Applying a shadow

To apply a shadow:

Select the object.
Choose the Shadow Tool.
Select the Wall, Floor or Glow button on the Shadow Tool InfoBar.
You can drag the shadow away from or towards the object to create more or less distance between the object and the imaginary wall.

Alternatively to create a wall shadow you can:

Select the object.
Choose the Shadow Tool.
Drag from the center of the object in the direction of the shadow.

Blur the edges of the shadow

This changes the size of the shadow. A small blur gives the effect of a sharp light source, a large blur, a diffused or distant light source. It is recommended that shadows are always blurred slightly as this is more realistic.

To blur the shadow edge:

Select the object
Choose the Shadow Tool.
On the Shadow Tool InfoBar either drag the blur slider or type a value into the text box on the right.

Change the transparency of the shadow

A semi-transparent shadow is more realistic than a solid shadow. But you can change the transparency level of the shadow to suit your needs.

To change the transparency:

Select the object
Choose the Shadow Tool.
On the Shadow Tool InfoBar, drag either the transparency slider or type a value into the text box on the right.

Changing the shadow profile

After applying a shadow, you can change how the shadow transparency changes across the blur. You can have a linear transition (which is the default profile and usually gives the most realistic results) or a profiled transition.

To change the shadow profile:

Create the shadow.
In the Shadow Tool, click Profile. This opens the Profile dialog box.
You can either select a pre-defined profile from the dropdown list or drag the sliders to create a custom profile. The top option in the dropdown list (the straight line) creates a linear transition.