- This tutorial will explain how to create a drop shadow. The method described here will work for images with single or multiple layer.
- Begin with an image containing one or more layers to create a shadow for.
- Create a new Layer for your drop shadow. The background of your layer should be transparent and this layer should appear above all other layers.
- Choose the Select By Color tool. In the tool options for this tool, ensure that "Sample merged" is checked.
- Click somewhere in the background of your image.
- Press CTRL-I to invert your selection.
- With the paint tool, paint the color black into the existing selection. Make sure that you have the drop shadow layer selected.
- Press SHIFT-CTRL-A to remove the current selection.
- In the filters dialog, select Blur -> Gaussian Blur.
- In the Guassian Blur dialog, select a blur radius that sufficiently blurs your shadow. A value of 7 for Horizontal and Veritcal is a good place to start. Click OK to blur the shadow.
- Select the Move Tool and drag your shadow a few pixels away from its currently position. The further away you drag the shadow, the further your foreground image will appear to be from the background.
- In the Layer dialog, move your drop shadow lower to a position below all of your foreground layers.
- In the Layer dialog, adjust the opacity of your drop shadow as necessary. A value of 100% will achieve a nice, bold effect while a value closer to 20% will create a more natural look.
- Combine this tutorial with the metallic text or impression tutorial to create great text effects.
