How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes

Wanna inspire yourself and at some time inspire someone else? On this Photoshop tutorial you can learn how to quickly create an inspiration frame.

Final Image Preview

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes

Step 1

Start by creating a new document with 600×600 pixels. Fill layer with color #0593a4.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 1

Step 2

Select the Custom Shape Tool and select one of standard Photoshop shapes (Registration Target 2), which you can see on the picture below. Set up foreground color as #02a0b3 and create shape similar to mine that you can see on the picture below.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 2
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 3

With new layer selected, rasterize shape by going to Layer > Rasterize > Shape.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 4

Step 3

Apply Filter > Distort > Twirl.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 5
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 6

Step 4

It is time to add inspiration phrases. I’m going to add text by curve line. For this effect get out the Pen Tool (you need to make sure that you’re working with Paths instead of Shape Layers). Draw out your line using paths:

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 7

Now you need to type text across the curve line. Update foreground color to white color (#ffffff). Select Horizontal Type Tool, move cursor perpendicularly to circle’s line and when it will be similar to waht i have on image below type the text you want.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 8
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 9

After typing, go to Layer > Rasterize > Type to rasterize layer. Add more lines of text repeating all steps to get something similar to what i have.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 10

Step 5

We need to add more decorative elements to our frame. Before we start adding decoration elements, select Brush Tool and choose one of standard brushes (Flowing stars) from Photoshop brushes gallery. If you can’t find brush start by resetting brushes so standard ones appear first.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 11

Press F5 to change other values for this brush:

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 12
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 13
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 14

Set foreground color to #a0d6dc. Select Pen Tool (you need to make sure that you’re working with Paths instead of Shape Layers) and draw a new curve line:

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 15

Create a new layer. Right-click on line and select Stroke Path.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 16

Choose Brush on next dialog box. Make sure there is a tick next to Simulate Pressure.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 17
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 18

Right-click again and selecte Delete Path. Repeat process a few more times to have something similar to image below.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 19

Step 6

We just need to add one dark spot to focus attention. Create a new layer above background layer. Select Elliptical Marquee Tool to create selection in the middle of canvas and fill selected area with color #005964.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 20

Remove selection by pressing Ctrl+D and apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 21

Final Image

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes

This tutorial is now complete.

Cool Dots Text Effect

This Photoshop tutorial explains how to design a three-dimensional text, which consists of dots and a blurred extension.

Final Image Preview

Cool Dots Text Effect

Resources


Step 1

Create a new document, 1600px for the width and 1000px for the height. Set the Foreground color to #8a5a01, and the Background color to #ba9145, then drag a Linear Gradient from left to right. You can choose your own colors as well, or add an adjustment layer to change the colors as shown in the end of this tutorial.

Cool Dots Text Effect 1

Open the Brush panel (Window -> Brush), and modify the Brush Tip Shape settings as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 6

Create the text using the font BorisBlackBloxx, and the Size of 400 pt.

Cool Dots Text Effect 2

Use the Pen Tool, and make sure to click the Paths icon in the Options bar, to draw a curve in the middle of the first letter. Add the main anchor points, you can modify them later.

Cool Dots Text Effect 3

If you think that the curve needs more anchor (control) points, you can always add ones using the Add Anchor Point Tool.

Cool Dots Text Effect 4

Then, you can use the Direct Selection Tool to click and drag the curve’s anchor points or the direction lines.

Cool Dots Text Effect 5

Step 2

Create a new layer on top of of all layers, and with the Pen Tool still active, right click on the path and choose Stroke Path.

Cool Dots Text Effect 7

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

Cool Dots Text Effect 8

This will stroke the path with the modified brush. Hit Enter to get rid of the path.

Cool Dots Text Effect 9

Create a new path near the inner edge of the letter, and stroke the path on a new layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 10

Do the same for the outer edge as well. You will end up having three layers, one for each stroke.

Cool Dots Text Effect 11

Repeat the same process for the remaining letters. You can use custom shapes instead of drawing the curves when possible (like using the Ellipse Tool, with the Paths icon in the Options bar clicked, for the O letter).

Cool Dots Text Effect 12

Remeber to stroke the path on a separate layer each time.

Cool Dots Text Effect 13

You can duplicate any layers for the same letters.

Cool Dots Text Effect 14

Once you’re done, each letter will have 3 layers covering it with dots.

Cool Dots Text Effect 15

Step 3

Make the original text layer invisible (by clicking the eye icon next to it), because we don’t need it.

Cool Dots Text Effect 16

Select all the Dots layers, then go to Layer -> Merge Layers (Ctrl + E) to merge them in one layer, and call it “Merged Dots”.

Cool Dots Text Effect 17

Use the Erase Tool to get rid of any dots that are not aligned with the others.

Cool Dots Text Effect 18

Make sure that the “Merged Dots” layer is active (selected), then go to Select -> Load Selection. Choose the “Merged Dots Transperancy” Channel. This will select the layer’s contents (the dots).

Cool Dots Text Effect 19

Pick the Gradient Tool, and choose the Spectrum Gradient. Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it “Gradient”, then fill the selection with the gradient.

