Sigma Tuto

How to create Neon Illustration Happy New Year 2012 in Photoshop CS5

2011-12-28T21:07:00.002+00:00

n this tutorial, we are going to design a simple New Year illustration with neon digits in Photoshop CS5. I hope you enjoy this tutorial and that it inspires you to create your own illustration for New Year! Layered PSD file included. Let’s get started!

Final Image Preview

Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop with the size 1900px by 1200px (RGBcolor mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next background:

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush from Brush Tool (B).

Use this brush to paint the central part of the canvas, Foreground color is #03334C:

Select the Horizontal Type tool (T). Select a font, size and color in the Character panel.

Click in the canvas and type ’2012′. Press Enter to apply the text.

Set Fill to 0% for this layer and click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel to selectOuter Glow.

Add Inner Glow:

Apply Stroke:

We’ve got the next result:

Rasterize the text’s layer by creating a new layer above the digits’ one and then select both layers in Layers panel by holding Ctrl button. Then press CTRL+E to Merge Down.
Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 80% in Options bar).

Paint in the mask using this brush to change the opacity of the digits as shown.

Paint with the same Soft Round brush on the mask, but of a smaller Brush Size and using this time white color to give back the brightness on several zones on the same digits, to get the same result as the one from below:

We’ve got the next result:

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush of white color (brush Opacity – 10%).

Use this brush to paint certain places on the digits.

Create the next new layer and select again the Soft Round brush.

Use this brush to represent a dot on the bottom part of the digits’ edge.

Using the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command, we can stretch the dot horizontally to get the same result as on the next picture. Set Fill to 50% for this layer.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Outer Glow.

We’ve got the next result:

Apply the above described method on a new layer (Create a new layer) and get a line by stretching it out of the dot. The brush remains the same.

Set Fill to 46% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Overlay.

Make a copy of the last made layer and select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to stretch down the copy’s layer.

Make a copy of this last made layer:

Make a copy of the last represented layer and select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to place the copy’s layer between the top horizontal line and the bottom one.

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush of white color (brush Opacity – 10%).

Use this brush to represent the shining effect under the digits on the central part of the canvas.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Lighter Color.

Create a new layer and select here the Soft Round brush of white color.

Use this brush to represent a dot on the right part of the digits.

Using the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command, it’s possible to stretch out the dot horizontally to get the same result as below:

Set Fill to 25% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Overlay.

Make a copy of the recently made layer and select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to place the copy’s layer on the digits’ left side as on the next picture it is demonstrated:

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections.

We’ve got the next result:

Create a Mystery Green Text Effect in Photoshop

2011-09-28T12:01:00.002+00:00

n this tutorial, we’ll learn how to create a Mystery Green Text effect in Photoshop.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop CS5
Estimated Completion Time: 30 Minutes

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.
Wing Brushes
Forest Image
Butterfly
Now that we have everything we need, so let’s start!
Step 1:- Create a new file with 900px Width and 500px Height.

Step 2:- Open the forest image mentioned above. And paste it on our main file.

Step 3:- Now create a new layer, for this click on layer> New> Layer. Then select the “Soft round brush” with 2px size. Now make small stars randomly with color #ffffff.

Step 4:- Create another layer, then select one of the ray brushes and use it with color # 877e01.

Step 5:- Now change the foreground color and add more rays with color # b6ab02 and # d8ce3a.

Step 6:- It’s time to add our text, you can type whatever you want. But make sure the text color is # 353200.

Step 7:- Reduce the opacity of the Text layer to 85%.

Step 8:- Right click on the text layer and select “Duplicate Layer”. Now change the text color to # ccc419 and move the text around a bit.

Step 9:- Now duplicate the text layer one more time. Then click on Layer> Layer style> Bevel and Emboss.

Step 10:- Now reduce the fill to 0% to have a nice glassy effect.

Step 11:- Select the brush tool with 8px size and foreground color # 58560d. Now select the Pen Tool and create a path around our “G”.

Step 12:- Now right click on the path and select “Stoke Path”.

Step 13:- Now reduce the brush size to 5px and change the foreground color to # c2b91f. Then once again right click on the path and select “Stroke Path”.

Step 14:- Select the Eraser Tool and remove some parts so it looks a vine.

Step 15:- Now repeat the same process with all of the remaining letters.

Step 16:- Now we’ll give our text a bit of glow, so click on “Ellipse Tool” and create a small round. Fill it with # ffffff.

Step 17:- Add some outer glow to the round, so click on Layer> Layer style> Outer Glow.

Step 18:- Now click on Filter> Blue> Gaussian Blue.

Step 19:- Simply duplicate the glow layer and add this on the edges of our letters.

Step 20:- Select one of the wings brush and use it randomly on our text with color # c5c123.

Step 21:- Now click on Layer> Layer style> Stroke. And add the stoke to our winds with color # 323100.

Step 22:- Now to finish it off add some butterflies with different colors.
Now our Green Text effect is done. We hope you guys enjoyed the tutorial and learn something interesting. We’ll be back with some new tutorials till then keep designing!

Stamp Photoshop Tutorial

2011-09-28T12:00:00.003+00:00

Learn how to create a Photoshop stamp effect from this easy to follow tutorial. In just a few simple steps you can obtain a realistic mail stampand also a stamped effect that can be applied to any image. I will use some Photoshop basics but also more advanced techniques like creating outlines with Work Path or adding effects with Filters.

If you want to skip some steps you can use stamp brushes instead of creating one from the scratch. As for the font used you can replace it with a free Photoshop stamp font. For all our registered users we giveaway the PSD file. I really hope you will find this tutorial useful enough to share it with your friends. And as a plus I will release a stamp action to help you create mail stamps even faster, so stay tune.

Advertisment

First open in a new psd file the photo that you want to transform into stamp. I have choosen my ownblog mascot. Call this layer Photo Layer.

Add a simple 1px #907e60 border to this photo. Open the layer style window and check Stroke, 1px, outside and the color, as I've said, is #907e60.

With the Rectangle Tool draw a white shape like in the image, call it Photo Frame Layer. Select the two layers and with the Move Tool selected press Align Vertical Center and Align Horizontal Centers so that you center the two layers. Merge the two layers and call the new layer, Stamp Layer.

Add some text that describes the stamp. I have choosed Georgia Font Family but you can always search for a stamp font on the internet. Select the Stamp Layer and all the Text Layers and merge the. You have to rasterize the text layers first otherwise the Merge will not work.

Now comes the step where we transform the photo into a stamp. Select the Eraser Tool, choose a Hard Round Brush, size 15px.

Toggle the Brush Panel, select Brush Tip Shape and set the Spacing to 167% just like in the image.

Be sure you have the Eraser Tool and the Stamp Layer selected. Press SHIFT and simply draw a line around the edges of the stamp. The SHIFT pressed will help you draw straight lines in Photoshop. You should know that you can't make this border with a single move. You have to make 4 different lines with the Eraser Tool.

Another method, much faster, is to use Work Paths. Press CTRL and click the tumbnail of the Stamp Layer. Now the Stamp is selected. With the Restangular Marquee Tool selected right click on the selection and choose Make Work Path.

Make sure you have the Eraser Tool selected. Go to the Path Tab and right click on the Work Path and choose Stroke Path. You will obtain a beautiful stamp effect.

So the stamp is now looking good. For more imapct open the Layer Style Window and add Drop Shadow (black, multiply, 35 %, angle 120, distance 3, spread 0 and size 2 px)

To make it look more realistic I will stamp it. For that make another blank layer and call it Stamped Effect. We will use Work Path to create a nice realistic stamp.

Select the Brush Tool and choose a 9px hard round brush, color black. Return to the Work path and choose Stroke Path like in the previous step, but this time, instead of Eraser Tool we will use the Brush Tool.

Resize the Work Path (CTRL+T) to 50% and reapeat the same procedure to obtain two black outlined circle.

Create a new layer, called Black Lines and draw several black horizontal lines with the Brush Tool. If you don't know how you can check out my tutorials for beginners.

With the Black Lines layer selected go to Filter, Distort and choose Waves with the following settings. You will obtain beautiful curved lines.

Resize the both layers and change their blending mode to Dissolve. Merge the two layers under one layer called Stamp Effect.

To remove the areas that exceed the stamp simply select the Photo Stamp Layer(press CTRL and click the Photo Stamp Layer thumbnail). Select the Stamp Effect Layer and press Add Layer Mask. Now you see that a part from the stamp effect is now hidden.

For the final touches you can use the Eraser Tool, spatter default brush and erase parts of the stamp effect and lower the opacity of the layer to 80%. If you don't want to create the stamped effect yourself you can use one of the many Photoshop Stamp Brushes available for free on the internet

To obtain a vintage stamp look I have used an old paper mask. You can choose a beautiful vintage old paper. You can now create your own customized envelope stamps, stamp icons and so on, using the power of Photoshop.

All our registered users can download the stamp PSD file for free.

DOWNLOAD!(1.07MB)

Make a Colorful Retro-themed Space Scene in Photoshop

2011-09-28T12:00:00.000+00:00

In this Photoshop tutorial, we will create a retro-themed scene that utilizes different lighting effects and arrangements. We will discuss how to create various lighting effects, different techniques to gain depth, ways of putting together a composition, a cool "RGB split" effect and much, much more.

Author: Sekani Solomon

Sekani Solomon is a young designer hailing from the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. He was introduced to Photoshop at the young age of 13, but only began using the software seriously in 2008. He studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) under the Motion Media Design and Visual Effects program. He continues to push the boundaries of his design capacity by engaging himself in different digital media fields. Check out his work on Flickr.

Preview

Tutorial Resources

Image: Space Galaxy – Desktop Wallpaper (Desktopmedia)
Image: Female Stock 131 (Katanaz-Stock)
Image: vinyl_record (Refe Tuma)
Brushes: Hi-Res Watercolor Photoshop Brushes (Bittbox)
Brushes: Halftone pack (Media Militia)
Images: Wisps Pack (Media Militia)
Image: orbs (Sekani Solomon)

Step 1: Create a Radial Gradient Layer

We will begin by making a new Photoshop document (3000×2281px, 300 DPI).

Duplicate the default Background layer and then delete the original.

Give the layer a Gradient Overlay layer style (Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay) with the following settings (the colors are: #dadada and #171616):

Step 2: Add the Galaxy Background

Here, we are going to begin building the background. Download and open Space Galaxy – Desktop Wallpaper and place it over the Background layer. Resize it to fit the entire composition and then set the Blend Mode of its layer toOverlay.

Step 3: Create a Black Ellipse

Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool, make a circle in the middle of the canvas. Then fill the circle with black.

Step 4: Add the Scene’s Subject

Download and open Female Stock 131. Place the subject into our canvas, resize her using Free Transform (Ctrl/Cmd + T), and then locate her in the center of the composition over the black ellipse we created in the previous step. Then add a layer mask on the subject’s layer.

Ctrl-click/Cmd-click on the circle layer to load a selection around the circle. Invert the selection (Select > Inverse) and mask away the parts of the subject’s body that are outside of the circle by going to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All.

Step 5: Prepare and Add the Vinyl Record

Download and open this vinyl_record image. We will need to crop this image before placing it into our main document. Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool, make a circle over the record and then, on a new layer, fill the elliptical selection with any color (such as black).

Load a selection around the circle (again, by Ctrl-clicking/Cmd-clicking the thumbnail of the layer in the Layers Panel) and then turn off the visibility of that layer. Click on the vinyl record layer to make it the active layer, and then copy and paste it to our main composition. Move the vinyl record layer below the subject’s layer, and make it slightly smaller by using Free Transform (Ctrl/Cmd + T) to scale it down.

Step 6: Add More Design Elements

Let’s add more design elements and work on the composition of the piece. Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), make a long, thin rectangle. Create a new layer. Fill the long, thin rectangle selection with black and then place it at an angle going across the subject.

