How to Add a Shadow to Text in Photoshop

Adding a natural shadow to text will allow you to add depth and visual weight to the image, or you can use it to make the picture more realistic by emulating natural light. Whether you’re creating content for social media, your blog, or printing, a crisp shadow added to text will make it more popping, eye-catching, and defined.

Note! Don’t apply text shadows to small fonts, as it will make the caption less legible and more blurry. Drop shadows can also be a poor fit for modern, minimalist designs.

I’ve created a real estate banner below to show you a clear example of how to add it in Photoshop quickly and efficiently.

STEP 1. Create a Background

adding shadow to text in photoshop background

You can begin by making a new project in Photoshop by clicking on File > New and choosing Create. Pick between white and transparent background options. Now there’s an empty canvas that can be filled with your text.

Pro tip: I tend to begin with a transparent backdrop, especially if I plan to apply the text to a photo or illustration later.

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STEP 2. Pick the Required Tools

adding shadow to text in photoshop tools

You’ll have to add a Text Layer, and then pick it to apply a Drop Shadow. Go to the toolbar on the left and select the Horizontal Type Tool to add a text box.

STEP 3. Type in the Text

adding shadow to text in photoshop typing

The next thing you have to do is write the caption you need and then tweak its color, font type, and size as you see fit.

Pro tip: If you’re just learning this technique, I recommend picking a bold font, as it will look more defined and easier to read when enhanced with a shadow.

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STEP 4. Add Drop Shadow to Text

Go to the Layers panel, select the FX icon at the bottom of the menu and you’ll be greeted by the Blending Options screen that has a Drop Shadow option.

adding drop shadow effect to text in photoshop

Another way to accomplish the same goal is to pick Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow from the top menu.

STEP 5. Make Adjustments to the Shadow

adding shadow to text in photoshop adjustments

After picking “Drop Shadow”, you’ll be presented with a menu that allows you to tweak the effect’s parameters as well as to choose any other Photoshop text effects you might want to add.

adding shadow to text in photoshop additional adjustments

You can set any color you want for your drop shadow before clicking OK. For my image, I went with pure Black.

Pro tip: If you’d like to change the angle, you can employ the Conversion Ratio. I suggest setting it to 45 or 150 degrees, as they usually are the best fit for basic text, but don’t be afraid to get creative.

STEP 6. Customize Additional Parameters

adding shadow to text in photoshop customization

After you learn the basics or the main version of the software, you can move on to tweaking other parameters like Distance, Spread, Size, and Opacity. Keep in mind that rough, overly black shadows can often look artificial.

Experiment with different settings but keep in mind that realistic shadows are usually soft and don’t draw too much attention to themselves.

Pro tip: To make the drop shadow effect more realistic, it’s recommended to move it a bit to the side. The default placement is good, but if you rotate it a little, you might get a better, more immersive result.

STEP 7. Save the Result

Once you’re satisfied with the look of your creation, press OK to close the Drop Shadow menu, and you’re done. If you’d like to apply an identical effect to other projects, you can save it as a preset, which is great for ensuring you can be more time-efficient in the future.

adding shadow to text in photoshop result

F.A.Q

• Is it possible to create several shadows for one text layer?

Of course, Photoshop lets you layer shadows by duplicating the text layer and trying out different shadow parameters for every iteration. Tweak their distance, angle, and color until you’re satisfied with the final look.

• How to work around the shadow blending into the backdrop?

If you want to make the drop shadow more pronounced, you can edit its Spread and Distance. By raising the spread, the shadow will appear denser while the distance helps separate it from the text a bit. You can also slightly tweak the color to make it stand out from the background more.

• Can I apply gradients or textures to a drop shadow?

Even though Photoshop doesn’t allow you to add textures to shadows in an easy way, you can transform the shadow into a layer (right-click the effect and pick "Create layer" or employ the Ctrl+Shift+N Photoshop keyboard shortcut), then add any texture or gradient overlay you’d like.

• How to add a shadow on text in Photoshop that aligns with the lighting in the image?

Determine the location of the light source in the photo and adjust the shadow angle to match it. Consider employing a low-opacity color to imitate natural light even better. If the light is warm, the shadow should have a subtle warm tone to it to look more realistic.

• What are the best color combinations for text shadows?

Muted, monochrome tones usually provide the most professional look, like a shade of grey behind black text. If you want to get more creative, try making a drop shadow in a complementary color. For instance, a dark blue shadow behind a white caption makes it look more elegant without being as jarring as pure black is. Try to balance out the text and shadow tones until the result satisfies your eye.