Easy Drop Shadow without 3rd party filters.
This tutorial was created in version 4, but will work just as well with version 5 (I have added a few minor adjustments for those who have 5). However, in Photoshop 5 you can create drop shadows with the layer effects. Just right click on the layer and choose effects. Then select drop shadow, glow, or bevel and emboss.
1. Create a new file. (for this example I used 400X200 pixels RGB)
2.Choose a Color for your text, and type it with the type tool. I used Futura XBLK BT at 90 pts. *note- if you are using version 5, be sure to render the layer before you continue. to do this, right click on the "T" in the layers palette and choose render layer from the menu
3. Duplicate the layer. (click layer, duplicate) and make that layer invisible. (In the layers palette, click the eye next to the layer)
4. Still in the layers palette, click your mouse on layer1., and make sure that preserve transparency is checked.
5. Change foreground color to black, and fill the layer with black. (Edit /fill foreground color)
6. Uncheck 'preserve transparency' in the layers palette, and apply gaussian blur. (Filter /Blur /gaussian blur) for this example I used 4 pixels, but you will need to vary the setting for different sizes of text and types of shadows. for a harder shadow, try a lower blur.
7. In the layers palette, click on the eye next to layer 1 copy to make it visible. , but still keep layer one selected. (making it visible is only for the purpose of positioning and adjusting the shadow)
8. Offset the shadow layer (layer 1) with the arrow keys or move tool. I used a 5 pixel offset for this example. (I clicked the down arrow 5 times and the right arrow 5 times)
9. The shadow stilled looks too black, so I moved the transparency slider to 70%. (the transparency slider at the top of the layers palette.)
10. flatten the layers, and save as gif or Jpg. You can use this shadow on any layer you can duplicate, or any selection you can copy and paste.. experiment with different blur and opacity values until you are happy with the result.
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