Drop Shadows // Additions For Lovely Lettering

Hhaapppyy Sssuunnddaayy!

Also, happy National Day of Prayer! I hope you are all safe and well.

I have been rather scant in posts lately, but I’m a comin’ back. I have been doing lots of letter art and lettering in general, and it crossed my mind that I haven’t done that many lettering posts.

When I first started brush lettering in 2018, I would look at pictures of quotes and things and I would see these “shadows” on the letters that kind of made them look 3D. I thought that was so cool, but it took me awhile to learn, But now that I do it a lot I thought I’d share it with you! So I hope this helps you with your drop shadows. They’re so fun to add.

I use drop shadows a lot for bullet journaling and writing letters, and I thought you all might like to see how I go about mine.

To start out, pick one of your favorite markers or brush pens or pens. I’m using Tombow Dual Brush pens for this tutorial.

#1 Basic Dropshadow

I lettered a simple “hello” because it has a lot of good shapes to practice on. You can write anything, though!

For the drop shadows on this one I’m using my Pilot Frixion ball pen. (GUYS, it’s erasable!  Perfect for writing.)

Start on the top of the downstroke of the letter. In brush lettering, this is the thickest part. If you’re writing with a regular pen or marker, just imagine where you pulled the pen down.

I always draw my drop shadows on the left, but that’s a personal preference.

When you get to an intersection between lines, (like below) don’t go over it. Stop, pick up your pen and go over that line, and then begin directly after it. It’s a minor detail, be it makes it look more like a shadow.

Continue drawing your drop shadows on the rest of the letters.

Whenever you get to a letter like O, it can be a bit tricky to decide what to do. I always start on the inner portion (where you would start the letter) and I do my regular downstroke.

Then go on the upper portion and start.

When you get to the overlapping part, go until you meet the line you entered the letter on. Jump over it, then continue with your line to distinguish the overlapping and the beginning sections, but don’t go any farther.

VOILA!  It’s a simple way to add a little fun to your lettering.

#2 A Bit More Plump

The next one is one I do often.

Instead of a regular pen, I’m using the Tomdow fudenosuke hard tip (My favorite. I use this most every day!) to do the drop shadows. This will create a more thick line without it being too thick.

Start again from the top of the downstroke, and head down, jumping over any line intersections.

TAA DAA!

It’s a bit more of a bold look, I like how it looks like a shadow. This can be done with any tools, too, which is a plus!

#3 A Bit More Fancy

This is what I most use when it comes to drop shadows, I love how the shadows… scroll for more!

I’m back to the Pilot Frixion pen, but you can use anything(:

Start by doing the same thing as the other two, draw the drop shadows along the edge of the downstrokes.

Once you’ve done that, go back to the first letter and start your line on the top of the entering line.

Continue that line over where you intersected the lines and up into the loop. Don’t go all the way around, your new line should stop under where the other one started.

Start again on top of the next line. End mid-arch, never overlapping your first set of drop shadows.

Next to the loop going into E the same way. Also to the loop on e. Continue this way until you’ve reached the end.

Yay! This is my favorite way to do drop shadows. It’s so fun and easy!

#4 A Shade Lighter Than The Rest

This is a subtle and fun way to add dimension to your lettering, and it’s easy and fun, too!

Pick a color, any color, then find a lighter one, probably 60% lighter. If you do black, find a light grey. Navy, find light blue. I did blush pink/mauve, so I found a faint/baby pink.

Here are the two most used backdrop colors I use, 800 (baby pink) and N89 (warm grey) (also 873 (coral), but I didn’t snap a photo)

Take the brush side (or however you can make a thick stroke on the pen you use) and do the same as the first two, start at the top of the downstroke and go down.

Done! It’s a subtle way to add depth and dimension, and the outcome is really pretty!

As a little bonus onto this style, you can take a black pen (I’m using the Frixion one again) and line the downstrokes close to the original letter.

#5 A Different Hue

I picked a envelope with a medium color, turquoise, and I wrote in an equal tone.

Instead of black or pink or grey, grab a white, silver or gold. I’m using my white Uni-ball Signo broad gel pen. (Ammaazziinngg)

Start like before, starting at the top of the downstroke and going down.

Then, like #3, line the inside of the upstrokes.

I love how this creates more of a highlighted look than a shadow. It’s so pretty on toned paper such as this.

I hope you all enjoyed this little tutorial! Let me know what you thought!

Have a happy Sunday!

Which was your favorite, #1, #2, #3, #4, #5? Do you like tutorials like these? Want more lettering posts, or something else (what else?)? Do you like bradford pear trees? Snails or worms? XD