Cool Dots Text Effect 20

Make the “Merged Dots” Layer invisible.

Cool Dots Text Effect 21

Step 4

Go to Edit -> Transform -> Perspective, and move the corners as shown below. You can transform the text as you like for now, and you can do that again anytime you think the text needs more perspective later on. Once you’re done hit Enter.

Cool Dots Text Effect 22

Pick the Lasso Tool, and create a selection around the first letter, then press Ctrl + J to duplicate it in a separate layer. Rename that layer to the letter it contains.

Cool Dots Text Effect 23

Repeat the same for the other letters. Once you have a layer for each letter, make the “Gradient” layer invisible.

Cool Dots Text Effect 24

Step 5

Duplicate the first letter’s layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 25

Go to Filter -> Blur -> Motion Blur, and set the values as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 26

Make four duplicates of the copy layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 27

Merge the “copy” layers, and move them below the original letter’s layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 28

Go to Edit -> Trasform -> Perspective, and transform the merged “copy” layer to make the blurred part look like an extension of the original letter.

Cool Dots Text Effect 29

Erase the blurred parts to the left.

Cool Dots Text Effect 30

This is what you should get. You can make the other letters layers invisible if you like.

Cool Dots Text Effect 31

Pick the Blur Tool, and change the Options bar settings as shown below, then blur the lateral part of the extension.

Cool Dots Text Effect 32

Use a soft brush with an Opacity value of 30% to slightly erase the end of the extension, so that it looks feathered out.

Cool Dots Text Effect 33

Repeat the same steps for each letter.

Cool Dots Text Effect 34

Step 6

Merge the original letters layers in one layer and rename it to whatever text you have.

Cool Dots Text Effect 35

Duplicate each one of the extension layers to make them more vivid.

Cool Dots Text Effect 36

Duplicate the merged letters’ layer (cool), and drag the copy layer below the original one.

Cool Dots Text Effect 37

Go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur, and enter 2.5 for the Raduis.

Cool Dots Text Effect 38

Step 7

Create a new layer right on top of the Background layer and call it “Shadow”. Set the Foreground color to #634016, and use a soft round brush (500 px) to paint a shadow below the text.

Cool Dots Text Effect 39

Go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur and enter 20 for the Raduis.

Cool Dots Text Effect 40

Change the “Shadow” layer’s Blend Mode to Multiply and its Opacity to 70%.

Cool Dots Text Effect 41

If you want you can select all the visible layers (except for the Background), then go to Edit -> Transform -> Perspective, and rotate the text even more.

Cool Dots Text Effect 42

Step 8

If you’d like to change the Background colors to add more contrast, then select the Background layer, and click the Create new fill or adjustment layer down the Layers panel, then choose “Hue/Saturation”.

Cool Dots Text Effect 43

Change the Values as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 44

Once again, click the Create new fill or adjustment layer, but choose “Levels” this time. Change the values as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 45

Finally, select the “Shadow” layer once again, then go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation, and change the Saturation value to to -100 (to match the new Background colors).

Cool Dots Text Effect 46

Final Image

Cool Dots Text Effect

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Textures Preview

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Winners of Grafpedia Giveaway

In this post, we announce the winners who previously participated in a giveaway held on January 26th, 2012.

Winners of Grafpedia Giveaway

First of all this was a great giveaway thanks to Grafpedia. Six winners have won 6 VIP accounts (one winner won one commercial VIP account valued at $199 and five winners won one VIP account each valued at $49).

The Winners

One winner will receive one commercial VIP account valued at $199.

Winner is Wendy.

And winners of one VIP account valued at $49 are:

1. Bob
2. CCronje
3. Eric
4. Kenneth
5. mare

Thank you to all for participating on this giveaway and congratulations to the winners.

All the winners will be contacted with more details thru email.

About Grafpedia

Grafpedia.com is a popular website with lots of resources for web designers including tutorials. It also features one of the best premium member areas including more than 70,000 graphics resources.

Grafpedia premium member area includes more than 900 photoshop brushes, 29400 photoshop gradients, more than 1000 textures, more than 100 web elements and more than 130 templates ready to use. Every week new resources are added to premium member area to keep collection up to date.

Winners of Grafpedia Giveaway 1

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Learn to Create Text Animation

I received several requests for a simple animation tutorial so this Photoshop tutorial is here. Learn to create a small text animation using Photoshop.

Final Image Preview

Learn to Create Text Animation

Step 1

Start by creating a new document with 1000×300 pixels. Set foreground color to #000000 and background color to #00ae0f. Select Gradient Tool and create a linear gradient.

Learn to Create Text Animation 1

Step 2

Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper with following settings (Fiber Length: 5, Brightness: 53, Contrast: 73):

Learn to Create Text Animation 2
Learn to Create Text Animation 3

Step 3

Select Horizontal Type Tool, font Arial Black with 170 pt and update foreground color to #00b75a. Write something like I did.

Learn to Create Text Animation 4

Step 4

Merge all layers (Layer > Merge Layers). Rename layer name to “Original”. Duplicate layer using Ctrl+J and apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on duplicated layer (Fiber Length: 50, Brightness: 0, Contrast: 73).