Ctrl-click/Cmd-click on the rectangle layer to make a selection around the rectangle. Turn off the visibility of the rectangle layer. Click on the subject’s layer to make it the active layer. Give the layer a layer mask by clicking on theAdd layer mask icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel and then use the Brush Tool (B) with black as your Foreground color to hide parts of the subject within the rectangle selection.

Modify your brush tip so that it has 100% Hardness. Continue to mask the entire lower section of the subject’s body below the line you’ve just made. Turn on the visibility of the rectangle layer again.

Duplicate the vinyl record layer twice. Place both layers below the subject’s layer. Increase the scale of the first duplicate vinyl record and then mask away the parts above the diagonal rectangle. Reduce the size of the other duplicate vinyl record layer, then also mask away the top parts of it that go above the diagonal rectangle.

Copy the diagonal rectangle layer and place the copy below the vinyl record layers. Move the duplicate rectangle towards the right (use the image below as a reference). Copy the subject’s layer and the copy below the diagonal rectangle layer. Add a layer mask on the layer. Use the Brush Tool (B) on the layer mask to hide areas above the diagonal rectangle and to reveal the parts below it. Remember that on layer masks, black hides and white reveals so change the color of your brush depending on what you need to do.

Step 7: Enhance Design Elements

Let’s smoothen the edges of the diagonal rectangles and add a greater sense of depth by giving them shadows. Use the Eraser Tool (E) with 0% Hardness to erase at the edges of the diagonal rectangles to remove their sharpness.

Afterwards, make a new layer behind the topmost subject layer. Use a brush tip with 0% Hardness and with black as the Foreground color to paint shadows. Do this for the vinyl record layers and anywhere else you think should have shadows.

Step 8: Create Diagonal Lines with the Pen Tool

Adjust your brush tip to the following settings:

Switch to the Pen Tool (P). On a new layer, draw a straight horizontal line. Right-click/Control-click on the path, and then choose Stroke Path from the menu that appears. In the Stroke Path window, making sure the Stimulate Pressureoption is unchecked and then press OK to stroke the path. Create a new layer and repeat the process with a brush at 5px size.

Once done, rotate them with Free Transform so that they’re parallel with the black diagonal rectangles.

Merge the two line layers by selecting them both in the Layers Panel and then going to Layer > Merge Layers (Ctrl/Cmd + E). Duplicate the merged layer. Adjust the angle of the duplicate as needed and then place it parallel to the diagonal rectangle closest to the bottom of the canvas.

Step 9: Give the Black Circle a Gradient Overlay

To harmonize the black circle we created earlier with its background, let’s give it a gradient overlay with similar colors as the galaxy background. Add a Gradient Overlay layer style to the black circle layer using #000000 and #380429 for the colors.

Step 10: Create Intersections

Now we are going to make some interesting intersections among the various design elements. Using the Pen Tool (P), create a path around the subject’s clothing on a layer in between the first set of two lines, making sure not to select her skin. Convert the path into a selection by right-clicking/Control-clicking on it, and then choosing Make Selection from the menu that appears.

Duplicate the vinyl record layer and place this layer below the selected area, making sure to rotate the vinyl record so that the reflective areas can be seen. Use a layer mask to hide parts of the vinyl record that’s outside of the selection.

Click on the bottommost subject layer (remember that we have multiple layers of her). Using the same process, make a selection around her pants between the first and second lines, making sure to keep the edge out of the circle.

Step 11: Add Textures Using the Brush Tool

Download and install the Hi-Res Watercolor Photoshop Brushes brush library. Make sure that the active layer is still the bottommost subject layer. Switch to the Brush Tool (B) and set it up by choosing an appropriate paint brush tip. Add a layer mask and use the brush to mask out the bottom areas around her leg. Switch your brush tip color to white to reveal the lower leg, giving it some texture. You can experiment with different brush tips until you get the effect you like.

Duplicate the topmost copy of the subject layer. Scale it up with Free Transform, and rotate it a bit towards the right.

Use the same method above to give this layer a texture.

Step 12: Create Halftone Elements

We will mimic the halftone effect and add it as a design element in this step. Make several new layers under the subject layers and the vinyl record layers for the halftone elements.

Download the Halftone pack and, using a halftone brush, begin adding halftones to the new layers.

Step 13: Create Sketched Outlines

Create a new layer below the topmost set of lines. Using the Pen Tool (P), trace outlines around the subject stock layer. What we want to do is give her a sketched, surreal look, so stroke the path with the appropriate brush tip.

Duplicate the outline layer you just created and then use the Move Tool (V) to move the copy to the right. Lower the layer’s Opacity to about 42%.

Step 14: Add Sleek Light Streaks

Now we’ll create some sleek light effects. Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L), make a selection at the center of the canvas as shown below:

Using a large brush with 0% Hardness and a Foreground color of white, brush along the straight edges of the selection.

Deselect the lasso selection by choosing Select > Deselect (Ctrl/Cmd + D).

Use the Eraser Tool (E) to smoothen out its edges. Place the light streak parallel to the lines you made previously.

Duplicate the light streak and move the copies in various areas around the composition.

Step 15: Create a Bigger Circle

Duplicate the black circle layer. Make the duplicate black circle larger using Edit > Transform > Scale.

Double-click on the layer to access the Layer Style window to change the Opacity of the layer to 0%.

Modify the Gradient Overlay layer effect on this layer; it should already have one because layer styles are automatically copied when you duplicate a layer. Change the Blend Mode option of the Gradient Overlay to Overlay and check theReverse option to reverse the gradient.

Step 16: Add Dynamic Light Effects

Download and open one of the images from the Wisps Pack. Place the wisp image below the subject’s layer. Change the Blend Mode of the layer to Screen. Use the Eraser Tool (E) to remove excess edges. What you want to accomplish is to create the illusion that the light is following the outline and contours of the subject’s back.

Open up another image from the Wisps Pack. Place it on the subject’s lower body (leg and upper thigh). Change the Blend Mode to Screen. Change the hue (Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation) to -57. Also erase any excess edges.

Step 17: Create Dynamic Shadows

Create a new Curves adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves). In the Adjustments Panel, modify the curve in accordance to the image below. What this does is darken the scene a little bit. Fill the layer mask of the adjustment layer with black. Use a white brush with a low Opacity (30-40%) to paint over the shadows to reveal parts of the adjustment layer on top of them. Change the size of the brush as needed so that your layer masking work is as clean as possible.

Step 18: Create an Atmospheric Vignette Effect

Copy the galaxy layer and place the duplicated layer over all the layers. Change the Blend Mode of the layer to Screen.

Add a layer mask on the layer and mask away the outer edges of the galaxy to make a sort of vignette effect.

Step 19: Create a "Dimensional Shift" Effect

We are going to create an effect I like to call a "dimensional shift". To start, create a new layer. Draw a horizontal rectangle at the center of the canvas using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M).

Fill the rectangular area with black using the Paint Bucket Tool (G).

Place the black rectangle layer behind the subject and vinyl record layers. Using Free Transform, rotate the rectangle parallel to the lines we made earlier.

Create a new layer above the black rectangle layer and then choose Image > Apply Image. This merges all the visible layers into the new layer without permanently merging the other layers.

Right-click/Control-click on the merged layer, then choose Create Clipping Mask from the contextual menu. This layer will essentially become a layer mask for the layer below it. You know a clipping mask is created when there is an arrow on the layer indicating that it’s connected to the layer below it.

Next, move the clipping mask a little bit to create the "dimensional shift" effect. Once you have achieved a result that you like, use the Eraser Tool to erase the edges of the rectangle.

Duplicate the rectangle and the clipping mask and move it to the lower part of the image. Once again, move the clipping mask until the desired result is achieved.

Repeat the process, but this time, create a thinner black rectangle.

Step 20: Add More Sleek Light Streaks

Use the technique we talked about in Step 14 to create two more sleek light streaks at the bottom of the scene to bring additional balance to the composition.

Step 21: Add Orbs

Let us create a sense of depth by using diminishing size and depth of field techniques. I have included a stock image of black circular orbs which you can download here. You can create these orbs yourself (if you wish) using software that can create 3D objects.

We need to create a selection around the orbs. To make a selection, go into the Channels Panel (Window > Channels) and then click on the Alpha channel. Click on the Load channel as selection button at the bottom of the panel; it has a dashed circle icon and is the usually the leftmost button. This creates an outline of all the white areas in the channel, which happen to be our orbs.

Reselect the RBG channel by clicking on it and make sure the Alpha channel is no longer selected. Switch to the Layers Panel and you should see the selection is still active. Copy and paste the orbs into our main document.

Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), select individual orbs by drawing a rectangle around them, then use the Move Tool (V) to move them to different areas of the scene, making sure to modify their sizes.

Copy and paste the orbs if you want more than three. Arrange them so you have a sense of balance and depth in the composition.

Use a Gaussian Blur (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) with a radius of 27px. This blurs the orbs to give the illusion that the orbs are in the foreground of the image.

Step 22: Improving the Scene’s Lighting

Create a new layer. Go to Image > Apply Image to combine all the visible layers into the new layer. Duplicate this layer (Ctrl/Cmd + J). Rename one layer "Glowing" and the other "High Pass" to keep our work organized.

On the "Glowing" layer, choose Filter > Stylize > Glowing Edges.

Change the Blend Mode to Screen and reduce the Opacity to 50%.

Create a layer mask and, using a large brush with black as your brush color, mask out areas of the glowing edges that are unnecessary.

On the "High Pass" layer, choose Filter > Other > High Pass, making sure the Radius of the filter is set to 8px. Afterwards, reduce the Opacity of this layer to 45%.

Step 23: Create an "RGB Split" Effect

Now we are going to add the (what I like to call) "RGB split" effect. First, save the file as a JPG (File > Save As). Keep the Photoshop document open.

Reopen the JPG file you just saved. Go into the Channels Panel. Switch to the Move Tool (V). Click on the Red Channel to select it and then move it to the left by pressing the Left Arrow key once. Click on the Green Channel and move it to the right by pressing the Right Arrow key once. Finally, select the Blue Channel and move it up by pressing the Up Arrow key once.

Step 24: Use a Radial Blur for Improved Depth

Next, we are going to add a further sense of depth by applying the Radial Blur filter. Still in the JPG version of our work, duplicate the layer that we applied the "RGB split" effect on. On the duplicate layer, go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur.

Step 25: Enhance the Focal Point

Let us make sure that our focal point is established; we will make the center of the scene the focal point. Create a layer mask on the layer with the Radial Blur filter. Using a large brush with 0% Hardness and black as your brush color, mask away the center of the Radial Blur until only the edges and a bit of the subject remains blurred.

Step 26: Enhance the Color of the Scene

We’ll finish up by enhancing the color of the entire scene. Add a Gradient Map adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map). Make sure the gradient map colors are black and white. Change the Opacity of the adjustment layer to 19%.

Make another Gradient Map adjustment layer. Click on the gradient to open up the Gradient Editor window. Choose the Violet, Orange gradient preset.

Make one more Gradient Map adjustment layer using the following colors: #000000 and # a90bb7.

All done!

Tutorial Summary

This Photoshop tutorial covered quite a lot of techniques. If you’re just starting out with Photoshop, then I’m sure your layer masking skills were put to the test! We created many effects, including the "dimensional shift", "RGB split" effect, and textures using the Brush Tool. We applied adjustment layers, worked with the Channels Panel to make selections and create interesting effects, added design elements like halftone effects and orbs, and much, much more. I hope you learned a few tricks you can apply in your daily design work.

Download Source Files

retrospace_scene (ZIP, 218 MB)

How to Create an Amazing Typography Poster

2011-09-28T11:59:00.000+00:00

In this tutorial we are going to create an amazing Typography Poster in photoshop.

Tutorial Details:

Program: Photoshop CS5

Estimated Time: 25 – 30 mins

Tutorial Resources:

Swirl Brushes by Chilli07

Model Image by Katanaz

Background Texture by Greyghost

Alright, we have everything we need for our poster so, let’s have a look at our final result, click on it to view it in full size.

