Lokas 3D shadow

[Norfolkman6]

Has anyone successfully used Lokas 3D shadow in PSP X9?
It appears in my plugin list as "3D Shadow" and I can open it and play around with positioning of the shadow etc. What I cannot do is to transfer it to the text on my worksheet.
Are there any instructions for using this plugin or could someone kindly tell me how to do it?

Thanks,
Geoff.

[JoeB]

A bit more detail about how you are trying to achieve this would be helpful, but I will make an assumption to start with.

If you have laid down your text as vector text, then try duplicating that text layer (just so that you can preserve the vector layer) and then convert that duplicate text layer to a raster layer. The plugin should then apply the shadow. I don't think it can apply the shadow to a vector layer.

[Norfolkman6]

Thank you for the reply.
I am not trying to achieve anything particular at the moment. I came across the plugin by chance and installed it to see how it works.

I have started with a new sheet and typed a few letters. (I've tried Raster & Vector) Then went to Effects/Plugins/Lokas/3D shadow. The plugin opens up and displays the letters together with the shadow. But what do I do then, if I close it, the text on y PSP shett hasn't changed.

I really need instructions on how to use the plugin.

Many thanks

[TimW]

Is there no option to Apply what it displays ? Or, just simply an OK.

[ehume]

Lokas is handing it out for free. It installed by default in all the PSP xNumber, and allowed for one Custom directory, so I chose PSP 2018 (64-bit). The plugin with its directory installed with no hassle. I then discovered that it needed a transparent layer, so I exported my test image as a PNG. Then I added a layer, but the plugin squawked (note that it had loaded and was interacting with me). So I added another raster layer and added text to that. Then I invoked the plugin.

The plugin seemed to work OK. It was massively flexible in what it did. I picked one of the presets. There was no Save or Preview so I clicked OK. It did nothing to the image!

I did go to the plugins folder, copied the folder, pasted it in the PSP 2018 (32-bit) folder. When I opened the 32-bit PSP 2018, I was able to invoke the plugin.

So, what am I doing wrong that the effects of the plugin will not save?

[JoeB]

I do not know why you people are having a problem, so will explain how it works for me.

First, the plugin is installed in a sub-folder of C:\Program Files\Lokas 3D Shadow. It consists of 2 8bf files - one for 32bit and one for 64bit programs. I tested it with PSP2019 64bit.

Then I open a new document - doesn't matter if it has a transparent background or a colored one because I'm laying down my text as Vector text which creates a vector text layer above my new open document.

Type some text. Then, in the Layers palette, right-click the vector text layer and click on the Convert to Raster Layer option.

Open the plugin, select the shadow look you wish, then click OK.

My result is attached.

[LeviFiction]

Just like JoeB, I tried it on a raster layer and it worked just fine.

Tested:
PSP 2019 - 64 and 32 bit
PSP 2018 - 64 and 32 bit
PSP X9 - 64 and 32 bit
PSP X8 - 64 and 32 bit
PSPP X2.5
PSPP XI
PSP 9
PSP 8

[Norfolkman6]

Thanks JoeB for your help.

That worked fine for me too!

Regards,
Geoff.

[JoeB]

Is there no option to Apply what it displays ? Or, just simply an OK.

There is no button that says Apply. Just one that says OK, which is fairly common with some plugins and dialogue boxes within PSP and means that you're OK with what the preview is showing and clicking it will apply whatever you have done to your image. I hadn't realized that some people might not know that OK on many dialogues/interfaces means the same thing as Apply.

[TimW]

Thank You JoeB - My point exactly
I downloaded the plugin & it's quite nice once you figure out what each adjustment does. It would be nice to have an example guide for each of the settings.