Just Creations Tutorials: April 2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Create a Flower Decoration - Plus Free Supplies for Tutorial provided!

12:23 PM |

Posted by justcreations1 |

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Create a Flower Decoration

(Using Papers/Shapes & the Spherize Filter)

You can download the supplies used in this tutorial here!

They are in PSD, PNG and PSP Format. (CU4CU OK)

Open up the "JC_FlowerBase1_Template.PSD"

Highlight the bottom layer "Base"

Open the "JC_HeartsBG.jpg" that came with this tutorial.

Drag it over to the "JC_FlowerBase1" document.

(Make sure that it's on the layer right above the "Base"

Turn off the new Layer (1)

Make sure you're on this layer (1)

While holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard click on the layer named "Base"

You should see the active layer (marching ants) (2).

While holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard press the J Key (CTRL+J)

This duplicates the active areas only.

Here is what it looks like so far.

Now we're going to use the Spherize filter.

On the Top Menu Bar click on Filter.

Then click on Blur and then Gaussian Blur.

Use the settings I have

Amount: 100%

Mode: Normal

Click OK.

Turn off this layer (1)

Now while holding down the CTRL key on your Keyboard click on the "Base" layer to activate it (Marching Ants - 2)

Now we need to duplicate it (CTRL+J)

Rename your new layer to "Base Overlay" (1)

Highlight the layers you have now turned off (2) and delete these.

(right mouse click - delete)

Now we're going to use the Blend Options to give it some shading.

Since there are two colors being used we don't want to do this on the original Overlay we created.

So, turn on the Shadows layer I have in the file (I have it off so you can see what you're doing)

Basically all I did to make this layer was duplicate the Base layer.

In the upper right corner you'll see the "Fill" slider. Turn this to 0.

Now double click on the layer thumbnail to bring up the Blend Options (Arrow)

Go to the Inner Shadow Tab and choose the Color #545454

Change the Blend Mode to "Linear Burn"

Use these settings

Opacity: 69%

Angle: 120 (Check "Use Global Light")

Distance: 5

Choke: 0

Size: 226

We're not done yet...

Now go to the Inner Shadow Tab.

Change the Blend Mode to Linear Burn

Use the Color #545454

and use these settings

Opacity: 20%

Noise: 0

Source: Edge

Choke: 0

Size: 174

Now click OK

Now we want to add some stripes to the "Middle" layer.

Choose the Rectangle Tool (1)

Use the settings I have here (2)

Choose a color you want the stripes to be.

Draw out a stripe (1)

Duplicate it 6 more times and space them out as I have here (1)

Don't worry about making them evenly spaced. We'll fix that right now.

Highlight all the stripes in your layers pallet (2)

You'll need to change your curser from the "Shape" tool to the Normal tool to do this next stop.

At the top you'll see the align menu (Window - Align) if you don't.

Choose the one that says "Distribute Vertical".

Now merge all the Stripe layers (CTRL+E)

Now we're going to Spherize again.

Go to Filter - Spherize and use the same settings you did above.

Now we want to Transform the stripes to make them almost the same size as the Middle layer.

CTRL+T to transform. Bring the stripes in like I have.

Click Enter to apply the Transform when you're done.

Turn off the stripes (1)

Now while holding down your CTRL key on your keyboard click on the Middle Layer (2)

Now we need to duplicate (CTRL+J).

Rename this layer to Stripes and Delete the layer beneath.

Now we need to color the Middle. Double click on the Layer thumbnail.

Go to the Color Overlay tab and choose a color you like.

Click OK when you're done.

Now turn on the Shadow layer that is above the Middle Layer (2)

Do a Right Mouse Click on the Shadlow layer we fixed below (1)

Choose "Copy Layer Style"

Now go to the Shadow layer we just turned on (2)

Do a Right Mouse Click and choose "Paste Layer Style"

Here it is so far.

Now we're going to add some dots to the Middle Circle.

Choose the Elipse Tool and choose a color you want to use.

Draw out a circle (holding down the Shift while drawing the circle will make it a perfect circle)

Duplicate this many times as I have (1) and space them out as I have (1)

Don't worry about making them even... We'll do that next

Highlight all the dots in the layers pallet (2)

Change your curser from the Shapes tool to the Normal tool.

Now you should see the Align tools at the top. Choose the "Distribute Horizontal".

Now merge all the dots (CTRL+E) while they are still highlighted.

Duplicate the dots and bring down below and set them so they are like mine.

Do this several more times until you get them like I have here. (1)

Highlight all the dots (2) and merge (CTRL+E)

Now we want to Spherize the dots.

Go to Filter - Spherize and use the same settings we did previously.

Use the CTRL+T to shrink the dots in so they are a bit larger then the Middle Dot.

Hit Enter when you're done.

Turn off this layer (2)

While holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard click on the Middle Dot (1) to activate the layer.

Now duplicate "CTRL+J"

Here it is so far.

Now we want to color the Middle Dot.

Click on the Layer Thumbnail to bring up the Blend Options

Go to the Color Overlay tab and choose a color you like.

