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+--- Thread: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? (/Thread-How-to-Create-Outline-Effect-with-Drop-Shadow)
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How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - TechnicGeek - 12-02-2017
Hello,
This screenshot below should demonstrate what I want to do:
[attachment=1022]
I used to do it in other software with Drop Shadow but when I tried that effect in GIMP, I was only able to create blurry outline. There is only blur control unlike in other graphic designer.
Would like to know how to do this properly in GIMP, even if it takes other type of effect to achieve desired result.
Thanks.
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - Blighty - 12-02-2017
In Gimp there is often more than one way to do something. This is such a case.
Method 1
Filters > Light and Shadow > Drop Shadow
(see attachment below)
Method 2
1. Create a transparent layer below your image. Call it Shadow.
2. Select the image layer. Right click on the layer in the layers dialogue.
Then select Alpha To Selection
3. Grow the selection.
Select > Grow (eg 8)
4. In the layers dialogue select the Shadow layer
5. Bucket fill with white. This will leave a hard edge.
6. Select > None
7. (if required) Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur (eg 5)
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - Espermaschine - 12-02-2017
It doesnt look like a dropshadow to me.
More like an outline or a stroke.
Alpha Select the cartoon figure with the rightclick menu in the layers-tab.
Go to Selection -> To Path.
Deselect.
Go to the paths-tab, select the path you just created.
Stroke this path on a new transparent layer with white. There is a little button at the bottom of the paths-tab, that lets you do this.
Put the stroke you just created behind the cartoon image.
This will give you the best stroke without jaggy edges.
You can apply a bit of Gaussian Blur to soften it.
[attachment=1029]
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - Ofnuts - 12-02-2017
* Alpha to selection
* Select>Grow by required thickness of ouline
* Add transparent new layer below image
* Bucket fill selection
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - Espermaschine - 12-02-2017
(12-02-2017, 09:11 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: * Alpha to selection
* Select>Grow by required thickness of ouline
* Add transparent new layer below image
* Bucket fill selection
Thats the same thing Blighty posted.
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - TechnicGeek - 12-03-2017
Thanks guys. It worked just great. I really wanted to have that outline actually and I got it. I just thought I could do all of this using Dropdown Shadow tool but all the solutions are pretty good to achieve desired result.
I noticed that the best result quality-wise is when using Select > Path because it can draw sharp outline thanks to "Antialiasing" option. This option is not present when Growing selection and filling from bucket which gives a bit pixelated effect. Gaussian Blue can help a bit but will most likely leave feather effect. See the difference below. First is Antialiasing, second is no Antialiasing:
[attachment=1030]
I also learned to do second outline, overlayed on first outline by creating new layer, changing color, increasing stroke size and following same instructions:
[attachment=1031]
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - Ofnuts - 12-03-2017
Stroking a path is indeed better but the main advantage is the ability to keep sharp corners. As far as I can tell Select>Grow gives an anti-aliased result (unlike Select>Border) (in the image below, adding a black outline to the green circle):
[attachment=1033]
Otherwise, kudos for your ability to go further than the explanations provided here...
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - TechnicGeek - 12-03-2017
(12-03-2017, 05:06 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: Stroking a path is indeed better but the main advantage is the ability to keep sharp corners. As far as I can tell Select>Grow gives an anti-aliased result (unlike Select>Border)
Maybe the not-so Antialiased result that I saw with Select > Grow was because I didn't adjust threshold at the bottom to the max when using Bucket Fill Tool?
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - Ofnuts - 12-03-2017
Normally it should have been disabled because you were using "Fill whole selection", right? Otherwise, that may explain it, because one important thing to know is that the Magic-Wand selection and the Bucket-Fill tool (but only in "Fill similar colors" mode) have one thing in common: it's either all or nothing. They cannot do partial work on pixels, a pixel is either fully painted/selected or left alone depending on which side of the threshold it is. The consequence is that these two tools will mercilessly destroy anti-aliasing. This is a very common pitfall for beginners, dug and enlarged by countless ill-advised tutorials.
RE: How to Create Outline Effect with Drop Shadow? - TechnicGeek - 12-03-2017
(12-03-2017, 05:47 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: Normally it should have been disabled because you were using "Fill whole selection", right?
It was set on "Fill Similar Colors" by default I think:
[attachment=1035]