Automatically applying a drop shadow

[DigitalChickster]

Hi all! I'm working my way through hundreds of different files. I need to add a drop shadow to an item on each one. I am just going to Effect > Sytlize > Drop Shadow. I tried making an action (all parameters for the shadows are the same), but it wouldn't create an action. I can't do "Apply last effect" and I can't use the eye dropper tool because each object is in a separate file. How can I make my workflow go smoother and faster? Thanks!

I'm on an iMac using Illustrator CC. Thanks.

[Mike_Gondek · Accepted solution]

You can make a graphic style. Just select an item with the drop shadow existing, drag and drop onto the graph style to make a new one. Use the graphic style >> fly out menu for any other commands.

[michelew83603738]

Graphic style will work really well here. But if you want to create an action, the reason it might not have worked is that when you create an action for a menu item, you need to go to the Action Menu pull out and Insert a Menu Action and it will record what your mouse does. Otherwise it just ignores the mouse action of going to the Effects Menu. Then you can set up your Drop Shadow and it will apply those settings to the action.

[Mike_Gondek]

You can copy an element into your clipboard with the graph style, and paste into each document to populate that graphic style into your graphic style palette. Another way is to add a library item with the graphic style applied. Because Ilustraror has a "Library" and a :Graphic Style Library" will add a screen shot here to better explain.

Option drag when you pull it out of the library, or else you will get a blank object.

[DigitalChickster]

Thank you all for your quick responses! I will work through these to see what works best for me.