Photoshop Daily Challenge: Winter Themed Greeting Cards with Anna Daviscourt
December 3rd - December 13th
Day 9: Brushes
Use brushes, blend modes and adjustment layers to create a custom border for any photograph.
This cute little French Bulldog pup has been eating decorations. Doesn't he look innocent? Dog and holly frame are from Pixabay. Holly ornament in his mouth is from the now defunct Epson Creative Zone, and the background is a series of Adobe Paper Texture Pro textures in greens and ivorys with different blend modes over a dark green base layer.
Day 8: Patterns
Select and transform your favorite candies into a charming pattern.
I used a photo of a polymer clay ornament I made several years ago for this pattern. I masked it from it's background and added test on the banner. When I sold them, I would write the name and/or year on it. The background is made from Adobe's candy cane pattern with a divide blend mode over a green color,
Day 7: Combine Images
Mix and match images of winter plants to create a festive wreath!
The components of this mash-up were all from Pixabay. The background is a light blue gradient with clouds scatter around with a brush. Font is Luminari. The bird is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak, in case you're wondering.
Day 6: Masks
Create a custom banner with text and foliage using masks, brushes and selection tools.
This made an interesting holiday card. Anna supplied the scanned rosemary, Pixabay supplied the berries, and I drew the ribbon with the pen tool, Font (along a path) is Ringbearer. I've added a gradient background and a vignette.
Day 5: Adjustment Layers
Add dimension to any photo! Create a reflective backdrop using clipped adjustment layers and masks.
I was searching for moving winter creatures, but most of the movers were horses - not good on ice ;-), so I started searching specific animals. I put several polar bears in my library, but I knew as soon as I saw the penguin (one in a line one several isolated on white) the it had to be the one for a reflection. After all, he is looking down. Penguin from AdobeStock, frost crystals from Pixabay.
Day 4: Text
Give text personality with transform tools and blur techniques.
The base image of the horses drawing a sleigh if from Unsplash. The snowflakes were extracted from a winter project publish in the Epson Creative Zone many years ago. I was so sad when they changed their website and didn't include the Zone. The Font is Luminari. The snow flakes are both below and above (with soft light blend) the text, which is at about 85% opacity to better let the flakes show.
Day 3: Gaussian Blur
Create a paper cutout effect by transforming, grouping and blurring layers.
I made the trees with the render trees filter, because I didn't find any that I liked better. Drawing is difficult for me as my right hand is quite shaky. The frame has several effects: bevel & Emboss, drop shadow, and Outer glow with a dark color and multiply blend mode. I didn't use much blur, as it filled in too much of the maple tree with solid color.
Day 2: Blend Modes
Add illustrations to any image! Draw digital objects on top of a photograph and bring them into their environment with clipping masks and blend modes.
Layer masking, blend modes, and recoloring were all included in this composite postcard. The originally pink couch with white bulldog is from Adobe Stock, while the bow and tree are from Pixabay.
Day 1: Selections
Create digital stained glass by filling a canvas with color, transforming selections and adding glow.
I see, now that I post these, that I should have click fill a few more times in the red areas. Ouch. I've given a bit of 3D to these circles by adding an inner shadow and a centered inner glow that show better on the darker colors. I can see that this might be an exercise that will need to be done more than once.