Step 1:

Create a new file with 1920px Width and 1280px Height.

Step 2:

Now open the texture I’ve mentioned above and paste it on our file.

Step 3:

Open the model image and paste it on our file. And scale it down using Edit> Free Transform orCommand/Ctrl + T.

Step 4:

We need to make our image a bit darker. So for this click on Image> Adjustments> Brightness/Contrast.

Step 5:

Now simply select the Eraser Tool and remove the background of the model image. If you want you can use Pen Tool for more accurate result but as this will blend in the background so we work with that.

Step 6:

Now create a new layer, for this click on Layer> New> Layer and then select “soft Round Brush” and use it on the lower corners with color # 000000.

Step 7:

Select the “Text Tool” and add different letteres randomly with color # 121212. Now angle them a bit using Edit> Free Transform.

Step 8:

Now change the blending mode of the text layer to “Overlay” and reduce the opacity to 40%.

Step 9:

Now next step can really save our time. So simply create a new file and fill it with # ffffff using thepaint bucket tool.

Step 10:

Now select the “Text Tool” and add whatever text you like with color # 000000.

Step 11:

Click on Edit> Define Brush Preset and name the brush and now we have a text brush.

Step 12:

Now go back to our main file and create a new layer. Then select the Text brush we have just create and use it randomly with colors # ffffff, # d7d7d7 and # a3a3a3. After that reduce the opacity of the layer to 60%.

Step 13:

Repeat the same process but change the angle of the brush and click on the scattering option.

Step 14:

Again select the Text brush and use it randomly with different colors.

Step 15:

Now select the “Line Tool” and create some lots of lines with upper left corner with 1px weight and # a3a3a3 color.

Step 16:

Create a new layer and select the heart swirl brushes from the brush set mentioned above with color # 959595.

Step 17:

Now we will add Drop shadow to our heart so click on Layer> Layer style> Drop Shadow.

Step 18:

Now change the blending mode of the above layer to “difference”.

Step 19:

Now select the Text Tool again and add different words like peace, world etc . Use different font for each word.

Step 20:

Add a sentence with color # e9e9e9 and right click on the text layer and Rasterize it. After that click on Edit>Transform>Warp.

Step 21:

Repeat the same process but this time use this # 363636 color.

Step 22:

Create a new layer and select the “Soft Round Brush” use it on the upper left corner with color # 623421. Now change blending mode of the layer to “Color”.

Step 23:

Now add the poster text and add can use the heart swirl there as well.

Step 24:

Now let’s brighten up the poster a bit, so click on Image> Adjustments> Brightness/Contrast.

And now our Typography Poster is done. Let’s have a look at our final result, click on the image to view in full size:

I hope you guys enjoyed it and learned something interesting. Also let us know what kind of tutorials you want, and what techniques you guys want to learn. Do share your feedback. Thanks

Create A Dream in a Bottle Photo Montage

2011-09-28T11:58:00.000+00:00

In this tutorial we are going to create a Fantasy Bottle World Photo Manipulation in Photoshop CS5. You will learn how to create a beautiful collage of images to design a World in a Bottle photo montage.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop CS5
Estimated Completion Time: 30 Minutes

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.

Now that we have everything we need, so let’s start!
Step 1 - Open your Photoshop and create a new file with 700px width and 1000px Height.

Step 2 - Now open the sky image mentioned above and paste it on our file.

Step 3 - Create a new layer, for this click on Layer> New> Layer. Now select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and create a rectangle in the middle. Then click on the Paint Bucket Tool and fill the rectangle with color # ffffff.

Step 4 - Now click on Filter> blue> Gaussian Blur.

Step 5 - Create a new layer and select soft round brush. Now simply use it to create a simple rainbow. You can use the colors of your choice. Once that is done change the blending mode of the layer to “Vivid Light”.

Step 6 - Now open the bottle image and paste it in the middle.

Step 7 - Now open the waterfall image and paste it over the bottle.

Step 8 - Now select the Eraser Tool and remove the edges of the image. So it can fit our bottle.

Step 9 - Now create a new layer and color the empty area under the waterfall with # 63bdf1. Now add the fish.

Step 10 - Open the Rock image and paste it on our bottle.

Step 11 - Select the Eraser Tool and Remove the edges of the rock image.

Step 12 - Open the city image and paste it on out bottle.

Step 13 - Once again select the eraser Tool and remove the edges of the image so it can fit our bottle.

Step 14 - Now open the Road image. And use the eraser tool to create the desired shape.

Step 15 - open the traffic light image and paste it above the road on the left side of the bottle.

Step 16 - Now duplicate the traffic light layer, right click on it and select Duplicate layer. This time place it on the right side of the road.

Step 17 - Open the car image, select is and scale it down.

Step 18 - Now duplicate the car layer and then click on Image> Adjustments> Hue/Saturationto change the color.

Step 19 - Repeat the same process and add another car.

Step 20 - Now select the Ellipse Tool and create a round. Fill it with # 63bdf1. Then change the blending mode to Overlay.

Step 21 - Click on Layer> Layer style> Pattern Overlay and add a bit of water pattern on it. Then click on Outer glow.

Step 22 - Now add the gold fishes.

Step 23 - Now simply duplicate the layer then scale them using Command/Ctrl + T and place them randomly around our bottle.

Step 24 - Create a new layer and place it under the bottle layer. Then select the soft round brush and use it on the top with color # 000b11.

Step 25 - Now select the galaxy and cloud brushes mentioned above and use them randomly on the dark area. Use colors # ffffff and # 002234 for this.

Step 26 - Now select thee eraser tool and remove the clouds from the bottle opening. And we are done.

Our “A Dream in a Bottle" photo manipulation is done, hope you guys enjoyed the tutorial and learn something new.

“Soundless Daydream” Photoshop Painting

2011-09-28T11:57:00.000+00:00

In this tutorial, Hatice will show you how to paint a winter bird scene. This tutorial will go over some basics of painting as and show you a technique for painting snow.

Preview of Final Results

“Soundless Daydream” Painting Photoshop Tutorial

For this tutorial I will be using Adobe Photoshop . I suggest that after following this tutorial, you find out what works best for you. The concept is about a little cartoon bird character who is annoyed by snowing. The first step, which is the most important step, is composing the concept and making the best sketch to start painting. For the sketch work Photoshop File size is 640x855. Resolution can be 72 for now.

Step 1

I always start off with a sketch for my concept work. So, I began by thinking about the figure of the "bird"

Step 2: Choosing a brush

Chose a simple standard brush.

After that from brush panel choose "Other Dynamics" with the numbers as shown on the picture.

Now try your brush.

Step 3: Color Scheme

Here are my color selection. You must go to the Color palette and actually select the individual colors that you want to. Background will be a cold blue. And others for the bird's color.

Step 4: Coloring

And now we are going to begin adding colors and some details. Now change the file size as 3000x4000 . Resolution must be 300.

You will be more comfortable with the big file size when working for more details I have two layers . A blue color has been added into the background area on the new layer. The reason for painting on a new layer because of you need to make corrections later in the painting. It is much easier to fix errors if the main elements of your painting are separate entities.

Create another new layer and begin adding the bird colors. And also I have created another layer for the background blue area.

Here I work out the general look that I'm aiming for. I'm now adding colors for the bird with my brush.

And also I do add some strokes with the smudge tool.

Step 5: Details

Using the same brush and a smudge tool, continue to paint the rest of the body and also add some light colors. As you can see in below image.

And I try a new background with the Gradient Tool. For the Gradient Tool Shortcut key is the G.

When working digitally there are too many Shortcuts. You can easily learn when you are painting.

Since I already decided upon the colors, now I can start to add details. I continue smoothing and adding highlights where appropriate.

Here is the result.

And here is a close screenshot for the tree branch with some snow accumulation. Maybe I can change later its outlook. Those snow painted with the same brush. Now I'll choose another brush for the more detailed snow sight.

Here is my snow bush selection. I'm not making any changes with this brush. Same standard adjustment.

Here is my painting for the snow. You must do lots of try to catch the same result.

I continue to work on the eyes and it's feathers with a smaller brush;

I also add some snow particle on the bird's beak.

After, all these steps are completed if you wish you can add some little red fruit with the snow like the way I did.

Final Results

I use Photoshop's color balance tool (Image > Adjustments > Color Balance) to change clouds a little bit. And here's the final image. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy this detailed making of the whole artwork.

Photoshop CS5 Tutorial – Blue Plastic Text Effect

2011-09-28T11:55:00.002+00:00

In this easy Photoshop CS5 tutorial we are going to use some great layer techniques to create one amazing blue plastic text effect. I am going to show you step by step instructions on how to adjust all Photoshop layers options to get one really cool CS5 text effect.
1. We will begin with creating new project in Photoshop CS5 and applying radial gradient fill for our background. Here I am using gradient from #000033to #3366ff.

2. The next step is to enter our text. In this cs5 tutorial I am using one free font which you can download from here:Eremitage. The color of the letters is #0099ff.

Set the Fill opacity of the text layer to about 20%.
3. Now it’s time to add the layer effects to achieve the plastic text look of our logo.
Let’s start with the Drop Shadow effect:

Next we’ll adjust the Inner Shadow effect:

Now lets set the outer and the inner glow effects settings:

Now we will apply Bevel and Emboss and select Contour:

Next is the stroke text effect with the following settings:

And the last from the effects is the gradient overlay:

4. Now let’s create a new layer above all other and fill it with white. Now while holding the Ctrl key, click on the text layer’s icon in the layers window. This will create selection around your text. Now from the Select menu choose Inverse and with the white layer selected press Delete. Now you will have a solid white mask over your letters. Choose the elipse selection tool and make a selection like shown below. Hit Delete.

5. Change the Fill opacity of the white layer to 0% and apply Gradient overlay effect with the following settings:

That’s it. Your plastic text effect is now complete. It should look something like this. (I have just added some light reflections for extra look.)

Turn Any Photo into an Artistic Sketch

2011-09-28T11:54:00.000+00:00

Turn any photo into an artistic sketch, quickly and easily. You will have the option of choosing to leave in the color or to remove it depending on the effect you wish to achieve.

Start of by opening up the image you wish to turn into a sketch. The stock image we will be using is shown below.

Create three copies of the original locked background layer as shown. To make copies of a layer simply select the layer and hit Ctrl+J. We will rename them Layer 3, Layer 2, Layer 1 for simplicity.

Select the top most layer, Layer 3, and desaturate it by going to Image> Adjustments > Desaturate. Now duplicate this layer (Ctrl + J) and we will call it Layer 4.

While having Layer 4 selected, go to Image > Adjustments > Invert. Now set the layer properties to “Color Dodge”. If you followed everything correctly, the whole canvas should go blank white now.

With Layer 4 still selected go to Filter > Guassian Blur. Depending on the contrast of your image, you will have to play around with the slider to get the effect you desire. The further left you move the slider, the stronger the sketch effect. We found our desired effect at 8.

If you wish to have the sketch black and white you are pretty much done. You can tweak the Brightness and Contrast to darken/lighten the image. However, we are going to bring back some color.

Select Layer 3 and drop it’s opacity to 50% so you can see what you are doing with the layers below, you can fiddle with this opacity at the end if you desire.

Select Layer 2 go to Filter > Brush Strokes > Angled Strokes and play around with the settings. We used to the following settings shown below.

Next change the layer properties to “Multiply” and reduce the opacity to 80%. The result is shown below.

Now select Layer 1 go to Filter > Artistic > Cutout. Again, play around with the settings to get your desired effect, we used the following.

Our result so far is shown below

Now all that’s left is to add some finishing touches. Add an adjustment layer at the very top, to modify the Brightness and Contrast (if you don’t know how to do this read our Beginners Guide to Photoshop!).

And there you have it, a simply way to add an artistic touch to any photo!

How to use texture effects to create beautiful compositions in Photoshop CS5

2011-09-13T19:50:00.000+00:00

This tutorial is an example of how a few simple techniques can be used to create basics photo illustration using multiple layers, masking, the Pen tool, some basic lighting and one simple texture.

