Adobe InDesign CS3 Bible

InDesign offers built-in drop shadow and feathering that let you create dimensional effects based on simulated lighting.

Drop shadows

The Drop Shadow dialog box is shown in Figure 19-16 and accessed by choosing Object ‚ Drop Shadow or pressing Option+ z +M or Ctrl+Alt+M. To apply a drop shadow to an object, you select it with a selection tool ‚ you cannot apply the shadow to just highlighted characters . In the dialog box, you set the following options:

• Check the Drop Shadow option to turn on the drop shadow function.

• Select a lighting type (technically, a blend mode) by choosing one of the 16 options in the Mode pop-up menu. (Chapter 25 covers these in detail.)

• Specify the opacity by entering a value in the Opacity field ‚ 0% is invisible, while 100% is completely solid.

• Specify the shadow's position relative to the object using the X Offset and Y Offset fields. A positive X Offset moves the shadow to the right, while a positive Y Offset moves the shadow down. Negative values go in the other direction.

• Specify the shadow's size by entering a value in the Blur field ‚ this blurs a copy of the text used in the drop shadow to make it look like it was created by shining light on solid letters .

• Choose a color source ‚ Swatches, RGB, CMYK, and LAB ‚ from the Color pop-up menu, then select a color from the sliders or swatches below. You'll get sliders for RGB, CMYK, and LAB with which to mix a color if you selected RGB, CMYK, or LAB in the Color pop-up menu, and a set of previously defined color swatches if you selected Swatches in the Color pop-up menu.

• To see the effects to your selected object as you experiment with various settings, check the Preview option.

  Tip ‚

  Although traditionally associated with text, you can apply drop shadows to any objects, such as frames and shapes .

  Cross-Reference ‚

  Chapter 25 covers transparency and opacity in more detail.

Figure 19-16: The Drop Shadow dialog box and an example drop shadow.

Feathering

A similar option to drop shadows is feathering, which essentially softens the edges of objects. Like drop shadows, feathering can be applied only to objects, not individual text, paths, or strokes. To feather an object, first select it and then choose Object ‚ Feather. You'll get the dialog box shown in Figure 19-17.

Figure 19-17: The Feather dialog box and an example feathering effect.

To apply feathering, check the Feather option. You then enter a value for the degree of feathering ‚ smaller numbers have the least effect, larger numbers have the most effect. The featuring area starts at the outside edge of the object, so a larger number "eats into" the object, making it a wispier version of itself, as Figure 19-17 shows. The Corners pop-up menu gives you three options: Sharp, Rounded, and Diffused. The Sharp option retains the original shape as much as possible. The Rounded option rounds the corners of the object; it can distort the shape dramatically at larger Feather Width settings. The Diffused option creates a soft, almost smoky effect by making the object more translucent.