Shadows

[Leontine78]

I understand if nobody will reveal their secret on shadows but if I don't ask....
I am using the same shadows on every layer, but I was curious about how you do that....

Is it a just feeling or maybe a calculation?

[Valgal]

I just play around with it will I like the way it looks, then save it as a style and name is something like 'tag shadow' or 'string shadow', kwim?

[SirScrapalot]

Personally, I use the shadow styles from Jenn Barrette!! I love them!

[g6scrapped]

I use Jenn Barrette's shadows a lot too.. Also, I just play around with them to get it how I like it.

[Paula]

I did a lot of research and tutorial reading on shadows, and now use a little of what I learned from a few places. It takes me a long time to shadow because I like to play with them. I do have some standard/initial settings for different things.

[Darcy Baldwin]

My new shadow secret is...... THIS (https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=21075)

I love me some Jenn :D :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I saved a few styles of certain kinds of things on my own so I can do them, but general shadowing techniques on my layouts are usually Jenn..especially for things other than paper.

[ColleenSwerb]

I do a separate shadow layer for every single item on my layout. Which is why digi lo's take me foooooorrrrreeeeeevvvvvveeerrrrrrrrrrrrr, LOL! For me it's totally by feel. I play with the color, opacity, blend mode, and apply distortions (wave distortion, or a free transform warp). Sounds complicated, but it's not. :)

[Darcy Baldwin]

I do a separate shadow layer for every single item on my layout. Which is why digi lo's take me foooooorrrrreeeeeevvvvvveeerrrrrrrrrrrrr, LOL! For me it's totally by feel. I play with the color, opacity, blend mode, and apply distortions (wave distortion, or a free transform warp). Sounds complicated, but it's not. :)

I'm a lazy scrapper....I just can't go through that LOL

[littlekiwi]

Darcy you aren't the only one! :)

while we are on the topic of shadows - how do you shadow acrylic items? I have PSE & PSCS4 however I am not very confident without step by step instructions for CS4

[MommaTrish]

I do a separate shadow layer for every single item on my layout. Which is why digi lo's take me foooooorrrrreeeeeevvvvvveeerrrrrrrrrrrrr, LOL! For me it's totally by feel. I play with the color, opacity, blend mode, and apply distortions (wave distortion, or a free transform warp). Sounds complicated, but it's not. :)

I do this too. I have a few actions I've made up for starting my shadows for certain things, but I almost always tweak them more.

[suladesign]

Aaron, love your new avatar and siggi! Lookin' great, lol!

Paula, I think I love your shadows most of all. As I'm always trying to improve in that area myself, I'd really like to know what tutorials you found (if that's not too much work for you to hook us up).

A short while back I actually listened to the paperclipping digi show (or whatever it's called over at the daily digi) and that widened my horizon a lot!

[MommaTrish]

Darcy you aren't the only one! :)

while we are on the topic of shadows - how do you shadow acrylic items? I have PSE & PSCS4 however I am not very confident without step by step instructions for CS4

I duplicate the item, move the duplicate under the original, open the style box, and ((shoot going off memory since I'm at my mom's and can't open and look at CS)) looking in the side of the styles box look at the first or second option (not Blending Modes... maybe it's um General (?) completely remove the opacity of it (do not do this with the opacity in the layers palate or it affects the styles too) then go to shadows and apply your shadow, that keeps it from spreading through the entire acrylic piece and giving it a funky look.

((I hope that makes sense.... ))

[Nettio]

I have a set of saved layer styles that I start with and then adjust based on the individual layout. I do a lot of the things Col mentioned like adjusting the color and opacity and separating shadows onto individual layers too.

I (along with Peppermint Granberg) shared a bunch of shadowing tips on this episode of the Paperclipping Digi Show (it's free!): You Say Opacity, I’ll Say Opacity – PDS022 (http://www.paperclipping.com/2010/10/27/you-say-opacity-ill-say-opacity-pds022/).

I also highly recommend checking out Peppermint's Mind-blowing Drop Shadow tutorial (http://frickonastick.com/2010/03/shadow-files-the-basics/) - it's awesome.

