I’m trying to figure out the best settings in Photoshop and/or Illustrator that to yield a perfect drop shadow for isolated images. I know this varies depending on the photo and background, but here are the settings I typically use:
Blend Mode: Multiply
Color: Black
Opacity 35%
Angle: 135 degrees
Distance: 5 px
Spread: 0%
Size: 5 px
Noise: 0%
Contour: First selection
Anti-aliased: Off
Is there anything I can adjust here to net, better, more realistic looking drop shadows?
Effects like shadows either improves or cheapens the visual experience.
Start by asking yourself if your whatever even needs it, or why. Then try
to determine how much “effect” is needed - how much shadow. Then, what kind
of shadow. If you want it to be realistic, shadows are uneven, distort with
perspective, have multiple light sources. All very hard to do with
cookie-cutter drop-shadow filters. And what if you do create the perfect
shadow? Will it obscure your whatever, so that people remember the shadow
but not the thing you made it for?
In the commercial design world, I favor whatever gets the job done with the
least amount of muckity-muck. Think of it as make-up for your design. So,
if you concede your design is a little haggard, then my advice is minimal
effects.
Also, Todd makes a good point. If it is print, then RGB black is BAD. If
it’s web, then CMYK black is ALSO BAD.
No, I’m talking about web images using RGB. As far as drop shadows, I either use them or I don’t, but whenever possible I try not to mix things. I totally understand the use of shadows from a design perspective and I subscribe to the less is more theory on design.
I didn’t think of using CSS. That would be much easier. Good idea.
You were searching for the “perfect drop-shadow”… hence, my down-to-earth
lecture-ette.
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Ernie Simpson
On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 12:35 PM, RavenManiac email@hidden wrote:
No, I’m talking about web images using RGB. As far as drop shadows, I
either use them or I don’t, but whenever possible I try not to mix things.
I totally understand the use of shadows from a design perspective and I
subscribe to the less is more theory on design.
I didn’t think of using CSS. That would be much easier. Good idea.
I just tried this tonight and I can’t get it to work. Instead of getting a drop shadow around my PNG image only, I’m getting a square drop shadow. Here’s the code I’m using, which I now know is wrong, especially after I dissect it:
Kelly, the box-shadow property applies to the image container, not the
visible image. You would have to apply the drop shadow to the image as an
image, in Photoshop or something like that.
I just tried this tonight and I can’t get it to work. Instead of getting
a drop shadow around my PNG image only, I’m getting a square drop shadow.
Here’s the code I’m using, which I now know is wrong, especially after I
dissect it:
