Shadows

[scrapmommytn]

What does distance mean in the shadow menu? What should it be set at?

[jenn]

Here's the basics on shadows:

Size affects how much larger than the original object the shadow will be. The larger you make the size, the blurrier the edge will be.

Distance affects how much OFFSET the shadow will be from the original object. Low distance means the shadow is directly beneath the object, high distance, it will be off to the side more. This makes things look like they're floating!

Usually, the size and distance numbers should be close to the same number. However, the larger the size number, if you match it with the distance number, your object will look like it's floating. Usually that's not what you want, so you need to lower the distance number.

Settings I use are like this:
if I want it to look like paper/cardstock: size=7, distance =7
if I want it to look like chipboard: size=15-20, distance =10-15
for large items - 3D things like flowers and bows, I'll do size 25/distance 25 or greater.

Here's how to think about it -
the CLOSER to the background something is, the sharper and narrower the shadow should be - small size (sharp) and small distance (narrow)
the FARTHER from the background something is, the blurrier and wider the shadow should be - larger size (blurry) and large distance (wide).

Where it gets complicated is things like flowers where part of the petals are close to the bg, and part isn't. To show a realistic shadow you have to manipulate the shadows to have both sharp, dark, narrow areas, and wider, lighter, blurrier areas. We'll do a class on techniques for doing that soon!

[scrapmommytn]

Woohoo! Count me in! I cant wait! I so need this class.