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Let's talk about how you shadow ...

Heather ... holy cow that is one awesome 3D page! whoa! i have a headache just thinking about the work that went into creating that page. TFS!

BUT ... just wanted to report that I did it.

I picked 3 things and I tweaked, warped, smudged and blurred. And guess what ... i LOVE it and it took a tiny, few minutes more than it would have taken had I not done it. Shadows girls ... I may be converted.

Lili ... I probably need you to evaluate a few of my pages in the future for CC ... ;)
 
I've never used shadow styles before, I kinda have a list of pre-set numbers in my head...

For example, when I hop into the FX menu the first thing I do is switch from normal to linear burn, then I switch the black out for a dark brown or a slate blue, then I'll sling some numbers in, lower the opacity and copy that layer style. I'll paste that initial style on to everything, and then I work top layer down adjusting the numbers, then separating the shadow on to a new layer, then tweaking it using Puppet Warp, Warp or Smudge. Then depending on the element type I'll do a bit of dodging and burning on that layer, then I move down to the next layer... and on until I'm done.

I really love shadowing, and I enjoy doing it. It had never really occurred to me before tonight to turn my 'usual' numbers into my own pre-tweak styles... tempting, I must say! :D
 
toriloowho said:
I use shadow styles (Peppermint's are AWESOME!) but I usually will tweak them after the fact. I love the warp tool. I don't smudge very often. I also use the gaussian blur and wave filters. And I move them around after I tweak them. I change the opacity if needed. I don't do it to everything because I don't feel like it's necessary on every.single.little.thing (just my opinion and sometimes I'm lazy). I do it mostly on stuff like little word strips and ribbons and strings and tags, etc. And on the corners of stacked papers.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing! If I were to worry about every little shadow I don't think I'd ever get a layout done. So I just focus on the papers and certain ellies.
 
I almost always use shadow styles (usually Peppermint's which are one of my favs) and I usually don't tweak them at all! I know I should probably pay more attention to them but I worry I'd never get anything finished if I tried to tweak them!
 
I like to use styles to set a basis shadow, usually Peppermint's or Sahlin Studio's. Then I create a separate shadow layer and play as much or as little as I have time or as seems necessary. Lots of great inspiration here.
 
jenn mccabe said:
Heather ... holy cow that is one awesome 3D page! whoa! i have a headache just thinking about the work that went into creating that page. TFS!

BUT ... just wanted to report that I did it.

I picked 3 things and I tweaked, warped, smudged and blurred. And guess what ... i LOVE it and it took a tiny, few minutes more than it would have taken had I not done it. Shadows girls ... I may be converted.

Lili ... I probably need you to evaluate a few of my pages in the future for CC ... ;)
Click to expand...

Me? Evaluating your pages !! LOL!! I'm still learning.. I don't really fancy floaty elements too.. I guess I just enjoying shadowing because it's about giving my page a more realistic look (it definitely won't look 100% paper scrapped but 70-80% is good enough for me). I'm like Juliette, I create my own styles and save it.

- Be patient. YES!! IT TAKES A LONG TIME especially if you are like me, someone who uses many many many elements on a page!! But it's worth the effort!! :) -> maybe I should just change my style to a minimalist style!! LOL!!
- Have fun with it, you will be amaze with the effects
- get inspiration from Pinterest and etc ->have a look at paper scrapping pages (take a look at the shadows). I got obsess with it and I remember Juliette and Jaimee shared with me on how they achieve certain shadow effects..
- This is not a must to accomplish in digital scrapping, so don't get worked out by it!!
 
JuliettePerkins said:
I've never used shadow styles before, I kinda have a list of pre-set numbers in my head...

For example, when I hop into the FX menu the first thing I do is switch from normal to linear burn, then I switch the black out for a dark brown or a slate blue, then I'll sling some numbers in, lower the opacity and copy that layer style. I'll paste that initial style on to everything, and then I work top layer down adjusting the numbers, then separating the shadow on to a new layer, then tweaking it using Puppet Warp, Warp or Smudge. Then depending on the element type I'll do a bit of dodging and burning on that layer, then I move down to the next layer... and on until I'm done.

I really love shadowing, and I enjoy doing it. It had never really occurred to me before tonight to turn my 'usual' numbers into my own pre-tweak styles... tempting, I must say! :D
Click to expand...

