Print designs often need depth, for example a photo that lifts off the page or a logo that stands out on a coloured background. You can now add a drop shadow to image, shape and logo layers in print designs. The shadow is set in print units and uses CMYK colour, so it is prepared for print output.
Which layers support shadows
Image layers
Shape layers
Logo layers
Text, button and rating layers do not have a Shadow section in print designs.
Add a shadow to a layer
Open your print design in the Design Builder.
Select an image, shape or logo layer on the canvas or in the layer list.
In the right panel, scroll down to the Shadow section and turn on the Shadow toggle. It is off by default.
Adjust the shadow with these settings.
Setting | What it does | Default |
Blur | How soft the edge of the shadow is. A higher value gives a softer, more spread out shadow. Set in millimeters (MM). | 1.76 mm |
X offset | Moves the shadow horizontally, in millimeters (MM). | 1.76 mm |
Y offset | Moves the shadow vertically, in millimeters (MM). | 1.76 mm |
Color | The shadow colour, defined with four CMYK values (cyan, magenta, yellow, key/black). | Black (0 / 0 / 0 / 100) |
Opacity | How strong the shadow is, in percent. Lower it for a lighter shadow. | 75% |
Blur, X offset and Y offset each have a number field and a slider. For example, a Blur of 5 mm with an X offset and a Y offset of 4 mm places a soft shadow to the bottom right of the layer. On a design set in inches, these fields are in inches (IN) and the default is 0.069 in.
Tip: Start with the default values, then change one setting at a time. A small offset with a low opacity looks subtle on paper, while a large offset with a high opacity looks heavy once printed.
How the shadow prints
The shadow is blended with what is underneath it (multiply). On a coloured background it darkens that colour instead of turning it grey, the way a shadow behaves in a layout tool such as InDesign. The shadow is kept in the exported PDF.
Shadows when you duplicate a static design to print
When you duplicate a static design as a print design, the shadows on image, shape and logo layers are kept and converted to print units and CMYK. Shadows on text, button and rating layers are removed. Shadows are also kept when you import a print design through the API. See How to duplicate design? for the other changes applied during conversion.
𧞠Things to note
Shadow colours are CMYK values, not HEX.
Text, button and rating layers have no shadow option in print designs.
Note: Shadow values follow the unit of your print design: millimeters (MM) or inches (IN). Changing a shadow only affects the layer you selected.