Another scenario is for software or applications that can only utilise vector artwork, such as the XAML Icon format. Maintaining a completely vector file when designing icons is particularly important when the client wishes to use them for Print and therefore scale them up. In other words, the vector object will scale perfectly but the raster drop shadow will not, giving a pixelated, ‘blocky-looking’ effect when zoomed in or enlarged. However, I find the effect can be a little clunky to work with because the shadow effect is rendered as a raster object so you lose the benefit of scalable vector loveliness when the file is opened anywhere except in its native Illustrator.

This article looks at how to keep your Illustrator files ‘fully’ vector and still create an attractive vector Drop Shadow effect.įor any icon designer it’s a straight-forward process to create a nice, feathered, transparent drop shadow in Photoshop, and the same process can be followed in Illustrator too by using the ‘Effect -> Stylize -> Drop Shadow’ command.

Creating vectors in illustrator