Final Image Preview

Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop with the size 1280px by 1024px (RGBcolor mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch.
Find a grunge texture, I used this texture from deviantart. I would like to thank the author of this photo, or if you prefer, you can substitute similar image of your own.
Download the next demonstrated texture and insert it on a new layer in our main document.

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush of black color ( set Opacity to 20% in Options bar).

Use this brush to dark out the left lowest corner of our canvas.

Set Fill to 73% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Linear Light.

Find a stock photo with a cool looking dancer represented on it, I used this photo from Shutterstock. I would like to thank the author of this photo, or if you prefer, you can substitute similar image of your own.

Remove the background using your favorite tools like Pen Tool (P), Magic Wand Tool (W), Magnetic Lasso (L) or even a simple Filter>Extract and insert it on a new layer in our main document. Apply Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Drop Shadow.

We’ve got the next result:

Choose the Pen Tool (P), set the drawing mode on Shape Layers in Options bar and draw the next shape as shown. The Foreground color is #28204F. Place the layer under the dancer’s layer:

Set Fill to 70% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Hard Light.

Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 20% in Options bar).

Paint in the mask using this brush to hide the top part of the shape.

Choose the Pen Tool (P), set the drawing mode on Shape Layers in Options bar and draw the next shape as shown. The Foreground color is #FF441F. Place this layer under the layer with the dancer on it.

Set Fill to 57% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Multiply.

Insert the mask on the layer the same way we did before (Add layer mask). Choose the Soft Round brush ofblack color, mentioned in the previous example for the rhombus to hide the next zone on the shape.

Use the Pen Tool (P) to represent the next shape of the color #FF1F1F~~. Place the layer under the dancer’s layer.~~

Set Fill to 57% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Linear Burn.

Take now the Line Tool (U) set Weight to 1px in Options bar and draw many white lines. This layer will be situated also lower than the dancer’s layer.

Set Fill to 70% for all the layers containing the white lines.

Now we have to download the next set of patterns, named techie. Copy the pattern file to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop X\Presets\Patterns folder (Adobe Photoshop X been your version of Photoshop).
Using the Pen Tool (P), we’ll represent the next shape which layer will be situated under the dancer’s layer.

Set Fill to 0% for this layer. Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and selectColor Overlay.

Add Pattern Overlay. Click the Pattern Preset Picker and Load the downloaded pattern file from Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop X\Presets\Patterns folder. Apply the next settings for Pattern Overlay:

We’ve got the next result:

Create a new layer and select for it the Soft Round brush (Opacity – 20%).

Use this brush to paint the canvas with #ED2000 color. Place this layer under the dancer’s layer too.

Learn How To Create A Mobile App’s Style Layout

2011-08-19T21:19:00.000+00:00

Mobile Apps are becoming ever increasingly popular so in todays tutorial I’ll be walking you through creating your very own mobile apps style layout from scratch using adobe photoshop.

What We’ll Be Creating

Resources Used In This Tutorial

Drafting Out The Header

Create a new (Ctrl + N) document 1200 x 1150 pixels with a white #ffffff background. Select the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M) and drag out a rectangle at the top of the canvas 1200 pixels wide and about 220 pixels in height.

Once you have created the rectangle label the layer “Header”. Now select the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) with a radius of 20 pixels.

Drag out a rounded rectangle just above the bottom of edge of the header rectangle, this rectangle should be around 950 pixels wide and about 60 pixels in height.

Label the rounded rectangle layer “Navigation”. Reselect the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) then just above the navigation rectangle on the right hand side drag out a small rectangle big enough to be a search field. Label this new layer “Search”.

Bringing The Header Area To Life

Select the “Header” layer then add the following layer styles using the settings below.

Create a new layer above your “Header” layer and label it “Header Glow”. Make a selection around the “Header” layer by going to “Layer > Load Selection” then select the “Gradient Tool” (G) with a “Radial Gradient”. In the fill options bar change the gradient type to “Foreground To Transparent”.

Drag the gradient from the top center of the header, once you have applied the gradient set the opacity to around 15%. You should have something like this.

Bringing The Navigation To Life

Select the “Navigation” layer then add the following layer styles using the following settings.

Inside of the navigation bar add some textual links using the “Text Tool” (T).

In between each navigation item, create two 1 pixel lines next to each other on a single layer, the two lines should be the same height as the navigation rectangle.

Once you’ve created the lines set the layer blend mode to “Overlay”, you should have something like this.

Next, we’ll create a hover state for one of the navigation items. Select the “Zoom Tool” (Z) then zoom into one of the navigation links, draw a white #ffffff single line along the stroke on the navigation rectangle. The line should start at the left divider and end at the next divider line.

Once you’ve drawn the line add the following layer styles.

The navigation should now look something like this.

Adding Detail To The Search Field

Select the search field layer then add the following layer styles using the settings below.

Once you’ve added the layer styles add a small white #ffffff magnifying glass icon which can be found in the custom shapes library. Then add the text “Search Here…” inside of the search field using the “Text Tool” (T).

Finishing The The Header

To finish the header off simply select the “Text Tool” (T) and add your website title and slogan. The font i used for the website is “HelveticaNeue LT 55″.

Creating The Featured Area

On a new layer underneath all the header elements select the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M) and make a selection similar to the image below.

Once the selection has been made fill (G) the selection with any random color, then add a “Gradient Overlay” using the settings below.

On the left hand side of the featured area add some example featured text, leaving space on the right for an image.

Download the “HTC Pad” from the resource list.

HTC Pad PSD File By Esintitasarim

Then copy over the HTC Pad and place it inside of the featured area on the right. Resize the HTC Pad with the “Free Transform Tool” (Ctrl + T).

Next, download the Loupe: Screenshot Magnifier from “Premium Pixels” then drag the magnifier onto the canvas over the HTC Pad.

Loupe: Screenshot Magnifier By Premium Pixels

On a layer above the magnifier layer drag a bigger version of the HTC Pad, right click the bigger version of the HTC Pad layer and select “Create Clipping Mask”. The bigger HTC Pad should disappear inside of the magnifying, simply move (V) the bigger HTC Pad until you have something like this.

Creating The 2nd Navigation

On a new layer below all your other layers select the “Rectangle Tool” (U), then drag out a rectangle underneath the featured area.

Add a “Gradient Overlay” to the 2nd navigation rectangle using the settings below.

Inside of the 2nd navigation rectangle add a couple of sub headings with a small description. In between each sub heading add the little divider lines as we did with our 1st navigation.

Finally above one of the sub headings add a small arrow pointing upwards. This can be created using the “Polygonal Lasso Tool” (L).

Creating The Content Area

Select the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M) then make a selection around the last bit of the white area, as shown below.

Set the “Foreground” color to #cecece and “Background” color to #ffffff, select the “Gradient Fill Tool” (G) then drag a linear gradient from the top of the selection downwards a couple of pixels.

Select the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” and create two 1 pixel lines on top of each other, just like we did for our navigation only this time create them horizontally. Place the lines where the blue navigation meets the gradient. Once created set opacity to 50%.

In the space left over begin to build up your content, I’ve done nothing special just add some dummy text and a list for the blog entries. You can take more time on your content area and get it looking how you want to.

Creating The Footer

For the footer simply select the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M), drag a selection out at the bottom of the canvas then fill (G) the selection with the color black #000000. Inside of the footer add your copyright information and maybe a small textual navigation.

Conclusion

Thanks for taking part in this tutorial, if you managed to finish this tutorial I’d love to see some of your results. Feel free to post them up on our Facebook Fan Page.

Download Source

License and Attribution:

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons license. Attribution is required and always appreciated. Thanks.

Corporate & Portfolio Style WordPress

2011-07-28T21:55:00.003+01:00

WordPress can be used in many many ways, it has great CMS features which can be used with any style of website. In todays tutorial I’ll be walking you through the process of creating a Corporate & Portfolio Style WordPress Layout.

What We’ll Be Creating

Resources Used In This Tutorial

Getting Started!

Create a new (Ctrl + N) document 1200 x 1340 pixels with a white (#ffffff) background, select the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M) and create a selection roughly about 1200 x 435 pixels.

Once you’ve created the selection select the “Fill Tool” (G) and fill the selection with any color. Press “Ctrl + D” to deselect the selection then add a “Gradient Overlay” using the settings below.

Spicing Up The Header

Load a selection around the rectangle “Layer > Load Selection” then create a new layer above the rectangle layer and go to “Filter > Render > Clouds” then go to “Filter > Render > Difference Clouds”.

Now go to “Filter > Blur > Motion Blur”.

Deselect the selection by press “Ctrl + D” and then set the layer blend mode to “Color Dodge”. You should have something like this.

Completing The Header

At the top of the header area add a small black bar with a fill setting of 20%. Create the bar using either the “Rectangle Tool” (U) or the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M).

Once you’ve created the top bar add a “Stroke” using the settings below.

In the top left hand corner of the top bar add a simple textual navigation displaying important links. Fill the links with the color white #ffffff.

Download the “Web Social Icons” from the resources list, then add your favorite social icons on the right side of the top bar.

Web Social Icon Pack

Underneath the top bar select the “Text Tool” (T) and add the website title and slogan. The font I’ve used is call “Diavlo”.

Behind the title and slogan add a nice little sparkle by using one of the “Bling Brushes” from “Media Militia”. Set the opacity of the bling brush to around 75%.

Bling Brushes By Media Militia

Creating The Navigation

Select the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) with a radius of 10px (10px By Default) then drag out a rectangle underneath the title and slogan. Once your happy with the rectangle set the blend mode to “Soft Light”.

Simply add the text links using the “Text Tool” (T) and the color #518ca2. On the right side of the navigation if you have space create a white #ffffff rounded rectangle again using the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U).

Inside the white rectangle add a small magnifying glass from photoshops custom shapes library then simply add a small line of text which indicates its a search field.

Creating The Featured Area

Select the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) then drag out a big rectangle which overlaps the color background.

When your happy with the rectangle add the following layer styles.

You should have something like this.

Load a selection around the featured rectangle “Layer > Load Selection”, then contract the selection by 8 pixels “Select > Modify > Contract”.

Once contracted, paste your featured artwork into the selection. When pasting use the “Paste Into Feature”, for CS5 users you can find it here “Edit > Paste Special > Paste Into” for CS4 users and below you should find it in the first tier of the edit menu.

Once the artwork has been pasted into the selection deselect the selection with “Ctrl + D”. Inside the featured artwork image begin to create a simple caption which consists of a black box with low opacity and some text.

Setting Up The Content Part Of The Layout

On a new layer above the background layer make a small selection like the image below using the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M).

The selection should span the width of the canvas. Once the selection has been made select the “Gradient Tool” (G) with a color type of “Foreground to Transparent”.

Drag the gradient from the top of the selection downwards then set the opacity of the layer to around 14%.

Create a new layer above the shade layer then create two 1 pixel lines on top of each other. Color the first top line in black #000000 and the bottom line in white #ffffff, then set the layers blend mode to “Overlay”. Place the line over the last 2 pixels of the colored background.

Finally, select the “Rectangular Marquee Tool” (M) and make a selection around half of the canvas which is left over, leaving a small space at the bottom for the footer and a bigger space underneath the featured area for some additional content. Fill (G) the selection with the color #f4f4f4.

Adding The Additional Content

Using the CS4 icons or any other icons you wish to use place, evenly place them underneath the featured rectangle.

CS4 Icons By Pkarwowski

On the side of the icons using the “Text Tool” (T) add a simple bold title and a paragraph of text.

Creating The Intro Box

Using the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) drag out a rectangle just after where the new grey background starts. The box should be big enough for some text and a button.

Once you’ve created the rectangle add the following layer styles.

Inside the box add some text using the “Text Tool” (T) then on the right side of the box create another but button sized rectangle.

To the button sized rectangle add the following layer styles.

Add the text “Read More” into the button, you should have something like this.

