How To Remove A Drop Shadow In Illustrator

Did you add a drop shadow to an object, but it does not go with the general theme of your piece? You can remove it! Let us show you how to.

To remove the drop shadow, select the object with the shadow, go to Window, then Appearance. Toggle the eye icon next to the Drop Shadow option in the open window.

Please continue reading to learn more about adding, removing, and adjusting a drop shadow.

Why Are Drop Shadows Added In Illustrator?

Drop shadows are a great way to add dimension and depth to your artwork in Adobe Illustrator. They can be used to create a realistic look for your design, making it appear as if it is three-dimensional and almost floating off the page.

They can help make a design look more professional and polished and make elements appear as if they are floating above the page. Drop shadows can also create a sense of movement and a hint of realism in your artwork.

How To Add A Drop Shadow In Illustrator?

Knowing how to correctly apply the effect before removing it is important.

To add a drop shadow in Illustrator:

Go to Effect in the panel on top.
Look for the Stylise option and select it.
In the menu that opens up after Stylise, select Drop Shadow.
A window will pop open.
Check the preview option first. This is important so you can see the changes and adjust your settings accordingly.
Select the Multiply mode. We will talk about all the modes later, but we recommend Multiply.
Set the X offset to how big you want the drop shadow to be horizontally or on the X-plane.
Set the Y offset to how low you want the drop shadow vertically or on the Y plane.
Next, you can set the opacity to how strong or dark you wish the shadow would be.
Set the blur according to how diffused you need the drop shadow to be. The lower the blur, the starker the shadow will be.
The color of the shadow can be adjusted as well. Most black is used, but you can switch it up depending on your art.
Once you are done, click OK.

How To Remove A Drop Shadow In Illustrator?

Let us get to the real stuff. To remove the drop shadow from an object:

Select the object from which you want to remove the drop shadow by clicking on it.
Go to the Window option in the panel on top.
Here go to Appearance, and a window will appear.
In this window, the effects applied to the object will be shown.
Spot an eye next to the Drop Shadow option.
Click on the eye to turn the drop shadow off.
Click OK.
You can come back and turn this on.

For further help, watch this tutorial:

How To Change The Drop Shadow Settings In Illustrator?

The ability to adjust your work is the best thing about digital art. To adjust your drop shadow settings, follow the steps below.

Select the object with the drop shadow that needs revision.
Go to the Window option in the panel on top.
Here go to Appearance, and a window will appear.
In this window, the effects applied to the object will be shown.
Look for the Drop Shadow option.
Click on this to open up the drop shadow window, which allows you to change the drop shadow’s offsets, blur, color, and opacity.
Make your changes.
Click OK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Drop Shadow Adjust If The Object Is Moved?

If you move the object around, the drop shadow will move along with it. Not only that, but if you change the item’s size, the drop shadow will also adjust accordingly. The need for introducing a new drop shadow will not be felt.

Can Drop Shadow Be Applied To Several Objects At The Same Time?

Yes. Drag your cursor over the items to which you wish to add the drop shadow. Once the selection is made, right-click and choose Group. The items will be grouped, and you can repeat the same steps above. However, if you ungroup the items, you will lose the effect. To work around this, it is a good idea to add the drop shadow at the end of your work.

Conclusion

The drop shadow tool is wonderful for enhancing the work that you have. It also allows you to make it seem more realistic. Follow these detailed guides when adding, removing, or adjusting the drop shadows in your work.