Drop Shadow ?

**Tara** · 08-21-2005, 12:50 AM

I'm using PSE3 and trying to make SMALL drop shadows. When I apply Layer Styles>Drop Shadows>Low (the smallest automatic drop shadow I can find), it is still too big. Everyone says to make tiny drop shadows...but darn if I can't figure out how. Any hints?

**shazzt** · 08-21-2005, 03:42 AM

Double click on the layer in your layer pallette (it will have an "f" on it to show it has a layer atyle applied). A dialogue box should appear that show a number of options and sliders - adjust the one for "Shadow Distance" down until you are happy with the effect. I hope this makes sense!!!

**Amanda** · 08-21-2005, 01:39 PM

I put mine on about 3 for most things

travelgirlut · 09-16-2005, 06:48 PM

I've become dissatisfied with PSE 3 shadows. I've acutally started making my own so I can make them as dark or light as big or small as I want. I'll try and give a run down of what I do, but if it doesn't make sense feel free to PM me and I'll try and make it clearer.

First I hold down control and click on the layer I want the shadow of. This selects it. Then while holding control I click on the new layer icon on the top of the layers palette. This makes a new layer below the current one. Then making sure that the color you want your shadow is the background color in your color picker hit control-backspace. This will fill the selection with that color. Then deselect (control-D). Then I use the gaussian blur filter (under filters-blur) to get the shadow as fuzzy edged as I want. Then I lower the opacity and shift the shadow which ever way I want the light to appear to be falling. If the shadow is something like a ribbon you can even skew it to make it look like it sticks up off the page rather than just laying flat.

I hope that makes sense. It sounds like a lot but after a few times doing it you just hold down the control key and go go go.

TsMom · 09-17-2005, 08:30 PM

Try Layer/Layer Style Scale effects and then go down to 50. Do this before adjusting the effects of the shadow.
LaWanna

Emma · 09-17-2005, 09:29 PM

yep, all of the above, plus one more

1. double click the f icon or go to Layer>Layer Style>Style Settings and reduce Distance to about 2 or 3

2. Layer>Layer Style>Scale Style and reduce before adjusting Distance

3. Make custom shadows as described, especially the skewing or Filter>Distort>Liquify to get it really moving and more realistic

4. Take DSU 261; in it I give a style set for shadows with several more options, most are smaller and more subtle. DSU 361 has two sections on making custom shadows as well

Keep after it! I usually use Low set at 2 or 3, or one from my shadow set

TsMom · 09-18-2005, 08:56 AM

The One Click Wow set also comes with alternate shadows that are much subtler, plus it comes with a ton of other great goodies - patterns, brushes, tons of layer styles, and gradients. There's one for all versions of PSE and Photoshop.

LaWanna

Emma · 09-18-2005, 09:53 AM

I've heard that WOW has some added shadows. Which one(s) do you have? I only have PS 7 WOW (it words in PS 7, CS, CS 2, PSE 2, PSE 3), and I don't think it has any shadows.

Audrey · 09-19-2005, 03:53 PM

Amanda, that's exactly how I often make my shadows too

Great directions!
When I started digiscrapping, my first photoshop programme was a Limited Edition(LE), which had no such thing as layer styles so I had to figure out how to make my own. I'm glad I had to learn it the hard way, because now I know hoe to have more control over the colour, opacity, direction of my shadows.

patbell · 09-23-2005, 09:14 AM

Where do you get the "One Click Wow" settings??

TsMom · 09-23-2005, 09:32 AM

At a bookstore or Amazon. The creator is Jack Davis. It comes with a book that is basically a catalog of the effects included. I think it runs about 25 bucks.

patbell · 09-23-2005, 09:41 AM

Thanks...I'll have a look at it!

Emma · 09-23-2005, 09:21 PM

be sure to check out the free layer styles at www.share.studio.adobe.com but I know there aren't any shadow styles on there (I've looked!) The DSU 261 class and WOW are the only places I've heard of getting them, though I'm sure some PS users will catch on soon and make a free set somewhere!