Aspose.Slides FOSS
Python
How to Apply 3D Effects and Shadows to Shapes

How to Apply 3D Effects and Shadows to Shapes

Aspose.Slides FOSS provides two independent effect systems on every shape:

  • shape.effect_format: 2D visual effects: outer shadow, glow, blur, soft edge
  • shape.three_d_format: 3D appearance: bevel, camera perspective, light rig, material, depth

Both systems can be combined on the same shape.

Prerequisites 

pip install aspose-slides-foss

Add an Outer Drop Shadow 

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType
from aspose.slides_foss.drawing import Color
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    shape = prs.slides[0].shapes.add_auto_shape(
        ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 100, 100, 300, 120
    )
    shape.add_text_frame("Shadowed Shape")

    ef = shape.effect_format
    ef.enable_outer_shadow_effect()
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.blur_radius = 10       # softness in points
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.direction = 315        # 315° = upper-left
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.distance = 8           # offset in points
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.shadow_color.color = Color.from_argb(128, 0, 0, 0)

    prs.save("shadow.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Common direction values: 0=right, 45=lower-right, 90=down, 180=left, 270=up, 315=upper-left.

Add a Glow Effect 

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType
from aspose.slides_foss.drawing import Color
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    shape = prs.slides[0].shapes.add_auto_shape(
        ShapeType.ELLIPSE, 150, 100, 250, 250
    )

    ef = shape.effect_format
    ef.enable_glow_effect()
    ef.glow_effect.radius = 20
    ef.glow_effect.color.color = Color.gold

    prs.save("glow.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Apply a Gaussian Blur 

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    shape = prs.slides[0].shapes.add_auto_shape(
        ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 100, 100, 350, 180
    )
    shape.effect_format.set_blur_effect(radius=10, grow=True)

    prs.save("blur.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

grow=True expands the blur region beyond the shape boundary; grow=False clips the blur inside the shape.

Apply a 3D Bevel 

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType, BevelPresetType
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    shape = prs.slides[0].shapes.add_auto_shape(
        ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 150, 150, 280, 120
    )
    shape.add_text_frame("3D Button")

    tdf = shape.three_d_format
    tdf.bevel_top.bevel_type = BevelPresetType.CIRCLE
    tdf.bevel_top.width = 12
    tdf.bevel_top.height = 6

    prs.save("bevel.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

BevelPresetType values: CIRCLE, RELAXED_INSET, COOL_SLANT, DIVOT, RIBLET, HARD_EDGE, SLOPE, CONVEX

3D Bevel with Camera and Light Rig 

from aspose.slides_foss import (
    ShapeType, BevelPresetType, CameraPresetType,
    LightRigPresetType, LightingDirection, MaterialPresetType,
)
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    shape = prs.slides[0].shapes.add_auto_shape(
        ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 150, 150, 280, 120
    )
    shape.add_text_frame("Metal Button")

    tdf = shape.three_d_format
    tdf.bevel_top.bevel_type = BevelPresetType.CIRCLE
    tdf.bevel_top.width = 10
    tdf.bevel_top.height = 5
    tdf.camera.camera_type = CameraPresetType.PERSPECTIVE_ABOVE
    tdf.light_rig.light_type = LightRigPresetType.BALANCED
    tdf.light_rig.direction = LightingDirection.TOP
    tdf.material = MaterialPresetType.METAL
    tdf.depth = 20

    prs.save("3d-metal.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Combine Shadow and 3D Bevel

Both effect systems can be active simultaneously on the same shape:

from aspose.slides_foss import (
    ShapeType, FillType, BevelPresetType,
    CameraPresetType, MaterialPresetType,
)
from aspose.slides_foss.drawing import Color
import aspose.slides_foss as slides
from aspose.slides_foss.export import SaveFormat

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    shape = prs.slides[0].shapes.add_auto_shape(
        ShapeType.ROUNDED_RECTANGLE, 150, 150, 320, 130
    )
    shape.add_text_frame("Premium Card")

    # Solid fill
    shape.fill_format.fill_type = FillType.SOLID
    shape.fill_format.solid_fill_color.color = Color.from_argb(255, 30, 80, 180)

    # 3D bevel
    tdf = shape.three_d_format
    tdf.bevel_top.bevel_type = BevelPresetType.CIRCLE
    tdf.bevel_top.width = 8
    tdf.camera.camera_type = CameraPresetType.PERSPECTIVE_ABOVE
    tdf.material = MaterialPresetType.PLASTIC

    # Drop shadow
    ef = shape.effect_format
    ef.enable_outer_shadow_effect()
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.blur_radius = 12
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.direction = 270
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.distance = 6
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.shadow_color.color = Color.from_argb(80, 0, 0, 0)

    prs.save("premium-card.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Check and Remove Effects 

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType
import aspose.slides_foss as slides

with slides.Presentation() as prs:
    shape = prs.slides[0].shapes.add_auto_shape(
        ShapeType.RECTANGLE, 100, 100, 200, 100
    )
    ef = shape.effect_format

    ef.enable_outer_shadow_effect()
    ef.enable_glow_effect()
    print(f"Has effects: {not ef.is_no_effects}")  # True

    ef.disable_outer_shadow_effect()
    ef.disable_glow_effect()
    print(f"Has effects: {not ef.is_no_effects}")  # False

See Also