Creating The Gallery

Select the “Rounded Rectangle Tool” (U) then create 6 small rectangles. To each rectangle add the following layer styles.

You should have something like this.

Load a selection around the first rectangle “Layer > Load Selection”, contract the selection by 8 pixels just like we did with our featured rectangle “Select > Modify > Contract” then paste an image inside using the “Paste Into” feature.

Repeat the above steps for the other 5 rectangles until you have something like this.

Creating The Footer: Final Step

Duplicate the colored rectangle layer along with the shade and the divider line, then move them towards the bottom of the canvas. Deselect the divider line from the layers window leaving the shade layer and colored rectangle layer. Flip the two layers vertical by going “Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical”, once flipped move the divider line back into place and position all 3 layers at the bottom of the canvas.

Select the “Text Tool” (T) and add the copyright text inside of the colored area (Now the footer).

Conclusion

Thanks for taking part in this tutorial, if you managed to finish this tutorial I’d love to see some of your results. Feel free to post them up on our Facebook Fan Page.

Download Source

License and Attribution:

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons license. Attribution is required and always appreciated. Thanks.

Creating a Building Destruction Photo Manipulation in Photoshop

2011-07-07T18:33:00.000+01:00

In this photo-manipulation tutorial we’ll destroy a beautiful theater. Usually such image manipulations take a lot of time but this is a quick one. This is a simple (yet stunning) picture edit but you might also wanna add a couple of orbiting stars to give it an apocalypse feel.

Remember I promised in my earlier tutorial that photo manipulation tutorials will soon be published. This is the first of those photomanipulations and there are many more to come. I greatly appreciate your feedback on this post, this is my first photo-manip.

Initial image

This was the image from where we started this photo-manipulation. I saw this image on MIT‘s website and immediately decided to make this.

Background

Now we need some clouds in the background. For that I grabbed a wallpaper I had in my PC you can use clouds from any image, there’s a lot of stock out there.

Step 1 – Extraction

So lets start with the Lasso Tool and cut the theater building from the image. Remove the background.

Step 2 – Toning

When we done with the cutting off the theater, place it on a new layer and adjust the curves by striking Ctrl+M or Go to Image > Adjustment > Curves. Set the channel to the Red and put these values.

Here we set the channel to the RGB and put the values.

Here we set the channel to the Blue and put the values.

Here we done with the toning of the background

Step 3 – Crop

Now I crop the specific area of the background and move it to the new layer.

Step 4 – Selection

Here return to the Lasso Tool and extract the clouds. We only need the clouds.

Here we have cut off the excessive part which was disturbing the effect of the scene and turn it’s Layer Style to the Hard Light. Now put this layer on background

After some copy-pasting, here’s the final background.

Step 5 – Water Effect

Next step is creating a water effect. For that, I selected the whole background and copied it on a new layer and using Transform pressed it down and Flipped it Vertically by pressing the left click.

Step 6 – Effect

Now I’m making the water effect more realistic by adding Motion Blur Filter > Blur > Motion Blur on that background layer which we transformed previously.

Step 7 – Realism

Here we Select the Blur Tool and rub on the edges of the water effect layer, this will make the effect more realistic.

Step 8 – Applying Layer Mode

Here, I set the theater and set the mode to multiply.

Step 9 – Adding the Aura

To add a little concept, we copy the theater into a New Layer and add Motion Blur in it. Go to the Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Here we change the angle of the Blur effect.

Step 10 – Flip it

Here I scaled it down by pressing the Ctrl+T and Flipped it Vertically in the right click option menu.

Step 11 – Break-up

Now come the real deal. I randomly made selections for making cracks. I hide all the other layers and that is why you are seeing the building without it’s color toning. Once the background images will be displayed, the colors will get back to normal. The cracks should not look smooth so the selection must NOT contain any sort of feather.

Here we are done with cracks.

Step 12 – Finishing Touch

Now what’s left? One thing, the cracks do not look as real as they should. The missing element is shadow. The broken parts should be making shadows. We can of course use Drop Shadow layer style for making shadows but I used Brush Tool to create shadows. Brush tool provides unlimited customization capabilities that is why I recommend you to use customized brush over automated drop shadows. You can see the result of shadows in the final result below.

Final Result

Follow Designzzz on Facebook

How to Create a Splattery Groovy Typography in Photoshop

2011-07-07T18:31:00.000+01:00

Now time for some 3D Groovy Typography in Photoshop CS5. This is a quick tutorial and does not require much of your time. I made this Typography with some simple effects of Photoshop.

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to create an Eye Catchy 3D Groovy Typography using Photoshop’s basic tools, nothing too fancy. Since it is an easy one, even the beginners should not hesitate to try it. As you would already know, my funda is to use minimum resources and effects, so here I am making another cool graphic using simple and easy to use resources.

Final Result

Download Source

Download PSD

Step 1 – Text

Let’s start with the text, Type each letter on a separate layer because we have to work on every letter individually. Don’t be feared, it’s not a long tutorial.

Step 2 – Groove

For a Groove effect we have to rotate the text. Here I’m rotating text clockwise. See the screenshot below.

Final Result after rotating the text

Step 3 – Coloring

Here I made a copy of Letter D and changed the color to yellow, placed that copy at a distance of 1px from the green D. Repeat this step and make several copies, after that merge all of the duplicated layers and in the end, place the merged layer under the Green D, we did all this for making a little 3-D kind of effect.

Step 4 – Background Filling

Here I am Applying Gradient on that layer which we made by merging the yellow layers of D.

Step 5 – Shadow

After Applying the Gradient, I’m going to add Drop Shadow by putting these values in the Gradient Panel.

Result

This is the result I got after adding 3-D Effect, Gradient and Drop Shadow.

Step 6 – Background

Here I added Wood Texture background This is I Grabbed From Here. I think this typography would also look great over brick wall type backgrounds, or maybe some dark solid colors. You can try variations.

Step 7 – Adding Special Effect

Now I’m going to add Groovy Look in the Typography, I put all the layers containing letters on the background and I’m going to make Glow Effect on the Letters by Erasing bits of foreground Green layers of the letters by using Erase Tool.

Step 8 – Texture

I applied Wet Media Brushes (comes default in Photoshop) and select the 45px Round Brush. This Brush Contains Light Beautiful Textures so they will add quite a groovy effect.

Step 9 – Using Brush

After that I used Designzzz Brush Pack #2 Hi-Res Paint And Blood Brushes and painted this thing.

Step 10 – Bevel

After painting brush strokes, I added a Bevel and Emboss effect.

Step 11 – Curve

Everybody likes curvy things, right. Here I used Pen Tool and made this beautiful Curve path.

Step 12 – Making of the Curve

Here’s how I drew this curve.

Step 13 – Making Curve Beautiful

Now erase the overlapping areas of the curve. Refer to the screen shot below for further instructions.

Step 14 – More Curves

To add some extra groove, I made this unique kind of curvy shape. I placed it on two locations. Now have a look at the final result, let’s see if you can spot the two shapes.

Final Result

Download Source

Download PSD

Create a Final Fantasy VII Lifestream-Like Abstract Design in Photoshop

2011-06-30T15:22:00.000+01:00

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to create this Final Fantasy VII Lifestream Like Abstract Design in Photoshop. This is a beginner level tutorial with lots of detailed screenshots. Have a try :)

If you happen to be a fan of Final Fantasy VII like me, you will know what I’m talking about and where the idea came from. If not, check out this image here.

I tried to keep the steps as few as possible for this tutorial – so if you’re a Photoshop beginner, you won’t be overwhelmed with information. In this mean time, you can check out my other basic Photoshop tutorials here.

Here is a preview of the final effect I have for this tutorial: (click to enlarge)

PSD File Download

You can download the PSD File for this tutorial via the VIP Members Area for only $6.95/Month (or less)! You will not only get this PSD File, but also 70+ other PSD Files + Extra Goodies + Exclusive Photoshop tutorials there. Signup now and get exclusive :) Find out more about the VIP Members Areas

Ok Let’s get started!

Step 1

Create a new document with black background, size doesn’t really matter in this tutorial. Press the “P” key to select the Pen Tool, draw a work path as shown below:

Hint: you can check out this Pen Tool Guide if you happen to fresh to Pen Tool.

Once you’ve drawn the path, select the brush tool and apply the following settings: (5px, 95% hardness)

Press “P” to select the Pen Tool again, right-click on the path and choose “Stroke Path”:

Stroke the path with the brush we selected, tick the Simulate Pressure setting:

Here is the stroke effect: (I used the green colour here)

Duplicate this layer once, hit Ctrl + T and rotate it slightly counter-clockwise, move it to left a little as shown below:

Repeat this process, duplicate a few more lines, rotate and move each line slightly to form the following effect:

When you’re happy with the shape, merge those layers together by selecting all of them in layer palette, right-click on one of the layers and choose “Merge Layers”. Duplicate the merged layer a few times, rotate, resize them with Free Transform Tool to form the effect shown below:

Adjust the layer opacity of each duplicated layer to create some image depth:

Step 2

Now we can paint some crystal dots around the stream symbolising some sort of life form. We can use brush dynamics to achieve this effect. So grab the brush tool with the following settings:

Scattering

Other Dynamics

and make sure you tick Airbrush and Smoothing options.

Use this brush to paint some dots around the stream lines with green/blue colour:

After you’ve done the painting, apply the Sharpen filter on this dots layer:

As you can see, now the dots look sharper and crystal-like:

and here is the overall effect so far:

Optional: You can also paint some dots on the background to add some depth for the image. You can use a softer brush as shown below and use it to paint around the canvas:

Step 3

Now we can add some starry background to the image by creating a new layer just above the background layer, and use some space brushes to paint over it.

We can then flatten the image, then duplicate the background layer and apply some Motion blur to the duplicated layer:

Change the blending mode of this motion blur layer to “Screen” and drop its opacity to around 60%:

and here is the final effect of this tutorial: (click to enlarge)

That’s it for this tutorial! Hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Till next time, have a great day!

Abstract Photoshop Tutorial

2011-06-30T15:17:00.000+01:00

Welcome to a new PSD Box tutorial. After a series of manipulation tutorials It’s time for something abstract. For this tutorial we will use brushes quite a lot. It’s not going to be a difficult tutorial so I hope you will enjoy it.

I written this tutorial to show you the technique more than anything, so the result is nothing really awesome but still looks quite nice. I made this in about a couple of hours.

Final result preview

Resources

Male stock: http://katanaz-stock.deviantart.com/art/Male-Stock-3-67130872

Fractal images: http://greentunic.deviantart.com/art/Fractal-Pack-4-150661301

Colored bokeh image: http://webtreatsetc.deviantart.com/art/Grungy-Abstract-Bokeh-Texture1-135017439

Hand print brushes: http://falln-stock.deviantart.com/art/Hand-Prints-Brushes-Set-1-92732022

Splatter: brushes: http://osarionstudios.deviantart.com/art/Paint-Splatter-34435830

Vector abstract brushes: http://shiftyj.deviantart.com/art/Infinity-Brush-Set-149427258

More stroke brushes:

http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/freebies/high-quality-rough-and-grungy-photoshop-brushes

http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-downloads/photoshop-brushes/100-essential-brush-strokes.html

Step 1

Create a new document 1300×1600 pixels. Select the default background layer and go to Filter>Lens Correction. Apply a Vignette effect like shown in the image below. (select the Custom tab instead of Auto Correction)

After applying the vignette effect right click the layer and convert it to Smart Object. Next go to Filter>Noise>Add Noise and add 2% monochrome noise. If you’re using an older version of Photoshop just add noise without converting to smart object.

Step 2

Open the male stock and if you go to the Paths tab in the layers palette you will see that a path already exists. Right Click on it and select Make Selection, leave the default settings and click OK.

With the selection loaded, go back to layers and click the layer mask icon to isolate the man from the background. Merge the layer or apply the layer mask and copy the man on your document and name the layer man.

Step 3

Turn the man into black and white using a Black & White adjustment layer as clipping mask. Use the settings shown in the image below.