If you always or almost always use the same thing, you could set that as the new "default". There's a button down at the bottom.
 
JuliettePerkins said:
For example, when I hop into the FX menu the first thing I do is switch from normal to linear burn, then I switch the black out for a dark brown or a slate blue...
Click to expand...

It never even crossed my mind to use a color other than the standard black/grey/whatever-it-is for shadows. That's brilliant!
 
I loved, loved hearing about how you girls tackle shadowing on your pages. Some of you reminded me of things I had forgotten. All of you inspired me to to either just take it easy when shadowing or, when time allows, have fun and play around ... and both are OK! :heartslub

Juliette ... I am amazed at the amount of shadowing you do and no styles! Pretty awesome. You should deft'ly think about saving a few presets for things you do all the time.

Lorry thanks for sharing your action again. I think I remember you sharing that one, but couldn't find it on my mac anywhere.

So... I did that simple page ... with just 3 shadows warped and it was super easy & made my page look 100% better. Then I was working on a very artsy, very layered page ... and it was impossible to just pick 3 things to warp shadows. The page is still not done. LOL. It can be very time consuming...:dizzy Hats off to you girls that shadow to the nines!!!
 
Add Element, Click corresponding Peppermint style.

I can't be obsessing or I'd never get anything done. :giggle

I will mess with a string or ribbon or sometimes the corner of a paper/photo, but for the most part I'm not trying to win any awards over here. I figure my great grandchildren aren't going to critique the quality of the shadow work on the pages of their grandparents as children. lol
 
Angie4b1g said:
Add Element, Click corresponding Peppermint style.

I can't be obsessing or I'd never get anything done. :giggle

I will mess with a string or ribbon or sometimes the corner of a paper/photo, but for the most part I'm not trying to win any awards over here. I figure my great grandchildren aren't going to critique the quality of the shadow work on the pages of their grandparents as children. lol
Click to expand...

by the way, your pages rock !!
 
I'm like Angie for the most part. I'm lazy...I want to place, click style and be done and it works that way for a lot of stuff. I have however been known to play with a style after placing if it just doesn't look right or doesn't have the effect I'm after. I'm not above tweaking a shadow here and there on a page, but not every one. I'm all about getting it done. This thread does make me want to take my time and do a bit more tweaking than I already do just to see what I can come up with. And the color thing = mind blown.
 
jenn mccabe said:
BUT ... just wanted to report that I did it.

I picked 3 things and I tweaked, warped, smudged and blurred. And guess what ... i LOVE it and it took a tiny, few minutes more than it would have taken had I not done it. Shadows girls ... I may be converted.
Click to expand...

Good for you!

Sometimes for fun (and to remind myself it is worth it), I'll keep a normal styles-based shadowed page and then create the tweaked version and then just flip back and forth or else look at them side-by-side. It's amazing how just a little tweak here and there will make such a big (yet subtle) difference.

But I agree with most here, sometimes I just get the page done, and don't bother with the tweaking. I'm more productive that way.
 
I have to be in the mood to tweak, but let's just say that when I am in the mood watch out shadows!
 
I always save the shadows for last, because I like to tweak them, but I also move things around so much its hard to know how the shadow should go till the end. I use some actions, styles, and filters (Peppermint's, Meagan Turnridge, Mommyish) to get started, then I go back and tweak the elements that I feel need a little love - warp smudge, Gaussian blur. Depending on the page it could be everything, or nothing.

I ALWAYS tweak ribbons, strings, banners, doilies, leaves or stems etc. sometimes go for photos or paper corners (depends on my anchoring). Don't really do much more than basic drop shadow for buttons, gems, flair, or other rigid elements.

If I am feeling lazy I go for a purely digital look to my page so I don't have to worry about shadows, or I just do everything else and save the shadows for another day. To be honest, I LOVE the feeling of seeing a page after you finish all the shadows and parts look like you could touch it. I am still learning though, and I love seeing what you all do to get that "touchy-feely' look. thanks Jenn for getting this started.
 
I manually shadow everything I think needs it. ribbons, string, and any thing that needs a warped shadow or to show elevation off the page I just use a set of action I do my self. I have PSE 8 and have experimented heaps with shadows.

Tamara
 
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