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Adobe Illustrator Tutorial: How to Create Inner Shadow

posted by: Iaroslav Lazunov, in Illustrator Tutorials / Effects/ Comments: 5
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Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial for beginners we will take a look at the technique of creating inner shadow. Unfortunately, unlike Photoshop there is no such function in Adobe Illustrator. But this fact is not going to be a problem for you after reading this vector tutorial. Let's begin!

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1

Take a look at the creation of an inner shadow on the example of complex shapes. It can be a text located on the illuminated background. I think this is a fairly common case of using this effect.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Select the text and go to Type > Create > Outlines.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Step 2

Copy the created group and paste it front twice (Command / Ctrl + C, Command / Ctrl + F (2 times)).

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle of white color. Rectangle must completely cover the text.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Step 3

Move the rectangle from the Layers panel so that it is between the first and the second group with the text.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

For clarity purposes, turn off the visibility of the first and third group with the text in the Layers panel.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Select the second group and a white rectangle, then click on the Minus Front in the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder).

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

We got a rectangle with cut out text.

Step 4

Keeping the rectangle selected, go to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow ....

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Now we can control the parameters of the shadow in the dialog window.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Step 5

Turn on the visibility of the upper group with the text, select it, then go to Object > Compound Path > Make or use Command / Ctrl + 8 shortcut.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator
Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Select the Compound Path and white rectangle, then go to Object > Clipping Path > Make or use Command / Ctrl + 7 shortcut.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Step 6

As you can see, there are white artifacts left on the edges of the letters. Fix this problem. Find and select the white rectangle with the cut out text in the Layers panel. Now apply the Multiply blending mode to it in the Transparency panel.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

White color becomes transparent after applying this blending mode.

Step 7

I think that the Drop Shadow effect should be adjusted. Open the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance), select the rectangle with the cut out text and click on the name of the effect in the panel.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

In order the edges of the objects do not prevent us from customizing the effect, turn off their visibility View > Hide Edges (Command + H).

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

Step 8

Turn on the visibility of the very bottom group with text, fill it with gray color and apply the Multiply blending mode in the Transparency panel.

Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator
Inner Shadow in Adobe Illustrator

 

 

 

 

 

I suggest that you read the second part of the lesson - Create inner shadows for editable text in Illustrator.

I hope the described technique will be useful to you, and you will be able to use it in your projects. Follow us if you want to be the first to know about the latest Adobe Illustrator tutorials and articles. Vectorboom team works for you!

Total comments: 5
1 Vitaly  
Nice tut. So, as far as I understand, text turns in an image. It is not a font any longer, isn't it?

2 jaroslav  
Yes, it is a regular vector object.

3 Elena  
Could you do a tutorial on how to make the background effect?
Thanks,
E

4 jaroslav  
You can just download the source ai file to discover how it made.

5 Valentinec  
Great. Exactly what i needed. Thanks a lot!

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