miercuri, 16 decembrie 2009

Unusual Christmas Card

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

    • Used images:
    • http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=24321&PHPSESSID=95e8e8290894cc5194898e16d1dddb4c http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=14285&PHPSESSID=95e8e8290894cc5194898e16d1dddb4c http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=23033&PHPSESSID=95e8e8290894cc5194898e16d1dddb4c http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1195369 http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=view&id=1101045

  • Create Photoshop document 900*675 px.
  • Fill background layer with dark grey/light grey gradient.

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

  • Create top and bottom edges using Pen Tool and Convert Point tool. You may use this photo to make the same card silhouette.

  • Correct edges shape using Warp Transformation, draw attention to curves lines.
  • Create shade under bottom layer using the same way, but move left and right corners little bit down.
  • Apply Gaussian Blur Filter to the shade layer.

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

  • Apply Radial gradient for the top edge and Linear light grey/white gradient to the bottom edge.

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

  • Duplicate bottom edge, fill it with darker Linear Gradient. Cut out left and right corners, apply Gaussian Blur Filter.

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

  • Repeat the previous actions, but leave just selected area, it should be darker than previous layer.

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

  • In result, you should get something like this.

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

  • Load selection for the top edge.
  • Create a new layer.
  • Go to Edit > Stroke > Inside(1 px).
  • Play with layer Opacity.


  • Create a new layer,load selection for the both edges.
  • Fill selection with dark blue/ light grey gradient.
  • Apply Multiply Blending mode for this layer, Opacity about 60%.

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

  • Place ice surface image. Load selection for it.
  • Edit > Copy.
  • Create a new empty layer.

  • Go to Vanishing Point Filter.
  • Take Create Plane Tool and make the grid just like on the screen shot below.
  • Click Ctrl + V (paste copied image).

  • Grug image on a grid.
  • Click "Ok".

  • Apply Overlay Blending Mode to this layer.
  • Add Layer mask, fill it wit linear black and white gradient.

  • Place wood image into a new layer below card and shade.

  • Apply Vanishing Filter for wood just like in example with ice surface.

  • Add Layer mask to Wood layer. Fill it wit black and white gradient just like in the screen shot.

  • Merge background and Wood layers.
  • Apply Radial dark/transparent Gradient Overlay layer style effect to create layer.


  • Draw light soft spot between background and card layers.
  • Apply Soft Light Blending mode to it to create smooth lightning effect.

  • You should get something like on the screen shot below.

  • Create selected shape above background layer using Pan Tool.
  • Fill it wit black/transparent gradient, play with Opacity, apply Gaussian Blur Filter (around 3%)

  • Insert cloud image.
  • Separate it from background. You may found detailed tutorial, how to remove background here: http://alfoart.com/green_planet_3.html

  • Erase superfluous areas using soft Eraser Tool.


  • Now, Insert winter landscape image.
  • Apply Auto Levels and Auto Contrast.

  • Apply Distort transformation to image just like example below.
  • Select sky and erase selected area.
  • Process distant view using translucent Eraser Tool (Opacity about 20%) and Blur Tool, Strength around 15%.

  • Load selection for top and bottom edges, Invert selection and remove selected area.

  • Erase Right part of Landscape just like on the image below:

  • Add shades for snow using soft round brush.

  • Select center area of the landscape, Feather=40%. Copy selected area.
  • Paste it into a new layer.
  • Go to Image > Levels.

  • Apply Screen Blending Mode for this layer.


  • Duplicate landscape layer.
  • Go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur (250, 90)

  • Erase whole blurred image except reflection.

  • Create a new layer, fill it wit black/transparent radial gradient. Apply Multiply Blending Mode, Opacity 20%.
  • Erase front area using soft brush.

  • Create new layer once again.
  • Load selection for whole card.
  • Fill selected area with any color, Fill 0% and apply gradient just like on the example below.

  • Insert Moon Image.
  • Cut out round area.
  • Apply Screen blending Mode to it and layer style effects.


  • Insert pencil image.
  • Cut out shade area, paste it into a new layer below and apply Multiply Blanding Mode.

  • Load selection for the pencil and process it top part wit white translucent soft brush in a new layer.

  • Duplicate white spot on the Pencil and apply Dissolve Blending Mode with Opacity 50% to duplicated layer.

  • Draw some glitters using brush from Assorted Brushes Set.


  • Create big white spot in a new layer, apply Dissolve Blending Mode, Opacity 6%.
  • Merge it with a new empty layer.

  • Apply Gaussian Blur Filter(1).

  • Create big white spot again.
  • Apply Dissolve Blending Mode, Opacity 6%.
  • Add layer Mask, fill it with Radial black and white gradient just like on the screen shot.

  • In final, merge all layers.
  • Click on Quick Mask Mode icon
  • Choose Gradient Tool. Fill work with Reflected black and white gradient.

  • Click on quick mask again, keep selection.
  • Go to Filter > Blur > Lens Blur.

And here is result. Click for larger view!

Unusual Christmas Card. Photoshop tutorial

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