Here on TipSquirrel we’ve looked at Smart Objects and Smart Filters, but there are two commands “squirreled” away, that are available as Smart Filters – but aren’t at all obvious (hint: they aren’t located under the Filter menu). Today, we’ll discuss the Shadow/Highlight command, which is a really great feature added a couple of versions back in Photoshop history.
Last updated: December 15, 2016
![6 Drop Shadow Photoshop Actions 6 Drop Shadow Photoshop Actions](/uploads/1/2/4/9/124982178/429324811.png)
If you need to make an advertisement or an image that showcases a physical product, then there are a lot of different ways that you can make that object stand out. But one commonly used tactic is to create an artificial shadow. It adds an interesting effect to the image, it is easy to add and modify, and it is a procedure in Photoshop CS5 that you will find yourself using with regularity. So read on to learn more about adding shadows to your image elements with the drop shadow utility.
Using Drop Shadows in Photoshop CS5
If you look carefully at still product images in magazines and on the Internet, many of them have a shadow that seems almost unnatural. While it certainly appears artificial, if also makes the object appear more polished, serious and professional. And this is a very simple effect that you can add to any image with a transparent background.
Your image needs to have a transparent background because you are actually adding the drop shadow to your entire layer so, if there are still background pixels on the image layer, then you will be adding the shadow to the entire layer. This will result in a shadow being created for the entire rectangular layer, as opposed to only the product itself. You can use a combination of selection tools, the eraser and magic eraser tool to effectively isolate the product.
Step 1: Open your image with the isolated object. Make sure that your canvas is large enough to accommodate the addition of the shadow that you want to include. You can increase the canvas size by clicking Image at the top of the window, then clicking the Canvas Size option.
Step 2: Click Layer at the top of the window, click Layer Style, then click Drop Shadow.
Step 3: Adjust the Opacity, Angle, Distance, Size and Spread values until you find the shadow effect that you are looking for. Note that if you have the Preview option checked in the column at the right side of the window that your changes will be reflected immediately on the image.
Step 4: Click the OK button to apply the shadow to your image.
If you decide later that you don’t like the way the drop shadow looks on your image, you can return here to adjust it, or remove it completely.
Summary – How to add a drop shadow in Photoshop CS5
- Select the layer to which you would like to apply the drop shadow.
- Click Layer at the top of the window, then Layer Style, then Drop Shadow.
- Adjust the drop shadow options until you receive the desired effect.
- Click the OK button at the top-right of the window to add the drop shadow to your layer.
Do you need to change the size of an element in your Photoshop image, but you don’t need to adjust the entire image? Learn how to change the size of a layer in Photoshop CS5 so that you can scale the individual elements of your image.
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You can perform various operations on type to change itsappearance. For example, you can warp type, convert type to shapes,or add a drop shadow to type. One of the easiest ways to createtype effects is to play the default Text Effects actions that comewith Photoshop on a type layer. You can access these effects bychoosing Text Effects from the Actions panel menu.
Youcan enter type that flows along the edge of a work path createdby a pen or a shape tool. When you enter type along a path, thetype flows in the direction that anchor points were added to thepath. Entering horizontal type on a path results in letters thatare perpendicular to the baseline. Entering vertical type on a pathresults in text orientation parallel to the baseline.
Youcan also enter type inside a closed path. In this case, however,the type is always oriented horizontally, with line breaks occurringwherever the type reaches path boundaries.
Note:
Asyou move a path or change its shape, related type conforms to thenew path location or shape.
Horizontal and vertical type on a closed path created by ashape tool
- Select the Horizontal Type tool orthe Vertical Type tool .
- Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool orthe Vertical Type Mask tool .
- Position the pointer so that the baseline indicator ofthe type tool ison the path and click. After you click, an insertion point appearson the path.The baseline indicator of the Type tool (left) and the Typetool with its baseline indicator on a path (right)
- Enter the type. Horizontal type appears along the path,perpendicular to the baseline. Vertical type appears along the path,parallel to the baseline.Note:For more control over vertical alignmentof type on a path, use the Baseline Shift option in the Characterpanel. For example, type a negative value in the Baseline Shift textbox to lower the type.
- Select the Direct Selection tool orPath Selection tool andposition it over the type. The pointer changes to an I‑beam withan arrow .
- To move text, click and drag the type alongthe path. Be careful not to drag across the path.
- To flip text to the other side of the path, clickand drag the type across the path.
Using the Direct Selection tool or Path Selection tool tomove or flip type on a path.
Note:
Tomove type across a path without changing the direction of the type,use the Baseline Shift option in the Character panel. For example,if you created type that runs from left to right across the topof a circle, you can enter a negative number in the Baseline Shifttext box to drop the type so that it flows inside the top of thecircle.
- When the type tool is surrounded by dashed parentheses , clickto insert text.
