Pages 5 - creating drop shadows?

Just opened Pages 5x for the first time.


No 'inspector' I see.


Can't seem to find a way to create 'drop-shadows' ... on images or text.


I've been using Pages 4x to create DVD graphics, eBooks, elaborate graphics etc. It takes me half an hour to do a lovely poster in Pages ... the exact same poster in InDesign takes me 3 hours.


I hope we haven't lost functionality with Pages 5?

MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 23, 2014 9:28 AM

Reply
7 replies

May 23, 2014 12:04 PM in response to Ben Low

Lovely pic. Thank you Jerry...


And if it's a word-processing document? How do we bring up the 'Style / Text / Arrange' inspector?


And while I've got your attention. I notice there isn't the obvious break between word-processing and page-layout - in the template collection. Is it assumed that we just choose between one default template or another - figuring that with the graphics etc. it HAS to be a layout page?


Mmm. Something I've always wished with Pages 4, which I could never figure out, was to be able to insert a layout page in a word processing document. Is such a thing possible?


All ears,



Ben

May 23, 2014 1:13 PM in response to Ben Low

My example is a Word Processing doc.


The Format pane is on by default, but if it isn't showing, click the Paintbrush icon.


The switch for Page Layout is in the Document pane, Document tab, a checkbox called Document Body, just below the Header and Footer controls.


Still we don't have the ability to mix the modes. Worse, Pages V5 has fewer abilities in Page Layout mode than V4 had. It's really not worth using except in certain limited applications. If you need Page Layout, use V4.


Jerry

May 23, 2014 6:06 PM in response to Jerrold Green1

Got it. Great help Jerry, and very much appreciated.


I did a bunch of eBooks for some scientist friends a couple of years ago. I couldn't believe how much was possible with pages. I ended up doing very elaborate, complicated graphics ... PAINLESSLY ... in Pages 4. It's a piece of genius, that app. I can appreciate what they are trying to do with Pages 5, but wonder at the logic of abandoning some of the brilliant things that Page 4 could do. Maybe in an update they will put these things back.


Thank you again,


And all the best,



Ben

May 24, 2014 8:40 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

You're darn tootin' Peter. I've got half a dozen projects going in the OLD Pages right now. I am trying the NEW Pages though, simple things. Seems to be working okay.


I bad mouthed FCP X for a year (or more). I use FCP 7 all the time, and Color, and etc. etc. Recently I bit the bullet and put some effort into working with FCP X. I immediately bought Premiere, just in case. Did a few films with it. Maybe FCPX wasn't quite so 'ready' when it came out and I first tried it. Now it is very interesting ... and does some things screamingly fast. I might even grow to like it, and switch over.


So I'm trying to be more careful, thoughtful, before getting irritated with Apple moves, the logic of which I don't quite get. I'll tell you one thing that completely eludes me though - the length of the cord on the mouse. Most of the Apple laptops I've used in the last five years have had the USB socket on the left side. The mouse cord doesn't reach to the left side. I just bought a new mouse. The store said they had one with a longer cable now. Nope. Same short cable. I wonder who's running the mouse department at Apple.


Thank you Peter, always much appreciated.


Ben

May 25, 2014 7:04 PM in response to Ben Low

Been almost 4 years now with FCP X?


On my calculation Apple will take over 10 years to get Pages 5 to get where Pages '09 was 5 years ago, assuming they stay on course with their promises, which they haven't.


A big difference with FCP X was that it wasn't just dumbed down to work on iPads.


Nevertheless you still can't transfer projects over I believe. It is that fundamental disregard for users work that is the most offputting aspect of Apple.


Peter

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Pages 5 - creating drop shadows?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.