Most of our digital elements and AlphaSets come without drop shadows so you can customize them to meet your needs. However, in a majority of kits we include some elements with realistic lifted shadows for a fun twist and to save you time. When space allows, we offer both an un-shadowed and shadowed version. In these cases we add the word Shadow to the shadowed version.

To become familiar with how light and shadows work, look at real life shadows and layer objects on top of each other to see how the shadows are affected.

A good rule of thumb is to keep the direction of the shadow the same on all elements on a page as light normally comes from one direction. We have been consistently using 120 degrees (light source coming from top left) for any shadows we create for our elements.

Anything hanging over the edge of an object with a shadow needs an even deeper shadow, as it is even higher off the page. See postcard at right.

Shadows get lighter and blurrier the further away they are from the source.

All image editors that support layers offer a quick and easy drop shadow effect. These work well for most flat objects with uniform shadows. However, adding your own shadow on a separate layer allows the ability to get very creative and give the illusion of objects lifted away from the page.

Add Drop Shadow Layer Style (in Adobe Photoshop Elements)

To save time and still achieve a satisfactory uniform drop shadow, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements' Drop Shadow Layer Style works well. If you look at paper pieced pages, most elements and papers lie very close to what they are lying above, making this type of shadow quite acceptable. It's also great for beginners and those with little time to fuss. Sample at right and instructions use Photoshop Elements 6.

In the Layer Palette, click on the object you want shadowed.

In Effects Palette (defaults to top right of screen) select Drop Shadows. Click on the shadow of your choice. The top right shadow, Low, is a good place to start. As you may see at right, it's a bit too high. So, to customize this shadow, click on the fx on the object's layer in the Layer Palette to bring up the Style Settings dialog. A small, realistic shadow is Size: 4, Distance: 4, Opacity 40. However, you can set to your preference.

Note: trends are moving towards larger shadows giving the appearance of more depth, so you may want to experiment with sizes. Remember to decrease opacity as size increases.
 

In Photoshop, you can access the Drop Shadow dialog by selecting Layer>Layer Style>Drop Shadow. Follow steps above for adjusting shadow to your preference. Photoshop offers you more flexibility in your shadow settings, but the standard settings function in the same manner.

The sample tag at right has the following settings, lifted a bit as it's hanging from a string:

Angle: 120, Size: 27, Distance: 16, Opacity: 30

see full layout in our gallery

Custom Lifted Drop Shadow

There are instances when a flat shadow just won't do the trick, so here are steps to make your own lifted drop shadow. This works well for curled papers and mats, as well as ribbons with folds, etc.

1. Duplicate object's layer in Layers Panel (Layer>Duplicate Layer)

2. Change color of lower layer to black (this is the shadow layer).  Select Enhance> Adjust Color> Adjust Hue & Saturation (Ctrl+U; Mac: Cmd+U) and move Lightness slider all the way left.

3. Blur black layer - I like between 5-6 pixels on a 300 dpi object. The larger the object the more blur you need to make the same effect. Select Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur> Setting> Ok.

4. Click the Move Tool to be able to transform the shadow layer's shape. While holding the Ctrl key down (Mac-Cmd key), grab the lower right handle of the selection box and drag shape left and down. Bring top right side down and right. Click enter to transform. See Step 4 image for example.

5. Since my light source is coming from top left, move the entire shadow over to the right with the right arrow key a tad (so no shadow appears on left edge).

6. Take Smudge Tool to push shadow down and inward at lower left edge and upward a bit in middle of the bottom to get the lifted look.

7. Adjust opacity of black shadow layer to around 30%.

8. Use the Dodge and Burn Tools (at about 10% opacity set to Midtones) to further define the object to look lifted as shown at right. Burn areas with less shadow and dodge lifted areas.

9. Link two layers together so the shadow stays with the object, or merge into one layer (select both layers in layer palette, right click and choose Merge Layers or Link Layers).

With Adobe Photoshop you can use the amazing Warp tool to perform steps 5 and 6. Select Edit > Transform > Warp.

Step 2

Step 4

Step 6

Step 7

see full layout in our gallery
.

Custom 3D Perspective Shadows

Perspective pages are those in which appear 3D, as if the paper was a room with a floor and walls or a shadowbox or shelf as shown in the layout at right. These creative pieces take a great deal of time to execute properly, however, are wonderfully challenging and stunning to look upon when done well. The steps for creating perspective shadows are the same as for a lifted shadow, except for the transformation of the shadow shape (step 4 above).

Note: Our Shadowbox Scrap.Frames come with a custom 3D shadow so all you need to do is add a photo or layout behind it, plus add your own 3D elements in front on the shelf, if desired.

Below we will create a 3D shadow for the branch lying on the shelf in front of the shadowbox.

1. Duplicate object's layer in Layers Panel (Layer> Duplicate Layer)

2. Change color of lower layer to black (this is the shadow layer). Select Adjust Hue & Saturation (Ctrl+U; Mac: Cmd+U) and move Lightness slider all the way left.

3. Blur black layer - For 3D shadows, I like between 9-11 pixels on a 300 dpi object. The larger the object the more blur you need to make the same effect. Select Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur> number of pixels> OK

4. The light source is coming from top left as shown on the shadowbox's shadow. To replicate this on the branch, click the Move Tool to be able to transform the shadow layer's shape in the direction you want the shadow to fall. While holding the Ctrl key down (Mac: Cmd key), grab the top right handle of the selection box and drag shape down and right as if lying on the ground.

5. Adjust opacity of black layer to around 20-30%.

6. Take a large soft edge eraser, set it to 10% opacity and erase a touch of the shadow furthest away. Decrease opacity to 5% and erase a bit from the center. The reason for this step is that shadows become less dense the further away they are from the object.

7. Something else I like to do is use the Smudge Tool, to customize the shadow even more. In this case, to make the shadow less at the bottom of the leaves since they are touching the bottom of the shelf. Select the Smudge Tool on the Tool Bar, click on the shadow layer in the Layers Panel. Push the shadow softly in the direction you want it to move as in Step 6 above.

8. Link two layers together so the shadow stays with the object, or merge into one layer (select both layers in layer palette, right click and choose Merge Layers or Link Layers).

9. Repeat for glass bottle and flower.

10. Save layout as a layered .PSD image in order to edit in the future.

11. To share on the Internet, flatten, resize to 600 pixels wide, and about 7-8 quality .JPG.

Want more 3D Perspective layout inspiration and technique how-tos, like the prom layouts below right? See our blog here, here, here, and here!

Happy Creating!

Michelle Shefveland and Team

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melinda ver meer	michelle shefveland