Drop Shadow

Make It Float

Do it with a drop shadow.

Resize The Canvas The current Photoshop canvas size is too small to encompass the drop shadow area. Increase it by approximately 10% and put the size increase to the right and bottom of the image (Image > Canvas Size >). Width: Approximately +10%. Height: Approximately +10% Anchor: Top left corner.

Continuation: Use the sample as a guide

Change the Gray Background to white. Click activate the Gray Background layer. Select the entire layer (Ctrl + A). Fill the selection with white (Edit > Fill > Use: White). Place the Palette Shape Layer above the new White Background.

Duplicate the Palette Shape layer. ("drag" it to the "Create New Layers" Icon. Relabel the layer to Shadow (Double click on the copy layer to open the "Layers Options").

Turn the new Shadow into the Drop Shadow Layer. Relabel Shadow to Drop Shadow. Nudge the Drop Shadow into position. Press and hold the "Ctrl" key. Press both the "down" and the "right" arrow keys seven times. Press the down key 3 more times. Release the "Ctrl" key. Blur the Drop Shadow image to soften the lighting. Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur... set to value 2.5. Lower the "Layers Opacity" to 44%. This works especially well with texture backgrounds. It allows the texture to show through the shadow creating a very believable drop shadow.

Click Next to learn about creating a frame with Bevel.

3-D Buttons In Three Steps
Introduction to Web Design with Adobe Photoshop | Table of Contents
Beveled Frame Part 1