Berengaria
Established Forum Member
Posts: 398 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Berengaria on Oct 18, 2019 15:25:34 GMT
When I apply a layer style Drop Shadow to my image the fx has no effect on it to make the shadow smaller or lighter. What am I missing?
Berie
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Post by cats4jan on Oct 18, 2019 17:09:34 GMT
After you have a shadow on your layer — one way to adjust it is to click on the “fx” on that layer in the layers panel. A menu will come up. It's the same settings screen that comes up when you hit Layer> Layer Styles> Style Settings
If you are not seeing the settings (size, distance, opacity) you need to checkmark the style first - like I did with 'drop shadow'  Find the fx button here on the right edge of your layer - double left click on the fx and the styles settings screen above will come up 
Another way to adjust is to click on the fx and then go to your project and grab the shadow and move it manually |
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Post by fotofrank on Oct 18, 2019 17:31:51 GMT
Just to clarify, the Drop Shadow works on a layer with an object on it to give that object a shadow. The drop shadow effect does not impact any shadows in an image as your question implied.
Has Janice has outlined you may want to check your setting on the drop shadow.
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 18, 2019 18:48:33 GMT
When I apply a layer style Drop Shadow to my image the fx has no effect on it to make the shadow smaller or lighter. What am I missing? Berie Berie, Are you doing a single-click on the fx? You need to double-click on it to bring up the Style Settings dialog where you can adjust the Drop Shadow. |
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Berengaria
Established Forum Member
Posts: 398
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Berengaria on Oct 18, 2019 20:10:13 GMT
Thanks for all the help.
I'm afraid I didn't make myself clear. I'm trying to put a drop shadow around the inside edge of my photo.
I get the dropped shadow but it is too big and dark. I do click on the fx and it opens but is dimmed and clicking on it has no effect.
Any more suggestions?
Berie
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Post by Lillias on Oct 18, 2019 20:34:50 GMT
I’m trying to figure out exactly what it is you are trying to do Berie and I’ve come up with this example. The image on the left has an ordinary drop shadow but the image on the right has an Inner Glow effect applied. The second example shows the settings for the Inner Glow effect where you can change the size, colour and opacity of the effect. Apologies if I’ve misunderstood what you are looking for. Image from morguefile.   |
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Post by Lillias on Oct 18, 2019 21:57:44 GMT
Been looking at this again and here are my thoughts now Berie...  |
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Post by Major Major on Oct 18, 2019 23:11:59 GMT
Actually, you can somewhat adjust an inner shadow by using Layer | Layer Style | Scale Effects.
This setting works where others often don't.
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 19, 2019 2:32:57 GMT
Thanks for all the help. I'm afraid I didn't make myself clear. I'm trying to put a drop shadow around the inside edge of my photo. I get the dropped shadow but it is too big and dark. I do click on the fx and it opens but is dimmed and clicking on it has no effect. Any more suggestions? Berie Berie, It looks like you are trying to apply an Inner Shadow because you said you wanted the shadow to be around the inside edge of your photo. If so, . . . here is the explanation why those adjusting sliders are grayed out. This is not a problem; it is by design. By default, when you open the Style Settings for the Inner Shadows, those sliders will be grayed out (deactivated). Just check mark the box(es) and now you can proceed to customize the settings. |
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Post by cats4jan on Oct 19, 2019 3:07:17 GMT
Photo: cats4jan I’m not sure what your goal is, but my favorite thing to do to soften the edges of a photo is to use 'inner glow' In this case, I added a drop shadow and used the technique I mentioned earlier - I grabbed the shadow and pulled it out from under the photo - you can, of course, do that with the style settings menu, but I like to physically pull at it so I can see exactly what effect the change in shadow accomplishes while I'm doing it - instead of setting parameters and then having to do it all again, if I don't like the effect.  Now that I see this full sized, I don't much like the size of that inner glow (nor that framing effect), but this example does serve the purpose of showing what inner glow is. Choosing black as the inner glow color might accomplish a "shadow-type" look  |
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 19, 2019 3:12:19 GMT
Actually, you can somewhat adjust an inner shadow by using Layer | Layer Style | Scale Effects. This setting works where others often don't.
Craig, great tip! I had all but forgotten about scaling.(And I usually use it when applying a frame layer style.) |
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Post by Lillias on Oct 19, 2019 6:33:36 GMT
Actually, you can somewhat adjust an inner shadow by using Layer | Layer Style | Scale Effects.
This setting works where others often don't. Thanks for this info Major Major. I did not know about Scale Effects. |
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Post by cats4jan on Oct 19, 2019 15:08:18 GMT
Been playing with inner shadow and scale effects. Thanks for the tip. Inner shadows is something I've totally forgotten about and I doubt I ever knew about scale effects.
On a side note - I've noticed that darker colors do not work well with inner glow - never knew that because my goal was always to lighten the edges.
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Berengaria
Established Forum Member
Posts: 398
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Berengaria on Oct 21, 2019 10:48:19 GMT
Thank all you good people for taking the time to help me out. So many good ideas. I'll definitely save this page and look forward to trying them out.
Berie
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 21, 2019 10:51:12 GMT
Berie, you are most welcome!
I have a question. Did you solve the problem concerning the layer style adjustments being grayed out? Were you using the Inner Shadow?
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