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Shadow Effect

Your software allows you to place a shadow around any object.

The following types of shadows are available:

EffectShadowDrop.png EffectShadowBlock.png
Drop Shadow Block Shadow
EffectShadowPerspective.png EffectShadowCast.png
Perspective Shadow Cast Shadow

Applying Shadows

  • Select the desired objects.
  • From the Effects menu, select Shadow.
    • The Shadow tab appears in DesignCentral. 
      mceclip0.png
  • Adjust the parameters in DesignCentral or drag the control points.
  • Click Apply. mceclip1.png

Adjusting Shadows Using DesignCentral

When shadows are applied to objects, the following attributes can be adjusted in DesignCentral:

Offset
mceclip2.png
Specify the Horizontal and Vertical Offset (distance) from the original object. These fields are not available for Cast shadows.
Ratio and Angle
mceclip3.png
Specify the Height Ratio and Slant Angle relative to the original object. These fields are only available for Cast shadows.
Distance
mceclip4.png
Specifies the distance between the object and shadow when offset or overlap is selected.
Perspective Ratio
mceclip5.png
Specifies the Perspective Ratio. This field is only available for Perspective shadows.
Color
EffectShadowColor.png
Selects the shadow color.
Relief Mode
EffectShadowReliefMode.png
Determines how the shadow is produced with respect to the original object.

Transparent

mceclip6.png

When selected, activates the Advanced Shadow options. This will create a smooth shadow effect
Advanced
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Advanced shadow, also known as Smooth Shadow. applies a transparency to objects to smooth and soften edges, or to create a neon effect.

 

Smooth Shadows

Select Apply Transparency and click Advanced to adjust Smooth Shadow settings

Blending Mode Offers a number of blending options: Normal, Darken, Lighten, Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Hard Light, Soft Light, Difference, Exclusion, Color Dodge, Color Burn, and Linear Burn.
Opacity Specifies the amount of transparency.
Blur Amount Specifies the amount that the edges of the shadow are softened. The presets are 100, 75, 50, and 25%.
Blur Radius Specifies the amount of softening of the shadow color. A higher radius will produce more blurring, a lower radius less blurring.
Resolution Allows you to increase the on-screen resolution to improve shadow smoothness, but at the risk of slower processing speeds. Select a lower resolution to speed processing time. The presets are 72 (default), 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 DPI.

 

Adjusting Shadows Using Control Points

Click and drag the shadow to adjust the Horizontal and Vertical Offset (Drop and Block shadows), Perspective Ratio (Perspective shadow), and Height Ratio and Slant Angle (Cast shadow).

 

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