Photoshop 4.0 Tips & TricksSome familiarity with the Macintosh andPhotoshop 4.0 is very helpful. We alsoassume, you have a previously createdor scanned image to open.

By following these instructions you willcreate an image with a Drop Shadow.You will also be learning a little aboutMaking and Duplicating Layers as wellas a few Powerful time saving tricks forless mousing around.

ImageWithDrop

Shadow

Photoshop 4.0 Tips & Tricks1. Open Your Image

2. Make a New layer

3. Choose a New Color for Your Text

Page 1 Drop

Shadow

Create or open an image to apply a shadow to.I used an image and will apply text and shadow to it.

a) Click on the New Layer Icon at the bottom of theLayers Window.b) Rename this layer by Double Clickingon the Layer.c) Type in the new name in the dialog box that appears.d) Change the New Layer's name to Text.

I sampled the flowers in the garden with the EyeDropper Tool. The new color appeared as theForeground color in the Foreground /Backgroundoption boxes in the Tool Bar.

Note: Since the final image is going on a Web pageand not to a printed publication, I need to adjust thenewly selected color to a color that is acceptable forthe Web.I changed the RGB values to a Websafe color thatwas very close to the color selected. a) Double Click on the Foreground Color to call upthe Colors Window.b) Type the RGB values in their boxes. c) Click on OK.

Note:See more about Websafe colors on the Web inthe Graphics Technology Cookbook.

Photoshop 4.0 Tips & Tricks4. Add Text To The Image

5. Move Text Into Position

6. Create A Duplicate Text LayerCreate a Duplicate Layer of the Text Layer.a) By Selecting and dragging the Text Layer down to,and on top o,f the New Layer Icon.b) A new Text Copy Layer will appear in the LayersWindow.c) Rename this layer following the steps in #2.d) Name this Duplicate Layer Shadow.

e) Drage the Shadow Layer below the Text Layer in

the Layers Window.

Page 2Drop

Shadow

Be sure you are working in the Text Layer: Its namewill be highlighted. a) Select the Type Tool and click the cursor some-where on the image, close to where you would likethe text to appear.b) The Type Dialog Box appears. Choose your font,font size, and any attributes you would like it to have(Bold, Italics, centered, etc.).c) Your text will appear on the image, but it should bein its own layer. You should see its image appear inthe thumbnail in the Layers Window.

If your text is not in the proper position or it needs alittle fine tuning, follow these steps:a)Select your text by Selecting the Move Tool.b)Move your text by placing the move tool over thetext and click the mouse, dragging the text into itsnew position.

orc)For smaller fine tuning moves, with the Move Toolselected use the arrow keys to nudge the text intoplace.

Photoshop 4.0 Tips & Tricks7. Select Text In The Shadow Layer

Page 3 Drop

Shadow

8. Fill Shadow Text With BlackSelect Black as Foreground Color and Fill text inlayer with black.Be sure the Foreground Color is set to black andpress the Option and Delete Keys to fill the text withBlack. Deselect your text layer (Command & D keys).a) If Black is selected as the background color, Pressthe X key to bring it to the Foreground. TheForeground and Background colors change places.b) If black is not an option in background or fore-ground, Click on the Foreground/Background Iconjust below the selected colors. This action will reset thecolors to their default black & white.

Select the text in the Shadow Layerby holding down the Command Key and Clickingon the Shadow Layer's Thumbnail image.

Note: The next step will involve filling the text withanother color. Using the technique above, will selectjust the text, not the whole layer (select all).Replacing the color in the text only, not filling the thewhole layer with the new color. If your layer com-pletely fills with the selected color you did not selectthe text properly.

9. Apply Gaussian Blur To Shadow LayerTo apply a Gaussian Blur to the Shadow Layer,a) Be sure the Shadow Layer is Activeb) In the Filters Menu, drag down to Blur and over toGaussian Blur. A dialog box will appear.c) Experiment with the setting. I used a setting of 10.

Photoshop 4.0 Tips & Tricks

10. Move Shadow Layer Into Position

Page 4Drop

Shadow

Move the Shadow Layer to give the shadow adropped appearance. Shift the shadow layer slightly.a) In the Layers Menu Drag down to Transform andover to Numeric. A dialog box appears.b) I used a setting of X=5 and Y=3.c) Position and Relative should be checked.(3.5 users do not have a Layer Menu or a Transformoption. To move your shadow, you must select theMove Tool and nudge the shadow over and down thedesired number of pixels.

Photoshop 4.0 Tips & Tricks

If you find your shadow is a bit light, you can Duplicate the Shadow Layer.

If adding a duplicate layer makes the shadow too dark, Adjust the Opacity Levels.

To make a larger diffused (blurred) shadow, you could Duplicate the Text Layer again. Fillwith black and apply the Gaussian Blur to this new Shadow Layer. Experiment with differentBlur Values. Remember, you can adjust the Opacity of the Extra Shadow Layers in the Layers Window.

You can add as many shadows as you like to create the effect you are after. You could alsochange the shadows fill color to add a strange halo effect.

Some Experiments To Try

EndDrop

Shadow