Participant

Question

Inner Shadow missing feature?

Forum|Forum|12 years ago
July 3, 2013
9 replies
28833 views

I'm looking for a better alternative to my current vector graphic applications, mostly to create modern web and application UI's.

So I downloaded the trial version of Illustrator CC, to see if I should make the jump to Illustrator for vector work.

After using about half a day to learn the applicaiton and do some experimentation, I was going to apply an Inner shadow to some text on a button, to make it look indented, and was like "What the.....where's the Inner Shadow Effect?".

I could see the Drop Shadow feature, and there's an Inner Glow feature (can't be offset), but that doesn't solve the problem of making shapes and text look indented.

If anyone doesn't know what I mean, just browse 'Inner Shadow' on google, it's such a fundamental feature.

Photoshop has it.
InDesign has it.
Fireworks has it.
Even Sketch, the app for Mac has it. And Acorn has it as well.
Hell, I can even write it in CSS3:

.example {

-moz-box-shadow: inset -5px -5px #888;

-webkit-box-shadow: inset -5px -5px #888;

box-shadow: inset -5px -5px #888;

}

So I looked around the web, and realized Illustrator has no Inner Shadow feature (!!), but there are work arounds. Here's an example:

http://vectorboom.com/load/effects/innershadow/3-1-0-257

(Or this:)

http://www.webdesign.org/raster-graphics/fireworks/mastering-shadows-in-photoshop-illustrator-and-fireworks-who-s-the-winner.19730.html

Sorry, but when you are used to applying something so fundamental as Inner Shadow, to make your shapes and texts look indented with a single click (and easily adjust it live and experiment), then it's hard to get used to Illustrator.

And when something so basic is missing, then you can only fear what else will also hinder you, as you continue to learn the application and try to make the switch.

Looking at the forum and others who have requested the same thing, and for so long, it sadly also says something about how much adobe listens to the community.

Sorry but this is a deal breaker for me, and my trial stops here.

I'm sure Illustrator can do a lot of other fancy things, but since it still havent figured out the fundamentals (shadow and indented), I'm not buying.

illustrator_shadow

This topic has been closed for replies.

eliyah

Known Participant

totally, it's one of those things - like, guys, helllo.. can't you just add ALL the features to ALL the CC programs, it's the same damn product you are selling to ppl, really.

the inner glow soluion sucks, because (hello again..) you can't adjust the angle of the shadow (!)

and the solution in the 1st link you have posted is pretty good. with the text shape it looks a bit long, but in reality it's pretty easy, especially if you are trying to do inner shadow on a shape, which is usually the case: make a bigger shape, cut out with the shape you need the shadow for, make shadow on this bigger shape, put in a mask with the same exact shape you used for cutting out the bigger shape, done. Mask is the key word.

PrepressPro1

Legend

Anyone consider that if there are so many apps with this effect, including Adobe products that Adobe may have Nerfed Illustrator by design to keep other products in their stable desirable?

D

duncanb11013392

Participant

2020 still no inner shadow. It's embarrassing.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

It makes no sense to ask for it in this forum. If you want it, ask on uservoice. because there you address the developers: Please post bugs & feature requests to http://illustrator.uservoice.com

eliyah

Known Participant

it makes sense to do both, this post helped find a solution to the same (damn) issue.

F

Fearless_Wonder1549

Known Participant

I must disagree, I use multiple stacked effects on LIVE type ALL the time. You must add a new stroke or fill to make it work. The default fill and stroke on text does not allow it. So I make my text layer in black and immediately add a new fill but remember to clear the black fill within character appearance. Not sure why anyone outlines fonts or adds PS effects anymore...and I use offset path on a stroke to move it outside the path and keep the gradient working. Here is an example;

Love the appearance Palette.

C

Cozmicone

Inspiring

What I posted won't work with live text because when you add a stroke to live text, even it you place it as the top layer and set it to outside, the stroke from one of the characters covers up characters next to it. The image below has two shapes using the graphic style with one overlapping the other. Below it is live text that also has the graphic style, but since text functions differently than standard objects the stroke applied to each character is overlapping the characters next to it.

F

Fearless_Wonder1549

Known Participant

Did you move the stroke under the fill? I have no problem

C

Cozmicone

Inspiring

This won't work with live text, but you can use the instructions on this page to create an inner shadow effect that you can then create a graphic style for to apply to future objects. https://dribbble.com/shots/878685-Illustrator-single-style-live-inner-shadow/attachments/95011

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

I never really needed as you can use inner glow set to multiply instead.

Although I prefer to use an appearance stack. You can control the thickness of a stroke which gives you more control, therefore I rarely use inner glow

.

Or you can use a gradient mesh

The vector boom link had a lot of steps, extra shapes and outlined their type, I would use an appearance stack.

I did have to use a mask to keep the shadow from going out the edge, could not find a way to make knockout group do that for me. But the type is live and less parts.

Not that much control with inner glow, and could not even duplicate the look above.

brandbrilliance

Participating Frequently

Inner glow isn't the same as inner shadow - it's a different effect (see your second last example). Appearance stacks - that work correctly with knockout groups - can only be used on outlined compound shapes, it doesn't work on editable text at all. This is a huge oversight for Illustrator and every single design package out there including Sketch, Fireworks, Photoshop, InDesign, iDraw (Autodesk Graphic), Pixelmator, Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo can all achieve this simple effect as an effect/fx.

The best way is to use this method using outline compound shapes only (can't be used on editable text).

Dribbble - Illustrator single style live inner shadow by Herman van Boeijen

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

Yes inner glow set to multiply looks different, that was my point as to why I recommend using appearance stacks. You can keep the type live, with a mask from the transparency palette.

Would disagree on the dribble link being the best way as that outline the type. Unfortunately we cannot set a stroke to go outward on livetype and offset path on a stroke has mitering options of which I do not see any working especially on serif/ornate fonts

brandbrilliance

Participating Frequently

Yep. That feature is and has been missing for years, together with Bevel and Emboss. You have to use a drop shadow on a cut-out version of the shape (on a square) and then clip it with the same shape again and then multiple the resulting clipped shape. It's very annoying. Also, you can even create it with SVG Filters, but there are various issues with these filters when you export them to PDF.

_

_Dirk

Participant

As far as i can tell a nifty little Mac App named “iDraw” is the undisputed king of (even multiple) inner shadows ;-)

G

GraphicSenso

Participant

I never noticed that Illustrator did not have one. I am so used to using both Photoshop and Illustrator when I am trying to do text design that it never occurred to me that it would be a lot nicer if I didnt have to be constantly switching programs. I suppose tho that each of the programs has its pro's and con's and if you want it all, you have to pay for it all. Marketing ploy!

G

GabrielBrodersenAuthor

Participant

Yeah Photoshop, and most other vector applications I've tried (even CSS3 stylesheet has it!).

I searched the web and found out this feature has been much requested and needed for many many years.

What I get from that, is that Adobe is not a developer that listens to it's community. And that's what I get from just using the Trial version of their latest software, Illustrator CC...there is no excuse for not having inner shadow in a vector graphics application, especially not one that's this expensive, just makes it embarrising.

Damn, I was hoping to switch to Illustrator...

_scott__

Legend

I agree having the effect would be nice. But you can easily accomplish inner shadows with gradients.

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