Learn to Create Text Animation 5
Learn to Create Text Animation 6

Rename duplicated layer as “1″. This layer will be our first frame of the animation. Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “2″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 50, Brightness: 20, Contrast: 73).

Learn to Create Text Animation 7
Learn to Create Text Animation 8

Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “3″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 50, Brightness: 30, Contrast: 73).

Learn to Create Text Animation 9
Learn to Create Text Animation 10

Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “4″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 50, Brightness: 40, Contrast: 73). Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “5″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 50, Brightness: 50, Contrast: 73).

Learn to Create Text Animation 11
Learn to Create Text Animation 12

From now on we will work with Fiber Length. Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “6″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 40, Brightness: 50, Contrast: 73).

Learn to Create Text Animation 13
Learn to Create Text Animation 14

Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “7″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 30, Brightness: 50, Contrast: 73).

Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “8″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 20, Brightness: 50, Contrast: 73).

Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “9″. Apply Filter > Sketch > Water Paper on this layer (Fiber Length: 10, Brightness: 50, Contrast: 73).

Learn to Create Text Animation 15
Learn to Create Text Animation 16

Duplicate layer “Original”, move it on top of all layers and rename it to “10″.

Learn to Create Text Animation 17

Duplicate layers “1″ to “9″ and place them as I did.

Learn to Create Text Animation 18

Step 5

Turn off all layers visibility except layer “1″. Select Window > Animation to open animation panel. Click on button highlighted on screenshot below to convert the timeline to a frame animation.

Learn to Create Text Animation 19

Update looping options to “Forever”.

Learn to Create Text Animation 20

Increase delay to 0,2 on frame “10″ of animation.

Learn to Create Text Animation 21

To complete tutorial save animation bu going to File > Safe for Web And Devices. Don’t forget that image must be a GIF.

Learn to Create Text Animation 22

Final Image

Learn to Create Text Animation

Giveaway: Win over 70,000 Design Items from Grafpedia

Photoshop Star and Grafpedia have partnered to giveaway several VIP accounts to Photoshop Star readers.

Giveaway: Win over 70,000 Design Items from Grafpedia

About Grafpedia

Grafpedia.com is a popular website with lots of resources for web designers including tutorials. It also features one of the best premium member areas including more than 70,000 graphics resources.

Grafpedia premium member area includes more than 900 photoshop brushes, 29400 photoshop gradients, more than 1000 textures, more than 100 web elements and more than 130 templates ready to use. Every week new resources are added to premium member area to keep collection up to date.

Giveaway: Win over 70,000 Design Items from Grafpedia 1

Prize

We have six VIP accounts to giveaway: one winner will receive one commercial VIP account valued at $199. Five winners will receive one VIP account each valued at $49.

These accounts will give you access to more than 70,000 design items.

How to Win

You need to leave a comment on this post telling us why you would like to win using a valid email address so we can contact you in case you’ve won.

Giveaway details

This giveaway ends on Thursday, February 2nd 2012 after which the comments section on this post will be closed.
Only comment once.
The 6 winners will be randomly selected as always. First the winner of the commercial VIP account and after that more 5 winners will be selected to receive one VIP account.
Winners will be announced on a separate post so i advise you to subscribe to our RSS feed and follow us on Twitter or on our Facebook page. And winners will be contacted via e-mail.

Comments are moderated on this site and your comment may not show up right away. If we find any comments that do not follow the instructions on how to participate (described above) may not be published, or may be removed later on.

Good luck to everyone!

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop

One more tutorial teaching you how to make a man facial retouching in Photoshop.

Final Image Preview

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop

Resources


Step 1

Start by opening photo.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 1

We are going to start by removing skin problems. Select Healing Brush Tool. This tool lets you correct imperfections, causing them to disappear into the surrounding image. Like the cloning tools, you use the Healing Brush tool to paint with sampled pixels from an image or pattern. However, the Healing Brush tool also matches the texture, lighting, transparency, and shading of the sampled pixels to the pixels being healed. As a result, the repaired pixels blend seamlessly into the rest of the image.

Set up the brush size about 20 pixels. Set the sampling point by positioning the pointer over an area of the image and Alt-clicking. Then click or drag in the place where you want to apply sampling point. The sampled pixels are melded with the existing pixels each time you release the mouse button.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 2

It’s very important to leave natural look for the skin so you should have at least leave some small defects. We are going to remove some wrinkles also. When you finish working with Healing Brush Tool you should have something similar to image below.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 4

Step 2

Duplicate background layer with Ctrl+J. Apply Image > Adjustments > Desaturate to convert image to grayscale values.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 5

Apply Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen More.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 6

Change layer mode to Multiply.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 7

Reduce layer opacity to 60%.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 8

Step 3

Duplicate background layer again with Ctrl+J. Move it on top of all layers and apply Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 9
How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 10

Apply Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 11
How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 12

Change layer mode to Multiply.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 13

Step 4

Duplicate background layer again with Ctrl+J. Move it on top of all layers and apply Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 14
How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 15

Change layer mode to Screen.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 16

Step 5

We still need to make some additional color correction on this photo. Select Layer > New Adjustments Layer > Color Balance.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 17

Go to Window > Adjustments and set up following presets for this layer.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 18
How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 19

Step 6

To complete this tutorial let’s change exposure a bit. Select Layer > New Adjustments Layer > Exposure.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 20

Go to Window > Adjustments and set up following presets for this layer.

