Drop shadow question for Shutterfly book

[echogirl]

I'm just about done my surprise photobook for the hubbie. I'm now working on the slight accents. I used Katie's Blocked and Framed Layered template.


I've added some stitching and slight drop shadows to the stitching.
Would you add drop shadows to the photos? (Not the photos in the frame as those already have drop shadows but the photos in the blocks?)

It's going to be a 12x12 book.
Opinions?
D

[anke]

As a rule I would say no, but I would have to see the page... maybe just a stroke if you want any definition...

[Serenoa]

I agree with Anke about using a stroke instead of a shadow. I usually change the color to something a little lighter than the black - just to define the edges.

[echogirl]

Bummer..I've just added drop shadows to all the pages!!! LOL .The story of my life I zig everyone else zags!!

[anke]

honey, your zigs always look stunning, so you go with what you feel!!!

[Serenoa]

I'm sure your shadows look wonderful. I'm just on a "stoke kick" right now instead of shadows for some reason. Probably because I just figured out how to re-color them.

[echogirl]

You are both too sweet!
Off to finish the journaling and then I'm going to relook at it and make the final decision.
Thanks again ladies.

[cpstamper]

I am doing a December album and will print it through shutterfly. I always do drop shadows and my stuff and now you have me rethinking it, LOL! Just curious - are you questioning using drop shadows because it's a Shutterfly book?

[hawsumb]

Uh, I'm going to have to jump on this and ask a dumb question - what's a stroke? And what do you mean by recoloring the strokes?

[esther_a]

I don't think there is any wrong or right answer here! If you would like the background to look flat and graphic, don't use any drop shadows. If you want it to look like the photos are cut out of paper and placed there, use a subtle drop shadow. I often use Katie's SmallOuterGlow (from her dropshadow kit) to give that little bit of definition. I'll have to try a stroke some time.

[muddygirl]

Originally Posted by hawsumb

Uh, I'm going to have to jump on this and ask a dumb question - what's a stroke? And what do you mean by recoloring the strokes?

A stroke is a layer style that puts an edge around an item. I most often use it to get a nice crisp white border around a photograph. It is more precise than say putting a square of "paper" behind a photo. If you double click on the layer in the layers pallet it is the bottom option in the dialouge box that comes up and mine usually defaults to red, so I change the colour to white same way you change any other colour option, click on the square and choose your new colour. If you are doing an edge around a photo you should choose "inner" not "outer" because the outer tends to round of the corners the bigger you go. Inner gives nice crisp corners. HTH

[Jen D]

Originally Posted by cpstamper

I am doing a December album and will print it through shutterfly. I always do drop shadows and my stuff and now you have me rethinking it, LOL! Just curious - are you questioning using drop shadows because it's a Shutterfly book?

I think she was questioning it because it was Katie's premade template. I add shadows to some of them and others I leave. Just depends on how they look when I play around with them.

I can't believe I missed that set of templates! That is an awesome one!