At first I didn't know where this subject was going but the :mystery" was solved as soon as I saw the first word in type... good story... a little Sam Spade, Guy Noir, etc. I enjoyed the writing even though it seems like a lot of work for something I might need only once in 5 years... There should be, if not already, a book of techniques like this so they could be looked up.
I appreciate your work however.
Bob Long
Submitted by bobbyfozz on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 08:14.
Is there a way to do this in InDesign CS2? Yes and no.
CS2 lacks text variables, so you can't create multiple text objects and have them update from a single change. You also can't fade to true transparency in gradients.
That said, you can achieve the same effect with a little more work. In CS2 create a duplicate of your headline or other text frame and then style it as the cast shadow. Though you can't use a true solid-to-transparent gradient, you can fake it by filling the shadow characters with a black to white gradient and then setting the frame's blending mode to Multiply or Darken. On some backgrounds you'll see ugly halos, but most of the time that should blend very well.
Submitted by PariahSBurke on Wed, 02/25/2009 - 12:53.
Thank you, Bob. You're absolutely right: the cast shadow isn't a technique one would use day and day out, but it bugged the heck out of me that, on those rare occassions when I wanted to use a cast shadow in a layout, I couldn't do it natively in InDesign without a lot of work (see the CS2 method in my previous comment).
I'm glad the article was entertaining. I had a real blast writing it!
Submitted by PariahSBurke on Wed, 02/25/2009 - 12:56.
Thank you very much for all the nice comments! I'm so glad you liked this article. Technical writing is often so dry and boring, and I'm glad to see people enjoy it when I get a little weird with it. :-)
Submitted by PariahSBurke on Tue, 07/28/2009 - 14:49.
Cast Shadow
At first I didn't know where this subject was going but the :mystery" was solved as soon as I saw the first word in type... good story... a little Sam Spade, Guy Noir, etc. I enjoyed the writing even though it seems like a lot of work for something I might need only once in 5 years... There should be, if not already, a book of techniques like this so they could be looked up.
I appreciate your work however.
Bob Long
The technique is brilliant.
The technique is brilliant. I had to do this for a book cover a couple of years ago. I wish I had the technique then. Now, I will be able to use it!
real cast shadows
Any way to do this in CS2?
great tutorial
If every tutorial was written like this one learning would be so much fun. Thanks for this very creative PI story!!
re: Great Tutorial
Thank you very much, Boleyn! I really appreciate that!
re: real cast shadows
Is there a way to do this in InDesign CS2? Yes and no.
CS2 lacks text variables, so you can't create multiple text objects and have them update from a single change. You also can't fade to true transparency in gradients.
That said, you can achieve the same effect with a little more work. In CS2 create a duplicate of your headline or other text frame and then style it as the cast shadow. Though you can't use a true solid-to-transparent gradient, you can fake it by filling the shadow characters with a black to white gradient and then setting the frame's blending mode to Multiply or Darken. On some backgrounds you'll see ugly halos, but most of the time that should blend very well.
The technique is brilliant.
You flatter me, J Cousin. I'm just glad it will prove useful for you in the future.
Cast Shadow
Thank you, Bob. You're absolutely right: the cast shadow isn't a technique one would use day and day out, but it bugged the heck out of me that, on those rare occassions when I wanted to use a cast shadow in a layout, I couldn't do it natively in InDesign without a lot of work (see the CS2 method in my previous comment).
I'm glad the article was entertaining. I had a real blast writing it!
Cast a shadow
Clever writing. The info was good. I've been using InDesign, but I never had any idea what text variables was for!
Text variables
Exellent
It's very many use of this advice
Clever...
Well aren't you just a clever detective... I mean designer! Cleverly written.
The greatest stature of freedom lies within our imagination.
re:cast shadow
Now that's being creative . . . I love it . . . :-)
David Griffith
david@graphyx.com
www.graphyx.com
Thanks for the tutorial
You would have made Sam Spade proud . . .
Cast shadows
Very nicely done. Thank you.
Thank YOU!
Thank you very much for all the nice comments! I'm so glad you liked this article. Technical writing is often so dry and boring, and I'm glad to see people enjoy it when I get a little weird with it. :-)
thank you...
you had me at buzzing streetlights.
Cast Shadow
I loved the article.
In the future, it would be nice is you stated in which versions of InDesign a particular technique can be used. (I have CS2.)
Looking forward to the next article.
Anne Archbold