Designer Technique - Doris Castle

Please welcome and thank Doris Castle as our next Designer Technique. Doris has chosen to share with us some techniques about shadows. I love the tips she has shared and I feel it shows her high level of skills and why she is such a favorite designer of many. I have a few of her kits and just love them. Her kits and generous free samples on her blog are always of the highest quality.

You can find more products by Doris Castle at Studio Doris at ScrapbookGraphics.com
Learn more about Doris at her blog, Scraps of Life, where you will enjoy the FREE For All's!
Doris is also a designer at CottageArts.net, StoryTellers Club and ScrapWow.

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Tip from Doris - From the Shadows comes Realism!

I personally like to have my layouts look like they've been created with paper, so that once printed, people just need to touch it and be sure it's flat. To do this, a sense of realism is very important. To achieve this sense of realism, I rely heavily on the correct use of shadows. I also am sure to remember to use something to attach everything, as it would need to be if paper scrapped (such as brads, staples, tape, etc). For the majority of kits (unless specified), the elements included do not have shadows so that you can create custom ones that relate to your layout as needed.

Think Distance
With most graphic programs, shadowing can be done with a click of the mouse quite easily and this makes for a great effect. To enhance this effect, it is great to get into the options and adjust the settings according to what it is you are applying the shadow too. For example, if you are applying the shadow to a heavy thick element such as a chipboard you would want a darker shadow with a bit of distance. If you are applying a shadow to a paper, you would want it lighter and closer because it would lay closer to the page

* Layout Credit: Sweet Decadence Kit.
Notice that the shadow on the chain is smaller than the shadow on the thick heavyflower. The shadow is especially dark on the flower to show the added distance of being above the chain.

Think Color
Another important factor in shadowing that is often overlooked, is the color of the shadow. Most programs default to making the shadow in black and you can adjust the opaqueness. If you are able to adjust the color, it is sometimes good to make it be the color of the element that is creating the shadow - especially if it is partially opaque.

Notice that the shadow is very soft and subtle due to the fact that it is made with the color brown instead of black. Below you can see the difference. The first the shadow is black. The second, the shadow is brown.

First: Shadow in Black

Second: Shadow in Brown

Think Shape
Not everything lays flat in the real world, so to make something look even more real, it is sometimes important to add a bit of imperfection to the shadows. Photo Lifts/Bent Photos are a popular trend right now and they show this beautifully.


Notice that the shadow on the ribbon isn't straight but gets bigger and smaller as the ribbon bunches up.
* Layout Credit: Sentimental Sophisticate Kit and Album.

What's your favorite kit? It's hard to say what my most favorite kit is, because there are many and like a child to a mother, each and every one is special to me. But if I have to choose, I would have to say my favorite is My Hearts Delight Kit and Album. I love the fall season with the brilliant and natural colors. And since I love flowers, I just had to include a big sunflower.