How To Add a Shadow in Illustrator

Adobe Systems' Illustrator software is used to create graphics.The program is good at creating 3D logos and rich text blocks.You can add effects to your work if you add an object or text box to the document.A shadow in Adobe Illustrator is referred to as a "drop shadow" because a shadow graphic drops below the image or text to make it appear as if the object is raised.The article will show you how to make a shadow.

Step 1: You can open your application.

Step 2: A dialogue box appears when you open an existing document or create a new document.

Step 3: Select the layer that contains the object you want to shadow.

The layer can be selected in your Layers Palette.On the top horizontal toolbar, go to "Window" to access the palette.In the drop down box, click "Layers".

Step 4: You can add a drop shadow by clicking on an object or text box.

Step 5: You can choose "Effect" on the top horizontal toolbar.

You can choose "Stylize" under the heading "Illustrator Effects."The "Stylize" option will not create a drop shadow.

Step 6: You can choose "Drop Shadow" from the menu.

You should choose "Stylize" again and then "Drop Shadow" if it is listed as "drop shadow or filter."If you are using an early version of Illustrator, you can find the drop shadow dialogue box by selecting "Object" in the top horizontal toolbar and choosing "Drop Shadow" from the pop out menu.The dialogue box should appear.

Step 7: The "Mode" is what you choose for your drop shadow.

The shadow will be blended in this way.This includes options like hard light, multiply, soft light and more.If you don't know how to blend your shadow, experiment with these modes.

Step 8: Pick your "Opacity" percentage.

Your shadow will stand out more if the percentage is higher.

Step 9: The offsets should be X and Y.

The shadow will be offset or away from the image.This is measured in points, which is a standard unit of measurement.The size of the font is the same as it is on a computer.There are 12 points in the font.

Step 10: You can choose the blur area.

Similar to the X and Y offsets, this determines the distance from the end of the shadow to where you would like it to start blurring.Your blur may be 5 pt if you have X and Y offsets.

Step 11: You can choose the shade of your shadow.

There are many shadows in black, but you can choose another color.

Step 12: The darkness of the shadow should be changed.

Clicking the circle next to "Darkness" will change how much black appears in the shadow.It will be a completely dark shadow if you choose 100 percent darkness.The shadow will be the current color of the object if you choose 0 percent.

Step 13: Click on the "Ok" button or check thePreview box to view what you have done before you make changes to the object.

Step 14: You can change the drop shadow by selecting "window" in the top horizontal toolbar and "Appearance" from the bottom horizontal menu.

The effects for that object will be listed in an appearance box.To make changes, click on the words "Drop Shadow".If you repeat the steps to create a drop shadow from the "Effects" menu, it will create another shadow on top of your current shadow.

Step 15: To record the Illustrator drop shadow, save the document.

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