PS: Using Warp Tool for custom Drop Shadows

[kimberkatt]

This tutorial brought to you by Piggy Scraps Designs

I almost hate to tackle this here. This is a small space, and this is a big subject. But it will be a start. It will be something to try, to tweak and play with. Something to make your own. I am talking about drop shadows.

Today I will do a short tutorial on using the Warp Tool to alter drop shadows. My goal is to have my frame pop off the page. I'll start by sharing my paper & my frame:

I imagine no one is jumping up & down at the sight of the frame on the paper. It just blends in. I added the standard drop shadow. The photoshop default.

I find the default a little too dark, too rigid for my tastes. I normally dial down shadow opacity to 40-50% depending on the light/dark of the kit I'm working with. I always up the blur factor by increasing size in the effects (fx) panel. I'm not a fan of strong edges on my shadows, though this does have a place & purpose on some elements. Nothing is concrete in photoshop or design!

Now that I've played with all the drop shadow settings in the effects (fx) panel. It's time to get a little more control over my drop shadow. My favorite way of doing this is to put the drop shadow on it's own layer. I do this by going to my layers pallet. Then;

• Right click on the "Frame" layer (on the fx symbol)
• Choose "Create Layer"
• Your drop shadow is now on it's own layer

To warp the drop shadow layer select it in your layers pallet. Then click edit-->transform-->warp

You will see a 9-grid mesh appear over your image. You can pull & push, warp, your shadow any which way. Play with it, hit the check mark above your design(work) area when finished, or hit the if you want to start over.

I did mine in a rough butterfly shape to help it pop up & out. Then I dialed down the opacity even more. Honestly, I like the opacity even lower but it doesn't demonstrate very well if I do it. I just think it looks good.

[DarlineHM]

How can you do this in PSE9?

[kimberkatt]

unfortunately, the Warp tool is not supported in PSE products, so you have to come up with a work-a-round... I've used the Wave Filter & the Liquify Filter to achieve the same effect, but it is time-consuming & difficult - also, PSE does not have "Create layer" function either... so you have to create your own drop shadow layer to begin with...

There is a basic tutorial HERE on how to get lifted corners in PSE, this was one of the first tutorials I used when I started out with PSE. Scroll about half-way down for the Custom Lifted Drop Shadow - there are other tips & tricks there, too!

[DarlineHM]

Thanks so much!!! I will check it out now. Thanks

[DarlineHM]

that worked for me. thanks so much!!

[kimberkatt]

You are very welcome Darline! I'm glad it worked out for you!