- Reflective floor, a faint mirror image under the piece for a premium look.
- Mirror floor, a strong reflection for dramatic hero images.
- No ground, for a clean floating look on a plain background, or for a white render you plan to cut out with a background remover and place into other layouts.
In the RenderMyJewels studio
The Ground tab offers 10 ground styles, from soft, medium, large and extra large shadows to reflective and mirror floors, including a no ground option. New models open without a ground, so choose one before exporting if you want the piece to sit on a surface.
Tips
Match the shadow to the background. Dark shadows on a light background look natural, while heavy shadows on a dark background disappear. Keep the same ground style across a collection, because customers notice when one product sits differently from the next. For marketplaces that need pure white backgrounds, a light, small shadow usually still grounds the piece, but check the rules for main images in our marketplace image size guide.