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop 21

Final Image

How to Make Facial Retouching in Photoshop

This tutorial is complete. We got a nice retouching result and applied a good photo effect.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes

Wanna inspire yourself and at some time inspire someone else? On this Photoshop tutorial you can learn how to quickly create an inspiration frame.

Final Image Preview

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes

Step 1

Start by creating a new document with 600×600 pixels. Fill layer with color #0593a4.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 1

Step 2

Select the Custom Shape Tool and select one of standard Photoshop shapes (Registration Target 2), which you can see on the picture below. Set up foreground color as #02a0b3 and create shape similar to mine that you can see on the picture below.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 2
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 3

With new layer selected, rasterize shape by going to Layer > Rasterize > Shape.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 4

Step 3

Apply Filter > Distort > Twirl.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 5
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 6

Step 4

It is time to add inspiration phrases. I’m going to add text by curve line. For this effect get out the Pen Tool (you need to make sure that you’re working with Paths instead of Shape Layers). Draw out your line using paths:

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 7

Now you need to type text across the curve line. Update foreground color to white color (#ffffff). Select Horizontal Type Tool, move cursor perpendicularly to circle’s line and when it will be similar to waht i have on image below type the text you want.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 8
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 9

After typing, go to Layer > Rasterize > Type to rasterize layer. Add more lines of text repeating all steps to get something similar to what i have.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 10

Step 5

We need to add more decorative elements to our frame. Before we start adding decoration elements, select Brush Tool and choose one of standard brushes (Flowing stars) from Photoshop brushes gallery. If you can’t find brush start by resetting brushes so standard ones appear first.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 11

Press F5 to change other values for this brush:

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 12
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 13
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 14

Set foreground color to #a0d6dc. Select Pen Tool (you need to make sure that you’re working with Paths instead of Shape Layers) and draw a new curve line:

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 15

Create a new layer. Right-click on line and select Stroke Path.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 16

Choose Brush on next dialog box. Make sure there is a tick next to Simulate Pressure.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 17
How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 18

Right-click again and selecte Delete Path. Repeat process a few more times to have something similar to image below.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 19

Step 6

We just need to add one dark spot to focus attention. Create a new layer above background layer. Select Elliptical Marquee Tool to create selection in the middle of canvas and fill selected area with color #005964.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 20

Remove selection by pressing Ctrl+D and apply Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes 21

Final Image

How to Make Inspiration Frame in 5 Minutes

This tutorial is now complete.

Cool Dots Text Effect

This Photoshop tutorial explains how to design a three-dimensional text, which consists of dots and a blurred extension.

Final Image Preview

Cool Dots Text Effect

Resources


Step 1

Create a new document, 1600px for the width and 1000px for the height. Set the Foreground color to #8a5a01, and the Background color to #ba9145, then drag a Linear Gradient from left to right. You can choose your own colors as well, or add an adjustment layer to change the colors as shown in the end of this tutorial.

Cool Dots Text Effect 1

Open the Brush panel (Window -> Brush), and modify the Brush Tip Shape settings as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 6

Create the text using the font BorisBlackBloxx, and the Size of 400 pt.

Cool Dots Text Effect 2

Use the Pen Tool, and make sure to click the Paths icon in the Options bar, to draw a curve in the middle of the first letter. Add the main anchor points, you can modify them later.

Cool Dots Text Effect 3

If you think that the curve needs more anchor (control) points, you can always add ones using the Add Anchor Point Tool.

Cool Dots Text Effect 4

Then, you can use the Direct Selection Tool to click and drag the curve’s anchor points or the direction lines.

Cool Dots Text Effect 5

Step 2

Create a new layer on top of of all layers, and with the Pen Tool still active, right click on the path and choose Stroke Path.

Cool Dots Text Effect 7

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

Cool Dots Text Effect 8

This will stroke the path with the modified brush. Hit Enter to get rid of the path.

Cool Dots Text Effect 9

Create a new path near the inner edge of the letter, and stroke the path on a new layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 10

Do the same for the outer edge as well. You will end up having three layers, one for each stroke.

Cool Dots Text Effect 11

Repeat the same process for the remaining letters. You can use custom shapes instead of drawing the curves when possible (like using the Ellipse Tool, with the Paths icon in the Options bar clicked, for the O letter).

Cool Dots Text Effect 12

Remeber to stroke the path on a separate layer each time.

Cool Dots Text Effect 13

You can duplicate any layers for the same letters.

Cool Dots Text Effect 14

Once you’re done, each letter will have 3 layers covering it with dots.

Cool Dots Text Effect 15

Step 3

Make the original text layer invisible (by clicking the eye icon next to it), because we don’t need it.

