242 replies to this topic

[KrisVDM]

Yes that's it but when I click Drop shadow it applies it to my image as the exact same size. No bleed on the sides.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean... Can you explain, or maybe point to an image on the web that has what you want?

[SiouxsiesZoo]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean... Can you explain, or maybe point to an image on the web that has what you want?

>.< The one I DL a couple posts up is an example of what I'm trying to accomplish with your plug-in. I did that one on Picnik which offers the drop shadow too.

[welshblue]

Use the Width slider on the UI to get the amount of Shadow you want. Keep the default settings for X and Y ... possibly increase the Blur ratio ...

Totally off topic ... as a huge fan of The Banshees - love your user name

Edit ** As a habit I've gotten used to, I always duplicate the layer I want to add shadow too, move it down, then apply the shadow

Edited by welshblue, 01 February 2012 - 07:19 PM.

[delpart]

Well, I dont know if it's the full merger with Google at this point or what but I cannot determine how you do a drop shadow even dragging new image layers in with that other tool to create a comparison. Picnik never really focused on layer work-flow in my limited exposure to it. Even in the groups I could see reference to Drop Shadow, but I'm not finding it ... The way the corners are faded etc reminds me more of Sumo's layers ...

The sliders in the interface control the amount of blur or fade ... The maximum extent of this is about 24 pixels with the widening radius set to zero and the blur set to its maximum at 24. It will be uniform all around the object. You can create a fast mask of sorts but unchecking the keep original image. Creating a duplicate layer of the object and working on the one that will be below the original can allow you to zoom and distort the shadow and even run another couple of passes to extended the blur. Zoom blur and other distortion blending can help create a reversed irregular vignette halo effect.

Unlike Picnik and a few other services, PDN (and other advanced editors) offer you more options, but at the expense (sometimes) of fast simple filters and effects. There's a ton of ways to replicate what Kris has done with Drop Shadow, but the plugin is a great starting point as it allows fast and easy views of what you're aiming for.


**EDIT: Side-note that when working with large canvas sizes (3500x) some effects are not that helpful as the range of the effect is limited. This may also be something to consider when working with many of these plugins. In this case you'd have a very slight border on such a large canvas and it would be more limited for creating an equivalent effect.

Edited by delpart, 01 February 2012 - 07:34 PM.

[KrisVDM]

as a huge fan of The Banshees - love your user name

Same here

[SiouxsiesZoo]

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OK guys thanks for the help. Think I got it (think, think, think...) It's not as err, "feathery" or soft shadow fade as I would like but it's workable less you know how to blend the edges of the shadow better. Here's examples from both places. Kudos for recognizing my user name She's been a favorite of mine forever.

Edited by Ego Eram Reputo, 02 February 2012 - 01:50 AM.
Images removed - this is a family friendly forum.

[welshblue]

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Must have been a bit too much flesh on show. Shame as I really enjoyed your example image.


Siouxsie is an icon (well 3 of us here think so ...)

RE: the fade ... have you tried lowering the opacity once you're happy with the shadow ? You could also try using a small amount of Gaussian Blur once you've rendered the drop-shadow

Edited by welshblue, 02 February 2012 - 06:29 AM.

[delpart]

Must have been a bit too much flesh on show. Shame as I really enjoyed your example image.


Siouxsie is an icon (well 3 of us here think so ...)

RE: the fade ... have you tried lowering the opacity once you're happy with the shadow ? You could also try using a small amount of Gaussian Blur once you've rendered the drop-shadow

@Siouxsie: I could use the examples to try and determine what's what there. PM me with links. I'm not offended by this art. (Based on avatar and sample I'm pretty sure its in the same theme.) Based on the original I'm guessing you want a little more opacity in the blending and a slight irregularity to the shadow form.


I guess I should have said I'm also a fan of S and B ... Prior to her small mainstream hits in the early 80's ... seems like just yesterday now.

Edited by delpart, 02 February 2012 - 05:40 PM.

[welshblue]

There's something infinitely smexy about the rock chick goth look ... but again that's off topic
All the years I've been gratefully using Drop-Shadow, I've only just realised the corners are rounded We live and learn

[SiouxsiesZoo]

I feel positively oogled. Thanks for all the ideas and help. Here were my other comparisons (G rated) and yes, I think the gaussian blur effect might work!

[delpart]

Ah-ha! With the limits of layering, they put it under frames ... Didn't look hard enough. ... Okay, it's not much different. Mainly inset deeper and provides a little more distance in the fade. Looks uniform with the same rounded corners ... I'll see if I can explain how to get the corners to match and the feel of the fade in a few.


**EDIT: Kris' drop shadow is perfect for other things Rather, Kris' method is not what I'd start with for matching this effect from the folks at picnik though, you want to use Pyrochild's Outline Object Plugin ... It's almost an exact match set at:: Width: 100, Softness: 255, Normal blending and no angle. You'll still need to make your own background on the larger canvas and that effect can be applied either directly to the image over it or blended and distorted on a copy under it to achieve a greater range of results.

