Drop Shadow disappears when saving to JPEG, PNG, etc

[eRock33]

Trying to save a JPEG and/or PNG, but the drop shadow disappears in every saved copy. I've tried checking "Legacy Composite" under Preferences > Performance, but then the drop shadow disappears altogether.

Drop Shadow in tact, below:

Drop Shadow disappears as soon as I try to save as a JPEG, is definitely not in the JPEG or PNG file.

[jane-e]

Hi

I'm not sure why it's losing the drop shadow when you save a jpeg. And it looks like the stroke on the same layer made it through?

Try making a copy of the psd first, then merging the layers. Does the drop shadow still disappear?

Also, it's a good habit to name your layers, so you might want to do that as well.

~ Jane

[eRock33]

The stroke layer effect did make it through. I tried copying the PSD, and merging the layers, the drop shadow still disappears.

[Nancy OShea]

Try moving your text layer to the top of the layer stack.

File > SaveAs and save as a new PSD file.

Then go to File > Export > Export As.

[eRock33]

Thanks, Nancy. Tried that but it didn't work.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Smart Objects and groups can mess up Layer Style effects when merged, which is what happens when saving out to JPG of course.  Try adding a Copy Merged layer to the top of the stack before saving.  (Shift Ctrl Alt E)

[eRock33]

Huh. There is a smart object as a clipping mask over the text, a rectangle with gradient fill. I copied the text and mask layer and merged them, and SOME of the drop shadow came through.

If I increase the distance of the drop shadow, it comes out more like I intended, but definitely does not match what is on screen. JPEG:

[eRock33]

[JJMack]

A PNG File format support transparency so  a drop shadow may be partly transparent.    Jpeg File formats does not support transparency the background can not contain transparence  nor can a drop shadow on an object in the image composite. A png with a drop  shadow will display differently on the various backgrounds it is displayed over.

[Sebastian Bleak]

Would you be able to share the PSD with us? I'd like to try it on my end if possible.

[eRock33]

I created a new file and project and am still having the same issue. How can I share that file? Screenshots below show art as it looks onscreen, drop shadow disappears as soon as I try to save as JPEG. Also, the drop shadow is getting cut off as I move the distance further from the text. I have never had an issue like this, it is driving me bonkers.

[JJMack]

On Windows 10 with CC 2019 version 20.0.5  I do not see what you see on your Mac.  With the move tool active show bounds my Text Layer Drop shadow  does not look clipped and when I flatten the Document the drop shadow does not change in appearance the image look the same as before the flatting.

[eRock33]

I'm using Photoshop CC 20.0.1, on Mac OS 10.14.2. I'm going to try updating.

[eRock33 · Accepted solution]

Well, I thought I had CC on auto-updates, but I guess not! Updated and the problem appears to be solved. Ugh. Thanks, all!