Shadows... left or right?

[jak]

I was looking at shadows... I shadow on the right side of my elements, papers, etc. I've been doing this since my first ever LO. I remember sitting at my desk where I have a lamp to my left and saw that the shadows of everything were falling to the right, so that's how I chose which way to go.

I notice alot of people shadow on the left. So, then I started wondering how do you decide which side to shadow on? Do you look at what other scrappers do? Do you just go with the Photoshop default? Is it a right brain-left brain thing? (I'm definitely left brained - logical, practical, analytical...!!!).

[NeverendingJen]

I just go with what my first set of shadow styles was set at, LOL! After this many years its ingrained

[jak]

Originally Posted by NeverendingJen

I just go with what my first set of shadow styles was set at, LOL! After this many years its ingrained

I have a few sets of styles too but I'll only use the ones where the shadows are set to the right!

[msbamf2you]

I just go with whatever looks good and cohesive... I try moving elements to where the brightest bit on the element falls where I'd like the shadow to be.. I'm no pro though but I am trying my hand at more realistic shadows and even considering lightening up elements to where it all falls in the same angle.. fun experiment over here lol

[rdjrneace]

for some reason I do the shadows to the right; not sure why but I like the looks of it. I have purchased shadow styles which I like to use.

[SeattleSheri]

Mostly I do them at a 45 degree angle, but occasionally I will switch it up if the orientation of the layout looks better with a different angle. For some reason the light source coming from the right casting a left shadow seems like home to me.

[ellasspace]

Left usually but it depends on elements iff I use flairs I go off the shadow direction on them. I also go heavier on flowers and greens then I do papers and cards.

[jacinda]

Mine are set to 45 degrees, as if the light is shining from the top right corner.

[YepBrook]

I always set my shadows to a 45 degree angle. I think it looks the most natural to me. I design all of the elements in my kits with the highlights (or where the light hits the object) to the upper right and the shadowy, darker side to the bottom left. It makes the page look more realistic when the highlights on the objects match the shadows.

[YepBrook]

The shadows in my templates are set to 45 degrees, also.

[Lyd]

I shadow at 120. So that's as if the light were coming from the top right.


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[jak]

Originally Posted by YepBrook

I always set my shadows to a 45 degree angle. I think it looks the most natural to me. I design all of the elements in my kits with the highlights (or where the light hits the object) to the upper right and the shadowy, darker side to the bottom left. It makes the page look more realistic when the highlights on the objects match the shadows.

I think about this sometimes... but I've been shadowing to the right for 7 years. I figure my pages would look odd if I switched sides now. I should have had my desk lamp on the right all those years ago and I wouldn't have a dilemma now!

[jacinda]

I don't think you'll really notice the difference if you swap. Sometimes I leave Cindy's shadow angle as is on her templates, which I think is -45. Flipping through my albums I can't say I really notice a big difference between her -45 and my +45 pages. Not enough to make me stop and think "Oh, that's a different shadow angle".

[HeyJude]

I'm a 45 degree shadow person too. Not sure why, it just looks the best to me.

[LeeAndra]

I shadow at -20 because that's what Cindy shadows at. When I use shadow styles that are at a different orientation, I just change them to -20 and hit 'Universal Light' so then all the shadows on the page will be at that angle, too.

[SeattleSheri]

Originally Posted by Lyd

I shadow at 120. So that's as if the light were coming from the top right.

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Top right light source casts a 30-45 degree shadow, a 120 is a top left light source [runs and ducks]

[crystalbella77]

hmm...i think I usually do 45 or so? I use shadow styles but then I adjust the color and opacity and things. Sometimes if I am working with lots of layers I make them be more at the top...so you can see them more..I'm not one that is super picky about the shadows in general. I just go with what looks right at the time on the current page

[nietis]

I do both 45 and -45 degrees, so there are 2 shadow layers underneath my elements and papers usually. I like things to look realistic and that's how I do it.

