Skip to main content
Illist
Illist
Participating Frequently
May 3, 2017
Answered

Apply Effects on No Fill, No Stroke

  • May 3, 2017
  • 7 replies
  • 19101 views

Hi all,

I would like to have just the effects only applied to a shape/path i.e. no fill and no stroke. We can do that in photoshop but I've not figured out how to do it in Illustrator

e.g. a Rectangle shape that only has drop shadow/inner glow.  How can we achieve it?

      Correct answer mediwing68524287

      For some reason the mentioned technique no longer works for me. BUT I found another work around.

      1-Use either elipse or pen tool to draw shape (rectangle tool doesnt work)

      2-make a linear or radial gradient on the shape.

      3-change both the fill colours to 0% opacity

      4- add dropshadow

      7 replies

      mediwing68524287
      mediwing68524287Correct answer
      Inspiring
      April 25, 2023

      For some reason the mentioned technique no longer works for me. BUT I found another work around.

      1-Use either elipse or pen tool to draw shape (rectangle tool doesnt work)

      2-make a linear or radial gradient on the shape.

      3-change both the fill colours to 0% opacity

      4- add dropshadow

        M
        mikey_likes_it
        Known Participant
        October 2, 2020

        This doesn't work as you describe. Can you provide a working file? I have followed your steps for a drop shadow and it fails. 

        Chris White at Raynors
        Chris White at Raynors
        Participating Frequently
        October 1, 2020

        Wow. Genuinely clever. Many thanks. I think Adobe owe you for this one.

        Z
        ZeidG
        Participant
        March 16, 2020

        You're a genius! Simple solution that never came to my mind.. Thanks

        J
        Janduza
        Known Participant
        December 20, 2017

        I found a work around. (I'm on a Mac with CC 2018)

        1. Create any path shape. (rectangle, ellipse, free form)

        2. Fill the shape with a gradient fill and no stroke

        3. Set both gradient colors to opacity: 0%, but keep the fill opacity at 100%

        3. Group the single object

        4. Apply the effect to the Group (not the shape).

        You can put as many shapes as you want in the group, they will all get the effect. It worked for me using inner glow, outer glow, and drop shadow.

          B
          b_hoch
          Participant
          September 26, 2019
          This was perfect. Thanks!
          Doug A Roberts
          Community Expert
          Doug A RobertsCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 3, 2017

          depends what you want... you can sort-of do something similar by having two fills, the top one with 0% opacity, apply knockout group, then give a drop shadow to the lower fill:

            Illist
            IllistAuthor
            Participating Frequently
            May 25, 2017

            Hey Doug,

            That's some creative workaround there, a 'Why didn't I think of that' eureka moment!

            I've used Knockout on groups of objects but never as a stacked Fill this way. Thanks for the creative tip.

              Mylenium
              Mylenium
              Legend
              May 3, 2017

              For the most part you can't. AI simply works differently and doesn't know these blending tricks. Feel free to experiment with the transparency and appearance options.

              Mylenium

              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
              Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices