drop shadows in PSE (5)

[Emmy]

I am in the midst of one of those "if it's not one thing it's another" situations and I find myself with only the kids computer available to scrap on (temporary I keep chanting to myself while taking deep breaths...). So - it's got PSE5 on it and I'm somewhat stumbling through trying to do a layout - but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do drop shadows. Can anyone help? I typically use PSCS3 and it's been really tough trying to figure PSE out!

[gchristyng]

To the left above the Layers Palette you'll find Artwork and Effects select Special Effects (3rd icon over) then you can select Layer Style and Drop Shadows in each of the two drop down menus. Clear as mud?

I hope that helps!

[Emmy]

ok - when I click on an object, then select drop shadow and hit "apply" it does a really weird thing to my layout. It makes the whole thing like bigger - the background is now 14x14 and all my stuff shifted. Do I need to apply shadows to elements before they go on my layout?

[gchristyng]

Whoa - I haven't had that happen!! You should be able to open your element, drag it onto your layout, and then create the drop shadow. Maybe you had more than just your element layer highlighted?

[Emmy]

oh ok...so that isn't the norm lol - I was starting to wonder! thanks for your help - it must be something I'm doing in selecting objects.

[Emmy]

as a follow up....LOL....I was selecting the "drop shadow frame" effect, not the drop shadows....I think I'm almost there now!