Quick Tip: Create a Long Shadow Using a Blend in Illustrator - Part 1

Long shadows are all the rage. There are many ways to create them, but using a Blend has its advantages. The blend remains live, so if you want, you can change the color, the position or the opacity without having to start over again. The first video shows you how to create the shadow effect, and in the second one, you'll learn how to record the steps as an action you can use on any object to create a blended shadow.
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[@arpitharai]

Thank you :-) I liked the blend option. My icon was different shaped, I got many black lines initially, not the smooth shadow. I skipped the step of reducing the opacity of the icon out side the rounded square in the tutorial before doing 'make blend' step. This gave me very clear shadow. Hope this helps others who faced the same issue :-)

[@TheFaithKids]

Very well explained, I followed this tutorial without the sound, it was that simple, thank you!

[@SamirGhodiya]

Thank you for your quick and great tutorial

[@danielgingelllittlejohn8772]

Thanks. Straight to the point.

[@jakeavila5318]

I've tried this multiple times and have become frustrated every time I attempt this I get very choppy lines/look, not smooth at all, I've tried adjusting the steps I've tried the smooth color option nothing is working, also my preview button is greyed out so i can't even preview it an info on this issue?

[@amdiata]

i've find a solution for you click ctrl+E and bammm

[@glorysanggor4073]

@@amdiata Thank You so much

[@michalbartosz4878]

@@amdiata Legend!!

[@MyLastSong719]

@PODORIAN This isn't a great fix. What you are doing is having Illustrator switch between CPU rendering mode and GPU rendering mode. If your final file is still in an SVG format and uses GPU rendering it'll still look the same

[@ramanjitsingh8594]

Hi I found this tut very helpful & just one small help i was trying the shadows with different objects & shapes but the shadows seem to be different through blend mode for eg if i were to blend a star shaped shadow then i get sharp edges in the shadows unlike if its rounded shape where we get nice smooth & round edges.. please help with a workaround Tut for this. Thank you

[@TLCpayroll]

Worked like a charm. Thank you!

[@MathiasBacher]

Thank you! It was REALLY good explained. Even for non-pros like me. 👍

[@MarianneCothern]

Thank you! Very clear and concise!

[@ifmproduction7158]

thank you !! your explanation so detail

[@unpaomrougue]

is not working out for me ... the copies of my path, came on the same layer rather than a original one. The option to make in the blend section is not highlighted.

[@deeps501]

very beautifully described... liked it

[@squarebaga116]

Good!! Clear enough and help a lot!

[@lattisimusdorsi5504]

My "Make" option is greyed out. What could be my problem?

[@kun490]

Thanks, what i did before was make a shadowish shape by pen tool and reducing its opacity.
Damn, i just needed to search in UA-cam.
thanks a lot

[@aspirinemaga]

My Blend Options won't apply blend (shadow) transition to 0%, dunno why

[@rianedgar]

Nice! Thanks a lot. Perfect tutorial. :)

[@matthewzehnder4936]

Thank you! Very useful!

[@ahmedelfassi8558]

awesome :D helped me a lot

[@MissFiyah1]

Yaay, it worked, much appreciated.

[@tobiask3645]

Your voice is so awsome! :)

[@kunalhunks]

Thank you miss

[@decijebajke]

Thanks!

[@TheThinker71]

nice one

[@marthag3526]

Thanks !!!

[@patarnadeak4883]

nice..thanks a lot.

[@rroossyyiidd]

Flat design..

[@patarnadeak4883]

hehe..iya sid..coba2

[@raubacaco]

nice :)

[@mographstudio4888]

+

[@aswinraj4169]

thnks