Cool Dots Text Effect 16

Select all the Dots layers, then go to Layer -> Merge Layers (Ctrl + E) to merge them in one layer, and call it “Merged Dots”.

Cool Dots Text Effect 17

Use the Erase Tool to get rid of any dots that are not aligned with the others.

Cool Dots Text Effect 18

Make sure that the “Merged Dots” layer is active (selected), then go to Select -> Load Selection. Choose the “Merged Dots Transperancy” Channel. This will select the layer’s contents (the dots).

Cool Dots Text Effect 19

Pick the Gradient Tool, and choose the Spectrum Gradient. Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it “Gradient”, then fill the selection with the gradient.

Cool Dots Text Effect 20

Make the “Merged Dots” Layer invisible.

Cool Dots Text Effect 21

Step 4

Go to Edit -> Transform -> Perspective, and move the corners as shown below. You can transform the text as you like for now, and you can do that again anytime you think the text needs more perspective later on. Once you’re done hit Enter.

Cool Dots Text Effect 22

Pick the Lasso Tool, and create a selection around the first letter, then press Ctrl + J to duplicate it in a separate layer. Rename that layer to the letter it contains.

Cool Dots Text Effect 23

Repeat the same for the other letters. Once you have a layer for each letter, make the “Gradient” layer invisible.

Cool Dots Text Effect 24

Step 5

Duplicate the first letter’s layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 25

Go to Filter -> Blur -> Motion Blur, and set the values as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 26

Make four duplicates of the copy layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 27

Merge the “copy” layers, and move them below the original letter’s layer.

Cool Dots Text Effect 28

Go to Edit -> Trasform -> Perspective, and transform the merged “copy” layer to make the blurred part look like an extension of the original letter.

Cool Dots Text Effect 29

Erase the blurred parts to the left.

Cool Dots Text Effect 30

This is what you should get. You can make the other letters layers invisible if you like.

Cool Dots Text Effect 31

Pick the Blur Tool, and change the Options bar settings as shown below, then blur the lateral part of the extension.

Cool Dots Text Effect 32

Use a soft brush with an Opacity value of 30% to slightly erase the end of the extension, so that it looks feathered out.

Cool Dots Text Effect 33

Repeat the same steps for each letter.

Cool Dots Text Effect 34

Step 6

Merge the original letters layers in one layer and rename it to whatever text you have.

Cool Dots Text Effect 35

Duplicate each one of the extension layers to make them more vivid.

Cool Dots Text Effect 36

Duplicate the merged letters’ layer (cool), and drag the copy layer below the original one.

Cool Dots Text Effect 37

Go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur, and enter 2.5 for the Raduis.

Cool Dots Text Effect 38

Step 7

Create a new layer right on top of the Background layer and call it “Shadow”. Set the Foreground color to #634016, and use a soft round brush (500 px) to paint a shadow below the text.

Cool Dots Text Effect 39

Go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur and enter 20 for the Raduis.

Cool Dots Text Effect 40

Change the “Shadow” layer’s Blend Mode to Multiply and its Opacity to 70%.

Cool Dots Text Effect 41

If you want you can select all the visible layers (except for the Background), then go to Edit -> Transform -> Perspective, and rotate the text even more.

Cool Dots Text Effect 42

Step 8

If you’d like to change the Background colors to add more contrast, then select the Background layer, and click the Create new fill or adjustment layer down the Layers panel, then choose “Hue/Saturation”.

Cool Dots Text Effect 43

Change the Values as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 44

Once again, click the Create new fill or adjustment layer, but choose “Levels” this time. Change the values as shown below:

Cool Dots Text Effect 45

Finally, select the “Shadow” layer once again, then go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation, and change the Saturation value to to -100 (to match the new Background colors).

Cool Dots Text Effect 46

Final Image

Cool Dots Text Effect

Freebie: Texture Pack

Photoshop Star and TextureQualityPro teamed up to give you a free texture pack that you can use on your personal or commercial projects.

On this post you can download an 8 free high resolution texture pack (300dpi) on a zip file with 52 MB.

TextureQualityPro was founded by Andrea Donetti, an italian photographer. TextureQualityPro offers free and premium Textures and Backgrounds for creative works and is regularly updated.

Textures Preview

Freebie: Texture Pack 1
Freebie: Texture Pack 2
Freebie: Texture Pack 3
Freebie: Texture Pack 4
Freebie: Texture Pack 5
Freebie: Texture Pack 6
Freebie: Texture Pack 7
Freebie: Texture Pack 8

Final Notes

File Resolution: 4252 x 2835 pixels 300dpi
Format: JPEG
Size: 52 MB (zip)

License: this texture pack is free for personal and commercial use. But redistribuition or selling is prohibited. Refer to this page if you mention this on your website.

Download Hi-resolution Variety TexturePack

Winners of 123RF.com Giveaway

In this post, we announce the winners who previously participated in a giveaway held on December 12th, 2011.

Win 4 Stock Photo Accounts from 123RF.com

I want to remind everyone that each winner will receive a subscription basic plan that allows to download up to 5 Royalty Free Images and Illustrations daily for the next 30 days. These packages are valued at $89 each.

