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Thread: What's the easiest way to add a drop shadow of specific size?
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Thread Status: Active Total posts in this thread: 13
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ewwatson
Advanced Member United States Joined: Dec 19, 2007 Post Count: 1285 Status: Offline |
What's the easiest way to add a drop shadow of specific size? I know how to add a drop shadow, so my question is a little different... I want to make "just" the drop shadow image so I can place it around the swf movie. I figured out how to do this, but there has to be an easier way. I did it by creating two images - the "outer.jpg" and the "inner.jpg". The inner image being smaller ofcourse. Then I opened up the outer.jpg >> view tab >> and used the "place" button to add the inner.jpg to the outer.jpg >> then added the drop shadow to the inner layer. So... is there an easier way than this? Possibly using layers or something? Thanks! Photoshop is finally starting to click for me a little bit, so I probably just need a point in the right direction. ---------------------------------------- Eric :~) Knowledge is Power ---------------------------------------- [Edit 2 times, last edit by ewwatson at Dec 16, 2008 9:37:08 AM] |
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newseed
Advanced Member Joined: Apr 2, 2005 Post Count: 2141 Status: Offline |
I think I understand what you are asking. Simply create the layer and add the drop shadow via 'Blending Options'. While in 'Blending Options', over to the far upper left highlight 'Blending Options: Custom'. Now over to the right, change the Fill Opacity to 0 (under Advance Blending). This will take out fill color but leave the shadow. ---------------------------------------- Success is based on how much you spend. If it's not money, then the alternative is your time. The Kasper Group |
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ewwatson
Advanced Member United States Joined: Dec 19, 2007 Post Count: 1285 Status: Offline |
I think I understand what you are asking. Simply create the layer and add the drop shadow via 'Blending Options'. While in 'Blending Options', over to the far upper left highlight 'Blending Options: Custom'. Now over to the right, change the Fill Opacity to 0 (under Advance Blending). This will take out fill color but leave the shadow. Thanks Eddie, although, I don't think that was quite what I had in mind (unless I'm mistaken). Here, a new example... say you want to add a drop shadow to an image. You can't just add it to the image, unless that is, it's already sitting on a larger canvas. So in order to add a drop shadow to an image you have to first place the image on a larger canvas (new layer). But, I'm not trying to add the drop shadow to anything. I'm just trying to find a simple way to create the shadow itself. And then put it on a div in order to wrap around my wink movie. Hopefully, that makes some more sense. Thanks! Like I said, I already did it, I just know I made it much harder than it had to be. And I'm trying to get into tune with this program (so close). ---------------------------------------- Eric :~) Knowledge is Power ---------------------------------------- [Edit 1 times, last edit by ewwatson at Dec 16, 2008 7:55:56 PM] |
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falkencreative
Advanced Member USA Joined: Aug 14, 2007 Post Count: 1129 Status: Offline |
But, I'm not trying to add the drop shadow to anything. I'm just trying to find a simple way to create the shadow itself. And then put it on a div in order to wrap around my wink movie. As far as I know, the way you are currently doing it is just about the only way to do it in Photoshop. Basically, work with two layers -- a larger layer that contains the whole canvas, and a smaller area that you apply the drop shadow to. ---------------------------------------- Benjamin Falk | student : designer : developer Twitter: falkencreative |
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ewwatson
Advanced Member United States Joined: Dec 19, 2007 Post Count: 1285 Status: Offline |
Hi Ben, OK, but I'm not really doing it in the layers palete. I'm making two separate images, saving each, and then placing the inner one inside the outer one. Is there a way to do all that in the layers palete in less steps? ---------------------------------------- Eric :~) Knowledge is Power |
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falkencreative
Advanced Member USA Joined: Aug 14, 2007 Post Count: 1129 Status: Offline |
Assume I want to add a drop shadow to a (fixed width) area. Let's assume that the video is 400px by 400px, I want a 20px shadow, and the final result is going to be a transparent PNG. Here are my usual steps: -- create a new document with the size of the final shadow image I want saved (440px by 440px) with a transparent background. -- create a new layer within that document (your document should now have two layers, a background layer, and a new layer) -- within that new layer, create a box that is the size of your video player (400px by 400px). Usually, the easiest way to do this is create a new, temporary document that is the correct size, and copy/paste it into your original document. -- Then, go up to Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow, to add a new drop shadow layer style -- Play with the shadow settings until you like it, and then Save for Web, exporting the image as a transparent PNG. Make sense? I hope I am understanding you correctly... ---------------------------------------- Benjamin Falk | student : designer : developer Twitter: falkencreative |
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ewwatson
Advanced Member United States Joined: Dec 19, 2007 Post Count: 1285 Status: Offline |
-- create a new layer within that document (your document should now have two layers, a background layer, and a new layer) -- ...OK easy enough within that new layer, create a box that is the size of your video player (400px by 400px). Usually, the easiest way to do this is create a new, temporary document that is the correct size, and copy/paste it into your original document. This is the part I can't get past. How do I create a "temporary document" and paste it into the original file? Seems easy enough, but I can't even figure out how to copy the darn thing. Thanks Ben. ---------------------------------------- Eric :~) Knowledge is Power |
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Susie
Advanced Member Ohio, USA Joined: May 30, 2004 Post Count: 2677 Status: Offline |
within that new layer, create a box that is the size of your video player (400px by 400px). Usually, the easiest way to do this is create a new, temporary document that is the correct size, and copy/paste it into your original document. This is the part I can't get past. How do I create a "temporary document" and paste it into the original file? Seems easy enough, but I can't even figure out how to copy the darn thing. Thanks Ben. I'm not Ben and I'm a total Photoshop novice, but I wanted to take a guess here. I *think* he means to create a new document that is 400px by 400px. Then copy/paste it (or can you just drag and drop it?) into your main document. It's "temporary" because you won't need it anymore after placing it in your main document. Maybe? |
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ewwatson
Advanced Member United States Joined: Dec 19, 2007 Post Count: 1285 Status: Offline |
Hi Susie - thanks. Although, I can't seem to copy and paste it or drag and drop it - copy and paste is greyed out. Argg.... ---------------------------------------- Eric :~) Knowledge is Power |
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Susie
Advanced Member Ohio, USA Joined: May 30, 2004 Post Count: 2677 Status: Offline |
You're using Photoshop CS3, right? I just opened mine and made 2 documents - one large and one small for testing. I was able to left click on the small box and drag it over to the large one. Hmmm..... |
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