Now increase the contrast of the man until his shirt and pants become pure black. Use a curves adjustment layer. See image blow.

Step 4

Create a layer mask for the man layer and grab a few different brush splatter or dirty brushes of your choice (or download some from the links provide) and start masking the man’s legs. I got this result.

After this step, I selected all layers related to the man and I turned them into a single smart object.

Step 5

Now you have to start adding all those dirty strokes and splashes. You have total freedom here. Just grab different brushes and start adding single strokes on new layers below the man layer.

You can also paint with black above the man, blending the brush strokes with the black color of the shirt (that’s why we used Levels to make it pure black). Also use some gray, not just black, you will make it more interesting. I will only put 1 screen shot of what I did. It’s really easy, just add some strokes here and there.

Step 6

Add some colors as well. This is how I added the colorful strokes. I searched for a colored image on DeviantART, (link is at the beginning of the tutorial) placed it on a new layer above the man layer and I masked completely. Then I used a grunge brush and I painted with white over the layer mask to reveal parts of the colored image.

Step 7

Download some abstract vector brushes and add them on new layers above the man layer.

Step 8

Add some more details. I added a big red dot using the circular selection tool and with the same selection tool I made a selection and stroke it with black to create the thin circular shape.

Step 9

Select the hand print brushes and on a new layer paint a hand shape with any color. Now open a fractal image and paste it on a new layer above the layer where you painted the brush and turn it into a clipping mask. Open the other image and paste it above the previous one again as Clipping Mask but this time change the Blend Mode to Soft light.

Step 10

As a last detail I added some text and masked parts of it using splash and grunge brushes again.

That’s all it is to it. Hope you liked this easy tutorial. If you have any questions or any of the links is broken, post a comment. I will try to fix it.

Don’t forget you can post your versions of my tutorials on my Flickr Group or my Facebook page for everyone to see.

Make a Simple and Modern Web UI Button in Photoshop

2011-06-30T15:15:00.000+01:00

This beginner-level web/user interface design tutorial will walk you through the creation of a popular style of buttons that can be used in a variety of situations, such as in call-to-actions, common user tasks such as submitting a web form, and buying products from your e-store. In addition to the creation of the graphic in Photoshop, we will go over the HTML and CSS needed in order to make the design fully functional.

Author: Jacob Gube

Jacob Gube is the Co-Founder and Technical Editor of Design Instruct. He also runs the site called Six Revisions, another one of the team's websites. He's a web developer, designer, and author of books on web design and development. If you'd like to connect with him, check him out on Twitter: @sixrevisions or shoot him an email.

Preview

VIEW DEMO

Step 1: Create the Photoshop Document

Our button will be exactly 170px wide and 50px tall, but we’ll make a bigger canvas (600×600px) so that we have some breathing room while we work (then we can just crop our work before saving it).

Step 2: Create the Base Shape

Use the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U) set to Shape Layers and with a Radius of 5px to create a 170×50px rectangle.

Step 3: Give the Base Shape a Layer Style

The appearance of the button will largely depend on its layer style. Doing it this way offers us flexibility for later when we want to change certain aspects of the button’s design, such as its color. In the Layers Panel, double-click the base shape layer to open the Layer Style dialog window.

We will give this layer two layer effects: a Gradient Overlay and a Stroke. That’s it.

Gradient Overlay

Color Stop #1 – Color: #2877ac, Location: 0%
Color Midpoint #1 – Location: 40%
Color Stop #2 – Color: #87bfe6, Location: 95%
Color Midpoint #2 – Location: 40%
Color Stop #3 – Color: #c2def1, Location: 100%

Stroke

For the Stroke layer effect, we will use the darkest blue (#2877ac) that we used from the Gradient Overlay, which will create this nice blending at the bottom of the button.

Step 4: Giving the Button a Diagonal Line Pattern

We’ll give the button a diagonal line pattern. We’ll create the Photoshop pattern from scratch. To start, create a new 4×4px Photoshop document (Ctrl/Cmd + N).

Use the Zoom Tool (Z) to zoom in close (4×4px is very hard to see without zooming in). Create a new layer and delete the default white Background layer.

Use the Pencil Tool in the Tools Panel to draw a white diagonal line from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner of the canvas–hold down Shift to create a perfectly straight line.

Go to Edit > Define Pattern to save our diagonal line as a pattern.

Switch back to our main document. In the Layers Panel, Ctrl/Cmd + click on the Vector mask thumbnail of the Base Shape layer to load a selection around the shape of the button (choosing Select > Load Selection does the same thing).

Create a new layer on top of the base shape layer for our diagonal line pattern. Make sure that you keep the selection active. Fill the selected area with the pattern we created by going to Edit > Fill and choosing it in the Custom Pattern dropdown menu.

We want to trim the edges of the diagonal pattern by 2px so that it’s not covering up the stroke and the thin horizontal highlight color on top (which comes from the Gradient Overlay). Choose Select > Modify, enter 2px for the Contract Byoption, invert your selection (Select > Inverse), make sure you’re still on the diagonal pattern layer, and then just hit Delete to remove the selected area.

We want the lines to be subtle, so let’s switch the Blend Mode of the diagonal line pattern layer to Soft Light and reduce the layer’s Opacity to 20%.

Step 5: Add the Text

Use the Horizontal Type Tool (T) to type the text of the button; I used Museo Slab 500 at 24pt with the text color set to white (#ffffff).

In the Layers Panel, double-click on the text layer to open up the Layer Style dialog window. Give it a drop shadow and set the color of the drop shadow to the darkest blue of our button (#2877ac).

Step 6: Add an Arrow

To denote an action (perhaps to symbolize moving forward or go to the Buy Now web page), let’s add a simple icon on the button. We’ll take a quick shortcut here: We’ll use a custom shape that comes with Photoshop, instead of drawing it ourselves. Switch to the Custom Shape Tool (U) and, in the Options Bar, find the Arrow 2 shape in the Shape dropdown menu.

Draw the shape on the right side of the button; the dimension is 13×13px, which matches the height of the lowercase characters of our text.

Use the Move Tool (V) to make the necessary adjustments so that the text and arrow are horizontally and vertically centered within the button.

Step 7: Create the Hover State

Our button is done. However, we should create the design for the hover state of the button (i.e. how the button will look when the user hovers over it with their mouse).

Place all the layers–except the background–in a layer group by selecting them in the Layers Panel and then pressing Ctrl/Cmd + G (or choosing Layer > Group Layers).

Duplicate the layer group, then move the duplicate layer group’s content right below the original button.

Double-click the base shape layer copy (it’s inside the hover layer group) to open up the Layer Style dialog window. Modify the Gradient Overlay layer effect so that the gradient appears to be reversed. Checking the Reverse option could work for you, but I prefer manually tweaking the gradient’s color stops for better results.

Color Stop #1 – Color: #87bfe6, Location: 0%
Midpoint #1 – Location: 40%
Color Stop #2 – Color: #2877ac, Location: 95%
Midpoint #2 – Location: 40%
Color Stop #3 – Color: #4c9fd7, Location: 100%

Step 8: Cropping and Saving

Create a selection around the two buttons using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (U); it must be precisely 170×100px because we will use these values in our CSS. What we’re creating here is called a CSS sprite; head over to my friend Chris Coyier’s tutorial on CSS sprites to learn more about them.

Once selected, go to Image > Crop.

Toggle off the visibility of the Background layer.

Go to File > Save for Web & Devices, choose PNG-8 with the Transparency option checked, then save it in the same folder/directory that you will be placing your HTML document into (in the next step). Save it as web_button.png.

Step 9: HTML

Create an HTML document (perhaps named web_button.html) in the same folder/directory as your web button.

Open the HTML document in your favorite source code editor (even if it’s just your operating system’s default text editor, like Microsoft Notepad).

The web button will be a link () with an id attribute of web_button. Place the following code inside your HTML document.

       Buy Now

Preview the HTML document in a web browser; it will look pretty boring.

Step 10: CSS

Let’s style the #web_button hyperlink so that it uses web_button.png as its background.

Note: The best practice for CSS is that it should be in an external style sheet, referenced using the tag. But for the purpose of this tutorial, we will declare our styles inside

Preview the HTML document in a web browser, and check to make sure the :focus CSS pseudo-class has a visual representation; do this by pressing Tab repeatedly in your keyboard to navigate to the button, and making sure that it changes to our hover state when you are on the button.
Tutorial Summary
This tutorial showed you a quick and easy method for creating a flexible web UI button in Photoshop in a popular style that you see in many modern-themed websites and user interfaces. Experiment with the colors, gradients, and pattern to come up with a look that’s entirely your own.
Please post a link to your work in the comments and include it in our Flickr group — we would all love to see it!
VIEW DEMO
Download Source Files
slick_modern_web_button (ZIP, 0.03 MB)

Design a Surreal Retro Futurism Scene

2011-06-30T13:05:00.000+01:00

Design a Surreal Retro Futurism Scene

Resources Used In This Tutorial

Final Image

Here is a preview of the image that we are going to be creating:

Step 1

Start by creating a new document (1600X2000px).

Fill your canvas with 1a1121.

Step 2

Create a new layer called ‘background brush marks’. Download the watercolor brush set from the resources section for this tutorial. Apply several of the brushes over your canvas (using 45364f color). Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 30%.

Step 3

Now create a new layer called ‘background brush marks 2′. Apply several more brushes (using 2b3245 color). Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 20%.

Step 4

Now paste in the nebula image from the resources for this tutorial. Call this layer ‘nebula’.

Reduce this layer’s opacity to 15%.

Step 5

Now apply a levels adjustment layer. Ensure that you apply a clipping mask to this layer, so that it only effects your underlying nebula layer.

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

28 / 0.76 / 175

Step 6

Now create a new layer called ‘radial gradient’.

Apply several white to transparent radial gradients over your canvas. Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’. This should help build up a cool background lighting effect.

Step 7

Now repeat this technique on a new layer, applying several more radial highlights:

Step 8

Now cut out and paste in your jumping man from the resources for this tutorial.

Then apply a layer mask, and mask off the man’s head:

Step 9

Now cut out and paste in the panthers head from the resources for this tutorial.

Go to edit>transform and use your transform tools to rotate/resize the head to fit on your man’s body.

Now apply a layer mask, and use a soft black paintbrush (20% opacity) to mask off the panthers neck, fading it smoothly into the man’s neck:

Step 10

Now apply a levels and color balance adjustment layer, making sure to apply a clipping mask to each, so that your adjustments only effect your underlying panther head.

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

17 / 1.00 / 218

Color Adjustment Layer Settings:

Shadow: +1 / +8 / +2
Midtones: +12 / -1 / +9
Color Balance: -13 / +8 / +18

These adjustments should help blend your panther better with your surrounding composition:

Step 11

Now create a new layer called ‘eyes’. Select a small, soft paintbrush (fded4f) and paint over your panthers eyes. Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’.

If needed, duplicate this layer to make the effect more intense. This should make your panthers eyes really glow!

Step 12

Duplicate your panther head layer and called this layer ‘jawline’.

In your layer’s palette move this duplicate layer above your ‘eyes’ layer and adjustment layers. Delete the layer mask applied to this layer.

Move your duplicate head down past your original.

Now apply a layer mask. Mask off all of this duplicate head apart from the jaw. The idea is to use part of your panther head to build an artificial jawline that is lower than the original:

Step 13

Now cut out and paste in the photo of the roaring panther jaw from the resources section for this tutorial.

Resize your roaring jaw to be a more suitable size for the main panther head. Now go to edit>transform>warp. Warp your jaw to fit with your overall composition better:

Now apply a layer mask, and mask off the edges of this open jaw so that it blends better with your main panther head:

Step 14

Now apply a levels and color balance adjustment layer to your jaw layer. Remember to apply a clipping mask to each adjustment layer!

These adjustments will help blend your open jaw with the main image:

Step 15

You’ll notice that the side of the jaw is looking a little incomplete.