You can purchase credits or subscribe one plan at 123RF.com. And right now they are having a christmas sale of Image Packs.

Winners

And here are our winners :-)

1. Martin
2. Gabriel
3. Su Hall
4. Kaylee Kelso

Thank you to all for participating on this giveaway and congratulations to the winners.

All the winners will be contacted with more details.

And I wish a Happy Christmas to all our readers.

More Giveaways coming Up!

New giveaway contests are being prepared so if you want to keep updated follow PhotoshopStar:

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Poster from the Words

Would you like to make your own cool musical poster? This Photoshop tutorial will teach you how to do it.

Final Image Preview

Poster from the Words

Note: Original tutorial published on Photoshopstar.com had too many errors. Being one the most popular tutorials, tutorial was rewritten and now published.

Resources


Step 1

First we are going to create a new document in Photoshop with 1000×1000 pixels with all the default settings. Fill the background layer with black color.

Poster from the Words 1

Step 2

Select Horizontal Type Tool and place any text (white color, caps on) filling all background as you can see below. Only use one text layer.

Poster from the Words 2
Poster from the Words 3

Rotate text 45 degrees CW by going to Edit > Transform > Rotate.

Poster from the Words 4
Poster from the Words 4a

Step 3

Open photo and copy it to our canvas over text layer. Go to Edit > Free Transform and resize photo to something similar to what I have.

Poster from the Words 5

Select text from text layer (Ctrl+left click on text layer thumbnail in layers). Press Ctrl+Shift+I to invert selection. With selection active, select photo layer and press Delete to clear selection contents.

Poster from the Words 6

Press Ctrl+D to deactivate selection.

Poster from the Words 7

Apply Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

Poster from the Words 8
Poster from the Words 9

Step 4

Create a new layer. Select Horizontal Tool (Arial, white color, 55px) and write something like “DJ Music!”. Create a second new layer and write “Only best hits!” (Arial, white color, 25px).

Poster from the Words 10

Rotate text 45 degrees CW by going to Edit > Transform > Rotate on both layers.

Poster from the Words 11

Apply Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options > Outer Glow to both layer to make it more readable.

Poster from the Words 12
Poster from the Words 13

Final Image

Poster from the Words

This tutorial is now finished and you got a great effect!


How to Create an Ice Planet

You can find a lot of tutorials on how to make an ice planet in Photoshop. But I would like to invite you to try this unique simple tutorial on how to achieve the desired effect in a few steps.

Final Image Preview

How to Create Ice Planet

Step 1

Create a new document with 1000×1000 pixels. Press D to set up foreground and background color as black (#000000) and white (#ffffff). Fill layer with black color (#000000).

How to Create Ice Planet 1

Create a new layer, name it “Planet” and apply Filter > Render > Clouds.

How to Create Ice Planet 2

Step 2

Apply Filter > Artistic > Plastic Warp (Highlight Strength:20, Detail:15, Smoothness: 2).

How to Create Ice Planet 3
How to Create Ice Planet 4

Apply Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates.

How to Create Ice Planet 5
How to Create Ice Planet 6

Apply Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates again but changing option to Rectangular to Polar.

How to Create Ice Planet 7
How to Create Ice Planet 8

Use Filter > Distort > Sphesize.

How to Create Ice Planet 9
How to Create Ice Planet 10

Apply Filter > Distort > Sphesize one more time updating Amount to 50%.

How to Create Ice Planet 11
How to Create Ice Planet 12

Apply Filter > Distort > Pinch.

How to Create Ice Planet 13
How to Create Ice Planet 14

Step 3

With Elliptical Marquee Tool select planet. After that invert selection with Select > Inverse.

How to Create Ice Planet 15

Press Delete to clear selected area and remove selection with Ctrl+D.

How to Create Ice Planet 16

Go to Edit > Transform > Scale to reduce planet size a bit (keep pressing SHIFT to maintain proportions).

How to Create Ice Planet 17

Step 4

Duplicate “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and apply Filter > Brush Strokes > Dark Strokes (Balance: 5, Black Intensity: 2, White Intensity: 2).

How to Create Ice Planet 18
How to Create Ice Planet 19

Update layer mode to Soft Light on current layer.

How to Create Ice Planet 20

Step 5

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Apply Filter > Sketch > Bas Relief (Detail: 13, Smoothness: 2).

How to Create Ice Planet 21
How to Create Ice Planet 22

Update layer mode to Soft Light on current layer.

How to Create Ice Planet 23

Select Eraser Tool (Opacity: 30%, Size: 40px) and with a soft round brush remove the relief of ice surfaces.

How to Create Ice Planet 24

Step 6

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Apply Filter > Sketch > Note Paper (Image Balance: 25, Graininess: 10, Relief: 11).

How to Create Ice Planet 25
How to Create Ice Planet 26

Update layer mode to Overlay on current layer.

How to Create Ice Planet 27

Select Eraser Tool again (Opacity: 30%, Size: 40px) and with a soft round brush remove too monotonous plots.

How to Create Ice Planet 28

Step 7

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Apply Filter > Sketch > Plaster (Image Balance: 20, Smoothness: 2).

