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7. The Menus / 7.8 The Effects Menu

### 7.8.51 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.