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Image Drop Shadow

Add a soft drop shadow behind an image.

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Drop an image here, or click to choose one

A cut-out PNG works best — the shadow follows the subject, not the box

Quick Tool Overview

Image Drop Shadow generates the shadow from the alpha channel rather than the bounding box, so a cut-out PNG casts a shadow in the shape of its subject rather than a rectangle. Offset, blur, spread, colour and opacity are separate controls, defaulting to the modern convention: large blur, small offset, low opacity.

What it does
Draws a soft shadow behind an image
You give it
An image, ideally a transparent PNG
You get back
The image with a shadow behind it
Best for
Product shots, slides and app screenshots
Image Tools Free, unlimited use No sign-up Runs in your browser

About the Image Drop Shadow

A drop shadow lifts an image off the page, which is why every product listing and presentation slide has one. Done badly it looks like 2003; done well it is barely noticeable.

The shadow here follows the alpha channel rather than the bounding box, so a PNG with a transparent background casts a shadow in the shape of its subject rather than a rectangle. That is the difference between a product shot that floats and one that sits in an obvious box. Offset, blur, spread, colour and opacity are all separate controls, and the defaults follow the modern convention: large blur, small offset, low opacity.

Key features of the Image Drop Shadow

Follows the cut-out shape

The shadow comes from the alpha channel, so a transparent subject floats instead of sitting in an obvious box.

Modern defaults

Large blur, small vertical offset, low opacity — the settings that read as current rather than as 2003.

Colour, not just black

A dark version of the background looks like blocked light; pure black looks like a smudge.

Spread control

Separate from blur, so you can grow the shadow without softening it further.

Canvas grown to fit

The output is enlarged so the shadow is never clipped at the edge of the frame.

How to use the Image Drop Shadow

  1. 1

    Load the image

    A PNG with a transparent background gives the best result.

  2. 2

    Set the offset

    A small vertical offset with no horizontal one reads as light from above.

  3. 3

    Blur generously

    Large blur and low opacity is what modern shadows look like.

  4. 4

    Pick the colour

    A dark version of the background beats pure black, which reads as dirty.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. It is generated from the alpha channel, so a transparent PNG casts a shadow in the shape of its subject rather than of its rectangular canvas.

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