7. The Menus / 7.8 The Effects Menu
7.8.50 Layer Style/Special Emboss
Special Emboss is very similar to Inner Emboss, offers much more control
over the appearance of the style.
Special Emboss usually creates high-quality results, but note, that using a
hair line - a line with the width 0 - as outline may significantly degrade the
result.
The following list the main advantages of Special Emboss in comparison to
Inner Emboss. All examples are applied to a simple red rectangle:
- The edge contour can be controlled more precisely.

- Shapes
with a hole can be created.

- The
layer, which the Special Emboss is used on, can be gradually made
transparent. In combination with the other new features more
sophisticated glass and gel effects can be created.

- Any
number of light sources can be used for lighting. The following
example uses three: one from above, one from the bottom and one
perpendicular above the rectangle.

- Additional
to parallel light point-light sources can be used now, too.
Point-light allows a more dynamic lighting. The left example shows
parallel light, the right point-light.

- Additionally
a texture can be applied to create a more dynamic textured
on the surfaces. The left example uses a simple pattern, the right side a
text.
