Published on May 26, 2023
Create a text shadow
In this blog I will show you how to create a text shadow using path blur in Adobe Photoshop!
Rather watch the video with instructions? Then click here or scroll down to the end of this page.
Step 1: Create file and text
First create a new file. My file is 1920 x 1080 pixels, but it doesn’t matter what size your file is.
Then select the horizontal type tool. Pick a font and text color and type your text. Click on the ✓ icon when you’re done typing the text.
Press CTRL+T to activate free transform. You can now resize and/or move your text.
Step 2: Text shadow
Then press CTRL+J to duplicate the text layer. Select the bottom text layer and make this text black.
Then navigate to ‘Filter > Filter gallery > Path blur‘. If you get a notification, select ‘convert to smart object‘.
First deselect ‘centered blur’. You can then move the arrow to change the direction of the shadow.
Adjust the speed, taper and end point speed until you’re happy with the shadow. You can find the settings I used in the image below.
If the shadows are too dark, you can lower the opacity of this layer
Because you converted your layer to a smart object, you can adjust the shadows at any moment. To do that, double click on the ‘blur gallery’ layer.
And that’s how you create this text shadow effect in Adobe Photoshop!
Learn more about Photoshop
Also check out my other blogs and my YouTube channel if you want to learn more about editing in Adobe Photoshop!
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Photoshop
Basics
Photo editing
Creative editing
Camera Raw
Neural filters
Text effects