Once you have a raster layer, for which you want to apply a drop shadow. Then click on the Effects Menu and click on 3D Effects>Drop Shadow. Make any adjustments you wish to make to the shadow and see the effect in the preview pane. then click OK. If you want, there is a small check box in the lower right to create the shadow on a new layer. This is often a good idea, in case you decide to modify the original object later. It will then be easier to modify the shadow as well.

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| Either you don't use PSP 8, or you don't pay attention. When starting a new image, you choose either a Raster or Vector Background, and either can be Tranaparent |
No, I don't use PSP8, I like PSP7. And, I never said that a Raster or Vector Background couldn't be transparent. I guess that PSP8 is using the terms interchangably now. I always thought of Raster and Vector as layers, and backgrounds as opaque. If you open a bmp or jpg file, the image is a background and opaque. You can then convert it to a Raster Layer. It just sounds more correct to me to say that my image has 3 layers, than to say that my image has 3 backgrounds.
This is to much for words. I mean there is so much PoWeR at your hands. Multiple layers, Imaging enhancement, Shading, the list goes on and on. Ok I gotta go do some more. I just Cant wait to be able to show off my style.
I wonder if there is a way to show off a BMP that I made, if anyone even cares.[Message Edited]
Chas, it doesn't matter whether you're talking PSP7 or PSP8, the background of any PSP image file is the bottom-most layer, and only that layer. In both versions of the program this layer may be transparent, translucent or opaque. Technically, in either version of the program, you may also delete the background, or convert it to a raster layer. I say technically, because this is only a matter of state as far as the software is concerned so that you may change the z-order of the layer (a layer can be moved, a background cannot).
The only difference between the two versions of PSP in this regard is that in PSP8, one may start with a vector background. This is really only a time saving step so that you may begin drawing a vector image on the first layer without having to create a second layer.
As for the rest, not much is changed between the two versions when it comes to saving your work. Depending on the format in which you choose to save your work, layers may still need to be merged, vector layers may still need to be converted to raster, and any transparency or translucency may need to be made opaque if the image format you are saving to does not support those features. The biggest difference between the PSP7 and PSP8 from that standpoint, is that PSP8 now supports more image formats, and has more options for some of the formats in doing the conversion.
I hope this clears up some of the confusion.
| a layer can be moved, a background cannot |
This is the way I thought of it too. But, with a vector or raster background, the layer can be moved. So, the terminology can be a bit confusing, if you start swapping background terminology and layer terminology.
In PSP, any vector object must be on a vector layer. The vector layer can then be moved up or down to any point in the z-order. The vector object within the layer may also be moved anywhere in the x-y plane using the keyboard or the mouse. In PSP7, one can move objects pixel-by-pixel, In PSP8, one can move vector images half-pixel-by-half-pixel.
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Select the object(s) you want to move.
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Do any of the following:
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Click inside a bounding box and drag the object or objects to a new position.
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To move one pixel at a time, press Shift or Ctrl and press the Up, Down, Left, or Right arrow keys.
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To move 10 pixels at a time, press Ctrl + Shift and press the Up, Down, Left, or Right arrow keys.
4 and 5 do nothing......... what am I missing?
I see nothing about moving a vector object by half-pixel.
To use the keyboard move controls, you first have to have the move tool active by physically moving the Selection, layer, object, or group to the approximate position you want it. Once you have moved it even a couple of pixels with the move tool, you'll be able to use the arrows on the keyboard as described.
As for the half-pixel move, it is only with vector objects that you can move by half-pixel increments. In PSP8, you have the option to have vector nodes align to the center of a pixel or aligned to the grid (corner of a pixel). If you go into File>Preferences>General Program Preferences... and click on the Units tab, you'll see a check box on the lower left under Vector Coordinates. If you check this box, then the Vector Nodes will align themselves to the center of the pixel. If you leave this box, unchecked, the nodes will align themselves to the grid (corner). It can come in handy when working with a mandatory image size of even units (ie 16x16, 24x24) and you want to align a shape such as a triangle for a forward/back button and you want the tip to be centered in the image. Normally, you'd have to either settle for a blunt tip two pixels wide, or have the point be slightly off the midline. With this setting, you don't have to choose (assuming you're planning to save as a png for conversion to a tga).
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because it doesnt show the word. The only way to get it to show is put spaces between the letters. Someone else try it. This is strange. I wonder does JafO and gang know about this?
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| To use the keyboard move controls, you first have to have the move tool active by physically moving the Selection, layer, object, or group to the approximate position you want it. Once you have moved it even a couple of pixels with the move tool, you'll be able to use the arrows on the keyboard as described. |
Sadly, that doesn't work for me either. 
| #42 by csurfside - 7/10/2004 9:44:31 AM Hey guy's here is a simple one. Im still trying to lick this whole Raster/Vector thing. Why is it sometimes I cant delete cut away a background. I choose the whole area and then click cut. but it doesnt cut it out. Is that because of a vector or raster image? |
You can't use the Selection tools on a Vector layer (unless it's the 'Object Selection' tool). Vector works very different than Raster.
And yes we're aware of the gremlin that eats certain words. 
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| Why is it sometimes I cant delete cut away a background. |
If it is a background, the common type that I am used to, and not this raster or vector crap, then you can't cut it away from your image. Imagine something on the ground. And imagine a image floating in the air. If you cut away some of the image on the ground(background), the earth will still show through. The earth will be your background color. This is a good chance to make your background color magic pink. Your right palette is your background color. If you cut away some of the image floating in the air(vector or raster), it is transparent/tranlucent.

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I been Moophed...

but feeling much better now

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