Text shadow revisited
Jul 16, 2017
I need to add shadow to some light text over images. The "shadow" option in the text formatting does not provide a sufficiently distinct shadow. So i used the following procedure:
Highlight the text > Format > Shape Effect > Shadow > pick a shadow, Select Shadow Effect again > Shadow > Options > set the transparency to 20%, blur to 3 and offset to 2 pixel. Then Preview > This Slide
Tedious, but it works.
But the format painter won't copy that attribute, so for each one of my several hundred texts I need to redo this ?
Any wizardry I missed ?
20 Replies
Hi Phillippe!
I did a quick test in Storyline 360, and the Format Painter tool brought the shadow options along with it from one text box to the next. Here's a Peek at what I did.
What version of Storyline are you using? I definitely want to help make this process easier for you!
Thanks Crystal, I should have been more clear! Instead of saying
Highlight the text
I should have said
Highlight the text WITHIN THE TEXT BOX
In your example, if you remove the box and background of "sleepy tiger" and want "sleepy tiger" to cast a shadow of the background tiger, I only know the procedure above. But I have not been able to FORMAT PAINT to the other label TEST TEST in your example.
Can you look this over ? thanks
Hi Philippe,
Thanks for clarifying! Take a peek at this demo, and let me know if I've captured what you're trying to do. I hope that helps!
Just perfect ! Somehow i was not able to do this ! Let me try !
Ok this is great, it works. Next improvement, how can I modify the default for the "shadows" so that when i pick "right & lower" shadow I automatically get the defaults I want ? Because the copying attribute also changes issues like superscript, font color or alignment ...
Thanks
Ah, great question! The preset shadow settings are selected by default, and there isn't a way to change those default settings. I can definitely see how that would be a handy improvement and an excellent candidate for a feature request!
In the meantime, can you use Format Painter before setting other attributes like superscript, font color, or alignment?
Yes i can, I was just learning SL3 and making the lecture at the same time, so now I had to go back and fix a bunch of little formatting. In fact, I created a slide where i copy all the common objects (arrows, sample text..) so i can just pick one from there.
Smart idea! Thanks for sharing that here. ☺️
Hello,
I'm going through tutorials for Storyline 360, and the format painter isn't working for me. I viewed the screen recording you linked to in your comment above. But, when I click on a button, then click Format Painter, then click on another button, nothing is happening. I'm following this tutorial: https://community.articulate.com/series/107/articles/articulate-storyline-360-tutorial-how-to-create-your-first-slide#5
Make sure you are clicking on the button and not the text in the button, you should see changes to the mouse cursor. Relay dependent on the machine you are on (I think it is driver related) but I find track pads and pointers are worse than mice.
That worked! I would not have figured that out on my own. You really are a hero!
Yay, so glad to hear that, Annie! Thanks so much for popping in to help, Phil! 🌟
I have been trying this technique and each time I go to preview the page Storyline 360 crashes. Any ideas?
Hi Mary-Scott!
Oh no, let's figure this out together!
This scenario occurs when there is a corrupted element in the project. Not to worry, it's usually a quick fix!
I'll need to take a look at the course. You can send the .story file to me using this link. After I receive it, I'll take a look at it and share my findings!
Thank you very much for responding! Attached is the file. In the meantime, I recreated the slide I was having problems with, removed the formatting, but now my Next and Back button are rendering with the wrong text. You can see it all on Slide 2 of Scene 1.
Appreciate your help!
Some more information. I've reinstalled Storyline. Then I also tried rebuilding the file. But still exhibiting the same problems. What finally has temporarily solved the problem for me is if I switch from font from the Title "Introduction" to a more standard font (from JanieHmk to Arial). Then my buttons render correctly. Still need help though, as the client standard is to use JanieHMK for headings. Appreciate any help. Also attaching a before and after screenshot so you can see.
Hi Mary-Scott!
Thank you for attaching the files! So helpful.
In FieldManager.story, the font appears differently than it does in your images. Did you download the font? If so, can you make sure that it's saved on your local drive rather than an external server?
Thank you for your reply.
Unfortunately, I have installed it locally. So you're saying that the font for the Title "Instructions" and the "Back" and "Next" buttons render as expected for you?
If so, it sounds like maybe I have a corrupt font installed... ?
Hi Mary-Scott!
I see that you've also started troubleshooting in a case with one of our Support Engineers, Renato. Great call!
He'll offer an additional pair of eyes on the project to see why the font is displayed incorrectly! I'll follow along to see where the culprit is.
I was wondering why I need to preview in order to see the shadow effect. It makes it difficult when I am reviewing a slide and don't have a WYSWYG.
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