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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.
Text Shadow

IMAGE 1: Basic Text

Text Shadow

IMAGE 2: Copy of text in new layer

Layer dialogue box

IMAGE 3: Layer dialogue box

Text Shadow

IMAGE 4: Stretched Text (verticallly)

Text Shadow

IMAGE 5: Skewed Text

IMAGE 5: Skwed Text with less opacity and blurring.

IMAGE 6: Skewed Text with less opacity and blurring.

IMAGE 7: Final Text with shadow behind it.

IMAGE 7: Final Text with shadow behind it.

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