LaTeX forum ⇒ Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ How to add a shadow under a picture ? Topic is solved

[Stefan Kottwitz]

I would define a macro for that, in the preamble. Within the figure environment, I would call that macro. So further changes or adjustments would be easy and consistent.

Stefan

[Cham]

Hmm, I'm ain't an expert on this. How do you suggest to define that macro ?

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Macros are an important strength of LaTeX. Define a macro once, and use it many times. For example, in the preamble:

\newcommand{\shadowpicture}[1]{%
  \shadowsize=1pt
  \fboxrule=0pt
  \fboxsep=0pt
  \color{gray}
  \shadowbox{\fboxsep=6pt\fcolorbox{white}{white}{#1}}
  \normalcolor
}

Later, in the document:

\begin{figure}[H]
  \centering
  \shadowpicture{\includegraphics[height=8cm]{picture.jpg}}
  \caption{Another caption.}
\end{figure}

Macros are not just for saving typing, but for consistency and easy changes.

Stefan

[Cham]

Works perfectly well !

Thanks Stefan ! (by the way, see the preview in my last message, on the previous page...)

[Stefan Kottwitz]

The preview looks nice!

Regarding macros, try defining macros for all which you possibly need several times, also to make a logical document. For example, I would not even use \textbf or \textit in a document - but I would define \keyword etc. for such emphasis. These macros could call \textbf etc. And I could change that for the whole document whenever I like.

Stefan

[bloomy]

I found a very nice solution on http://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/81842/creating-a-drop-shadow-with-guassian-blur

It certainly looks like its exactly what you are looking for, and I was also. Next thing is I'd like to make this part of a class or a module.

Let me know how you go.
Cheers


Here is the code

\documentclass{article} 
% put all this in the preamble
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shadows,calc}

% code adapted from http://tex.stackexchange.com/a/11483/3954

% some parameters for customization
\def\shadowshift{3pt,-3pt}
\def\shadowradius{6pt}

\colorlet{innercolor}{black!60}
\colorlet{outercolor}{gray!05}

% this draws a shadow under a rectangle node
\newcommand\drawshadow[1]{
    \begin{pgfonlayer}{shadow}
        \shade[outercolor,inner color=innercolor,outer color=outercolor] ($(#1.south west)+(\shadowshift)+(\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$) circle (\shadowradius);
        \shade[outercolor,inner color=innercolor,outer color=outercolor] ($(#1.north west)+(\shadowshift)+(\shadowradius/2,-\shadowradius/2)$) circle (\shadowradius);
        \shade[outercolor,inner color=innercolor,outer color=outercolor] ($(#1.south east)+(\shadowshift)+(-\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$) circle (\shadowradius);
        \shade[outercolor,inner color=innercolor,outer color=outercolor] ($(#1.north east)+(\shadowshift)+(-\shadowradius/2,-\shadowradius/2)$) circle (\shadowradius);
        \shade[top color=innercolor,bottom color=outercolor] ($(#1.south west)+(\shadowshift)+(\shadowradius/2,-\shadowradius/2)$) rectangle ($(#1.south east)+(\shadowshift)+(-\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$);
        \shade[left color=innercolor,right color=outercolor] ($(#1.south east)+(\shadowshift)+(-\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$) rectangle ($(#1.north east)+(\shadowshift)+(\shadowradius/2,-\shadowradius/2)$);
        \shade[bottom color=innercolor,top color=outercolor] ($(#1.north west)+(\shadowshift)+(\shadowradius/2,-\shadowradius/2)$) rectangle ($(#1.north east)+(\shadowshift)+(-\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$);
        \shade[outercolor,right color=innercolor,left color=outercolor] ($(#1.south west)+(\shadowshift)+(-\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$) rectangle ($(#1.north west)+(\shadowshift)+(\shadowradius/2,-\shadowradius/2)$);
        \filldraw ($(#1.south west)+(\shadowshift)+(\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$) rectangle ($(#1.north east)+(\shadowshift)-(\shadowradius/2,\shadowradius/2)$);
    \end{pgfonlayer}
}

% create a shadow layer, so that we don't need to worry about overdrawing other things
\pgfdeclarelayer{shadow} 
\pgfsetlayers{shadow,main}


\newcommand\shadowimage[2][]{%
\begin{tikzpicture}
\node[anchor=south west,inner sep=0] (image) at (0,0) {\includegraphics[#1]{#2}};
\drawshadow{image}
\end{tikzpicture}}
%  end of the preamble stuff

% this is what you put in your document  - replace {image} with your image file name e.g. {my picture}
\begin{document}

\shadowimage[width=5cm]{image}\par\bigskip

\shadowimage[width=8cm]{image}

\end{document}

[Stef Pillaert]

This looks great! Can this also be used somehow to have the same effect on a box filled with text (minipage)?
Stef