[HeyJude]

Originally Posted by nietis

I do both 45 and -45 degrees, so there are 2 shadow layers underneath my elements and papers usually. I like things to look realistic and that's how I do it.

I do kind of the same thing with a 45 degree drop shadow and an outer glow to the top of the element/paper/etc.

[Kitartas]

Originally Posted by YepBrook

The shadows in my templates are set to 45 degrees, also.

I shadow all my layouts at 45deg because my first template was from Brooke

[Kiana]

Pops head in....most of my shadows are the 120 which means it's on the right side of the element.


however I've started shadowing on both, depending on the element and where it falls on the page. Especially for flowers and leaves.

[JMC1988]

I vary mine depending on the LO I am doing. 45, -45, 120 or -120 degrees on both the left and right. Whatever mood strikes and whichever I think looks best for the LO I am creating.

[YepBrook]

Originally Posted by Kitartas

I shadow all my layouts at 45deg because my first template was from Brooke

Awww I don't know why, but this makes me giddy to hear! I was someone's FIRST template? Ha! That's crazy. I still pinch myself that I'm a designer here.

[cherrygutz]

I do it on the right also, but say, if I'm, using a template, I seldom change the 'placement' of the shadow which was always on the left.

[OrianaVianey]

I do both, but mostly on the left because of the styles I already have.

However, when I´m doing realistic leaves and flowers that may change

[roxana]

Im a 45 gal too, sometimes add an extra -45 if the element doesn't look real or warp it but my brain is set on 45, different angles make me hard to look at a LO, have to switch my button LOL

[Saar]

45 for me too!

[icindi]

I use 120. I do adjust a shadow here and there if it's not visible or looks "off". But I like the shadows to the right, too.

[Lyd]

Originally Posted by SeattleSheri

Top right light source casts a 30-45 degree shadow, a 120 is a top left light source [runs and ducks]

Lol. You're right. I do shadow at 120. Apparently I just had my right and left hand mixed up . . . cause, you know, mentally I'm four.


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[Lyd]

I also do a tiny shadow in the opposite edge to add a little more realism.


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[flergs]

I use 45 in my kits wherever there is a shadow like gen centre etc... I also try and make sure the lightsource is 45 on any realistic elements too by rotating.

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[eranslow]

-45 for me and I do what Lydia does and shadow a little bit on the opposite edge for realism.

[msbamf2you]

Originally Posted by flergs

I use 45 in my kits wherever there is a shadow like gen centre etc... I also try and make sure the lightsource is 45 on any realistic elements too by rotating.

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45 it is! You make my life easy lol

[flergs]

Originally Posted by msbamf2you

45 it is! You make my life easy lol

I've got free shadow styles even http://www.flergalicious.com/tutorials/drop-shadows/ the ones I use in kits & previews.

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[carrie1977]

Add me to the 45 degree group.

[rach3975]

Like everything else in scrapping, there have been trends in shadow direction. When I started (12 years ago), almost everyone used 120 degrees (shadow on the bottom right). Then when the fantasy style layouts were very popular (5-ish years ago? Longer?) it seemed like everyone was switching to 45 degrees.

When it came right down to it, I was too lazy to make the switch, LOL. I'd written shadow styles for myself that added the main shadow to the lower right and a tiny opposite shadow for realism. I thought about changing them when the trend changed, but I decided that I didn't see enough of a difference in realism to bother.

[xMermaidx]

I do my shadows at 120. It is sometimes really frustrating for me that almost all flairs or clusters are highlighted/shadowed at 45. I wish there shadow options for things like that lol.
I just learned (in PSE) how to get my shadows on their own layers so I can make them more realistic which I am excited about.

[bcgal00]

I shadow to the left usually but will tweak them a bit. It wasn't a conscious thought, it was just how the shadowing fell on the first shadow styles I purchased. I got used to it and just stayed with it.

[mummyd]

for me it depends on the lighting in the photos or if I add a little lighting effect to the background paper, but mainly my shadows fall to the left