Applying 3D effects

You can create images or selections that appear to have three dimensions by using the 3D effects. These effects are particularly useful for Web page images.

You can use the Buttonize effect to simulate square or rectangular buttons created from any selection, layer, or flattened image. With this effect, a 3D border is applied to makes the image or selection appear raised. You can access the Buttonize dialog box by choosing Effects  3D Effects  Buttonize.

The Buttonize dialog box contains the following controls:

• Solid — produces sharp, distinct edges by applying a solid color to the edges of the button. To create a button with a colored edge, you can select the solid color before choosing the Buttonize command.

• Color — lets you apply a specific color to the edges of the button. You can click the color box to choose a color from the Color dialog box, or right-click the color box to choose a color from the Recent Colors dialog box.

The Chisel effect adds a three-dimensional border around a selection or layer to make it appear as though it were cut out of stone. You can make the chiseled area transparent, allowing the underlying colors to show through, or you can create the chiseled area be from the background color. You can access the Chisel dialog box by choosing Effects  3D Effects  Chisel.

The Chisel dialog box contains the following controls:

• Color — lets you choose a background color for the chiseled area. You can click the color box to access the Color dialog box, or right-click the color box to access the Recent Colors dialog box.

The Cutout effect creates the illusion that part of the image has been removed, allowing you to see through the image to a lower level.

Although a selection is not required, you can select part of the image before applying this effect. You can access the Cutout dialog box by choosing Effects  3D Effects  Cutout.

The Cutout dialog box contains the following controls:

• Vertical — determines the vertical position of the interior and outline. Increase the setting to move the interior toward the bottom of the image, and decrease the setting to move the interior toward the top.

• Horizontal — determines the horizontal position of the interior and outline. Increase the setting to move the interior toward the right, and decrease the setting to move the interior toward the left.

• Blur — sets the shadow’s blur. As you increase the blur level, the shadow widens and its edges soften.

• Shadow color — lets you choose a shadow color. You can click the color box to choose a color from the Color dialog box, or right-click the color box to choose a color from the Recent Colors dialog box.

• Fill interior with color — fills the interior with the currently selected color. To choose a different color, you can click the color box to access the Color dialog box, or right-click the color box to access the Recent Colors dialog box. When unmarked, this check box fills the cutout with the image.

The Drop Shadow effect adds a shadow behind the current selection. It is most often used to give text a three-dimensional appearance.

To add a drop shadow to the entire image, you must first create white space around the image. You can do this by choosing the Add Borders command or the Canvas Size command from the Image menu. You can access the Drop Shadow dialog box by choosing Effects  3D Effects  Drop Shadow.

The Drop Shadow dialog box contains the following controls:

• Vertical — determines the height of the shadow. You can also set the height by dragging the crosshair end of the offset indicator line in the left side of the dialog box.

• Horizontal — determines the width of the shadow. You can also set the width by dragging the crosshair end of the offset indicator line in the left side of the dialog box.

• Color — lets you choose the color of the drop shadow. You can click the color box to choose a color from the Color dialog box, or right-click the color box to choose a color from the Recent Colors dialog box.

You can apply an effect similar to the Drop Shadow effect by choosing the Border with drop shadow script from the Script drop-list on the Script toolbar.

You can apply the Inner Bevel effect to give a 3D appearance to the inside edges of a selection, or to an object surrounded by a transparency. This effect does not increase the size of the object. When you use the Inner Bevel effect, you can set the options yourself, use one of the preset effects included with the program, or start with a preset effect and then modify its settings.

The Inner Bevel command is available when an image has a transparent background, has a colored background that contains a selection, or has a colored background and a layer. If a layer does not contain a selection or transparent area, the effect is applied to the edges of the layer. You can promote a selection, paste a selection as a new layer, or use the Eraser Tool to create a layer with transparency. You can access the Inner Bevel dialog box by choosing Effects  3D Effects  Inner Bevel.

The Inner Bevel dialog box contains the following controls:

• Smoothness — controls the slope (sharpness) and thickness of the edge. As this value increases, the edges become more rounded. As it decreases, the edges appear thinner and steeper.

• Depth — controls the height of the edge. As this value increases, the edge becomes more pronounced.

• Shininess — determines how reflective the surface appears. A higher value produces a glossy image and makes the highlights more evident. A lower value makes the highlights diminish.

• Color — determines the color of the light shining on the image. To change the light color, you can click a color in the image, click the color box to access the Color dialog box, or right-click the color box to access the Recent Colors dialog box.

• Angle — affects which edges appear light and shadowed. The needle points to the direction of the light source, measured in degrees of rotation around the circle. To set the value, you can click in the circle, drag the needle, or set or type a number in the control.

• Intensity — adjusts the brightness of the directional light. Note that the Ambience value determines the brightness of the entire image before the Intensity value is applied.

• Elevation — shows the angle of elevation of the light source above the image. At a setting of 90 degrees, the light source is positioned directly overhead. As you lower the value, the light source moves closer to the image, producing longer shadows.

The Outer Bevel effect gives a selection a three-dimensional look by creating the appearance of raised edges. It expands the size of the selection by the width of the bevel.

You must first make a selection in the image before choosing the Outer Bevel command from the Effects menu. You can access the Outer Bevel effect dialog box by clicking Effects  3D Effects  Outer Bevel.

The Outer Bevel dialog box contains the following controls:

• Smoothness — controls the slope (sharpness) and thickness of the edge. As this value increases, the edges become more rounded. As it decreases, the edges appear thinner and steeper.

• Depth — controls the height of the edge. As this value increases, the edge becomes more pronounced.

• Shininess — determines how reflective the surface appears. A higher value produces a glossy image and makes the highlights more evident. A lower value makes the highlights diminish.

• Intensity — adjusts the brightness of the directional light. Note that the Ambience value determines the brightness of the entire image before the Intensity value is applied.