Soft shadows in Visio

[Kamran]

Hello,
Is there any way to apply soft shadows to Visio objects? (just like the ones
that appear on the stencil shapes?
Thanks.

 

[John Goldsmith]

Hello Kamran,

Do you mean Format/Fill... shadow settings or are you refering to something
else?

Best regards

John


John Goldsmith
www.visualSignals.co.uk

 

[Kamran]

No, I'm familiar with the Format > Shadow function -- what I'm looking for
are the softer, light shadows just like you see shadows on the stencil
objects on the left. Those shadows don't have hard borders, which is the
effect I'm looking for. Something like this:

http://www.danielbuck.net/index.php?page=shadow_tut/shadow_tut

 

[John Goldsmith]

Hello Kamran,

What's the stencil name and shape you're refering to?

From your link example, you might get a somewhat similar effect with using a
gradient pattern using the method below for the flat shadow.

For the dark side of the sphere you might try some "Shape/Operations",
specifically you might create to circles and place one on top of the other
and then selecting both click the menu item Shape/Operations/Subtract. Then
gradient fill the 'half moon' shape that remains and place back over your
original sphere. You'll have to experiment to get something similar, but
with patience you should get there.

Basically, individual Visio shapes can only contain one fill format
(althought this can be a gradient and have variable transparency). So
create shapes with different colours you'll need to group shapes together.

As a final example, take a look at this blog from Chris Roth in which he
discusses gradients transparency and grouping:

http://www.visguy.com/2007/06/08/vb-visio-drawing/

Best regards

John


John Goldsmith
www.visualSignals.co.uk

 

[David Parker]

I think the best you can do is to play with the fill format shadow style,
colors, pattern and transparency

 

[Kamran]

All of the stencils have the same shadow effect -- look at any shape in the
stencils and it has a soft shadow. I think it's ironic that Visio puts soft
shadows on their stencil items but they don't allow you to use them in their
drawings.

But thanks to everyone for responding. It seems this is a Visio limitation
that I'll just have to work around.

 

[John Goldsmith]

I'm sorry that hasn't helped. The shadow I see on the stencil shapes (eg
the Process shape from the Basic Flowchart Shapes stencil) is a 1 pixel grey
edge which would be recreate with the Format/Shadow menu.

Let me know if you are seeing something different on that stencil.

Best regards

John


John Goldsmith
www.visualSignals.co.uk

 

[Kamran]

Yes, that's the shadow I'm referring to. I've tried to duplicate it in Visio
drawings, but all the shadows there have a linear border, and what I'm trying
to achieve is a gradual effect. I'm trying to mimic some drawings that were
made by someone else in Omni Graffle (Mac), which has that type of gradual
shadow effect.

 

[John Goldsmith]

Hello Kamran,

Yes, I see what you're saying now. The shadow has a line (the same weight
as the parent shape's line) if you use a pattern and of course if you use a
gradient then that's exactly what you're doing. The line doesn't show if
you use a solid colour as the line and fill of the shadow are effectively
the same.

A gradient (or other shadow pattern) would work and display no 'border' line
if the parent shape's line format is set to none. This may or may not work
for you, but I suspect in a lot of cases having a shape with no line won't
be acceptable.

In that case the only other way, as far as I can see, would be to create a
group shape in which you duplicate your shape, give it a gradient fill
pattern and 'no line' format and then position your original shape over the
top.

It's worth noting that if your original shape has any shape data / custom
properties you may want to convert it to a group shape and then add the
duplicate to that group shape and either way it would be a more efficient
way to go.

Not a perfect solution perhaps, but it should give the same results.

Best regards

John


John Goldsmith
www.visualSignals.co.uk

 

[Kamran]

Hello John,
Thanks for the responses. That solution sounds a bit involved and I've got
too many drawings to make, so I'll think I'll learn to live with Visio's
limitations.
All the best,
Kamran.

 

[Aaron Rykhus [MSFT]]

If you have Office 2007 the Format (Auto)Shape options for Excel and
PowerPoint have the 'shadow' options that you're looking for like
Transparancy, Angle, Size, Blur, and Distance. You could then create the
shape in Excel or PowerPoint and copy/paste the shape into Visio.