Upload an image to add a drop shadow
Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, WEBP, BMP, GIF (non-animated)
Paste (Ctrl/⌘+V) or drop an image — or import from a URL
A drop shadow is the quickest way to make an image feel like it is lifting off the page, and Image Machine adds one entirely in your browser. The shadow is built from your image's own silhouette: a transparent PNG — a logo, a sticker, a product cut-out — casts the shadow of its actual shape, while a solid photo casts a soft shadow of its rectangle so it floats like a card. Four controls shape the look: the horizontal and vertical offset move the light source, Blur sets how soft and far the shadow spreads, Opacity sets how dark it is, and the colour swatch lets you pick any shadow tint — a neutral grey, a deep black, or a coloured glow. The shadow is rendered with a true Gaussian-style blur and composited underneath your image with correct transparency, so the anti-aliased edges of a cut-out stay clean and never fringe. Image Machine automatically enlarges the canvas so the shadow is never clipped, and exports a PNG with the shadow baked in on a transparent background — ready to drop onto any colour, slide deck, store listing or web page. Everything runs locally: your image is never uploaded, there is no sign-up, and there is no watermark.
How It Works
Choose a tool
Pick from 120+ tools to resize, convert, compress, or enhance your image.
Upload & edit
Drag and drop your image and adjust the settings. It stays on your device.
Download
Save your result instantly — no watermark, no sign-up required.
Why Image Machine?
Your files never leave your device
All processing runs locally in your browser. Your images are never uploaded to a server.
Completely free
Every tool is free, with no limits, no watermarks, and no hidden costs.
Lightning fast
No upload waiting — your images are processed instantly on your own device.
Professional quality
Pixel-perfect output with full control over format, size, and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of image works best for a drop shadow?
Both transparent and solid images work, but they give different looks. A transparent PNG — a logo, an icon, a product photo with the background removed — casts a shadow in the exact shape of its subject, which is the classic sticker or cut-out effect. A normal photo with no transparency casts a soft shadow of its whole rectangle, so it looks like a card or print floating above the page. If you want a shaped shadow around an object, remove its background first (the Remove Background tool does this), then add the drop shadow.
Why is the result image larger than the one I uploaded?
The canvas is automatically enlarged to make room for the shadow so it is never cut off at the edges. The extra space is fully transparent in the exported PNG, so when you place the image on a coloured background, a slide or a web page, only the shadow and your original picture show — the padding disappears. How much the canvas grows depends on the blur and offset you choose: a large, far-offset shadow needs more room than a tight one.
Can I change the shadow's direction and colour?
Yes. The horizontal and vertical offset sliders move the shadow, which is the same as moving an imaginary light source — push the shadow down and to the right for a typical overhead light, or centre it for an even glow all around the subject. The Blur slider controls how soft and spread-out the shadow is, Opacity controls how dark it is, and the colour swatch sets the shadow's tint — keep it black or grey for a realistic shadow, or pick a colour for a neon-style glow.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. The drop shadow is rendered entirely in your browser on the HTML canvas, so your image never leaves your device and the tool keeps working offline once the page has loaded. The shadow is composited with correct transparency — only the alpha silhouette is blurred and tinted, and your original pixels are placed back on top untouched. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and the result downloads as a PNG with a transparent background.