Add drop shadow to object with clipping path

MH
Posted By
Marlene_Hochberg
Oct 9, 2005
Views
2800
Replies
17
Status
Closed
I’m using Photoshop 7 out of force of habit, but also have Photoshop CS2.

I have an object with a clipping path, and can’t figure out how to add a drop shadow. I copied the object to a new layer in case the problem was that it was on the backaground layer.

I tried various things — selecting the white background with the magic wand and than inverting the selection to get the outline around the object. Tried selecting the clipping path and making it a work path, then selecting the path with the direct selection tool. I tried copying just the path to a new layer. I tried making the drop shadow specs huge, so there was no possibility that I just wasn’t seeing it.

Other effects are visible, so I don’t think I’ve got anything set to not show effects.

Obviously I’m on the wrong track. Can someone provide the key to the puzzle?

TIA,

Marlene
Related Tags
add clip drop shadow object path shadow

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Y
YrbkMgr
Oct 9, 2005
If I understand you correctly, the only thing I’ve been able to figure out on how to do that is to control click the layer to select the pixels, and expand the selection to include the drop shadow. You can then create a path from that, and then add a clipping mask.

I don’t know how it will come out in terms of the graduations of the dropshadow in concert with the clipping mask, and how many levels of clipping may make a difference, but that’s where I’d start.

This comes from the observation that when you make a selection of pixels on a layer that has a drop shadow, said shadow is not included unless you expand the selection.
GD
glen_deman
Oct 9, 2005
Marlene, I’m not sure what you’re describing, perhaps you could either throw up a screen shot or email the file to me – glentheman20 at hotmail dot com
MH
Marlene_Hochberg
Oct 10, 2005
YrbkMgr,

Problem was that I couldn’t figure out how to apply the drop shadow in the first place! I found out what I was doing wrong. I had to copy the object only — NOT including the white background — to a new layer, and apply the drop shadow there.

Instead of trying to create a new clipping path that includes the drop shadow, I’m taking the path of least resistance — bringing the background (an EPS file of a simple b&w checkerboard pattern) into Photoshop and sliding the object (with its new drop shadow) onto the background.

Hopefully this will work. It does seem to look okay.

Thanks,

Marlene
MH
Marlene_Hochberg
Oct 10, 2005
glen deman,

I found out how to add the drop shadow, and I think adding the background in Photoshop will eliminate the need to save the object (with drop shadow) with a clipping path.

Although it would certainly be handy to know how to expand that clipping path to include the drop shadow, this is a rush job and working around the problem seems logical for the moment.

Thanks,

Marlene
T
Terrat
Oct 10, 2005
Marlene,

You can place that drop shadow on it’s own layer and elevate it to the top of stack so that it does not interfere.
MH
Marlene_Hochberg
Oct 14, 2005
Terrat,

How would I place a drop shadow on its own layer? I couldn’t figure it out!

Marlene
JJ
John Joslin
Oct 14, 2005
Right click the drop shadow in the layers palette and select "Create Layer".
MH
Marlene_Hochberg
Oct 15, 2005
John Joslin,

Right click the drop shadow in the layers palette and select "Create
Layer". <<

But the drop shadow’s not on a separate layer.

I think I’d better start all over!

I have a flower with a clipping path. I need to do two things: add a drop shadow around the flower, and move the flower (WITH the shadow) onto a black and white checkerboard background.

It doesn’t matter if I move the checkerboard into the flower image file, or move the flower into the checkerboard iamge.

I’m still struggling with adding the drop shadow. If I select the flower with the magic wand, the selection is not precise enough, and there are small areas where I can see slight white edges on the flower petals. These white edges do show up against the drop shadow and/or the checkerboard background.

I’ve tweaked the flower’s clipping path so it is almost perfect, so if I can find out how to add the drop shadow using that clipping path — rather than using the magic wand to create a new selection — I can avoid those slight white edges.

And although I can easily slide the checkerboard into the flower image (onto a new layer behind the flower) after I’ve created the flower’s drop shadow, I’d also like to know (for future reference) how to copy an image containing a clipping path into a new image.

I tried using PLACE, which seems to work very well. Is that the best (or only) way to do it?

