Drop shadow question

[scrapgrrrrl]

Wondered if someone could help me out with this.
Why is it when I upload my LOs to the gallery that my drop shadows always end up looking like big gray blobs and my elements look REALLY far away from the page?
They don't look like that on my actual page, just the resized-for-web page.
Hmmm ...

[katrinak]

How are you resizing for the web?

[scrapgrrrrl]

Thanks for answering. I'm resizing to 72 dpi and 600 pixels.

[elseepe]

I had this happen today on the 30MM chat challenge. When I resized for the web upload, I noticed that the drop shadow on the frame element made it look like it was floating off the page. The one applied to the paper tear seemed ok. I redid the drop shadow to something really small (2px & 50% opacity) and it looks sort of normal now with the resizing.

[Jen D]

Not sure... I use Katie's drop shadow styles and I have never had a problem.

[dugarner]

My drop shadows sometimes do that. I think it has something to do with how the layers are merged/flattened, but I'm not sure. Maybe 1 out of 10 or 15 of my pages will look like that.

[Happy2bhere]

Scrapgrrrl -
I came here to post the very same question. Does it have to do with flattening it first before the upload?

[dugarner]

**Edit** I googled and found another forum where someone suggested the "scale styles" option in the Resize--->Image step.

When I'm done with a 12X12 LO I want to post, I flatten it. Then I resize it to 72 ppi, 700X700. You don't have to do a "save for web" if you don't want to. But anyway, there is an option in the bottom of the box (where you look for your resampling option) that says "scale styles." If you leave scale styles unchecked, it will re-size the image but leave layer styles (I think) the same; so your pictures are resized but your drop shadows stay as deep as if they were on the 12X12 300 ppi original.

I did a test with text and a drop shadow. On the jpeg with "scale styles" left unchecked, the drop shadows were huge and very floaty.

Maybe Cassie or someone knows the exact answer. But always check "scale styles" when you're resizing and maybe that will help.

Happy, I don't think so, because I always flatten before I upload. I flatten in order to resize it. I've always done the exact same workflow, so I don't know why sometimes the drop shadows look funny.

But I just bought Katie's drop shadow set, so I'll see how it goes. I also am trying to make my shadows look more realistic, which means they are barely noticeable on my PSD file, so even if they are exaggerated on the web, they still won't look "floaty."

If someone knows the technical answer, I'd love to find out!

[1gr8muggle]

Originally Posted by dugarner

there is an option in the bottom of the box (where you look for your resampling option) that says "scale styles." If you leave scale styles unchecked, it will re-size the image but leave layer styles (I think) the same; so your pictures are resized but your drop shadows stay as deep as if they were on the 12X12 300 ppi original.

This is true. You have to have Resample Image checked so that you are able to check the Scale Styles box as well. In other words, if you aren't able to check the Scale Styles box, first check the box by "Resample Image" and then you'll be able to.

This is only a problem if you're using layer styles instead of custom drop shadows.

[elseepe]

Thank you! I think that was it, just did a really quick test. I learned something new today.

[kathleen.summers]

I learned something new too! Thanks!