How do I create soft shadows for text in Adobe® FreeHand®?

An interesting effect to add to text is a soft shadow.

Create a new document

• Select New from the File menu.
• Or open a file that has black text already created in it.

Save the file

• Select Save as... from the File menu.
• Type a name in the File name: field.
• Choose FreeHand document from the Format: (Macintosh®) or Save as type: (Windows®) pop-up menu (.fhx).
• Save it in your graphics folder.
• Click Save.

Create the text

• Select the Text tool from Toolbox.
• Click on your page and type the text.
• Make sure the text color is Black. Shadows appear as tints of the text color and gray looks best.
• To change the font or type size:
  • highlight the text with the text tool
  • in the Inspector palette, click on the A tab
  • select another font or type size from the pop-up menus.
• Select the text with the Text tool or Pointer tool.
• Select Convert to Paths from the Text menu.
• Make sure the text paths or outlines are still selected, if not, click on the text with the pointer tool.

Xtra Tools palette - Shadow

or

• Open the Xtra Ttools palette (depending on your version) by either
  • In the Window menu, choose Toolbars, then Xtra tools and or
  • In the Window menu, choose Xtras, then Xtra tools.
• Double-click Shadow.
• In the dialog box, set the following parameters:
  • Type: Soft Edge,  
  • Fill: Tint,  
  • Percent: 50%,  
  • Fade to: White,  
  • Soft Edge: 30%,  
  • Scale: 100%,   
  • Offset x: 0p6, y: -0p6.
• Click Apply to preview the shadow effect.
• Click OK button when you like the result. The text and shadow are automatically grouped.

To add color to the text

• To color the roughened text without affecting the shadow:
  • Select the text.
  • Choose Ungroup from the Modify menu.
• Create a color in the Color Mixer and drag the chip onto the Color List. Make sure it is created as CMYK.
• Select just the Black text.
• Change the color by clicking on a color in the Color List.
• Save the file.

Export the file

• Select Export from the File menu,
• Export the file as an EPS file:
  • Windows: choose EPS with TIFF preview from the Save as type: pop-up menu
  • Mac: choose Macintosh EPS from the Format: pop-up menu.
• Keep the same name or type a new name.
• Click Export.

Place the file

• Place the EPS file in your document
  • PageMaker or InDesign: choose Place from the File menu
  • QuarkXPress: choose Get Picture from the File menu.
• Send the EPS file, as well as the original FreeHand file, along with the PageMaker, InDesign or Quark file when pages are submitted.