The drop shadow is the bigger problem, though. My first priority is to add the shadow without getting those white edges on the flower iamge.

Marlene
D
deebs
Oct 16, 2005
Maybe ditching the clipper and going for a decent selection on its own layer will help with the workflow described?
Y
YrbkMgr
Oct 16, 2005
I’ve tweaked the flower’s clipping path so it is almost perfect, so if I can find out how to add the drop shadow using that clipping path

Load the path as a selection from the Paths Palette. Then copy and paste to a new layer. Then apply your drop shadow.
JJ
John Joslin
Oct 16, 2005
But just to clarify my earlier advice: a drop shadow does not normally have its own layer but it appears in the layers Palette as a "sub-layer" under the cryptic (f) icon on the right of the layer. From here you can put it on its own layer as described.
D
d-signer
Oct 16, 2005
All you need to do is apply the vector path (as you call it ‘clipping path’) to your layer as Vector Mask. Just select path from Paths Pallete (it must be highlighted) then select the layer (flower) and now hold down Control (win) and click on the layer mask button at bottom of the Layer Palette.

Orthodox way is using menu command: Layer > Vector Mask > Current Path.

After applying the path as vector mask you still could able to edit it as vector curve to improve result. Finally you could create an empty layer and merge ‘flower’ with it to get rid of the vector mask at all. But you could apply Drop Shadow effect right on the vector-masked layer. It’s better way.

—Kostya

wrote in message
John Joslin,

Right click the drop shadow in the layers palette and select "Create
Layer". <<

But the drop shadow’s not on a separate layer.

I think I’d better start all over!

I have a flower with a clipping path. I need to do two things: add a drop shadow around the flower, and move the flower (WITH the shadow) onto a black and white checkerboard background.

It doesn’t matter if I move the checkerboard into the flower image file, or move the flower into the checkerboard iamge.

I’m still struggling with adding the drop shadow. If I select the flower with the magic wand, the selection is not precise enough, and there are small areas where I can see slight white edges on the flower petals. These white edges do show up against the drop shadow and/or the checkerboard background.

I’ve tweaked the flower’s clipping path so it is almost perfect, so if I can find out how to add the drop shadow using that clipping path — rather than using the magic wand to create a new selection — I can avoid those slight white edges.

And although I can easily slide the checkerboard into the flower image (onto a new layer behind the flower) after I’ve created the flower’s drop shadow, I’d also like to know (for future reference) how to copy an image containing a clipping path into a new image.

I tried using PLACE, which seems to work very well. Is that the best (or only) way to do it?

The drop shadow is the bigger problem, though. My first priority is to add the shadow without getting those white edges on the flower iamge.
Marlene
JS
John_Slate
Oct 16, 2005
But just to clarify my earlier advice: a drop shadow does not normally have its own layer but it appears in the layers Palette as a "sub-layer" under the cryptic (f) icon on the right of the layer. From here you can put it on its own layer as described.

Unless it has changed in CS2, you can’t select the layer-style-sub-layer in the layers palette and choose create layer from the flyout there.

When the layer that has a layer style applied to it is selected in the layers palette, you use the layer pull down menu: Layer>Layer Style>Create Layer
JJ
John Joslin
Oct 16, 2005
John

I don’t often say this but you are wrong.

Now I won’t be dogmatic, because I can’t verify it in versions earlier than CS but, as far as I can recall, this has been possible since 6.0.
Y
YrbkMgr
Oct 16, 2005
Unless it has changed in CS2, you can’t select the layer-style-sub-layer in the layers palette and choose create layer from the flyout there.

In CS2, right clicking on the Layer Style within the layers palette allows you to create layers. It takes each style and makes a new layer out of it.
JJ
John Joslin
Oct 16, 2005
Thanks Tony: I just edited #14 to add the visible proof 😉
JS
John_Slate
Oct 16, 2005
My bad.

I misunderstood your instructions to mean that you plain-click on the sub-layer.

What I missed was the right-click or Control-click part, from post #7.

Your clarification post was the thing that confused me (ironic).

The OP did no need to know anything about sublayers if she just right clicked on the main layer

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