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Create Perspective Shadows From Text - Intermediate Plus
Written For Paint Shop Pro
 
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There are lots of third-party filters that will instantly create perspective shadows for you; Alien Skins’ Eyecandy 5 Impact being one. This tutorial, demonstrates how to create a perspective shadow from scratch.
Understanding Layers
1/
Open a New Image, (PSP 8 9 X XI X2 X3 X4 X5 & Newer Raster)
Size 700 Pixels Width X 400 Pixels Height - this leaves room for the Perspective Shadow
Canvas Background = Black - or your own choice
Resolution PSP 7 = 72,000 and PSP 8 9 X XI X2 X3 X4 X5 & Newer 200,000
16 Million Colours/RGB 8 Bits/Channel.
Colour/Materials Palette
 
2/
Then from the top menu, choose Layers then choose; (Paint Shop Pro 7 - Promote to Layer), Paint Shop Pro 8 9 X XI X2 X3 X4 X5 & Newer, choose Promote Background Layer. Your layer will now be named Layer 1 or Raster 1 - depending on your version.
 
On-line Tools Toolbar Tutorials
Paint Shop Pro 7: On-line Toolbar Tutorial
Paint Shop Pro 8 & 9: On-line Toolbar Tutorial
Paint Shop Pro X XI X2 X3: On-line Toolbar Tutorial
PaintShop Pro X4/X5 & Newer: On-line Toolbar Tutorial
3/
From the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate The Text Tool  .
Then enter your choice of text attributes into the Tool Options Ribbon or Palette. I chose the following settings.
Note
Your choice of Font Size is determined by the canvas’s dimensions; Image Resolution - and the type of Font; given these can differ between Paint Shop Pro versions, it is important to experiment with different (Font) Sizes.
Paint Shop Pro 7
Paint Shop Pro 8 9 X XI X2 X3 X4 X5 & Newer
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Left-click over the centre of your canvas; enter the text settings of your choice, then click OK or Apply. Your text will then be surrounded by a large Vector Deformation Bounding Box. Now, left-click and drag your text to a central position - remembering to leave plenty of room for the perspective shadow.
Text/Object Preparation
To create a perspective shadow from text, (or an object) the text needs to be on its own
layer. If it is not, it needs to be isolated in some way. There are various tools that will isolate text; for example, the Magic Wand Tool or the Selection Tool. However, for precision, it is preferable to utilise the Pen Tool.
Note
If your text is not on its own layer, and you have selected it with the Magic Wand Tool, before proceeding; from the top menu, choose Selections then choose Promote (Selection) to Layer, and work on the Promoted Selection’s Layer.
Lesson Continued
When your text is either on its own layer - or has been isolated with a marquee (or the Pen Tool), you are ready for the next step.
 
4/
From the top menu, choose Layers then choose Convert to Raster.
 
Inner Bevel
If you want to apply an Inner Bevel to your text, do this now.
5/
Working on the text layer, (or the Promoted Selection’s Layer), from the top menu, choose Layers then choose Duplicate - and rename the duplicated layer Perspective.
6/
Working on the duplicated (Perspective) layer; from the top menu, choose Image then choose Flip.
7/
Now, from the Tools Toolbar, activate the Mover/Move Tool  .
Then left-click and drag the flipped text towards the upper text - as illustrated below.
Note
If you prefer this highly reflective look; working on the bottom text layer, reduce the Layer’s Opacity slider to around 65%.
Your highly reflective text is ready to Crop to size - and save. Top of Page - Home.
To create a blurred, shorter perspective shadow - continue with my lesson below.
8/
Now, working on the bottom text’s layer, from the Tools Toolbar, activate the Deformation, Deform or Pick Tool, (depending on your version).
  
Your lower text will then be surrounded by a large Vector Deformation Bounding
Box.
Perspective Shadow Notes
Perspective shadows come in various shapes and sizes, and can be short and blurry, or long and sharp - or anything in between. I am demonstrating how to create a short, slightly blurred perspective shadow; however, take a little time to experiment - and discover a shadow that suits your image’s needs.
Note
The Modes required to reshape the Vector Deformation Bounding Box are; Scale, Shear, Perspective or Free.
Paint Shop Pro 7: You don’t have a choice of Modes in your Deformation Tool’s Options Palette; however, pressing either the Shift, Ctrl or Shift + Ctrl keys as you resize the deformation box, recreates the Shear, Perspective or Free Mode, respectively.
To create a short, slightly blurred perspective shadow, (working on the lower text’s layer); first change the Mode to Perspective  .
Paint Shop Pro 7, press and hold your Ctrl key.
Then left-click the bottom-right (small) vector box, and gently tug it a little to the right. This deforms the Vector Bounding Box, perspectively - as demonstrated below.
Tip
If you cannot see the Deformation or Pick Tool’s Deformation Bounding Box; click their respective Tools (from the Toolbar) to redisplay it - and ensure you’re still working on the bottom text’s layer.
9/
When you are happy with the text’s perspective; change the Mode to Shear. (Paint Shop Pro 7, press and hold the Shift key).
Then left-click, and gently tug the bottom-right (small) deformation box, upwards - and slightly to the left - as demonstrated below.
10/
Now, grab the left-side (small) deformation box, and gently tug it in the direction indicated
below.
Tip
Paint Shop Pro 7 9 X XI X2 X3 X4 X5 & Newer: With the Move Tool/Deformation Box active, you can nudge the Vector Deformation Bounding Box, pixel-by-pixel, by tapping your keyboard’s arrow keys. (Paint Shop Pro 7, press and keep pressed your Ctrl key - as you tap the Vector Deformation Bounding Box into position).
After you have nudged the lower text into position; you are ready for the next step.
11/
Still working on the lower text’s layer; from the left-side Tools Toolbar, activate the Selection Tool.
 
Then draw a Rectangular Selection Marquee over the lower text - as illustrated below.
Tip
After its application; activate the Mover/Move Tool, then right-click inside the Marquee, and drag it to a better position.
After you have applied the Rectangular Marquee, you are ready for the next step.
12/
From the top menu, choose (Paint Shop Pro 7, Effects then choose Blur then choose Gaussian Blur), Paint Shop Pro 8 9 X XI X2 X3 X4 X5 & Newer, choose Adjust then choose Blur, then choose Gaussian Blur.
All Versions
From the subsequent Gaussian Blur dialogue box, enter a Radius of 3 (pixels), or experiment, then click OK.
13/
When you are happy with the amount of blur; press Ctrl then D to remove the Selection Marquee.
Tip
If it is necessary, activate the Soften/Retouch Tool, (and with a very low Hardness and Opacity setting), gently soften any harsh demarcation lines.
Chapter 5 of my Clone Tool lesson demonstrates this softening technique.
14/
Whilst the layers remain intact; make any final adjustments to the Blur and the Perspective - as outlined previously in this tutorial - and when you are completely happy with your work, from the top menu, choose Layers then choose Merge Visible; Crop away any extraneous background, then save your work.
You can have lots of fun creating perspective shadows from text or objects, and experimenting with different perspective shapes and directions; however, remember, your text or shape must be on a separate layer - or it must be isolated with some type of selection, prior to creating the perspective shadow.
Note
I created the following effect by filling the background layer with the following Gradient.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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