How to add shadow - and make as good as Photoshop

[enginestar]

In Photoshop...
I take an image, copy all...
Create a new image (with transparent background) that is 10 pixels bigger all around...
Paste the copied image.
Add a shadow all around the pasted layer - with zero distance and 5 pixels spread
Save as a PNG.

I've tried and tried doing the same in Gimp.
Grrr... no luck.
The shadows I get are pants Smile
Nowhere near as subtle as Photoshop.

I went back and looked at other videos...
These involved making masks and other things...
I'm happy to do that (if I have to)

My thoughts were: it's just such a basic task adding a shadow around an object...
Why is it sooo painful to do?
(Errr.... I'm guessing it's not painful at all and I've just not watched the right videos on youtube.)

Thanks.

[Espermaschine]

Photoshop layerstyles are vector filters, thats why you can switch them on and off, and edit at all times.
Gimp doesnt have that.

But making a dropshadow in Gimp is not difficult.
The basic concept is: make a duplicate of the shape, give it a shadow colour (mostly black), then put it underneath, blur and adjust the offset (with the move tool), opacity and layermode (mostly 'Multiply', but 'Grain Merge' works well too).

You can use a plug-in called layerfx, that mimics PS layerstyles, or use the Gimp filter (Light & Shadows - > Dropshadow).

I never use a filter for that, i make it manually because its easy and gives me maximum control.

To get a subtle dropshadow, use the Opacity slider with taste and find a good Gaussian Blur value. Thats really all there is to it.
It works the same way in PS, the functionality is just a bit more refined and comfortable to use.

Sexy minimal design is not something PS gives you with a filter, its the choices you make.

The reason you dont know how to make a dropshadow is what all this nappy technology does to you.
Its the same with the all so popular script effects in Gimp. It may seem convenient, but something gets lost.

   

[rich2005]

Quote:..Errr.... I'm guessing it's not painful at all and I've just not watched the right videos on youtube.)

might be painful , might not

This is my video on the subject

https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-Shadow...739#pid739

[Espermaschine]

^
nice video, rich !

I can understand why people dont like the pixelbased offset. Its not very intuitive to fiddle with numbers in the dark.
In PS you have a rotary knob and it adjusts in realtime.

This is the reason why i dont use a script and move the shadow by eye.

The python version of layerfx for Gimp has a preview, which makes it a bit more comfortable to use.
http://registry.gimp.org/node/186

[rich2005]

(01-10-2018, 09:18 AM)Espermaschine Wrote: In PS you have a radiobutton and it adjusts in realtime.

Realtime is already in Gimp 2.9 eg https://i.imgur.com/QdIdUfo.jpg

[Espermaschine]

(01-10-2018, 10:15 AM)rich2005 Wrote: Realtime is already in Gimp 2.9 eg https://i.imgur.com/QdIdUfo.jpg

Nice !

So are they implementing vector tech or how does this work ?

[rich2005]

It is a GEGL filter - part of the move (eventually) to non-destructive editing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEGL

Many of the Gimp 2.9 filters are now GEGL and work directly on the canvas. Most of the blurs, most of the noise filters, bump & displacement maps for example.

[enginestar]

thanks for the replies guys

i think i will give it 5 minutes
i was just being lazy
it didnt make sense to me that this functionality wouldnt be included