How to Create Ice Planet 29
How to Create Ice Planet 30

Update layer mode to Darker Color on current layer.

How to Create Ice Planet 31

Select Eraser Tool again (Opacity: 30%, Size: 100px) and with a soft round brush clean almost all layer content leaving only some areas to soften edges.

How to Create Ice Planet 32

Step 8

Duplicate again “Planet” layer with Ctrl+J and move it on top of all layers. Update layer mode to Hard Light on current layer.

How to Create Ice Planet 33

Step 9

Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Update layer mode to Screen, select Brush Tool (Opacity: 10%, Size: 90px) and lighten up darker water areas with white color.

How to Create Ice Planet 34

Step 10

Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Update layer mode to Color. Set foreground color to #47639a, select Brush Tool (Opacity: 10%, Size: 400px) and start applying to ice areas of the planet. If necessary increase or decrease a little brush opacity.

How to Create Ice Planet 35

Step 11

We need to add stars around the planet. With Brush Tool selected and a soft round brush (Size: 5px to start) press F5 to access brush presets.

How to Create Ice Planet 36
How to Create Ice Planet 37
How to Create Ice Planet 38

Set foreground color to white, create a new layer on top and draw the stars. Keep updating brush size.

How to Create Ice Planet 39
How to Create Ice Planet 40

Step 12

Create a new layer on top. Press D button to set up foreground and background colors as black and white and apply Filter > Render > Clouds.

How to Create Ice Planet 41

Update layer mode to Linear Dodge.

How to Create Ice Planet 42

Select Eraser Tool (Opacity: 30%) and clean layer so that the result should be similar to mine.

How to Create Ice Planet 43

Step 13

To finish tutorial, create a new layer on top and update layer mode to Soft Color. Select Brush Tool with soft round brush (Opacity: 15-20%), choose color #263c35 and start decorating nebula. Keep updating brush color like i did and you will have a great result.

Final Image

How to Create a Ice Planet

Giveaway: Win 4 Stock Photo Accounts from 123RF.com

Photoshop Star and 123RF.com have partnered to giveaway 4 subscriptions plans to 4 lucky winners.

Win 4 Stock Photo Accounts from 123RF.com

About 123rf.com

123RF.com is a royalty-free stock photo library that carries more than 11 million stock photographs and vector illustrations.

At 123RF.com, you can download royalty-free images that comes in different sizes that suits your preference. You can also buy credit packages for as low as $15 or subscription plans that starts from $89.

Under the Free Image Licensing Agreement at 123RF.com, there is a free image section that allows users to download free images.

By becoming a contributor on 123RF.com , photographers and illustrators can showcase, promote and sell their creations on the website along with a sales profit sharing model.

Win 4 Stock Photo Accounts from 123RF.com

Prize

Each one of the four winners will receive a subscription basic plan that allows to download up to 5 Royalty Free Images and Illustrations daily for the next 30 days. These packages are valued at $89 each.

How to Win

You need to leave a comment on this post telling us why you would like to win using a valid email address so we can contact you in case you’ve won.

Giveaway details

This giveaway ends on Monday, December 19th 2011 after which the comments section on this post will be closed.
Only comment once.
The 4 winners will be randomly selected as always.
Winners will be announced on a separate post so i advise you to subscribe to our RSS feed and follow us on Twitter or on our Facebook page. And they will be contacted via e-mail.

Comments are moderated on this site and your comment may not show up right away. If we find any comments that do not follow the instructions on how to participate (described above) may not be published, or may be removed later on.

Good luck to everyone!

Stars Candy Text Effect

This Photoshop tutorial will show you how to use a stars-candy texture to create a nice stars candy text effect.

Final Image Preview

Stars Candy Text Effect

Resources


Step 1

Open the “hetedeik.png” image from the 8 wooden patterns set, then go to Edit -> Define Pattern.

Stars Candy Text Effect 1

Create a new 1024 x 768 px document, and fill the Background with the wood pattern.

Stars Candy Text Effect 2

Place the Grungy Cracked Wall texture on top of the Background, and change its layer’s Blend Mode to Soft Light.

Stars Candy Text Effect 3

Step 2

Use the Horizontal Type Tool (T) to create your text in Black. The font used is ‘Hobo Std’, and the size is 200 pt.

Stars Candy Text Effect 4

Go to Edit -> Transform -> Warp, choose Arc from the Warp drop down menu, and set the Bend value to 30. Hit Enter to accept the changes.

Stars Candy Text Effect 5

Duplicate the text layer, and make the original one invisible (by clicking the eye icon next to it).

Stars Candy Text Effect 6

Right click on the copy text layer and choose Rasterize Type.

Stars Candy Text Effect 7

The text is no longer editable now, so make sure to modify the text before this step.

Stars Candy Text Effect 8

Step 3

Use the Lasso Tool to select the first letter. Make sure the copy (rasterized) text layer is selected (active).

Stars Candy Text Effect 9

Press Ctrl/Cmd + J to duplicate the letter to a separate layer, then rename the duplicated layer to whatever letter it has.