- Select the Path Selection tool orthe Move tool , andthen click and drag the path to a new position. If you use the PathSelection tool, make sure that the pointer does not change to anI‑beam with an arrow oryou’ll move the type along the path.
![Photoshop elements drop shadow Photoshop elements drop shadow](/uploads/1/2/4/9/124982178/514371584.jpg)
- Click an anchor point on the path and use the handlesto change the shape of the path.
You can warp type to create a special typeeffect. For example, you can warp type in the shape of an arc ora wave. The warp style you select is an attribute of the type layer—youcan change a layer’s warp style at any time to change the overall shapeof the warp. Warping options give you precise control over the orientation andperspective of the warp effect.
Note:
You cannotwarp type layers that include Faux Bold formatting or that use fontswithout outline data (such as bitmap fonts).
- Select a type tool, and click the Warp button in the options bar.
- Choose Type > Warp Text.
Note:You can use the Warp command to warp text in a type layer. Choose Edit > Transform Path > Warp.- Select the orientation of the warp effect—Horizontalor Vertical.
- If desired, specify values for additional warping options:
- Bend to specify how much warp is appliedto the layer
- Horizontal Distortion or Vertical Distortion toapply perspective to the warp
- Selecta type layer that has warping applied to it.
- Select a type tool and click the Warp button inthe options bar, or choose Layer > Type >Warp Text.
- Choose None from the Style pop‑up menu, and click OK.
Youcan work with type characters as vector shapes by converting themto a work path. A work path is a temporary path thatappears in the Paths panel and defines the outline of a shape. Afteryou create a work path from a type layer, you can saveand manipulate it as you do any other path. You cannot edit charactersin the path as text; however, the original type layer remains intactand editable.
- Select a type layer, and choose Type > Create Work Path.Note:You cannot create work paths from fontsthat don’t include outline data (such as bitmap fonts).
When you convert type to shapes, the typelayer is replaced by a layer with a vector mask. You can edit thevector mask and apply styles to the layer; however, you cannot editcharacters in the layer as text.
- Select a type layer, and choose Type > Convert To Shape.Note:You cannot create shapes from fonts thatdon't include outline data (such as bitmap fonts).
Whenyou use the Horizontal Type Mask tool or Vertical Type Mask tool,you create a selection in the shape of the type. Type selectionsappear on the active layer, and can be moved, copied, filled, orstroked just like any other selection.
- Select the layer on which you want the selectionto appear. For best results, create the type selection border ona normal image layer, not a type layer. If you want to fill or strokethe type selection border, create it on a new blank layer.
- Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool orthe Vertical Type Mask tool .
- Select additional type options, and enter type at a pointor in a bounding box.A red mask appears over the active layer as you enter thetype. After you click the Commit button , thetype selection border appears in the image on the active layer.
Adda drop shadow to give depth to text in an image.
- In the Layers panel, select the layer containingthe text to which you want to add a drop shadow.
- Click the Layer Style button atthe bottom of the Layers panel and choose Drop Shadow from the listthat appears.
- If possible, position the Layer Style dialog box so thatyou can see the layer and its drop shadow.
- Adjust the settings to your liking. You can change variousaspects of the shadow, including the way it blends with the layersbelow it, its opacity (how much the underlying layers show through),the angle of the light, and its distance from the text or object.
- When you’re satisfied with the drop shadow, click OK.Note:To use the same drop shadow settingson another layer, Alt+drag the Drop Shadow layer in the Layers panelto the other layer. When you release the mouse button, Photoshopapplies the drop shadow attributes to the layer.
You can fill type with an image by applyinga clipping mask to an image layer placed above a type layer in theLayers panel.
- Open the file containing the image you want touse inside the text.
- Select the Horizontal Type tool orthe Vertical Type tool inthe toolbox.
- Click the Character tab to bring the Character panelto the front or, if the panel isn’t open, choose Window >Character.
- In the Character panel, select the font and other typeattributes for the text. Large, bold, thick letters work best.
- Click an insertion point in the document window and typethe desired text. When you are satisfied with the text, press Ctrl+Enter(Windows) or Command+Return (Mac OS).
- Click the Layers tab to bring the Layers panel to thefront or, if the panel isn’t open, choose Windows >Layers.
- (Optional) If the image layer is the background layer,double-click the image layer in the Layers panel to convert it froma background layer into a regular layer.Note:Background layers are locked and prevent you frommoving them in the Layers panel. It’s necessary to convert backgroundlayers to regular layers to unlock them.
- (Optional) In the New Layer dialog box, you can renamethe layer. Click OK to close the dialog box and convertthe image layer.
- In the Layers panel, drag the image layer so that itis immediately above the type layer.
- With the image layer selected, choose Layer >Create Clipping Mask. The image appears inside the text.
- Select the Move tool , andthen drag the image to adjust its placement within the text.Note:To move the text instead of the image,select the type layer in the Layers panel and then use the Movetool to move the text.
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