drop shadows, do you always use them?

[smkerry]

This may seem like a silly question, but I'm still kind of a newbie at this. I use templates quite a bit, and make my own designs every now and then. I think my pages of my own designs look more flat. Or maybe just in my mind since I know they didn't start out with a template. I also use bigger photos that take up more than half the page on my own.

So, when you make a page with several smaller photos on them, do you always use a drop shadow?

Thanks!

[dugarner]

I use low drop shadows on almost every element on a page, just to give it texture. When I first started, I left them on their default setting in PSE, which is like 20/20/70. All my stuff looked like it was floating up off the page, so I heeded Jessica Sprague's advice to try to make them "realistic," so I usually go with 10/10/40 or 5/5/20, depending on the effect I want. It's all up to you!

Sarah

[hguenthe]

I use Katie's drop shadow styles on almost all of the elements of my pages or if it is something that needs a custom drop shadow, I use the method that Cassie teaches in most if not all of her tutorials... and especially in her bending shadows one.

[sarahorton]

I use Katie's drop shadows on anything that would be "glued" to a traditional page. So I don't use them on text or brushes that look like stamps - anything that would be flat in traditional scrapbooking.

I usually wait until I'm finished with the page, then add a drop shadow to one layer. Then I copy the layer style and select all the rest of the layers that need shadows and paste that layer style to them all at one time. (Unless the layer already has a style and then you have to add the drop shadow manually.) Wow... that is a really poorly written description. Hope you can follow what I'm trying to say. LOL!

[smkerry]

Thank you! Everybody here has been so helpful with my newbie questions. It looks like I need some tutorial with drop shadows. I have Elements right now, and I use what I think is the default. (The drop down box with the effects?) So I need to look into how I change that. But like Sarah said, if I use the default it looks like everything is floating weird, so I wouldn't use it but then everything looked so flat.

I'm going to look into those tutorials too. So much to learn! But it's a fun journey. I never thought I'd even know how to download, or tackle layers! LOL!

Sara, you make sense to me! I'm going to try that too! And Heather I put both of those in my wishlist for my next order!

Thank you all!

[muddygirl]

I'm so glad you asked that question. I have been wondering the samething:-)

[Britgirl]

I do like to do my shadows manually - just like Cassies tutorials teach. I'm old fashioned and stuck in my way I guess, but I like the control I have over them then
I use them on all pages because it looks much better

[carollee]

Must admit, sometimes I'm preferring an outer glow to a drop shadow, to give it almost a stuck down appearance.

[patriciaz]

I always used them... for every single element in my pages

[dugarner]

smkerry,

if you are using PSE drop shadows, double-click on the layer style (the little italic f to the right of the layer thumbnail in the layers palette), and change the size, distance, and opacity of the shadow. That way you can make it look a little less "in your face." I haven't made the jump to CS3/4 yet, so I've been sticking with changing those default settings, and it's worked ok for me so far.

Carol, I'm going to have to try the glow option, too!

Sarah

[justmp]

If I'm doing a really graphic layout like what you might see in a magazine, I leave off the drop shadows, but I rarely do those. Everything else has some kind of shadow on every layer other than text.

[1gr8muggle]

Just because you use Elements, it doesn't mean you're forced to use the drop shadow layer styles. Like Heather mentioned, I show you how to make custom drop shadows in many of my tutorials (just read the product description to see if a tutorial includes it).

I prefer making my own to have even more control over it, but you can use the styles. Katie's actions are a great way to get shadows, too!

[nirecreations]

I use Katie's Shadows on EVERYTHING. A page isn't done until I have added them!

[BrittanyLane]

I'm going to ditto what Carol said in that I sometimes prefer to use an outer glow but generally I always use a drop shadow. I always change it to 5/5/40 or I'll do a custom drop shadow from Cassie's tutorials. Don't know if that was much help since all this has already been said!

[Jen D]

Unless I am doing something creative or different to a shadow I use Katie's Drop Shadow Styles on most pages. If not I use the technique Cassie has in her tutorial = )

I always use Katie's shadows as it's super easy and I think they look great. There are times when I need to do my own & that's when I get Cassie's tutorials out.

I have noticed that on pages that look real, the artist has great drop shadows, but the elements also seem to have some lighter spots on them to show light hitting them (especially buttons). I want to get better at making my LOs look more realistic. Does anybody ever lighten spots on elements? The designers here do a great job of making elements look real which helps me make my LOs look real. Maybe I am weird.

Here is an example: This tape looks very real because Cassie used the info from her tutorial HTDT #10 Blend, burn & Dodge. The tape has spots that are highlighted too that go well with the light source in her picture. This is what I want to learn.

[sam ellis]

One of my very first digi lo's someone pm me and suggested that I have made them too harsh. She said the "harder" you make them the more it looks like the item is floating. Of course I couldn't see it at the time when I was creating the page but could after it was pointed out.

Just my 2c.

[Britgirl]

joey - yeah; dodge and burn I absolutely used to do it in PSE. {i'm now CS3}
Via Cassies tutorials again

[deanie]

I just discovered that when you have the drop down shadow menu showing and you are changing the settings, you can grab your shadow and move it manually. I use Katie's shadow styles a lot-but if I want to to something special I use Cassie's method. Except where there is already a shadow on the page (like on a frame, etc.) I use a dark brown as my shadow color.

[LauraBean]

Does Katie have shadow styles that work in Elements? My search for shadows turned up full-Photoshop-only actions but not styles. (I'm a PSE gal.)

Originally Posted by LauraBean

Does Katie have shadow styles that work in Elements? My search for shadows turned up full-Photoshop-only actions but not styles. (I'm a PSE gal.)

http://www.designerdigitals.com/digi...oducts_id/4577 This is what I use, Laura, and I am a PSE girl. I LOVE them!

Originally Posted by deanie

I just discovered that when you have the drop down shadow menu showing and you are changing the settings, you can grab your shadow and move it manually. I use Katie's shadow styles a lot-but if I want to to something special I use Cassie's method. Except where there is already a shadow on the page (like on a frame, etc.) I use a dark brown as my shadow color.

Deanie, can you tell me more as I am not fully understanding. TIA!

[hguenthe]

Joey, when you have the layer style options open and are adjusting settings, you can grab your shadow on your LO with your mouse and move it there instead of moving the angle numbers, etc in the options box. HTH

[LauraBean]

Thanks, Joey! Added them to my wish list.

[kmartorina]

Wow Heather, learn something new everyday.
Kathryn

Originally Posted by hguenthe

Joey, when you have the layer style options open and are adjusting settings, you can grab your shadow on your LO with your mouse and move it there instead of moving the angle numbers, etc in the options box. HTH

Thanks, Heather! I appreciate you!

[anke]

wow I didn't know that either. Thanks for the tip