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Discussion Board -> Desktop Wallpaper, Art, etc. -> Dropshadow on Images

Dropshadow on Images

*caedes
02/25/05 1:30 AM GMT
I've been working on the new caedes sotfware that lets you upload images of any aspect ratio. The only problem so far is that I can't make the nice drop shadows on the thumbnails like I used to. I tried to do the drop shadows in html with some table-foo, but it was not possible (so far) to get the corners exactly like the drop shadows are rendered in photoshop. Any ideas? So far the most likely options are that we just won't have drop shadows anymore or I'll have to generate a special dropshadow version for each thumbnail. Maybe one you you know some CSS or html tricks that would make this easier?
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-caedes

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d_spin_9
02/25/05 3:57 AM GMT
i have no idea, but i'm really going to appreciate any aspect ratio. how are you gonna limit size then? by having a max pixel count? or max hight/width? any aspect ratio will make pictures here so much better because finally vertical pictures will have a place, and we'll be free to use boarders. will it automatically make the window fit the ratio of the picture?
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The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
MiLo_Anderson
02/25/05 5:39 AM GMT
I'm not sure if im following you correctly, but you are saying that in the HTML you are thinking of putting a table with the shadows. Could you not make the edges all the way around in 4 cells around the middle cell, and then have 4 corner cells with a corner image in them? I may not be understanding but i think that migh work?
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"A piece of toast with butter always lands butter side down, and a cat always lands on its feet. What happens if a piece of toast is tied butter side down to the back of a cat? Does it perpetually hover above the ground in indecision when dropped?"
=xentrik
02/25/05 12:50 AM GMT
I've heard of a performance hit when using multiple one-pixel-wide images, but that might be possible...tile a one-pixel-wide shadow enough times to go around, with corner shadows at, err, the corners... Obviously you can tell I really don't know what I'm talking about. :-p
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Romane
02/25/05 1:32 PM GMT
Good morning

I wear a hat, so perhaps on this occaision you can tel me I am talking through it :)

Why make the frame fit the image? Change the focus from fitting a frame around an image to fitting an image inside a frame. Perhaps the former will look prettier, but the latter will allow a person to to see the differing ratios of the images at the thumbnail stage.

Maintain a set size for the framing as the pages do now for each image, and then place the image inside that, with some pretty grey (or something even prettier) for the background. An image that is "standard" 4:3 will fill the frame nicely. An image that is taller will leave some of this background displayed on either side, while an image that is narrower will display some of this border at top and bottom.

Enjoy your day

Romane
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Success is found by having the courage to let go of known shores.
*caedes
02/25/05 5:02 PM GMT
Milo, yes, that is the exact way I did it the first time. The problem is that the shadow corner don't come out exactly as they would in photoshop. This is because the tiled shadow has to be the exact same the entire length and width of the image (only the corner look different). Photoshop extends the corner (rounded) portion farther into the image. It just looks odd to me the other way.
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-caedes
::CaptainHero
02/27/05 11:15 AM GMT
I was assuming that the thumbnails are all standard sizes? I take it then that you are referring to the problem of having a custom drop shadow for all different aspect ratios in future?

Tough one, it blows out the water the notion of just creating a background image to go behind each thumbnail. I too have used the trick of having a table with corner images and then a background image for the middle cells which can 'stretch' (think you could do this with divs too). I've not noticed a problem with the corners - what is it doing?

I've got a feeling that dropshadows and rounded layers are supported in CSS3, though I may have imagined that. I guess that doesn't help much at this juncture though!
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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." Bertrand Russell
*caedes
02/27/05 8:23 PM GMT
You are correct, I was referring to the problem of arbitrary aspect ratio images.
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-caedes
d_spin_9
02/27/05 8:48 PM GMT
could you have a dropshadow image that simply gets stretched to the right ratio of the picture? it would be slightly incorrect on especially odd images, and i have no idea if its a possibility, but its an idea
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The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
*caedes
02/28/05 12:31 AM GMT
Yeah, I thought about that possibility, however since I'm already being so picky I doubt if it would pass muster. I could however try using a couple of different pre-rendered shadows and then using the one that is closest to the desired size (and then just stretch it a bit). That probably woudn't be too awful.
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-caedes
pom1
02/28/05 3:35 PM GMT
so does this mean i will be able to post a 7:1 panorama?
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d_spin_9
02/28/05 4:06 PM GMT
yes, although i dont know if thats will work very well. i find if panoramas are ever anymore than about 3:1 they dont stand out anymore. shoot your panoramas with the camera vertical to get a bit more height on them, i find that helps.
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The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

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