[ColleenSwerb]

I'm a lazy scrapper....I just can't go through that LOL

I made a calendar for Jordan using the templates that Cindy and Dani teamed up on. I wanted to change up some of the shadows Cindy had done, and couldn't figure out how to change them, so I redid them all. Took me 30 minutes or so. I said to a few of the girls, why did I spend all this time doing this, when he's not going to know/understand/appreciate it? BUT, I totally had a great time doing it. It reminded me that I need to actually SCRAP this year, lol.

[ColleenSwerb]

I have a set of saved layer styles that I start with and then adjust based on the individual layout. I do a lot of the things Col mentioned like adjusting the color and opacity and separating shadows onto individual layers too.

I (along with Peppermint Granberg) shared a bunch of shadowing tips on this episode of the Paperclipping Digi Show (it's free!): You Say Opacity, I’ll Say Opacity – PDS022 (http://www.paperclipping.com/2010/10/27/you-say-opacity-ill-say-opacity-pds022/).

I also highly recommend checking out Peppermint's Mind-blowing Drop Shadow tutorial (http://frickonastick.com/2010/03/shadow-files-the-basics/) - it's awesome.

Thanks for linking it Lynnette. I was thinking that I had seen Peppermint do it, but hadn't gone to look it up yet. That tut is fantastical. :)

[Milmomma]

I do all my own shadows and similar to Collen, each one is different. I warp them and blur them and distort them. I use CS5 and love all the control over my shadows. I think that is at least half the fun with doing digital. I can make it look real, or not so real :)

[mummytothree]

Personally, I use the shadow styles from Jenn Barrette!! I love them!

A big fat DITTO!!!! Lub Jenn's!!!! :wub:

[MommaTrish]

not sure if it's ok to link this, but I look at this blog tutorial Beckie (gr8beckie) a lot for ideas on how some shadows should look http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/02/shoppe-tips-tricks-3/

[MissKim]

I also highly recommend checking out Peppermint's Mind-blowing Drop Shadow tutorial (http://frickonastick.com/2010/03/shadow-files-the-basics/) - it's awesome.

Yeah, I'm lazy. I bought her layer styles.

[mummytothree]

I did want to add that I do, do a custome "back shadow" on all my papers and elements after reading about it on Megan Turnidge's blog!! That's what really made a difference from taking my page from "Oh..." to "OMG........." at least for me!!! :D :D

Here is Megan's post: ::HERE:: (http://www.designsbymeganturnidge.com/blog/?p=349)

[SirScrapalot]

Aaron, love your new avatar and siggi! Lookin' great, lol!


Thanks!!

I also use Peppermint's tutorial and her shadows in addition to Jenn's. Between the two of them, I get shadows like I like.

[heathergw]

I'm lazy and use a combination of Jenn's and Peppermint's shadows and then tweak them if they aren't looking quite right. I use PSE6.

[Giseli Freitas]

I do a separate shadow layer for every single item on my layout. Which is why digi lo's take me foooooorrrrreeeeeevvvvvveeerrrrrrrrrrrrr, LOL! For me it's totally by feel. I play with the color, opacity, blend mode, and apply distortions (wave distortion, or a free transform warp). Sounds complicated, but it's not. :)
I do like that too: a shadow layer for every.single.layer. Then I play w/ the blend modes (multiply, burn, etc.). Then I play w/ the warp or mesh or smudge tools, it depends... then I play w/ the blur. Yea, sounds crazy. I know. :p

[SeattleSheri]

I've made all of my own shadow styles and I tweak them based on the color of the background they are on. The biggest thing to keep in mind, is that you can't just use the same shadow style on every layer if you want to show depth. I only customize (detach and warp) a few shadows on each page, it really depends on the element or paper and how I ultimately want it to look. It's a work in progress!

[Keely~B]

Shadows....can't leave them alone, I must play with them :p

[Paula]

Sula, I sent you a PM. But, the tutorial that I have found the MOST helpful is Peppermint's tutorial that Lynnette has linked up in her post. That's why it takes me so long, because I really play with the settings and get them just the way I want them. Each element, flower, etc is different, so I like shadowing on my own. I don't think I could ever use styles, because that's the one aspect of shadowing that I love - playing with it and mixing it up. LOL

[nun69]

I'm lazy and use a combination of Jenn's and Peppermint's shadows and then tweak them if they aren't looking quite right.