Obviously you'll have to dial it in to your liking, but this is the match you're looking for to get closer from the start.


**EDIT TWO: Or run Kris' drop shadow on a duplicate under the top layer with widening zero, blur 24 then run gausian blur at about 50-75 with keep original image un-checked ... then duplicate that layer and adjust the opacity to your liking if it is not dark enough to get the same effect ...


Hope that helps, and appologies for the double edit. Just didn't clue in on the multiple shadow layers soon enough and basically you can choose which method matches your whimsy ...

Edited by delpart, 04 February 2012 - 01:00 AM.

[KrisVDM]

Or run Kris' drop shadow on a duplicate under the top layer with widening zero, blur 24 then run gausian blur at about 50-75 with keep original image un-checked ... then duplicate that layer and adjust the opacity to your liking if it is not dark enough to get the same effect ...

In the interest of improving my effect for future versions: do I understand that the problem here is that you'd want (need) the set the blur radius to something between 75 and 100?

Also, if you want the shadow to be darker, one way to get that is to use widening with bluring. As long as widening radius is less than blur radius, you will not get "unblurred" full opacity pixels in your shadow. You can think of the widening happening before the blur. And you can think of the widening as being (more or less) the same as an object outline. But of course, the blur only blurs the shadow, not the original image.

The "keep original image" checkbox is present, precisely to allow this kind of scenario. But if you turn it off, the effect becomes significantly slower. If I understand your needs correctly (i.e. a blur radius of 100 pixels), I'm thinking you'd get your result faster with such a blur range in my effect and "keep original image" on, than having to do these multiple steps with duplicating the layer and separate blur. If that's true, I could increase the ranges in the next version.

[delpart]

(Partial reply as I've been struggling to get some images together to help illustrate my point, but do not wish to seem rude by letting this drag on.)

I realize this is more of a yes or no question ... just trying to figure out how to create examples to see how much scope would be needed for both large canvas work etc. to try and give a complete answer on the main question here.

Also trying to ensure I can demonstrate the difference in the corner aspect of the other shadow/outline effects and the density issue with the widening radius. Short version on density is that even set to 1 it was creating a distinct outline that would have to be compensated for with the opacity setting. Once opacity was turned down (at least in my fast help) I lost enough outer density to show the same form of shadow effect as the other tool was creating.

Regarding the use of multiple layers and not keeping the original: If she was going to use further distortion on the layer underneath, the potential to have the edge of the image extend outward and creating a density issue was why that was recommended. A good for instance is using something like zoom and point blur combinations to create some striation in the shadow. If the original image is still on that layer, it will bleed into the shadow and create issues, especially if in high contrasting color to the shadow being used. Again, this is merely with the idea of pushing distortion or modification to the base effect Drop Shadow can create.

Though I agree with larger range your effect would work fine and much more quickly with being able to do this on a single layer only.

(I'll hopefully get some example shots soon though as I know I'm not doing real well with text on this ...)

[KrisVDM]

You know, I've been thinking. She didn't need any plugin at all^*, because her base image, the one she wants a shadow for, is a clean rectangle, with no transparency.

All she needs to do is use three layers. Bottom one is background, top one is her image.

In the middle one, draw a black rectangle and blur it. Done.

^*In fact, a plugin that would be handy to have is my object align plugin, to center the image and black rectangle.

[KrisVDM]

All the years I've been gratefully using Drop-Shadow, I've only just realised the corners are rounded

Of course, they have to be. It's drawing all pixels within a given distance of your object. Imagine a regular octagon. You want the widening (or outline) to be at the same distance everywhere, right? The same for horizontal lines, vertical lines and lines under a 45° angle? Well, that logic gives you a circle around each pixel, and that results in rounded corners.

[Noswad]

How do you put this on PDN?? All I see when I open the zip is "Install" and "Vandermotten.PaintDotNet(Something something)".

[jim100361]

How do you put this on PDN?? All I see when I open the zip is "Install" and "Vandermotten.PaintDotNet(Something something)".

Any plugin .dll you download goes into the "effects" folder that's in your paint.net folder.





There was also this:
http://forums.getpai...hooting-thread/

Edited by jim100361, 16 February 2012 - 11:44 PM.

[Noswad]

These are the only two things it has..
"Vandermotten.PaintDotNetEffects.Installer.dll" and "Install" Why aren't the dll's all there? Why do I have to install something??

[delpart]

These are the only two things it has..
"Vandermotten.PaintDotNetEffects.Installer.dll" and "Install" Why aren't the dll's all there? Why do I have to install something??

Kris just does it this way. From the top of the thread though, this part of the description may have been helpful in this instance:

"This version contains an installer. Just run the installer, it will ask you which effects you want to install and copy the required dll's into the Paint.NET effects folder. It will make no other modifications to your system."

[Noswad]

Kris just does it this way. From the top of the thread though, this part of the description may have been helpful in this instance:

"This version contains an installer. Just run the installer, it will ask you which effects you want to install and copy the required dll's into the Paint.NET effects folder. It will make no other modifications to your system."

Oh, Sorry! I should have read that. xD

Thanks!