Luckily, this area is where the most shadow should be given the lighting of the piece. Therefore to construct a fake jaw, we really only need to build up the shadows to cover this area.

Create a new layer called ‘face shadow’. Use a soft black paintbrush to paint in shadows over this area of jaw.

Step 16

Now create a new layer called ‘face whiskers’.

Use a soft, 1px brush to paint in some whiskers on the right side of the panthers face. This just helps things to be a bit more symmetrical.

Step 17

Now create a new layer called ‘lighting’. Drag out a series of colorful radial gradients over your jumping figure. Try to use very bright colors, but colors that somehow compliment the imagery behind them.

Now change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’ and reduce it’s opacity to 25%.

Step 18

Now create a new layer called ‘bar lighting’.

Drag a thin white to transparent linear gradient out so that it goes diagonally across your jumping figure:

Now apply a layer mask. Use a soft black paintbrush to slightly mask off the edges of your gradient shape. You want to subtly fade these edges into your background, but not totally hide them:

Now reduce this layer’s opacity to 15%. This creates a subtle lighting effect:

Step 19

Now duplicate your ‘bar lighting’ layer and space out the duplicates across your jumping figure. The idea is that as the bar duplicates get further away from the original they get more spaced out and have a lower opacity.

Step 20

Now download the fractal lines brush set from the resources for this tutorial. Apply several of the brushes over your jumping figure.

Now apply a layer mask, and use a large, soft black paintbrush (20% opacity) to mask off areas of your fractal shapes. Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 60%. This should add just a subtle bit of detail to your composition:

Step 21

Now we’re going to dodge/burn our image in a non-destructive way.

Create a new layer called ‘dodge/burn’.

Go to edit>fill and fill your canvas with 50% gray. Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’. This will hide your 50% gray fill but will allow you to paint over your canvas.

Use a soft, low opacity black paintbrush to paint in shadows, and a soft, low opacity white paintbrush to paint in the highlights. To make the effect more subtle I reduced my dodge/burn layer’s opacity to 50%.

The images below show the dodge/burn layer at ‘normal’ blend mode, and then at ‘overlay’:

Step 22

Now create a new layer called ‘triangle top’. Use your lasso tool to create a cool looking triangle shape like the image below:

Now reduce this layer’s opacity to 60%. Apply an outer glow blending option:

Outer Glow Blending Option Settings:

Blend Mode: Normal
Opacity: 32%
Noise: 0%
Color: ffffff
Spread: 0%
Size: 38px

Finally create a new layer called ‘triangle shadows’. Use a low opacity, soft black paintbrush to paint in shadows to make your triangle shape seem more 3D:

Step 23

Now duplicate your triangle layer. Enlarge the triangle to make it about half the width of your canvas. Then apply a layer mask and mask off areas that overlap your jumping figure too much.

Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 10%.

Then duplicate this layer, and go to edit>transform>flip vertical. Move the large, flipped triangle to the bottom center of your canvas, and change it’s blend mode to ‘overlay’, increasing it’s opacity to 100%.

Below you can see the triangles at 100% opacity with no masking, and below that the finished result:

Step 24

As a final touch apply a gradient overlay adjustment layer and levels adjustment layer.

Gradient Overlay Adjustment Layer Settings:

Gradient: Default gradient (purple to orange)
Opacity: 8%

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

3 / 0.95 / 209

And We’re Done!

You can view the final outcome below. I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and would love to hear your feedback on the techniques and outcome.

Fantasy Spring Text Effect

2011-06-30T12:26:00.001+01:00

This tutorial will show you how to create a simple brush, then modify its settings, in order to create a nice fantasy spring fresh text effect.

The Final Result:

Notes:

* the software used in this tutorial is Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended
* the size of the final result image is 1024 * 768
* you might want to check the Basix Page to see some useful topics on dealing with Photoshop basics, such as loading palettes and some shortcuts.

Resources:

* Pip Paper by ~struckdumb.
* Monster texture by =redwolf518stock.
* Sparkles Brush.

Step 1:

- We will start by creating the brush. So open a new document that is something around 230 x 230 px, and use the Elliptical Marquee Tool to create a circle that fits the document, and fill it with any color, then press Ctrl + D to get rid of the selection, or simply use the Ellipse Tool instead.

- Double click on the circle’s layer to apply a Gradient Overlay effect. Change the Styleto Radial, and the Scale to 120%, then click the Gradient box to create the gradient.

- You will need 3 colors to create the Gradient, (you can add the colors by clicking under the color bar to create Color Stops), #e9e9e9 to the very left, #636363 to the very right, and #b3b3b3in between. Make sure that the color in the middle’s Location is 60%.
(You can assign the value after you click on the Color Stop).

- When you click on the #b3b3b3 color stop, two Midpoints will appear, one to its left, and another one to its right. Click on the Midpoint to the right, and change its Location to 55%.

- Then, change the Location of the Midpoint to the left to 50%.

- Now that the gradient is finished, click OK to get out of the Gradient Editor, and while the Layer Style box is still open, click on the circle to move the Gradient around, until you get a result similar to the one below:

- When you’re happy with the result, hit OK. Then go to Edit -> Define Brush Preset, and type in a name for the brush.

Step 2:

- Create the original document now, set the Foreground color to #a6a301, and the Background color to 486024, then, create a Radial Gradient from the center of the document to one of the corners.

- Place the Pip Paper texture on top of the Background, then go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation, and change the Saturation to -100.

- Change the layer’s Blend Mode to Sof Light

- Click the New Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, and chooseHue/Saturation.

- Change the Hue value to -10, and the Saturation value to -66.

- Open the Monster texture and place it on top of all layers, then change its Blend Modeto Multiply. And we’re done with the Background!

Step 3:

- Create the text using the color #6f500c. The font used is Brie Light and the size is 250px. You might need to change the Leading value if there are multiple lines, and the Trackingvalue to avoid overlapping. (Found in the Character Panel ‘Window -> Character’).

- Double click on the text layer to apply a Drop Shadow effect. Remove the check next toUse Global Light, and change the Angle to -36. Also, change the Distance to 18, theSpread to 15 and the Size to 35.

- The text should have more depth.

Step 4:

We are going to adjust the Settings of the “Brush” we’ver created in the first step. So open the Brush panel (Window -> Brush), and change the settings as below:

- Brush Tip Shape:

- Shape Dynamics:

- Scattering:

- Color Dynamics:

* You can play around with the values if you like, especially if you are using a different font or font size.

Step 5:

- Back to the original document, Right Click on the text layer, and choose Create Work Path.

- Set the Foreground color to #a7a400 and the Background color to #5a5919, and grab the Direct Selection Tool. Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it “Green”.

- Right Click on the work path, and choose Stroke Path.

- Choose Brush from the Tool drop down menu, and make sure that the Simulate Pressure box is un-checked.

- This will stroke the path with a nice leaves-like stroke.

Step 6:

Pick the Spatter 27 pixels brush, and modify its settings as below:

- Brush tip Shape:

- Shape Dynamics:

- Scatter:

- Color Dynamics:

- Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it “Roses”. Set the Foreground color to#f49e9c and the Background color to #df0024. Repeat the “Stroke Path” process to stroke the path with the new brush.

- Change the “Roses” layer’s Blend Mode to Color Dodge, this will give an illusion of roses spreading all over the green “leaves”.

Step 7:

Load the Sparkles Brush into your Brushes Preset. Create a new layer right below the text layer and call it “Sparkles”, and set the Foreground color to #fef99d.

- Again, stroke the path with this Sparkles brush. this will add a more fantasy-like feel to the effect.

- This step is a good time to use the Eraser Tool to get rid of any extra stuff. Just use a soft round brush with whatever size is suitable, and clear any scattered spots from any layer.

Step 8:

- The last thing we’re going to do is add a simple green illumination behind the text. So set the Foreground color to #a7a400 once again, then create a new layer under the “Sparkles” layer and call it “GreenBG”. Use a big soft round brush to paint randomly around the text. Do not cover much of the background though.

- Change the “GreenBG” layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay. And we’re done!

This is the Final Result once again.

design an email template in photoshop

2011-06-30T12:25:00.002+01:00

Learn how to design a Email Template/Newsletter in Photoshop! You can learn how to code this into a working Email Template here.

Final Result

1. Create a new document that's 650×870 px. Fill in the background colour to below:

2. Using the rectangle tool draw the page of the email template using the colour below. Double click the layer to go into Blending Options and put in a Gradient Overlay.

3. Download these Paper Texture Photoshop Brushes & install them and create a new layer. While holding down the ctrl key click on the layer thumbnail I've circled below, this while highlight the shape. Choose a paper texture brush you like, go to the new layer you create, choose a light grey colour and click.

4. On the paper layer click the Add layer Mask icon (I've circled it), click on the new mask you've create, select the eraser tool and erase the bottom off the paper. Adding a mask is a great way to erase part of an image without touching the real image.

5. Go to the Custom Shape icon and choose this shape below. While holding down the shift key (to keep the shape perfect) draw the shape like below.

6. Duplicate the shape by dragging the layer to the new layer icon, change the duplicated shape colour to below. To move the duplicate shape press ctrl (small moves) or shift (large moves) & the left arrow key.

7. Using the rectangular marquee tool, select a shape around the top on the page like below. Click on each of the stripes and click on the Add Layer mask icon. This will crop the stripes down to the size you selected.

8. Next add your logo/business name. Select the line tool (1px) and draw a line like below while holding down the shift key. I've made 2 lines which are the same colours as the stripes above.

9. Next download these Old Postage Stamp Brushes and choose some you like placing them on top of the email template in a light grey colour. To remove any overlapping stamps, select the unwanted parts with the Rectangular Marquee Tool and press the delete key.

10. Next put in some content, I'm using the font arial and have create a line to go between each post using the line tool (1px).

11. I've decided to put the top stripes on the bottom by selecting the 2 layer while holding down the ctrl key and dragging them to the new layer icon. Move them down to the bottom.

12. Using the font Jellyka CuttyCupcakes I've written out Want to Follow Us?

13. Next download & install these Hand Drawn Arrow Photoshop Brushes. To make an arrow you like go in a direction you want to into Window > Brush (or F5) and change the direction then create a new layer and click where you want to arrow to be.

14. Next download these Social Post Stamp Icons choosing what social media icons you want on the email template and drag them to the canvas. I've rotated the stamps by press ctrl+t and rotated & made them smaller by press ctrl+t & dragged a corner down while holding down the shift key.

15. Next I've created a new layer and put on some stamps from the previous Old Postage Stamp brushes we downloaded earlier.

16. Lastly using the font Arial > Regular > None > 3pt write out the sentence below:

Final Result

You can learn how to code this into a working Email Template here.

design an email template in photoshop

2011-06-30T12:25:00.001+01:00

Give your ordinary portrait photo glamorous effect with charming make-up

2011-06-30T12:10:00.001+01:00

I didnt mean to write this tut but while playing around with some adjustment layers ( for different purpose), i realized that i like this effect very much, so...lol. Anyway i hope you will like it.

After and Before:

Stock:

Model

1. Open your portrait photo.

Depending on your own one you can use Levels or Curves to brighten or darken to get proper light and shadow. For my picture, i use Levels to brighten it. Create a new Levels layer:

I only change Midtones from 1 to 1.2 as i dont want to brighten highlights.

2. Create a new layer, use Spot healing brush to fix blemishes on her face, wrinkles and dark part on her neck:

I like to use this brush with hardness = 0%, diameter depending on the size of blemishes.

3. Create a new layer, use Eyedropper Tool to pick color on bright part of model cheek or any bright part you want to apply with. For my picture, i have color #f1bab1 for foreground. Use soft brush, opacity and flow 20-25% to paint on any dark part to brighten and soften it. But remember dont abuse it or paint many times on one part as you can lose face details and your model will look unnatural.

