Creating Shadows for ShadowFX

Published on September 17, 2014 By Island Dog In OS Customization

ShadowFX is the newest desktop customization app from Stardock that gives you the ability to add drop shadows to your windows in Windows 8. It’s very easy to use, just select which shadow you want from the drop-down list, and you’re good to go.

ShadowFX is also easy to customize, and making your own shadows is very simple. You can create your own shadows to use for yourself, and you can submit them and share with others on WinCustomize.com.

Learn more about ShadowFX | Get ShadowFX for just $4.99

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There’s only a few files needed to put your own shadow together. Most of them are the actual graphics files and one is the theme.sfx file. I recommend taking a look at the default skin directory and see the files that are included for yourself. The default directory should be here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\ShadowFX\skins\skins

The four graphic files needed are for the left, right, top, and bottom shadows. Each image you create should have an active/inactive state. The theme.sfx file (open with a text editor), lets you define the parameters of the shadow. Here you can define things like the shadow name, image names, and image offsets.

Once have everything together in a folder, you can make a .zip file from that and rename it as a .shadowfxtheme file so it will install to ShadowFX when double-clicked. That covers the basics of creating your very own shadows for ShadowFX, and be sure to share your shadows with others on WinCustomize.com.

Learn more about ShadowFX | Get ShadowFX for just $4.99

Comments (Page 1)

Island Dog

on Sep 22, 2014

moshi

on Sep 22, 2014

i don't think the bitmap skins approach is a good idea for shadows. i like what Y'z Shadow did/still does a lot more: http://www.pidownload.it/punto/trovafiles/yzshadow.png

anyways, i neither use Windows 8 nor Object Desktop, but i got a few minutes to waste. i abused an old skin of mine here. can't test, so i have no idea whether this works or looks half-decent. personally i probably wouldn't use it, but if you want to give it a try and it actually works, a screenshot would be kind:

https://yadi.sk/d/K_pgMCuxbbsd8

edit: removed the file. there's obviously no interest at all.

The_Gear

on Sep 23, 2014

Great write up Island Dog.

rusty8

on Nov 06, 2014

I think this is the first software from Stardock where I was disappointed. I am usually very impressed with the functionality of the customize tools. While at times, it took me a while to figure it out, it always was very clean, lightweight, and CUSTOMIZABLE.

With ShadowFX, everything woks as described in the documentation. It is clean and lightweight, but the complete lack of functionality to create your own theme is very disappointing. While the post above works as described, again, there are missing pieces. Like, how can I change the color?

Again, I was not misled, just disappointed.

Island Dog

on Nov 06, 2014

You're creating your own graphics for the shadows, so you can make them any color you want. There's not an editor included, you make them in your own graphics editor.

yturkyilmaz61

on Dec 04, 2014

I need MacOsX window shadow theme.

astroiii

on Jan 17, 2015

You're creating your own graphics for the shadows, so you can make them any color you want. There's not an editor included, you make them in your own graphics editor.

Hello, I created a large shadow (style Windows 10 tecnical preview) for ShadowFX but is displayed incorrectly. Could I send the file to someone for check it ?

Island Dog

on Jan 19, 2015

How big of a shadow? I believe there are limits on the size of the shadow graphic.

andrzej5

on Feb 02, 2015

OK, I don't understand what in theme.sfx file mean:

Left = 50

Right = 50

Top = 50

Bottom = 50

Island Dog

on Feb 02, 2015

Those are the positions of the shadows for the window.

moshi

on Feb 02, 2015

Island Dog

reply 10

Those are the positions of the shadows for the window.

that would explain why it doesn't work for your customer. who would define a position as: Left = 50, Right = 50 ?

i am not even using this app, but i am willing to bet those are scale margins, not positions.

Neil Banfield

on Feb 02, 2015

moshi

reply 11

Quoting Island Dog,

reply 10

Those are the positions of the shadows for the window.

that would explain why it doesn't work for your customer. who would define a position as: Left = 50, Right = 50 ?

i am not even using this app, but i am willing to bet those are scale margins, not positions.

Indeed they are.

andrzej5

on Mar 06, 2015

rusty8

reply 4

With ShadowFX, everything woks as described in the documentation

I really can't find any documentation to learn how to create proper graphics for example in Photoshop. I've created some work and shadows are irregular and incorrect. I still don't understand from where I can know what offset numbers I should use.

So tell me, please, where is specific documentation with samples in order to learn it very well.

Island Dog

on Jun 01, 2015

I'd suggest taking a look at other skin examples and looking at their theme files.

Neil Banfield

on Apr 13, 2016

MarthaSimons

reply 15

Is windows vista supported with ShadowFX ?

I think this is a good price....

Only Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 I am afraid.

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