Drop shadows are an easy way to add depth and texture to your course designs. PowerPoint’s Picture Effects offers a quick and easy option for  creating the most common types of shadows.

But when you’re looking to take your drop shadows up a notch, consider spending a few extra minutes to create custom shadows that subtly resemble the object casting the shadow.

Borrowing techniques from graphic design, you can create even more realistic drop shadows by using the shape of an object to create the shadow. Best part? It only takes an extra minute to achieve the effect.