Free Online Drop Shadow Generator — Add Depth to Images Instantly
Easily add beautiful drop shadows to your images with our free online tool. Fine-tune every aspect — horizontal and vertical offset, blur radius, shadow color, and opacity — to create the perfect depth effect. Whether you need subtle depth for UI elements, realistic product mockups, or dramatic shadow effects for creative compositions, our tool gives you complete control. All processing happens in your browser for complete privacy.
Upload the image you want to add a shadow to by dragging it onto the upload area or clicking to browse your files.
Adjust the shadow parameters: Offset X/Y controls direction and distance, Blur controls softness, Color and Opacity control the shadow's appearance. All changes preview in real time.
Download your image with drop shadow in its original format when you're satisfied with the result.
Tips for Better Drop Shadow Effects
- For realistic shadows, use a slight downward offset (X: 2-5, Y: 5-8) with moderate blur (10-15) and 40-60% opacity — this mimics natural top-down lighting.
- Soft shadows (high blur, low opacity) work best for UI elements, cards, and mockups to create subtle depth without distracting from the content.
- For dramatic effects like neon glows, use a colored shadow with 0 offset and high blur. For floating effects, use a larger offset with moderate blur.
Frequently Asked Questions — Drop Shadow Tool
Is the drop shadow tool really free?
Yes, completely free. No registration, no hidden charges, no watermarks, and no file size limits. All processing happens locally in your browser — your images never leave your device.
How does the drop shadow effect work?
The tool uses Canvas 2D shadow rendering to create realistic drop shadows. It first draws a filled rectangle the size of your image with the shadow color, offset, blur, and opacity settings. The original image is then rendered on top. The canvas is automatically sized to accommodate both the image and its shadow without clipping.
What do the offset X and Y controls do?
Offset X moves the shadow horizontally (negative = left, positive = right). Offset Y moves the shadow vertically (negative = up, positive = down). Together they control the direction and distance of the shadow from your image. A common setting for realistic depth is a slight positive offset in both directions, simulating light from the top-left.
What image formats are supported?
JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP, AVIF, GIF, TIFF, SVG, HEIC and more. The result is saved in your original upload format with the shadow applied. Note that the canvas expands to fit the shadow, so output dimensions may be larger than the original.
Does adding a drop shadow increase the image dimensions?
Yes. The canvas automatically expands to accommodate the shadow without clipping. For example, a 1000×1000 image with offset (10, 10) and blur 15 will produce an output of approximately 1040×1040 pixels — the original image stays the same size, with extra space added for the shadow.
Can I create a glow effect instead of a shadow?
Yes! Set the offset X and Y to 0, choose a bright or colored shadow (like cyan, yellow, or white), and increase the blur. This creates a halo or glow effect around your image. Combine with moderate opacity for a subtle glow or full opacity for a neon look.
How large of an image can I process?
Our tool handles images up to 50 megapixels (50,000,000 pixels total). The expanded canvas for the shadow is also taken into account, so very large images with heavy shadow settings may be limited to protect your browser from memory issues.