Aspose.Slides FOSS
Python
Developer Guide
3D and Visual Effects

Working with 3D Effects and Visual Effects — Aspose.Slides FOSS for Python

Aspose.Slides FOSS for Python provides two separate effect systems accessible on every shape:

  • EffectFormat (shape.effect_format): 2D visual effects: shadow, glow, soft edge, blur, reflection
  • ThreeDFormat (shape.three_d_format): 3D appearance: bevel, camera projection, light rig, material, extrusion depth

Both persist through save/reload cycles.

Visual Effects (EffectFormat)

Outer Drop Shadow 

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 Text")

    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       # angle: 315° = upper-left cast
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.distance = 8          # offset in points
    ef.outer_shadow_effect.shadow_color.color = Color.from_argb(128, 0, 0, 0)  # semi-transparent black

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

Common direction values: 0 = right, 45 = lower-right, 90 = down, 270 = up, 315 = upper-left.

Glow Effect 

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, 200, 200)

    ef = shape.effect_format
    ef.enable_glow_effect()
    ef.glow_effect.radius = 15
    ef.glow_effect.color.color = Color.gold

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

Soft Edge (Feathered Border) 

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)

    ef = shape.effect_format
    ef.enable_soft_edge_effect()
    ef.soft_edge_effect.radius = 12   # feather radius in points

    prs.save("soft-edge.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Blur 

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=8, grow=True)

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

Checking and Removing Effects 

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

3D Formatting (ThreeDFormat)

Bevel Effect 

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, 250, 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

Camera Preset 

from aspose.slides_foss import ShapeType, BevelPresetType, CameraPresetType
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, 250, 120)
    tdf = shape.three_d_format
    tdf.bevel_top.bevel_type = BevelPresetType.CIRCLE
    tdf.bevel_top.width = 10
    tdf.camera.camera_type = CameraPresetType.PERSPECTIVE_ABOVE
    prs.save("camera.pptx", SaveFormat.PPTX)

Light Rig and 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, 250, 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)

MaterialPresetType values: STANDARD, WARM, COOL, PLASTIC, METAL, MATTE, WIREFRAME

Combining 2D and 3D Effects

You can apply both effect_format and three_d_format to 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.ROUNDED_RECTANGLE, 150, 150, 300, 120)
    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)

See Also