Originally posted by txbob
<br />Tim,
You seem to be using the shadow trick now, how about telling the rest of us how to do it?
Bob S.
Here is a more detailed explanation.
Here is a brief tutorial for adding a drop shadow using Jasc Paint Shop Pro version 8. It turned out to be a 12 step program for some reason.
Step 1: Photograph your pen using a high contrast solid background. A sheet of white paper works well for many pens. Download image to your computer and open with PSP 8.
Step 2: Adjust photo brightness as usual.
Step 3: Use magic wand to select background. Hit delete key on your keyboard. That usually gets rid of about half of the background for me. Select the next large area with wand, and delete it. Continue until only small blotches of former background are left.
Step 4: Selection menu: (click on) Select none.
Step 5: Use either the background eraser, or white paintbrush to remove remaining background. Zoom in very close, and make sure you remove any actual shadow or remaining background near pen image.
Step 6: Image menu: (click on) Free rotate and adjust to your liking.
Step 7: Use magic wand to select background again.
Step 8: Selection menu: (click on) Invert.
Step 9: Layers menu: (click on) New raster layer.
Step 10: Effects menu: (click on) 3D effects/drop shadow. Adjust drop shadow properties to your liking.
Step 11: Selection menu: (click on) Select none.
Step 12: Image menu: (click on) Free rotate and adjust shadow to your liking, making sure you uncheck “All Layers†box first.
Steps 9 and 12 allows you to add an angle to the shadow which adds something to the effect. Thanks again Rich at Yahoo.
If you want to add a fill background, you would do that after step 7.
If you are unhappy with results of any step, hold down control key (ctrl) and click on the “Z†key. This will back you up to a point where you want to start over again.