Paint Shop Pro 9 - Tutorials Question

[scottee]

New to the forum. I have just moved from PSP V3 to PSP 9. Wow, what a leap... I would like to be able to use a "Drop Shadow" type concept on an image. I know it can be done with text, but can it be done with an image (png, jpg, gif, etc.)? Is this possible in PSP 9, and if so does anyone know if there is a tutorial for that process? Basically, I'd like to create an image that starts with a a collage base and then a layer of an image that is drop shadow'd over it. Trying to give a hovering type effect of the image over the collage.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanx in advance.
ScotTEE

[Andrew]

Im not sure really. Im a photoshop user, try using www.pixel2life.com maybe they will have something there.

[+mw.siCk]

What you would need to do is make your collage image canvas 400x400pixels (for example).
Then save that as a png or jpg, either will work fine. Then copy the whole canvas (layers > merg all visible) then go press ctrl+c, now depending on how much of a shadow you want, this bit will vary. Lets say we are going to make our shadow dead center and it will spread out 10pixels to each side, and 10pixels on the top and bottom. I would now create a new layer 400x400pixels + the extra pixels needed. Remember, you are having 10pixels on the left, and 10 on the right, so you would need to put your width to 420pixels, and then because it will be the same for the top and bottom, you need to make that 420pixels, too.
Now press OK, and then press ctrl+L to paste that merged canvas onto a new layer.
You should have two layers total so far, one named Raster 1, which should eb empty, and then Raster 2, which should have the collage on.
Now, you should be able to just go to Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow.
I used these settings in a test for you: i6.tinypic.com/6slwf11.png
You don't need to have the "create shadow on new layer" checked, I just like it to be on a new layer, that way you can move it about etc later if you decide you dont want the shadow in the dead center. Also, have your opacity as whatever you want, it would depend on the colours used in the collage and what the color of the site is that it will be going onto.
Now if you set the shadow to be on a new layer, you should have a total of 3 layers.
Now go to File > Export > PNG Optimizer. And Use these settings:
i5.tinypic.com/86pxqo1.png


And voila.