How to add Drop Shadows to images in Google Slides…

Drop shadows are everywhere.

It’s the simplest way to add depth and space between layers of objects on a canvas.

— — Update on 3 Dec 2017 — —

Google Slides have upgraded its image editing features. You can now add drop shadows, reflections, and more adjustment like brightness and contrast to images even easier.

Add Drop shadow and reflection to images in Google Slides (Updated)

1. Select the image
2. Click “Format Options…” on the right of the toolbar
3. Adjust by moving the handles under “Drop Shadow” and “Reflection”

Add drop shadow, reflection, and more adjustment

You can also re-color, adjust brightness, contrast and transparency in the “Format options” panel.

— — Old method below — —

Google Slide is one of the best tools to collaborate on a presentation deck. It’s very popular in workplace.
But yet, you can’t add a drop shadow. There is no such feature.

Here is the solution: drop-shadow.png
Download the below two blurry blocks for your own use! :)

drop-shadow.png , resize to fit all rectangular images

wide-drop-shadow.png , Wide shadow for fullscreen elements

Applications

I’ve created some demos using the PNGs in Google Slides: Click to View

Made with Google Slides

Here are some other examples use of drop-shadows in layouts that can be done by these method:

App Miss Index Design by baiheng (https://dribbble.com/shots/1810225-App-Miss-Index-Design)

Bizplus by graphicriver.net

Cover Design by Ray Oranges (https://pinthemall.net/pin/566c64211678c/)

“Why don’t I just add the shadow in Photoshop before insert the image?”

• The png is reusable. It works on any copy-and-paste image, screenshots, text-boxes and shapes.
• You may not have Photoshop or other softwares with you. This method works in any device with a browser, including a Chromebook, even mobile phones.