4. New layer, use soft brush and color #e5b59e ( that is picked from bright part of model neck) with same opacity and flow in previous step to paint on neck:

5. Stamp visible all layers. In this step we will use Liquify tool to determine face and body shape to create a slimmer look. Choose Filter-Liquify and grab Forward Warp Tool with settings below :

Now use this tool to pull in face feature ( cheeks, chin) and neck, shoulder, pull out the lowest part of chin to make oval shape, also pull down neck to make it longer. Remember that you should straighten shoulder to create slender look. You can use this tool ( or Turbulence tool and another liquify tools) to flatten, thin, thicken..., even change expression of model face to get the look you want. But besides that you must care of proportion between facial features, between face and another parts of body ( the size, eyes direction, expression...). Dont let your model has a slim face above a plump neck and thick shoulders, or eyes( nose, lips...) too big and wide on a long or narrow face, or lip corner is lifted while eyes showing sadness or shedding tear..etc... Avoid them and dont abuse this technique. We make proportion, not perfection.

After liquifying, you may notice liquified parts can be blurred. To fix it, make selection for these parts, apply Unsharp mask or Smart Sharpen with correct values( depending on the sharpness of your picture).

You can see my result:

6. Create some new adjustment layers:

Color Balance:

Midtones: 12, 8, -20

Shadows: 7, -4, -5

Highlights: -1, 7, -7

Selective color:

Reds: 16, -28, 16, 0

Yellows: -93, -51, 25, 0

Neutrals: 16, 16, -28, 0

Blacks: 47, 21, -12, 13

Gradient Map:

Set this Gradient Map layer to Soft light 100%.

Hue/Saturation:

7. Create a new layer, use brush, color # fea586, hardness 40-45% to paint on her cheek:

Apply Gassian Blur with 18 px then lower opacity to 60%:

8. On a new layer, use soft white blush to paint on forehead, chin, nose bridge, under the eye:

Then change opacity to 30%:

9. New layer again, i want to brighten neck. Use soft brush, color #e5b59e to paint on this part, then set the mode to Soft light 100%:

10. Now we will fix the lips. Make a new layer, use brush, color #fc805a to paint on selected part to make the lips stroke fuller and clearer ,and remove highlight at the left corner of lip, then set this layer to Darken 50%:

11. Make a new layer, use soft brush, color #fc805a to paint on lips, set this layer to Soft light 100%:

12. Use a new layer, grab soft brush, color #7f9ef6 to paint on eyelid, try to paint the end of eye larger :

Change the mode to Multipy 60% .

Choose Filter-Noise-Add noise:

13. Make some new adjustment layers again:

Curves:

Color Balance:

Midtones: -24, -12, 16

Selective color:

Reds: 0, 9, 13, 0

Yellows: 0, 15, -57, 0

Blues: 37, 31, 36, 0

Neutrals: 8, -6, -10, 0

Photo Filter:

Levels:

14. After step above, we see the neck has some little greenish tone.

So i use soft brush again, color #ff8e85, opacity 20% on a new layer with Color mode 30%, to paint on this part.

15. Use a new layer with Overlay mode and fill it with 50% gray:

Use Dodge and Burn to determine facial features: Dodge tool for brightening nose bridge, chin, forehead, skin under and above the eye, skin under nose ( T shaped face), sclera, lips, neck:

Burn tool for nose side, iris, eyelid, especially the end of eyelid:

You can see eye given more contrast, nose straighter and facial features clearer.

16. Create a new layer, make a Radiant Gradient:

Set this layer to Soft light 100%, add layer mask to eraser selected part :

This step to make background behind model look darker.

17. Create a new Brightness/Contrast layer:

18. Final step: Merge all layers. Use High Pass filter with 1.5 px and set this layer to Soft light 100%:

This step is to sharpen picture. Add layer mask to clear noise effect on background.

Final Result:

Shattering Photo Manipulation in Photoshop

2011-06-30T12:05:00.000+01:00

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a shattered effect in Photoshop

12 Share

Tutorial Details

Program: Adobe Photoshop CS5

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.

Now we have everything we need so let’s start.

Step 1:- Create a new file with 1000px width and 2000px height.

Step 2:- Now create a new layer, for this click on Layer> new> Layer. Make sure you name your layers as we are going to use a lot of layers for this tutorial.

Step 3:- Now open the Model image and paste it on our file.

Step 4 - Let’s enhance the colors, so for this click on Image> Adjustments> Brightness/Contrast.

Step 5:- Now create a new layer and select our “Pen Tool”. Then create a path along the right leg.

Step 6:- Right click on the path and click on “Make Selection”.

Step 7:- Now select a hard round brush with # 070708, and use it on the selection.

Step 8:- Create a new layer and select one of the brushes mentioned above. Now select whatever color you like and use it on the selected area.

Step 9:- Now repeat the same process and roughly cover the selection with different brush strokes.

Step 10:- Now select another brush and use it with different colors over the right foot. Don’t forget to create a new layer for this.

Step 11:- Click on the “Eraser Tool” and select one of the dried splash brushes. Then use it on the layer above.

Step 12:- Create another layer and repeat the same process to create some more shattering effect.

Step 13:- Now we’ll do the same with the right elbow. So select the “Pen Tool” and create a path along it. Then right click on the path and select “Make selection”.

Step 14:-

Select a Hard Round brush and use if on the selection, but make sure this time foreground color is # 302b32.

Step 15:- Now we’ll repeat the same process we did on the foot to create shattering effect.

Step 16:- Create another layer and select the ray brush mentioned in the assets. Keep the color # ffffff and use it on the sides.

Step 17:- Now change the foreground color to # ed1c24 and then use these on the left sides.

And now our shattering Photo manipulation is done. Hope you enjoyed the tutorial. We’ll be back with more interesting tutorials. Till then keep designing!

Graphic design studio web layout tutorial

2011-06-29T16:16:00.000+01:00

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a fancy web layout for a design studio. As usual this layout can be used also for another types of websites. If you can create another versions of this layout please post them in the comment area.

First you need to download the following two images. Both images are created to fill your document very well if used as patterns. So please download the two images and save on your computer. Open the first image inside Photoshop, and then go to Edit > Define Pattern. Choose a name for this pattern, and then you can close this document.

This is the second image. Please download also this one. Make sure you click on the following image to see the full size.

Create a new document with the following size: 1100 x 1260 pixels. Select paint Bucket tool, and from the top of your screen select Pattern. After you select the patter you just create, click one time on the background layer. The result will look like this one.

On the bottom of this web design studio layout place the second image i gave you.

The same image please place it in the middle of the layout.

Then with Rounded Rectangle Tool create a shape like this one. I will use this round shape to create a simple navigation. In case you want another type of navigation please download the following pack: Horizontal PSD Navigation Pack

For the round shape please use the following layer styles

With Line Tool i will draw some vertical lines. I will use the following color for each line: #5e5a59

Then with Rectangle Tool i will create a simple shape but with a darker color. This shape will be used for our buttons when you roll over with your mouse. You need to know a little CSS.

With Horizontal Type Tool i will add some text.

Then i will create some arrows with Pencil tool. Set the brush tip to 1 pixel when you use the Pencil Tool. You can see that under the white pixel arrows i have placed also some shapes. These shapes can be created with Ellipse Tool.

Under my navigation menu, i will add a big shape. This shape will be used to create a slide show.

I will add some navigation controls. I will use the same arrows i have used for the main navigation.

Under the slide show i will add a black shape with Ellipse Tool.

Then i will go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. I will use a value between 8 and 10 pixels for the radius.

Then i will go to Edit > Transform > Warp, and i will use the following settings.

Here is my result. As you can see i have a nice shadow under my slide show shape.

The next step is to download Free this set of Vector pencils from insanelyart.com. Open the .ai file inside Adobe illustrator and then copy the next orange pencil on clipboard. Return to Photoshop and paste the pencil on your web layout. I will add also a orange shape with Rounded Rectangle Tool.

On the right side of the layout i will create a simple orange button. This button will be very visible and it will increase your conversion. With other words you can have more clients.

On the body of the layout under the slide show i will add some icons, and text. The icons can be downloaded from HERE

For each icon you can add this nice embossed layer style.

The next step is to create a simple logo.

Bellow you can see the final result.

Draw A Realistic Classic Pen Using Photoshop

2011-06-23T22:13:00.000+01:00

In this tutorial you will learn how to draw realistic classic pen using only Photoshop technique, without any stock image. Mainly following steps in this tutorial you will learn how to simple colored shapes add 3d look using Burn tool and adding highlights. You also can use this image as icon for your projects. This can be your begging guide to learn more deeply Adobe Photoshop drawing techniques.

You May Be Interested In The Following Posts

Final Image Preview

Step 1 – Creating a new file

Start by making a new image (File->New) with these dimensions:

Width : 500 pixels
Height : 600 pixels
Resolution : 72 pixels/inch
Background Contents : White

Step 2 – Create Background

Select a dark gray color. I used #2b2b2b.

Step 3 – Create Shape

Fill the background with the dark gray color selected at the previous step, then using Pen Tool (P) make a path like in the picture below:

Fill the path (Right click on it -> fill path) created above using #0e100f).

Again, use Pen Tool (P) to make a new path.

Fill it with a gold color, I used #c99f63.

Add a little reflection like I did in the picture below, using #fccb91.

Step 4 – Add Reflections

Pick up Burn Tool (O) and add some shadows at the top of our pen.

Make a new layer(Ctrl+Shift+N or you can go to Layer->New->Layer). Rename the layer to “Black reflection”. You can rename a layer by pressing right click on it, then selecting “Layer properties” option and in the “Name” box you can enter what name you prefer. From the Tools menu select Pen Tool (P key) and make a path like in the picture below.

Fill the path with a black color.

Step 5 – Add Highlights

Now, make a selection like in the next picture using Polygonal Lasso Tool (L)

Use Burn Tool (O) and add a small shadow in the indicated place.

Then pick up Dodge Tool (O) and add some highlights in the indicated places to obtain a “gold” effect.

Using Pen Tool (P) create a path like in the picture below.

Add a 2 pixels white stroke (Right click on the path-> stroke path) like I did in the next picture .

Duplicate the stroke created above and make it black, then move it a little to the right.

Using Eraser Tool (E) erase the strokes to give a plus of realism.

Using a selection tool make next selection.

Use Dodge Tool (O) and add some highlights in the selection.

In the indicated place add a 1px black stroke.

With Pen Tool (P) create a path like I did in the next image.

Right click on the path -> stroke path and add a 1 px stroke using #edc080 color.

Decrease the opacity or erase using Eraser Tool (E) to look more real.

In the indicated place add a 2pixels stroke using a gold color.

Make next selection using Polygonal Lasso Tool (L).

Pick up Dodge Tool (O) and make next settings:

Master Diameter: 35 pixels
Range: Shadows
Exposure: 48% (10B)

Using Dodge Tool (O) with the settings presented above add some highlights on our pen like I did in the next picture.

Step 6 – Create Middle Part

Using a gold color make a shape like in the picture below

Add some highlights using Dodge Tool (O) like I did in the next image

Then using Burn/Dodge Tool(O) add some shadows/highlights in the indicated places

Pick up Pen Tool (P) and make next path over the gold part we`ve created at the previous step

Add a 1 px white stroke (with the simulate pressure option ON)

Repeat the same steps for the bottom part

Step 7 – Create Bottom Part

Now make a shape like I did in the next image using Pen Tool and a gold #c1995c color

With Rectangular Marquee Tool make next selection over the shape we just created

Now, we going to create the gold look so in the indicated places add some shadows or highlights using Burn/Dodge Tool (O)

Again, make a path like in the picture below

And add a 1-2 px white stroke (with the simulate pressure on) to obtain a best gold look

Follow the steps indicated in the picture below

Use Pen Tool and make next path at the bottom of our pen

You can use a gold color too for this part, but I used a gray one so I filled the path with #91908b

Use Dodge/Burn Tool (O) and add like the other steps some highlights and shadows

Make next path using Pen Tool (P) to add more reflections

Fill it with the white color

Again make a path

And fill it with white color for a new reflection

Final Result: An Elegant Vehicles Web Template