Design a beautiful Christmas tree in Photoshop

Christmas is coming soon, here I use the words "Xmas" designed a Christmas tree, the design idea comes from the writing typesetting art. Use sketches and illustrator first, then use Photoshop to complete the work.

Next, I will explain the whole process of creation.

First step

When I want to make a Christmas card film, I don't know what I want to do. Then, I thought I could use the word "Xmas" to design a little Christmas tree, which I thought when I was running. So, when I got home, I opened my sketch book and started thinking about it.

My painting skills are poor, but at least I have an idea. First, I drew a vertebral body and began fiddling with the words "Xmas" to see how it should be typeset. Finally, I added some shadows, as shown in the following figure.

Before I begin the next step, I would like to reiterate the importance of sketching before using computer design. You don't need to draw very well, the focus of the sketch is to be able to quickly present the idea.

Second Step

I took a picture of the finished sketch and imported it into the illustrator. Then use the Pen tool to create the basic lines of the Xmas tree. The curve portion of the Xmas tree is done with the Ellipse tool, and then the extra part is removed.

A very important detail is the gap between the letter x M a s, without which the text will be difficult to read.

Third Step

When the vector part is complete, start adding colors and 3D effects. Here, I did not devote too much energy.

Fourth Step

After I created the basic object, I started adding something else. First, an old paper texture was added to the illustrator because my original idea was to design a retro-styled card, but I was not satisfied with the effect.

Fifth Step

Due to the illustrator produced by the effect is not particularly satisfactory, I decided to use PS to achieve. Therefore, copy the base object and paste it into PS.

Sixth step

To achieve the effect I wanted, I imported a picture of a Christmas wreath (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-63153112/stock-photo-christmas-wreath-on-white.html)

Seventh Step

Because this Christmas wreath does not have a background, copy it multiple times until it completely overwrites the underlying object.

Eighth step

Here, I put all the wreaths in a folder, and then, create a selection of the Christmas tree.

Nineth Step

Then, use a mask in the Garland folder so that it is visible only in the area of the Xmas tree. But as you can see from the picture below, this doesn't look real enough. The edge of the tree is too flat. However, to solve this problem is very simple.

Tenth step

Select a portion of the Garland area, copy and rotate until a uniform object similar to the blade edge is formed. Merge these layers to form a new layer, then select the image → adjust → go color, make the image gray, and then select the image → adjust → color, and increase the shadow input level to make the image darker, increase the high light input color to increase the contrast.

After you adjust the object to black and white, use the rectangular marquee tool and press SHIFT to create a square selection. Then edit → define the brush preset.

11th Step

Use the brush created above to paint at the edge of the mask, with white color to make them more realistic. Then, copy the layer group and combine it into a layer so that you can use layer styles on it.

12th Step

Select the layer, and then select the layer → layer style → projection. The blending mode is set to overlay, the shadow color is black, the opacity is 90%, and the angle is 90 °. The distance is set to 15px, the expansion is set to 0%, and the size is 30px.

13th step

Then, add the inner shadow to increase the 3D effect of the picture. Set parameters to Mixed mode: soft light, 100% opacity, angle -90°, distance 25px, blocking 0%, size 20px.

14th Step

The last layer style is an inner glow. Set the parameter to mixed mode for overlay, color is light gray, source is edge, size is 70px.

15th step

After the previous steps, the effect is pretty good now, but I also want to add some Christmas decorations.

16th step

Before I add a decoration, I first saturate the image.

17th Step

Here, I have added some red Christmas balls. Picture Link (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-67508086/stock-photo-girl-with-christmas-gift-shot-over-blue-background.html).

Here, all the Christmas balls are the same, but there are different rotations. But it looks fake, because the balls are simply hanging on the wreath.

18th Step

To solve this problem, make the Christmas ball a better blend with the Christmas tree, copy the Christmas tree, and then remove the layer style. Move this new layer to the front of all other layers, select layer → layer mask → hide all. Then use the brush tool to paint the layer mask with the brush created in step tenth, covering the ball with black.

19th Step

Next, some light effects are added. Here, I used a photo of the light effect, and then copied it several times. As with Christmas balls, different light effects are formed by changing the angle and size of the light.

20th Step

For each light, apply a different hue and saturation to produce a red, blue, green, pink and yellow light.

21st Step

Select all layers and copy them, then combine the copied layers into a new layer, select filter → blur → Gaussian blur, radius to 15px, and then copy the layer.

22nd Step

Apply 50% opacity to the two blur layers, the blending mode of the blur layer above is filtered, and the following blur layer blending mode is superimposed.

Summarize

Finally, I added some words and the logo of my blog. The text here is Helvetica Neue Ultra Light. Also, add an old paper texture to all layers and set the blending mode to overlay with an opacity of 20%.

Category:

• PS Getting Started Tutorial
• Christmas Theme _ Christmas