For creating images and collages in various graphic editors, one of the common functions is to create a shadow. The presence of a shadow on an object visually accentuates it and gives it a more realistic look. Many image publishing programs are equipped with shadowing functionality. The graphics editor Corel Draw can be used to create shadows for both raster and vector objects using built-in functions.
Necessary
- • A computer with a licensed software product Corel Draw installed on it not earlier than version 7;
- • Raster image;
- • Vector object or group of objects.
Instructions
Step 1
Shadow creation: a creative and painstaking process. The most important aspect to start the process is determining the light source. But in the Corel Draw program, the entire process of creating a shadow is quite fast and clear. If you want to create a shadow for a bitmap object, then it must be imported into a Corel Draw drawing via the "Import" function. First, remove the background from the drawing. If the background is a uniform fill, then you can clear the background using the Color Mask function.
Step 2
Enter the "color mask" mode, take a color sample with the eyedropper installed on the mask panel, move the "Tolerance" floating cursor by 5-10% and click the "Apply" button. Make sure that part of the image you need does not disappear.
Step 3
When the image is already cleared from the background, in the toolbar find the button "Interactive shadow" (Drop Shadow). This tool, by default, is in the list of tools "Blend", "Volume", etc. With this tool selected on the panel, click on the object, selecting the point from which the shadow will fall and drag the mouse in the direction to which the object will cast this shadow.
Step 4
If you are not satisfied with the result, selecting this tool again, you can adjust the direction, color of the shadow and its additional modes in the tool's own panel.
Step 5
To complete the result, you can place an image on the background by placing it over an object with a background fill. You can now compare the two images. Which one looks more realistic?
Step 6
By creating a shadow, you can favorably emphasize photographs, making collages from them. Now in the image, the photographs are simply placed in the background.
Step 7
With the help of the shadow, the photos look more voluminous and accented. For decoration, you can choose a themed background for the collage. Photos can be captioned by giving the font a shadow, which will be logical for the composition of the collage.
Step 8
Creating shadows for objects drawn in the program itself or imported vector objects supported by Corel Draw is also quite simple. Click on the object with the mouse with the selected tool "Interactive shadow" (Drop Shadow) and drag the mouse towards the intended shadow. For drawings consisting of a group of vector objects, you can create a shadow without separating them. Just select the Drop Shadow tool and drag the group of objects to the desired direction. The shadow will be displayed for the entire group of objects.
Step 9
When you select the Interactive Shadow tool, you can change the properties of the shadow using the corresponding tabs on the toolbar.