Stars Candy Text Effect 10

Do the same thing for the rest of the letters. Don’t forget to select the rasterized text layer each time before pressing Ctrl/Cmd + J.

Stars Candy Text Effect 11

Step 4

Place the Sweet Stars texture on top of all layers, rename its layer to “Texture”, and make the rasterized text layer invisible, so that only the separate letters layers are visible.

Stars Candy Text Effect 12

Duplicate the “Texture” layer then make it invisible. Resize (Edit -> Transform -> Scale) the texture (in the “Texture copy” layer) so that it almost covers one letter only.

Stars Candy Text Effect 13

Press Ctrl/Cmd key, and click on the first letter layer’s thumbnail (icon) to create a selection.

Stars Candy Text Effect 14

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool OR the Magnetic Lasso Tool (L), whichever one you prefer, to Add missing parts of the stars on the edges or Subtract those extra ones from the selection you have (click the Add to Selection or Subtract from Selection icons in the Options bar to do so).

This doesn’t have to be perfect, and it’s fine if you forgot some parts, as you can still fix those in the following Steps. Just try to cover as much stars as possible, and take your time in this Step.

Stars Candy Text Effect 15

Once you’re done, click the “Redifine Edge” button in the Options bar.

Stars Candy Text Effect 16

Modify the Smooth and Contrast values till the edges are soft, then click OK.

Stars Candy Text Effect 17

Press Ctrl/Cmd + J to duplicate the selected texture on a separate layer. You can make the “Texture copy” layer invisible to see how the texture looks, but don’t forget to make it visible once again (by clicking in the empty square next to the layer) before moving on to the next step.

Stars Candy Text Effect 18

Step 5

Move the texture to cover the next letter. You can as well rotate it (Edit -> Transform -> Rotate), and always hit Enter to accept changes when you’re done.

Stars Candy Text Effect 19

Repeat the same steps till you have a texture for all of the letters, each one on a separate layer.

Stars Candy Text Effect 20

Now, use any of the Lasso Tools to select a couple of stars from the texture. Choose ones that are not missing any parts, in different agles and colors, to add them to the letters.

Stars Candy Text Effect 21

Redifine the selection Edges, then press Ctrl/Cmd + J to duplicate those stars into a separate layer, and rename it to “Stars”. Once you’re done, make the “Texture copy” layer invisible.

Stars Candy Text Effect 22

Step 6

Select a star using the Lasso Tool, duplicate it to a separate layer (Ctrl/Cmd + J), then move it around to fill in the empty edges. You can make as many copies as you need of each star, and you can rotate and scale them as well. Try to cover all the empty areas in the letters’ texture.

Stars Candy Text Effect 23

You can use the Eraser Tool to get rid of any unwanted parts.

Stars Candy Text Effect 24

This step might take a while, but it’s important to make sure no areas are empty or incomplete, so take your time.

Stars Candy Text Effect 25

When you’re done, select all the Stars texture layers, and press Ctrl/Cmd + E (Layer -> Merge Layers) to have the texture in one layer. Rename the merged layer to “Stars-Final”.

Stars Candy Text Effect 26

Make all other text layers invisible.

Stars Candy Text Effect 27

You might notice some areas that still need to be erased, so go ahead and do so.

Stars Candy Text Effect 28

Step 7

Duplicate the “Stars-Final” layer.

Stars Candy Text Effect 29

Set the Foreground and Background colors to Black and White, then go to Filter -> Noise -> Add Noise, and change the values as shown below:

Stars Candy Text Effect 30

Change the “Stars-Final copy” layer’s Blend Mode to Soft Light.

Stars Candy Text Effect 31

Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation (Ctrl/Cmd + U), and set the Saturation to -80.

Stars Candy Text Effect 32

Go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur, and set the Raduis to 5. This will soften the texture

Stars Candy Text Effect 33

Step 8

Double click on the “Stars-Final” layer to add some shadows. Start with Drop Shadow, and use the default values.

Stars Candy Text Effect 34

Then, add Inner Shadow. Change the color to #a7a7a7, and the Distance to 0.

Stars Candy Text Effect 35

This will add depth to the texture.

Stars Candy Text Effect 36

Click the Create a new fill or adjustment layer icon down the Layers panel, and choose Photo Filter.

Stars Candy Text Effect 37

Choose the Sepia Filter.

Stars Candy Text Effect 38

Create a new layer right below the Photo Filter Layer and call it “Radial Gradient”. Set the Foreground color to #595959, choose the Foreground to Transparent Gradient, and check the Reverse box. Create a Radial Gradient from the center of the document to one of the corners, and change the layer’s Blend Mode to Overlay and its Opacity to 80%.

Stars Candy Text Effect 39

Finally, click the Ceate a new fill or adjustment layer icon again, but this time choose Levels, and make sure to place the Levels layer right on top of the Background layer.

Stars Candy Text Effect 40

change the Highlights value to 235 to brighten up the Background a bit, and that’s it!

Stars Candy Text Effect 41

Final Image

This is the final result. You can use the same technique with any other type of candy or food texture to create other delicious text effects!

Stars Candy Text Effect