Matching the shadows from one image to another?

[southwestform]

When compositing photos, what is the best way to match the values of the shadows from one image to another? If clipping a Curves adjustment layer to the layer composited to the background, will using the black eyedropper to sample dark shadow values from the background layer be sufficient or is there more to this?

Thanks.

[Mylenium]

You can't just match the shadow only, you have to match the entire image and its perceived color range, which "dumb" procedures such as you propose rarely achieve. You have to read up on how professional color correction is done. Typically you start by matching the midrange colors and only then start crunching or expanding ranges. and of course it can still mean creating elaborate selections and using multiple layer duplicates to attain control ofver individual regions.

Mylenium

[Trevor.Dennis]

Yes, if you want to be convincing, you have to use source images taken under matching conditions.  You can flip horizontally, to match light direction, but it is hard to make an image element taken on a bright sunny day, look as if it was taken on a grey overcast day.