How to add an outline effect to an Outline Layer

[def-pri-pub]

I have some text that I drew using the spline tool and created it with outline layers. I want to add a white outline effect to these layers. I tried to do this by using a Shade layer, but it’s not giving me the desired effect. In some other graphics software, you can use a “drop shadow” or glow effect to achieve this (by also setting the feather to be a hard stop). Is there a way I can do this easily in Synfig?

It doesn’t seem like a glow/outline/“hard drop shadow” effect exists in Synfig. I know I can link points together. Should I duplicate the outline layers, then have those duplicates be white and have a larger width?

[GregorysonofCarl]

Hello and welcome to the forums!

As far as I know there is no Grow_Outline layer, but the Group layer has a property called Outline_Grow that serves the same purpose. I suggest duplicating the text group like you said and then adjusting Outline_Grow as needed.

Unfortunately, Outline_Grow only works on Outline and Advanced Outline layers. Text and region layers unaffected.

[veermetri05]

@def-pri-pub

Should I duplicate the outline layers, then have those duplicates be white and have a larger width?

That seems a proper solution, you should do that.

@def-pri-pub

It doesn’t seem like a glow/outline/“hard drop shadow” effect exists in Synfig

So if you want a hard drop shadow without the blur you can set the Shade Layers size property to zero. This will create a hard drop shadow.

Also, you can use a combination of filter groups to achieve the effect that you want.

Here’s an outline of the outline effect.

How to create a outline on outline effect in Synfig?

What is outline on outline ? Better explained [outline outline] You can see a white outline which seems to be an outline of another outline (color violet). How to create it ? This is not true outline on outline (and I think this is not technically possible) 1.You have to create a advanced outline (or outline). 2.Duplicate the first advanced outline and then select the advanced outline (which is below) and increase it’s width. 3.You also need to link the Width Point List and …

Also you can use Filter Group as described in

Animation in Synfig | Micro Animation by me [project files included]

[myalarmclock] alarmclock.sifz (19.0 KB) Original Creator: Alarm Clock [GIF] by Daan De Deckere on Dribbble 27th animation of 100 animations Didn’t knew about shade layer till now , learnt about it today ! One trick for smaller shadows: 1.Create a filter group layer 2.Add a solid color into the filter group layer, set it’s(Solid Color’s) blend method to “Straight Onto” (Change it’s color to black or whatever you want the shadow to be) 3.Set the blend method of filter group…

[def-pri-pub]

I went with @GregorysonofCarl’s solution as it seemed to be the simplest of them all and it is working well for me.

Thanks!