![]() ![]() Step 2: Create a new layer, and fill the selection with black.Step 1: Create a selection around the object you want to shadow.The only trick to a proper custom drop shadow is all in the layers – and getting just the right blur. ![]() Overall, the process is pretty simple once you understand the basics, and it’s also fairly universal across all graphics programs, including GIMP. If you need a bit more flexibility from your drop shadow, it’s probably time to ditch the filters and start working on your images more like an artist – make everything yourself! Unfortunately, the legacy version doesn’t offer the option to show a preview of what your drop shadow will look like, which makes it also The Quick Guide to Custom Drop Shadows Using layers like this is definitely the ‘best practice’ option, which is why it’s so puzzling that the newer version doesn’t work the same way. The main advantage of using the legacy version of the filter is that it automatically creates your drop shadow on a separate layer below your source image element. Developers often discontinue legacy features from their programs after some time, so you may not be able to rely on this version forever. Sadly, this isn’t a gloriously, terribly bad 80’s action movie sequel title, but just the older version of the Drop Shadow filter that has been left in the program for those who prefer it. Important Note: if you apply this filter to a text layer, you’ll lose the ability to edit your text! Another good reason to use the custom shadows guide below. You can use the same method to shadow text in GIMP. This is presumably why the developers felt it wasn’t necessary to render the shadow to a separate layer, but I wish they’d given us the option. Thanks to the handy Preview option, you can see the effect in real-time before you accept it. Here’s a gif of my final video, I added some color and motion tracking because the base footage wasn’t shot with a tripod.The Split View Option shows the results on half the image, as you can see in the text Here I didn’t notice that my image was accepting lights until I moved the light in front of it. Switching to different camera views is a good way to get a better feel of your light’s position and length of the shadow. The next step is to move around the light in 3D space until your shadow starts to mimic the shadows from the video. You want your shape layer to accept shadows but not lights and you want the animation layer to cast shadows and accept lights. Before you move it around, change a couple of settings on the shape and animation layer. Once everything looks lined up, change the blending mode on the rectangle to multiply. Flipping camera modes to top and side lets you place the element right against the rectangle at a 90 degree angle. I need to make sure my animation is directly on top of the rectangle and has 3D mode turned on as we fine tune it’s placement. I’ve started by rotating my rectangle 90 degrees at the X-axis and then tweaking its placement so it looks like its sitting on top of the ground. ![]() The goal is for this white rectangle to sit where the ground is and have the cartoon directly on top. I set my lens to 35mm because thats what I shot the lower layer at. The general concept of this technique is that we are going to setup a virtual light to mimic the sun and a shape layer to accept the shadow, so you’ll first want to add a shape layer, draw a white rectangle with the shape tool and then make sure the layer is in 3D Click any of the images below for larger view. This effect is best if you use bottom layer footage with well defined shadows, I’ve chose this midday short shadow shot that I will drop a little looping cartoon on top of. ![]() This trick can give your video a nice cohesiveness and add an easy 3D effect to a flat object. Adding a shadow to a 2D element in After Effects helps sell a 3D effect.ĭrop a shadow from a 2D element in After Effects and match it up with the existing shadows of a piece of footage. ![]()
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