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wgullo
Inspiring
April 27, 2025
Answered

Persistence of unwanted drop shadow effect when new object created

  • April 27, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 403 views

I applied a simple drop shadow onto an object, and now whenever I create a new object of any type. . . a drop shadow is automatically generated. So, I have to go through the extra steps to disable the unwanted effect for each new object created. Something is amiss here.

 

I didn't see any preferences setting to toggle this feature on/off, nor anything in the properties or effects panel either. Ideas?

 

InDesign 20.3

iMac 24, M1, 16G

Sonoma 14.7.4.

 

Correct answer Eugene Tyson

You probably didn't know that you can make any setting default by changing the setting with nothing selected. 

 

If you don't want it to be default any more, then with nothing selected, change it back to what you want. 

 

And that goes for a lot of things in InDesign, what you select with nothing selected becomes default going forward.

2 replies

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 27, 2025

Just to expand on Eugene's response. If you have a document open and do this, it becomes the default for that document. If you do it with no documents open it becomes the default for all new documents going forward.

wgullo
wgulloAuthor
Inspiring
April 28, 2025

Thanks. I use PS and AI mostly, and ID rarely. So, it was baffling why the last used effect persisted. I suppose there is a benefit of this feature to those engaged in page layout work, but unclear to me. Now I know. Thank you.

Eugene TysonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 27, 2025

You probably didn't know that you can make any setting default by changing the setting with nothing selected. 

 

If you don't want it to be default any more, then with nothing selected, change it back to what you want. 

 

And that goes for a lot of things in InDesign, what you select with nothing selected becomes default going forward.