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Buzzkirill
Buzzkirill
Participant
May 21, 2026
Open for Voting

Have Drop shadow filter work on masked Fill layers

  • May 21, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 15 views

Currently only regular layers support the very useful Drop shadow filter.

I would like Drop shadow to work with Fill layers too because Fill layers are a much more flexible and non-destructive workflow

      1 reply

      Cyril Dellenbach
      Community Manager
      Cyril DellenbachCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      June 1, 2026

      In theory, you can use Drop Shadow with Fill Layers. However, a Fill Layer is natively projected in the full UV set, therefore, there’s no place for the shadow to appear.

      If you switch the projection for Warp Projection (as instance), you’ll be able to use the Drop Shadow. 

       

      If you’d need to use the Drop Shadow for the mask of your Fill Layer, I advise you to use Anchor Points, call it in a different layer and use a Directional Distance to mimic the Drop Shadow effect.

      Best regards,

      Cyril Dellenbach (Micro) | Product Manager | Substance Painter
      Buzzkirill
      BuzzkirillAuthor
      Participant
      June 1, 2026

      Hi Cyril, thank you, the Anchor point workflow sounds like a good workaround.

      Not sure what you mean by Warp projection, sorry if you don’t mind explaining that bit?

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