Scrapbook question re: shadows

[nkeevers]

Probably a stupid question but...

Should I put the shadows, bevel, etc. on the element before I move it into the scrap page or after. If I do it after, then I can't change the lighting angle because it changes all of them. I did know that but was wondering what everyone else does. If I do it before, then when it's in my LO and I don't like it, then I have to change it again because it comes on too strong.

Hope I'm explaining this well enough for you to understand.

[Kathy]

Norma,

I am no expert .... but I always apply the layer style after I move it on the page. Then you can adjust the effect as needed and also make sure that all the lighting angles are going in the right direction. I often find the default settings too harsh.

For shadows, I often use Wendy's method for putting a drop shadow on its own layer ....... much more control. Here is the link to Wendy's tutorials.
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=308765

Kathy

[Wendy]

Hi Norma ...

I certainly do mine after I have move them onto the page .... but with PSE5 they removed the option to uncheck global light so all shadow have to go in the same direction :(

There is a way around it as you can do the shadows on their own layer ... takes longer but tends to look a little better :)

There is a link to a tut I did on this in Wendy's Mini Tutorials (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3641)

but here is the direct link to Drop Shadow on its own layer (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1784)

Hope that it helps :)

Wendy

[nkeevers]

Wendy, does it matter if the shadows are all going in the same direction? Do you leave yours all the same? And shouldn't they be all going in the same direction anyway...well, I guess that's depending on what the element is and at what angle it might be positioned right?

[Wags374]

99% of the time I apply the shadow after I move an element to my page. I generally think it looks better if the light angle is the same.

[Wendy]

Hi Norma ...

It really depends on what the shadow is for ... it you just have a collection of embellishments and images on a page then the same direction if just fine but if you want to do realistic shadows (where there can be several different shadows) or do special effects then a shadow on its own layer it better.

Also with it on its own layer you can do custom shadows to make things look as if they are uneven :)

Wendy

[nkeevers]

Thanks for all the help everyone! This helps a lot! Most of my stuff is pictures and embellishments right now.

Does anyone have an example of doing it for a different effect where you'd have to use it on it's own layer. I'd be interested in seeing what a realistic shadow, etc. would look like.

[efarnstrom]

Thanks for all the help everyone! This helps a lot! Most of my stuff is pictures and embellishments right now.

Does anyone have an example of doing it for a different effect where you'd have to use it on it's own layer. I'd be interested in seeing what a realistic shadow, etc. would look like.


This is an example of setting a shadow for an embellishment before moving it to the scrap page:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/101fC4AEYPpscEv74bikwIYpeCJx0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=101fC4AEYPpscEv74bikwIYpeCJx0)


Kokopelli had to have a shadow that matched the ones in the photo. He appears in two photos with different shadows in each one.

[nkeevers]

Thanks for the example! That looks good!

[cats4jan]

Wendy - I think you are the one who suggested simplifying the layer after adding the shadow so that the next embellishment's shadow can go in another direction. I now simplify a layer after adding a shadow so I can have shadows going in different directions.

However, this is perrmanent, so if you're fooling around with looks - make a copy of the layer and turn it off - then add the shadow to the original, simplify that layer - and then do your next shadow on the next item.

If you decide you don't like it - you have that layer's original copy to fall back on.

However, I have found that merging or simplifying layers can sometimes slightly diminish the effect of the shadow.

As for whether or not all shadows "have to" go in the same direction - I leave it on a case by case basis. Sometimes it looks funny to have them going in different directions. Personal taste - like all things "digi-scrapping."

[cats4jan]

Es - those are some really great photos

[efarnstrom]

Es - those are some really great photos

Thanks...

This trip I was trying out my new lens...wide angle and telephoto. The bottom photo is a wide angle lens job. It was trial and error, but I came up with some good pics! Well, you can't get BAD pics in Sedona! Everywhere you look there is something else to click on....

[nkeevers]

Thanks Janice! You'll all helped me a lot...it would look funny if shadows were all which ways! I think for now I'll stick with the "all the same way" effect!