Effects

Help a piece stand out#

An effect changes the edge or the space around a piece. A shadow can separate words from a busy photo; a glow puts a soft color around them; an outline traces their edge.

Start with a small effect and check the preview. Too much blur or glow can make small words harder to read. Open a saved widget in Library, tap Design Visually, select the text, icon, photo, or other supported piece, then tap Effects in the toolbar.

Inside the Effects panel, the buttons Shadow, Glow, and Outline choose which effect you are changing.

Add a shadow#

Select the piece, tap Effects in the toolbar, then Shadow inside its panel. Choose Soft, Strong, Long, or Lifted, then adjust the controls that appear.

A normal shadow offers blur, distance, and direction. A long shadow uses length and direction. Choose a shadow color or let the app use a darker shade of the text.

Add a glow#

Select the piece and open Effects → Glow. Choose a glow color, then drag the Glow strength ruler. Watch how far the light spreads around the piece.

Add an outline#

Select the piece and open Effects → Outline. Choose a color, then drag the Outline thickness ruler to change the width of the border around it.

Remove an effect#

Choose None in the effect’s own part. This removes that effect and keeps the layer. Tap Save when you finish.