Add a shadow to text or a shape

The key to applying a drop shadow to a shape or to text in a WordArt is to go to the right place on the Drawing Tools Format tab. For a shape, you go to Shape Effects, and for text you go to Text Effects.

Add a drop shadow to a shape

1. Click the shape.

   Tip:  To add a shadow to multiple shapes, click the first shape, and then press and hold Ctrl while you click the other shapes.

2. On the Drawing Tools Format tab, click Shape Effects > Shadow, and then pick the shadow you want.

   

   When you rest your pointer on one of the shadow effects, it appears as a preview on the shape.

   Tip:  To customize the shadow, click Shadow Options at the bottom of the shadow choices.

Add a drop shadow to text

1. Select the WordArt text you want to add a shadow to.

   

   Tip:  In PowerPoint, you can also select text that isn't WordArt and apply a drop shadow to it.

2. On the Drawing Tools Format tab, click Text Effects > Shadow and then pick the shadow you want.

   

   When you rest your pointer on one of the shadow effects, it appears as a preview on the text.

   Tip:  To customize the shadow, click Shadow Options, at the bottom of the shadow choices.

More about shadows and effects

Change the color of a shadow.

Add an effect for a picture.