DITTO :)

[Nettio]

The biggest thing to keep in mind, is that you can't just use the same shadow style on every layer if you want to show depth.

I totally agree with this. You want to have contrast. Your flat elements (like papers) should have flatter shadows while your lumpier items (like flowers) should have more dimensional shadows. I find looking at paper layouts in scrapbook magazines really helps - you can see the difference in the size and depth of the shadows with the different types of elements.

[DawnMarch]

Perhaps I'm weird, but all this talk of shadows is really making me want to scrap! Too bad I'm at work at the moment!

[schock77]

I scarp SO slow anyway... I can't imagine if I fiddles too much with shadows how long it'd take me! :) I use an old designer's shadow styles, but REALLY thinking I need Jenn's now as it has some different styles.

[kscwgirl]

I do a separate shadow layer for every single item on my layout. Which is why digi lo's take me foooooorrrrreeeeeevvvvvveeerrrrrrrrrrrrr, LOL! For me it's totally by feel. I play with the color, opacity, blend mode, and apply distortions (wave distortion, or a free transform warp). Sounds complicated, but it's not. :)

I am far too lazy for such nonsense. :D

Jenn Barrette. Buy those. :D

[Tracyfish]

I use the ones Megan Turnidge posted a while back that she made. Love them!

[maryinaz]

I am far too lazy for such nonsense. :D

Jenn Barrette. Buy those. :DDitto.;) And I just added Jenn's to my cart and grabbed Megan's. :)

[WalkersMommy]

I did want to add that I do, do a custome "back shadow" on all my papers and elements after reading about it on Megan Turnidge's blog!! That's what really made a difference from taking my page from "Oh..." to "OMG........." at least for me!!! :D :D

Here is Megan's post: ::HERE:: (http://www.designsbymeganturnidge.com/blog/?p=349)

Me too! :) I love Megan's shadows.

[Leontine78]

Wow, thank you all.
When I have the time this weekend I will read all those links and probably buy Jenn's shadows. And ofcourse play with it!!!

[Leontine78]

Hi,

I bought Jenn's drop shadows but there are no instructions. I find tutorials on the net about putting png-files and atn-files in a certain folder but those files are not in the kit.

Can anyone help me here....I am using PSE 6 and 8 (I am to put 8 on my laptop downstairs).

Thanks!

[gracelikerain]

I use Megan's and Jenn Barrette's. I too am WAY TOO LAZY to fiddle around with them like I used to. But shadowing is definitely the way to take your layouts from okay to wow!!

[maryinaz]

Hi,

I bought Jenn's drop shadows but there are no instructions. I find tutorials on the net about putting png-files and atn-files in a certain folder but those files are not in the kit.

Can anyone help me here....I am using PSE 6 and 8 (I am to put 8 on my laptop downstairs).

Thanks! Try this: http://www.scrappersguide.com/video_tutorials/lindas_tip/install_layer_styles_pse6.html

[4noisyboys]

Personally, I use the shadow styles from Jenn Barrette!! I love them!

Me too!:thumbup: I use them on about 99% of layout! Sometimes I just have to tweak a little something or do my own, but very rarely! Her's rock!

[4noisyboys]

Darcy you aren't the only one! :)

while we are on the topic of shadows - how do you shadow acrylic items? I have PSE & PSCS4 however I am not very confident without step by step instructions for CS4

Acrylics are a tough one. I have a few styles that I use, but I'm really not sure who made them. I think they were from K Studio (Kristin Rice) Once I put them into CS4, it doesn't say who they belong to! Sorry! If I can find them, I'll send you a pm.

I think that Jenn needs to work on another set though ( I think she was going to for lighter papers) and maybe do some acrylic ones too! (hint hint)

[Leontine78]

Try this: http://www.scrappersguide.com/video_tutorials/lindas_tip/install_layer_styles_pse6.html

I am really sorry but I am stuck.....I don't have a layer style folder in photo creations....
Can anyone help me through here please? I am so anxious to use Jenn's styles on my 1st layout of 2011!!