Click OK when you're done.

I decided to change the dots to a different color so I used the same steps above and changed the Color Overlay of the dots.

Now we need to apply the shading.

Go to the last Shadow we did (1) and do a Right Mouse click and choose "Copy Layer Style"

Now go to the Shadow layer for the Middle Dot (2). Turn it on and do a Right Mouse Click and Choose "Paste Layer Style"

Here is the finished product.

I would love to see what you create with this.

If you'd like to have your finished producted featured with this tutorial please email me a copy of the finished product!

Thank you,

Justie

Just Creations

justcreations@ymail.com

Here is the supplies for this tutorial, along with 2 examples I made using this tutorial.

You can download this CU4CU freebie here!

Labels: Spherize; Shading, Tutorial |

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Saturday, April 2, 2011

Make a Glossy Button - Template Supplies Included for Free (CU OK)

10:58 AM |

Posted by justcreations1 |

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Today we're going to make a Glossy Button.

This tutorial was written for Susan McGregor, owner of Digi Style Designs

You can download the button for this tutorial by emailing me and I'll email it to you.
(I'm sorry to have to do it this way but I'm having some problems uploading to MediaFire right now and can't seem to get his link to work... I hope to have the problem fixed soon... But in the meantime, my email is justcreations@ymail.com)
(It is CU Friendly and includes the PSD, PSP and PNG formats)

Open the file JC_Button20_Template

Here’s the button. It’s flat and boring.

We need to add some shading and highlights to help it appear more realistic.

First we’ll start by adding some shadows.

Hold down your CTRL button and click on the Button Outer Ring layer’s Thumbnail (as indicated by the arrow)

This should activate your layer (you’ll see the marching ants).

Now go to the top menu bar and choose “Select – Modify – Contract” (1)
Choose 100 as your contract pixel #.
Click OK

Go to the top menu again and choose “Select – Inverse”
Now do a CTRL+J on your keyboard (This will duplicate the selected area)

Rename this layer to “Shadow” and double click on the Layer Thumbnail to bring up the Blend Options (See arrow)

Go to the Color Overlay Tab and choose black as your color. Click OK

Go to the top menu bar and select “Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur”

Choose a Radius of 75 and click OK

This softens out your shadow so it blends in.

Since we don’t want the Shadow to spill onto the transparent parts of the image we’ll want to clip this.

We’re going to turn off the Shadow Layer (1)

Hold down your CTRL key and click once on the Button Outer Ring (2)

You should see that the layer is now active (Marching Ants) (3).

Do the CTRL+J on your keyboard to duplicate the Shadow so it’s the same exact shape as the Button Outer Ring.

Rename this layer to Shadow (1) and delete the original Shadow Layer (2).

Now you’ll notice the shadow is on both the outside as well as the inside of the button.

This is not what we want so we need to fix that before we move on.

Choose the Marquee Tool (1) and draw a circle around the button so that it only surrounds the inner shadow (2).
Use CTRL+X on your keyboard (CUT).

This will delete the inner shadow and leave us the outside shadow.

It’s still a little harsh so let’s lower the opacity of the Shadow layer. I’ve lowered it to 50% but if you want the shadow to be less or more you’ll have to change my settings to best suit your taste.

Now we want to add a shadow to the inside buttons.

While holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard click once on the Button Inside layer.

You should see the marching ants around this layer.

Now click on Select – Modify – Contract (1)

Choose 50 as your Contract Pixels. (2). Click OK.

Now go back to Select and choose Inverse.

Now we want to color this layer as we did previously.
Double click on this layer to bring up the Blend Mode Options.

Change the Color Overlay to Black and click OK

From the top menu bar choose “Filter – Blur – Gaussian Blur”

Choose a Radius of 75 Pixels. Click OK

Turn off this layer (1)

Highlight this new layer (1)
While holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard click on the Button Inside Layer (2).
This will activate your layer (Marching Ants)
Use your keyboard and do the CTRL+J (Duplicate).

You’ll want to lower the opacity of this shadow as well. I chose 64%, but again, it’s up to your taste as to how much or little you want the shadows showing.

Now we’re going to add some Highlights to the Button.

Choose the Ellipse Tool and set your foreground color to white.

Draw a large round shape out like I have here.

Make sure you’re on the layer right above the Button Outer Ring.

Duplicate this layer.

Change the color of the Duplicated shape. I chose red because it’s easy to see.

You can use whatever color you want, we’re not going to be keeping this layer.

We’re using it as a clipping template.

Bring the red shape down a bit so that you can see only a crescent sized area of the white.

Make it look like I have here.

If you haven’t Rasterized your layers (as I hadn’t in the previous steps) you’ll want to do a Right Mouse Click over the Layers and click on “Rasterize Layer”.

Turn off the Red Layer (1)

Highlight the Original White Shape (2). While holding down your CTRL key on your keyboard click once on the Red Layer Thumbnail (1).
Using your Keyboard hold the CTRL key and press X (Delete).