When Do You Use Shadows?

[Stacey]

I received some asked-for-constructive-criticism about some of my layouts and was told that I need to work on using shadows appropriately. I was just curious how everyone else uses shadowing so I can improve. What kinds of things do you "drop shadow" on, and what shouldn't I use it with? Examples would be great as well!!! :)

[elizabethlmccoy]

great question!!! I dont know what the "appropriate" way is either..Hmmmm I can't wait to see some answers too.

Do you have an example of using drop shadows incorrectly????

[Stacey]

great question!!! I dont know what the "appropriate" way is either..Hmmmm I can't wait to see some answers too.

Do you have an example of using drop shadows incorrectly????

I don't have a specific example. It was just "in general" advice, so I'm guessing that any of my layouts in my gallery might me an example, because they are all my same style. I just want to improve, so I'm hoping someone can help me!

[Amanda]

Getting That Hand-Scrapped Look in your Digital Pages (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/handscrappedps.shtml)

This is an article I wrote quite a while ago. Needs to be updated but you get the general idea :D

[Stacey]

Getting That Hand-Scrapped Look in your Digital Pages (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/handscrappedps.shtml)

This is an article I wrote quite a while ago. Needs to be updated but you get the general idea :D


This is a great article, Amanda! Thanks for the tips :D

[Schmoopy]

Great article Amanda!

I don't know why but I find people usually put the shadow on the right hand side, I guess as though the light were coming from the top left, kwim? I'm the opposite though (yes, I do everything opposite the norm, rofl), I always like my shadows on the left lower as though the light were coming from the top right corner.

I can't say if I'm doing it right, or am even close :p , but usually i'm pretty happy with the overall look.

Stace.

[Amanda]

It doesn't matter where you put your light source, as long as you are consistent on all object on the same page.

But, if you do merge your shadows and share objects with others it is hard for them to mix and match :D

[Lauren]

This is all true - your shadows should be from a consistent direction but probalby more important even than that is that the size of the shadow is consistent with the height of the element . For instance - if you have a pieces of paper it would have a tiny drop shadow as it is very flat - but a large button or something thicker like that or a stone would have a larger shadow - - and also the opacity of the shadow is important as well - if you were looking at a real scrapbook page in daylight there would be only a very tiny faint shadow so try keeping those shadows to a really low opacity