How to Apply 3D Effects and Shadows to Shapes

This guide shows how to apply 2D and 3D visual effects to PowerPoint shapes using Aspose.Slides FOSS for Python. Use shape.effect_format for 2D effects (outer shadow, glow, blur, soft edge) and shape.three_d_format for 3D appearance (bevel, camera perspective, light rig, material, depth). Both effect systems can be combined on the same shape.

Prerequisites

Install the library in your Python environment by running the following pip command before running any examples:

pip install aspose-slides-foss

Add an Outer Drop Shadow

Enable a drop shadow by calling ef.enable_outer_shadow_effect(), then set blur radius, direction, and distance:

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

Enable a glow ring around the shape by calling ef.enable_glow_effect(), then set the radius and color:

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.from_argb(255, 255, 215, 0)  # gold

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

Apply a Gaussian Blur

Apply a Gaussian blur to a shape by calling shape.effect_format.set_blur_effect(radius, grow) where radius is the blur spread in points:

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

Add a raised-edge bevel by setting shape.three_d_format.bevel_top.bevel_type to a BevelPresetType constant, then setting width and height:

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

Combine a bevel with a camera projection and light rig to produce a three-dimensional metal appearance. Set tdf.camera.camera_type, tdf.light_rig.light_type, tdf.light_rig.direction, and tdf.material:

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.ROUND_CORNER_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

Check whether a shape has active effects using ef.is_no_effects, then disable individual effects with ef.disable_outer_shadow_effect() or ef.disable_glow_effect():

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