Drop Shadows changing shape when exporting or rasterizing

[Psssddd...ItsMe]

So i took some text, moved it around and put it in the spots I wanted, I rasterized each layer of text, marged them all together, and then applied a drop shadow to act as a color border around the text. From there I did another one, of greater distance and size, and repeated those steps a few times with different drop shadows. For some reason when I go to export this project, rasterize the layer with drop shadows or do anything, it morphs and changes shape. So confusing to me. Im sharing now to see if anyone can provide some help. 

[J453]

Are you using File > Export > Export As?

or File > Export > Save for Web?

Would it be possible to get a copy of the source PSD? (link to CC files or dropbox)

[Psssddd...ItsMe]

I use File > Save As > Save as JPEG, tried PNG, tried messing with JPEG & PNG export options, tried quick exporting the layer itself that has the drop shadows on it. Here is the PSD file in a dropbox link! 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dexrxxmzsafhn2k/DemoDoc.psd?dl=0

[BrettN]

To expond on what Jeff said, a sample file would be helpful here. I have an idea about what may be going on, but I haven't been able to recreate on my end. An also, exact steps (how you are rasterizing, how you are exporting) would also guide us to figure out what is going on. If you could record a video of your workflow, that would be best, otherwise, just provide things like menu items used, etc.

[Psssddd...ItsMe]

Brentt, I shared a PSD file in my reply to Jeffrey linked as a drop box. 

I will open a new document, set it to 1080x1080 pixels with a vector background. Create a new layer, fill in my background color, ill create some text, move it around change the sizes and shapes so that it conforms the way I like. From there ill right click on the layer window and select rasterize type. Then I will double click on the window and select drop shadow. From there Ill select my color, put in my adjustmnets for size shape and distance. 100% opacity, normal mode selected, 120^ degrees positive, i toggled global lighting to see if this would make a difference, it did not. I adjust the canavas size to see if making it conform to the size of my text + drop shadow would stop it from changing shape, I read something else stating the size of the canvas is what the drop shadow is applied to in render & export, and what i was viewing was just what was rendered in a smaller sample space for faster loading. I played around a lot and couldnt find a solution. Thanks 

[BrettN]

Thank you for the project file. However, the issue has already occurred with the file and it doesn't look as smooth as your screen shots. I notice that the text is already rasterized, but if I create a new layer of text and move the drop shadows to that, it still looks the same. I'm wondering what changed between those screen shots and the file you provided. 

To clarify, Global Lighting is a way of syncing the settings between your different Layers Styles that use the Angle setting. It simplifies things so all of your drop shadows across different layers all look like they are being cast from the same light source. It wouldn't have anything to do with this issue.

Also, Canvas Size wouldn't have any direct effect on this issue either. It just determines the usable area of your image. If the Size or Distance of your drop shadows made them so big that they moved off the page, you could increase the canvas to make room for them. But it would not change their shape in anyway. 

One thing this brings up though is how drop shadow quality is lowered the larger it gets. If perhaps you meant Image Size instead of Canvas Size, and you greatly increase the size of the file, the quality of drop shadow may be dropping significantly. If you are increase the overall file size, it would probably be best to rasterize the layer effect (along with the text) before doing so to keep the smoother lines you see at smaller sizes.

Normally, for this type of project, I would recommend working with Illustrator instead of Photoshop. Its tools are more closely geared to create smooth effects on things like text. 

[Psssddd...ItsMe]

It musn't be within the file directly, as no matter how many times I created a new or opened an old file and tried a fresh drop shadow the same issues prevailed. 

Im faimilar with global lighting, and was aware that wasn't the issue here but having worked with many different software in the past, I know things can be buggy. 

I also tried with a much smaller image on the same size canvas, a larger image, would still experince the same issues I was before. Would really love help in resolving this. 

[sophiejharper]

Im recently having this problem on version 23.1.0, starting to think its a bug as never seen this before.
All my drop shadows and also glow change size (seem to expand in size) when I save through Export As, but not through Save for Web, and when I rasterise the linked file with them in they export fine aswell.

[Psssddd...ItsMe]

Sophie, Im sorry to hear you're also expericing this issue but im somewhat relieved other people are dealing with the same and hopefully we can resolve this together! 

So you're saying when you do Save for Web it exports fine, but what did you mean when you said when rasterizing the linked files, the drop shadows and glow seem to export with no issues. 

This all leads me to belive it isn't based on the size of the image that the shadows and glow effects are being applied to, and rather a bug or issue with our softwares.

[BrettN]

Hello Sophie,

When does the difference in appearance occur? Do you immediately see it when opening Export As in the preview? Or only after exporting the file? Are you making changes to the settings in Export As, or leaving things at default? If anything, I would suspect Image Size and/or Scale All settings could be a factor here. I haven't seen anything yet which shows Export As as the culprit yet.

The project file provided previously shows the distortion upon opening the file in Photoshop, before going into Export As (it doesn't look like the screen shots). I'm wondering if you could provide a file that looks fine in Photoshop but becomes distorted once you open it in Export As or becomes distored after exporting it. 

[Konrad5CB3]

I'm having the same issue. The best solution I've found is to merge all layers prior to exporting artboards.

[DaBee]

yes me too, in my case im exporting as a .pdf  which remains as it should . changing image size  ratio remaining the same 16:9 exporting the thumbnail to .png  the drop shadow has move position and or become diffused. Ive tried with different drop shadow set ups  same result .

Eporting using the save for we lagacy the preview is not showing eigther .  any body know the solution ?

[Trevor.Dennis]

Does the image have vector content like Type or shape layers?  If not, thenare you saving to PDF to share, or send to a printer?  If you really need PDF, then what preset did you use?  Unless file size is important, then always use High Quality Print 5.1 (I think from memory).

If you have type layers then they can become distorted saving to PDF.  This is mostly the case with big sweeping ligatures.  What generally works in those situations, is to add a couple of spaces at each end of the text.

Otherwise, when things don't save out the way they looked when open, adding a copy saved layer to the top of the stack before saving usually fixes it for me (Shift Ctrl Alt E).

If this turns into  more of an issue to fix, then probably best to start a new thread, but no need to do that yet.

[DaBee]

Yes the drop shadow im refering to is on the text layers I made a stamped visable layer before saving to .PSD then proceeded to Export  the .png . The psd's are fine the .png had the drop shadow shifting. I did resize it prior to export  no disernable change on screen but as the the preview is no longer visable in the export screen  it  is impossible to tell untill  it saves out . I will pay more attention Make 100 percent sure I dont forget the stamped visable , I have been trying both (Shift Ctrl Alt E) and image apply image. to correct it I have also reset all the drop shadow settings in the blend if  layer syle panel.  I will start fresh tomorrow and see if i can identify where im going wrong.

[DaBee]

oops sorry I ment to Type .PSD 

[DaBee]

shift, option, command, E       ..."adding a copy saved layer to the top of the stack before saving usually fixes it for me" works to fix the issue.