Silhouette Cameo

[oscaralley]

I have Silhouette Studio Business Edition. I almost exclusively use it for my cards, invites and other hybrid projects. I figured out how to make shadows but they are so harsh. Does anyone else use their Silhouette to create shadows. And if you do, do you have any tips on them being more realistic? I'm not great at shadows in Photoshop either but much better than Silhouette. I use silhouettestudio because it is so much easier to create with.
Thanks in Advance,
Tanya

[jaye]

I have never heard of it, no help from me I'm afraid.

Out of curiosity can you lower the opacity or blend mode?

[fruitysuet]

Originally Posted by jaye

I have never heard of it, no help from me I'm afraid.

Out of curiosity can you lower the opacity or blend mode?

It's a cutting machine.

You can't blur or blend or any of the usual that we would do within a digital scrapping programme to create that soft shadow edge.

I'd suggest one or a combination of: selecting a much softer tone/hue cardstock; cutting the shadow layer from vellum; instead of using the cut layer for shadows, use a second of the original layer as a stencil and softly blending around the edge with a very light shade of toning ink or (going way back in time and wouldn't know if they are available any more) chalks (perhaps pastels with a fixing spray to prevent further smudhing).

Other than that, don't actually use a cut shadow layer, but add dimension to your original cut layers with adhesive foam to achieve actual shadows.

I think what you are currently doing is more of creating a graphic design look which may not necessarily be suitable depending on what shapes you are cutting and style you are creating your finished piece in, although that's only an assumption given that I can't see your current results.

[jaye]

thanks Suzanne, I think I misunderstood her question. I thought she was designing a shadow in design space and was wondering how to cut it not thinking that it would mean using a different paper.

[fruitysuet]

Originally Posted by jaye

thanks Suzanne, I think I misunderstood her question. I thought she was designing a shadow in design space and was wondering how to cut it not thinking that it would mean using a different paper.

Actually I think I got it wrong. I had a Silhouette many years ago and, after doing an internet search, the software has come a long way since I had it! I can see you can create the design and print it out as a whole, and it's the shadows within the design not a separate layer which is what I'd originally assumed. So just basically ignore my entire post above - sorry!

Is it possible to fill the shadow layer with a gradient rather than a solid colour? Wondering if that would give a more subtle edge to it.