Skip to main content

AI shadows or layer shadows?

How are AI shadows different to regular shadows that you can set on each foreground layer?

C
Written by Craig Wright
Updated this week

Photoroom provides two ways to add shadows to your designs:

  • AI Shadows
    These are shadows that are generated by the AI. To create them, it analyses your image and then adds a realistic shadow based on information in your image, such as lighting and the positioning of objects.
    ​

  • Shadows for individual foreground layers.
    Each foreground layer in a design has its own Shadows settings. You can use them to add and style a shadow, including changing the type of shadow and its color.

Here, we'll briefly explain what is available for each feature and offer advice on deciding which feature to use.

Features available for AI Shadows

AI Shadows have fewer settings than regular shadows. This is because the AI automatically positions the shadow based on other information in your image, such as the lighting and positioning of objects.

To display the AI Shadows settings, open a design in the editor and then select Shadows (mobile versions of Photoroom) or AI Shadows (Web App). You will see that there are only settings are for choosing the type of shadow: soft, hard, or floating. There are no options for any further customisation.


​

AI shadows settings on iPhone. There are only soft, hard, and floating options.

To learn how to use the AI Shadows settings, see Add AI shadows to your designs.

Features available for shadows on individual layers

Every foreground layer on your design has its own Shadows settings. You can use them to choose the style of shadow, change its position and angle, and also its color. You have more control over regular shadows than you do over AI shadows.

To display the Shadows settings for a layer:

  1. Open your design in the editor.

  2. Select the foreground layer you want to edit.

  3. Select Shadow (in the layer settings).

  4. Use the Shadow settings to customise the shadow. To learn how to use the Shadow settings, see Add shadows to your designs.

The Shadow settings for a layer have more options for controlling the shadow:
​

Side-by-side images showing the shadow settings for a layer on iPhone. There are options for choosing the shadow type and changing its appearance.

Which shadow feature should you use?

When deciding on which shadow feature to use, consider:

  • What you want to achieve.
    ​
    AI Shadows creates realistic shadows that can make your designs look more appealing. But there are limited options for customising the shadows.
    ​
    With layer shadows, you have more options and greater control over each shadow, but you need to style them manually. This is often more time-consuming.
    ​

  • Your plan.
    AI Shadows count towards the "download with AI features" limit on your plan.
    ​

Did this answer your question?