What drop shadow settings do you use?

[littlekiwi]

]Now that I have upgraded to CS4 from Elements I am wondering what settings everyone uses for drop shadows - I don't want to get into styles yet while I am still learning.

[BrattyMeg]

I think you SHOULD get into styles actually while you are still learning. It's much easier to customize your own down the road when you are more familiar with the program, etc. You can warp, blur, and modify style shadows to your liking and they are a great way to start out! I love shadow styles

[misfitinmn]

Yeah, that!!
I actually don't fully even know my settings because I usually use styles and adjust them to my taste, not even paying attention to the actual setting. I think styles are a great starting off point to make adjustments as you please. I use Jenn Barrette's almost exclusively.

[ayaandjudah]

I use jenn's shadows and I love them. If they don't look exactly right for my particular element, I am learning to adjust them. But I loooove them.

[SmallMoments]

I'm another fan of Jenn's!

[breakingbrie]

I just bought Jenn's, haven't tried them out yet. I have a couple other shadow styles, some freebies, some bought, but I think styles are much easier than adjusting myself! I'm still learning how to adjust here and there for particular elements, but for the most part, I just use styles.

[Paula]

I really love shadowing now, but I researched it and read lots of tutorials on it before I really learned how I like them best.

[Darcy Baldwin]

I don't like to fuss with shadowing. It's the last step of a layout for me, and by that time, I usually want to be done. I take full advantage of actions by Karah Fredricks and Jenn's shadow styles. Both are awesome and save me a TON of time!

[nun69]

I don't like to fuss with shadowing. It's the last step of a layout for me, and by that time, I usually want to be done. I take full advantage of actions by Karah Fredricks and Jenn's shadow styles. Both are awesome and save me a TON of time!

this is TOTALLY ME!!!!

[MommaTrish]

My settings depend on the layout.
:)

I have a style set that our my favorites and I generally start with that then customize that for the layout. And I do a lot of shadows by actions too. Again I have a set of my favorite ones, but if I know those won't work I'll play with making my own shadow till I'm happy, delete it, then do it again while creating the action. (Because I like my shadows to match...) I've never bought any shadow styles or shadow actions.

[Sarah8914]

what angle are jenn's? the set I have now is at a different angle then I like so I'm always having to change the angle! It's not hard, but it would be nice not to have to!

[carrie1977]

I bought Jenn's a couple weeks ago and I'm in love.

[littlekiwi]

jenns styles are now in my cart for the next shopping spree

[newfiemountiewife]

Styles are a great way to start, you can always adjust them. I used to do my own lazy shadows, but then I found Jenn's when she was still at Scrap Matters. I bought them, and since then, I use one of her's as a base and adjust from there to suit my needs. I could do more than I do, and have the technical ability, but to be honest, I just have SO much to do these, I'm lucky they get shadows at all LOL

[BrattyMeg]

what angle are jenn's? the set I have now is at a different angle then I like so I'm always having to change the angle! It's not hard, but it would be nice not to have to!

You can use your style, change your angle, then resave the style as a new one so you don't have to change it every time

[AmberK]

i HATE doing drop shadows. Just Hate it. I have some actions that I use but cant remember where I got them from. But Im always looking for more. I do have Jenn's and use them but I hate customizing. I just want 1 set of actions for every single possible need that *I* might have for a LO. Why oh why can't the designers anticipate *MY* needs?

[Sarah8914]

You can use your style, change your angle, then resave the style as a new one so you don't have to change it every time

Not in PSE though... right? that's my problem.

[Gemma]

When I first started my scrapping addiction I bought some styles, I'm sure they were by Kristen Rice, and over the months I adjusted them to how I liked them and then I saved and use them instead of the KR styles now! It was so much easier that way! :)

[littlekiwi]

ive actually discovered I have 2 sets of shadow styles already - Megan Turnidge & Flergs but I have no idea how to use them or install them in CS4 extended

[littlekiwi]

if i have the two sets above do I also need to buy Jenn's or will I be ok for now

[adrianka]

You go to Window > Styles, which gets you the Styles palette.

There you choose the Load Style option from the drop down menu and load the styles from the place where you have saved them.

You apply a style on the layer by clicking on it in the palette.

I had trouble for ages figuring this out for myself (never asked anyone, silly me), so I hope this can help you.

[adrianka]

if i have the two sets above do I also need to buy Jenn's or will I be ok for now

Try what you have and see how it works for you. That might make your decision easier.

[carriesmom]

ive actually discovered I have 2 sets of shadow styles already - Megan Turnidge & Flergs but I have no idea how to use them or install them in CS4 extended

It is really easy to load styles in CS4. In the Styles palette, you should see a column of lines and a little triangle in the upper right hand corner. Click on that and then click on "Load Actions" . It will open a dialog box, find the .asl file you want to load, and click on it. Click "Open" button, and they are loaded.

So much easier than PSE.

Jenn's shadows are at 45 angle. It felt weird at first with the shadows going that way, but now I love my pages!

[littlekiwi]

thanks adrianka and liz for your advice and help

[BrattyMeg]

Not in PSE though... right? that's my problem.

ohhhh okeys didn't know it was PSE :) Sorry yeah I don't know much about PSE

[kristijoy]

I have some freebies that I've tweaked and then resaved. I adjust them every few months. Mostly when I do a LO, I add the shadows from these styles and don't think about it. I usually use a 120 angle, but occasionally I've used a 30 when everything in the LO is on the right side of the page!

[littlekiwi]

i have an issue that when ever my cursor is on any of the style palette buttons at the bottom my cursor turns into a no symbol - what am i doing wrong? all i want to do is install a couple of shadow styles to try them out before deciding on purchasing jenn's

[adrianka]

i have an issue that when ever my cursor is on any of the style palette buttons at the bottom my cursor turns into a danger symbol - what am i doing wrong? all i want to do is install a couple of shadow styles to try them out before deciding on purchasing jenn's

The drop down menu for the Styles palette (and any other palette for that matter) is reachable when you click on the small arrow to be found in the same line as the "title" of the palette. In the very top line. I don't know if this makes sense, I'm tired (it's already very late in Luxembourg).

[littlekiwi]

thing is i have found the styles palette i just cant use it because my cursor turns into a no sign