Drop shadow: How do I vary the distance?

GC
Posted By
Greg Chandler
Sep 12, 2003
Views
612
Replies
5
Status
Closed
I have a background and two layers. The top layer (layer 1) has a shadow height of, say, 20. The middle layer (layer 2) has a shadow height of 10. Of course, the background is at 0. Part of layer 1’s shadow falls on the background, and part of the shadow falls on layer 2. The difference in height between layer 1 and 2 is different than the difference in height between layer 1 and the background. So layer 1’s shadow should appear smaller and closer when it falls on layer two. Is that a form of knockout? How do I create that effect?

Thanks.
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LB
larry brubeck
Sep 12, 2003
You can adjust the distance and angle of the drop shadow.In your blending options, drop shadow should be checked, The -F- buton on the bottom of your layers pallett
GC
Greg Chandler
Sep 12, 2003
Larry,

Close, but that does not solve my problem. If I choose a distance of 20 for layer 1’s drop shadow, it appears to be that height all around, even when it falls on layer 2. Layer 2 is supposed to be elevated relative to the background, so layer 1’s shadow should appear only to have a distance of 10 when it falls on layer 2.

Thanks for attempting to answer. I hope this clarifies my problem.

Greg
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 12, 2003
Your question is a bit difficult to navigate through. You might consider posting your PSD somewhere and tell us the link; you’d probably get better help that way.
JS
John Slate
Sep 13, 2003
Rather than using a layer effect applied to an object, which can only have 1 offset, you need to have a separate shadow made by a a copy of the object which needs the shadow, filled with black, with gaussian blur and some mix of opacity and blending modes applied to it, so that it looks OK to you. Then, that shadow can be cut up into pieces by creating masks from the transparency of your other layers and pasting into said masks. Then those cut up sections can be offset manually to suit your needs
GC
Greg Chandler
Sep 15, 2003
John,

Thank you for the detailed and knowledgable answer. I was sucessful in using a somewhat simplified version.

I made a copy of the top layer (layer 1) and placed it underneath layer 2. I gave the copy a distance of 20, and layer 1 a distance of 10. So the shadow from layer 1 that fell onto layer 2 was smaller and closer than the part that fell onto the background.

The only defect was at a corner, so I just manually painted that part.

Thanks.

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