If you’re a website designer and use Google Maps’ API on a regular basis, you’re aware of its limitations in terms of creating custom markers. Shadowmaker is an easy tool which lets you create a believable-looking shadow behind your maker image to be displayed on your map.
To use Shadowmaker, simply upload your image and click “make shadow”. Shadowmaker will then do the following in order to produce a shadow image: create a grayscale image of the original, scale the image by half of its original height, and rotate it 45 degrees, blur the edges of the shadow image, and then superimpose a slightly shrunken version of the pre-blurred shadow on the finished product. You can preview the results in several different settings, and use the link provided to access and download the image.
Cycloloco.com In Their Own Words
It is easy to program custom markers for the Google Maps API, but getting the right shadow behind your icon is difficult. I personally don’t like to spend lots of time in image editing software for tasks that can be automated. Having read several descriptions for creating the kind of semi-3d shadow that is expected for a marker icon in the Maps API, I wrote a Java2D-based application to automate this task.
Why Cycloloco.com It Might Be A Killer
Shadowmaker lets you create believable and high-quality shadows for any kind of Google Maps image. It’s easy and quick to use and produces aesthetically pleasing results.
Some Questions About Cycloloco.com
Why market this service strictly for Google Maps? Why not for avatar use as well? 
