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Archive for January 5th, 2009

Adding Shadow Behind Text with GIMP

January 05, 2009 By: Dexter Category: GIMP, Tutorial

In my early previous post Adding Shadow To Text with GIMP, the shadow drops in front of the text.
In this post I will show you how to drop shadow behind the text. This one is a bit tricky since you will have to work with layers. If you do not know what layers are click here

Start with a blank canvas. Add the required text. (preferably use a bigger canvas size, its easier to move text around for placement. later you can crop the image to required size,..)
Add some text to it.
You should get something like IMAGE 1
Select the text (try using the fuzzy select tool if required), press ^c to copy the selection.
Paste this selection on the canvas, a bit away from the original image. IMAGE 2
Do not click the mouse any where, here press ctrl+l, this should give you layer dialogue box see IMAGE 3.
You should see one of the layers as floating selection, click on button of the lower left corner of this dialogue box.() You will have a new layer.
Here select the original layer, (the one with the white background), select the original text using the fuzzy select tool (you will probably need to invert selection by pressing ctrl+i)
Now from resize the text i.e stretch it from the tools — transform tools — scale. Only scale it vertically. See IMAGE 4.
After you have applied scaling, Shear the text in similar manner to give it a slant. tools — transform tools — shear.
You should have something similar to IMAGE 5.
To make it look a bit realistic preform a Gausian blur on the shadow. Filters — Blur — Gausian Blur.
From the layer dialogue box, reduce the opacity of this layer, because the shadow has to go behind the text. IMAGE 6
Now place this final text with the base line behind the original text. IMAGE 7
Save your image. Your text with shadow behind is ready.