Using the Shadow Effect

Your software allows you to place a shadow around any object.

The following types of shadows are available:

Drop Shadow	Block Shadow
Perspective Shadow	Cast Shadow

Applying Shadows

• Select the desired objects.
• From the Effects menu, select Shadow.

The Shadow tab appears in DesignCentral.

• Adjust the parameters in DesignCentral or drag the control points.
• Click Apply.

Adjusting Shadows Using DesignCentral

When shadows are applied to objects, the following attributes can be adjusted in DesignCentral:

	Specify the Horizontal and Vertical Offset (distance) from the original object. These fields are not available for Cast shadows.
	Specify the Height Ratio and Slant Angle relative to the original object. These fields are only available for Cast shadows.
	Specifies the distance between the object and shadow when offset or overlap is selected.
	Specifies the Perspective Ratio. This field is only available for Perspective shadows.
	Selects the shadow color.
	Relief mode. Determines how the shadow is produced with respect to the original object.
Apply Transparency	When selected, activates the Advanced Shadow options.
Advanced	Advanced shadow, also known as Smooth Shadow. applies a transparency to objects to smooth and soften edges, or to create a neon effect.

Smooth Shadows

Select Apply Transparency and click Advanced to adjust Smooth Shadow settings

Blending Mode	Offers a number of blending options: Normal, Darken, Lighten, Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Hard Light, Soft Light, Difference, Exclusion, Color Dodge, Color Burn, and Linear Burn.
Opacity	Specifies the amount of transparency.
Blur Amount	Specifies the amount that the edges of the shadow are softened. The presets are 100, 75, 50, and 25%.
Blur Radius	Specifies the amount of softening of the shadow color. A higher radius will produce more blurring, a lower radius less blurring.
Resolution	Allows you to increase the on-screen resolution to improve shadow smoothness, but at the risk of slower processing speeds. Select a lower resolution to speed processing time. The presets are 72 (default), 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 DPI.

 

Adjusting Shadows Using Control Points

Click and drag the shadow to adjust the Horizontal and Vertical Offset (Drop and Block shadows), Perspective Ratio (Perspective shadow), and Height Ratio and Slant Angle (Cast shadow).