What makes (drop) shadows look "real" to you?

[audscraps]

sorry another drop shadow thread...

im a lot like keela when it comes to drop shadows. i literally just place a drop shadow effect on the layer(s) i think need it and DONE. however i do battle with myself somewhat when it comes to just leaving it and moving on or sitting there and tweaking it until i think it "looks real."

when do you have your "a-ha! that's it" moment?

[KirstyB]

Heehee...I'm keeping an eye on this thread as drop shadows are something I struggle with on EVERY layout. Some people just have that fabulous skill of making me wonder if their pages are, in fact, paper scrapped because their shadows are PERFECT!! I've tried to copy them but I can't do it!! LOL

[ValeriGail]

I play around with them till i just give up, LOL Guess thats not really helpful, HAHA.. but it is what I do. I tend to go to the "Edit layer style" and just play around till I don't think I can get it any better. I wish I knew how to make ones with out the standard PSE buttons.... is there a way to do that? If so I want to learn!!

[mturnidge]

Let's see.... color is key... don't just stick to black shadows all the time...

I play A LOT with my shadows and I actually think it's fun. lol Most of my layers use the PSE drop shadows but tweaked a bit.... other things like string and some bows, or curled edges, I make a custom shadow layer. I wish I had CS3 because it would allow me a lot more control over my shadows, but for now I just do my own shadow layers in PSE.

[KirstyB]

Okay...so you guys need to teach us about custom shadow layers...I have no idea how to do that!! Pretty please??

[MissMint]

I only know how in PSCS..after you make your drop shadow right click on the little arrow on the right side of the layer in the layers palette and select 'create layer'.

This puts the shadow on it's own layer and then you can do whatever you want to it

[ingridfasquelle]

I play a lot with distance and size but most of the time i don't change the opacity (75% unless it is a dark LO). Black shadows are also my faves and i try to think my LO as if it's paper scrapped, it helps to see what is possible and what is not !

I hope that helps... :)

[audscraps]

i try to think my LO as if it's paper scrapped, it helps to see what is possible and what is not !

I hope that helps... :)

i try to do the same thing! :)

[ingridfasquelle]

;) eh eh !

[Audrey77]

I participated in a chat at another site where she taught PSE users how to make shadows by using another layer... so i just DL'd a trial of CS3 and made my own actions for it :-)

[audscraps]

I participated in a chat at another site where she taught PSE users how to make shadows by using another layer... so i just DL'd a trial of CS3 and made my own actions for it :-)

that's super!

:happydance:

[AlliJ2008]

I didn't even realize you could customize the drop shadow....shows how much I have to learn....I just click on the layer & then pick the "low" drop shadow & add it. I do know that it doesn't always look right but wasn't sure what to do about it! Now I have some new tricks to try---thanks!!!!

[Scrappie Irene]

When I use CS3 I play around with Opacity (lower than standard) and the degrees. (-45% for one of my CT's). It depends on the element if I change the distance or not.
In PSE I always use the standard buttons (low and soft) for shadows. But sometimes I'm not happy with the result. Then I finish my layout in CS3.

[shades of bliss]

I participated in a chat at another site where she taught PSE users how to make shadows by using another layer... so i just DL'd a trial of CS3 and made my own actions for it :-)


Oh to have actions. I wish!! I make new layers all the time so that when it looks real when I'm overlaying something.