3-D effects and shadows

You can add depth to lines, AutoShapes, and freeform objects by applying three-dimensional (3-D) and shadow effects.

By using 3-D effects, you can change the depth of the drawing object and its color, angle, direction of lighting, and surface reflection.

By using shadows, you can add depth to drawing objects, adjust shadow position, and change shadow color. You can apply a limited number of shadow effects to pictures, but you must change the wrapping style from Inline with text to another wrapping style.

You can add either a shadow or a 3-D effect, not both. For example, if you apply a 3-D effect to a drawing object that has a shadow, the shadow disappears.

 

Change the color of a shadow

1. Select the picture, AutoShape, WordArt, or text box you want to change.
2. On the Drawing toolbar, click Shadow Style, and then click Shadow Settings.
3. On the Shadow Settings toolbar, click the arrow next to Shadow Color .
4. Do one of the following:
• To change the shadow color back to its default, click Automatic.

o        To change to a color in the color scheme, click one of the colors under Automatic.

o        To change to a color that isn't in the color scheme, click More Shadow Colors. Click the color you want on the Standard tab, or click the Custom tab to mix your own color, and then click OK.

Tip

To change the shadow color so that you can see through it, click Shadow Color, and then click Semitransparent Shadow.

Apply the same height and width to different objects

1. Select all objects (AutoShape (AutoShapes: A group of ready-made shapes that includes basic shapes, such as rectangles and circles, plus a variety of lines and connectors, block arrows, flowchart symbols, stars and banners, and callouts.), picture (picture: A file (such as a metafile) that you can ungroup and manipulate as two or more objects or a file that stays as a single object (such as bitmaps).), WordArt (WordArt: Text objects you create with ready-made effects to which you can apply additional formatting options.), or clip art (clip art: A single piece of ready-made art, often appearing as a bitmap or a combination of drawn shapes.)) that you want to have the same dimensions.
2. On the Format menu, click Object, AutoShape, Picture, WordArt, or Clip Art.

The Format menu item changes to reflect the types of objects you have selected.

3. On the Size tab, click in the Height and Width boxes to type in the dimensions you want.