Steps (Part 1)

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1) Create an A4 size file, import the Window Desktop Wallpaper as the background of the design.

2) Go to new adjustment layer > hue and saturation. Adjust the color until your satisfaction.

3) Using the brush tool, draw the snow field. Adjust the brush size and color to create the blue shadow.

4) Apply the snow effect. To do so, create a new layer. Color it using black color. Go to Filter > Artistic > Sponge. Next, go to image > adjustment > threshold. Adjust the threshold level until you are satisfy with it. Now, go to filter> blur > motion blur. Adjust the distance. Finally, change the layer 1 into screen. (refer to my previous post)

5) Draw some Xmas tree using Illustrator and then import them to the Photoshop. If you cant draw well, you can use the picture from Google. For my case, the tree at the front is from Google while the less I drew using Illustrator. Since it is a vector picture, you can color it easily. After that, apply the drop shadow effect on the trees.

6) Again, create the avatar using Illustrator. Import it to Photoshop. Color it using Paint Bucket tool. Apply the drop shadow effect.

7) Here is a new technique I invented. Draw the Santa using Illustrator, import it to Photoshop. Duplicate the layer. Hide the new layer, at the 2nd layer (the below one), color the Santa using brush tool. It should look something like this.

8) But when you unhidden the new layer, it appeared to be like this. Always remember to raster the picture or else you cant edit anything on it. To do so, go to layer > rasterized.

9) To make the snow look more realistic, use the brush tool to draw some snow.

10) Create the chat box. To create the chat box, draw a rectangle and triangle using the shape tools. Put the two object together and merge it. Color the chat box and type the words on it.

11) Draw the angry symbol using pencil tools and line tools.

12) To make it more realistic, use the same technique at step 7 to draw the angry symbol.

13) Type down the greeting using the type tools. Apply drop shadow effect, outer glow effect, inner shadow effect, stroke and bevel and emboss effect on the words.

14) Save the file into JPEG format. Open a new file, import the saved JPEG picture. Create a new layer, then press ctrl + A to select the whole picture. Press delete. Then use the history brush tool to create the effect below.

15) Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Dry Brush. Steps for Part 1 is finished.

To be continue...
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The Materials

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Microsoft Window wallpaper which will serve as my background picture.

The Xmas Tree.

Grunge Paper

Vintage Design
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Final Draft

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Final outcome...
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Quick Draft 4

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Second page of greeting cards. =D

The Ideas

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Lets ignore about the greetings first. I will focus more on the image (the front page of the greeting card) in this post.

Since Xmas is coming soon, so I decided to do a Christmas card as my second assignment. Initially I would like to do something that is simple and direct to the points. It should be something like this:

These are the invitation cards for my coming music performance and Xmas celebration in Pulau Penang. =D

But, I can almost guarantee that I wont be able to get a high mark if I follow this kind of design. So, I start to seek for a new one.

And ha~ I get my new ideas thanks to the cold weather in Cyberjaya during these few days.

Winter is cold. People will be freeze if they wear nothing ( which what my white avatar did). So I start to work on this idea and create the images using Adobe Illustrator. In my opinion, I believe that by creating something humor can attract one’s attraction. These should explain why my avatar and the Santa look so.

I gained this idea because of the word: Penang. In mandarin, Penang sound like Ice City.

For the Xmas tree, some of them is create using Illustrator and some of it are from Google.

Just play with the shape tools, pencil tools and pen tools, you can create the Xmas tree.

For the aurora, it is actually my window background theme. I modify it to be my winter background. And by combining all these pictures and some Photoshop skills, it can already create a nice greeting cards.
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Quick Draft 3

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After applied with new effects. =D

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Quick Draft 2

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More to come... Stay tuned...
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Quick Draft

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Done with the snow effect, together with the white avatar, Christmas tree and Santa. =D
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A Draft is to Draft

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Lot of things need to redraw and reedit, but this should be my 1st draft for the greeting cards. The eclipse part will be the part that I will need to redraw.

Greeting Cards

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Seriously, I still don't have much idea on the design of greeting cards. =.="

However, the design should be something like this:

Or this:

Anyway, the effect that I confirmed will apply is the snow effect. =D Perhaps with some crystallize object along. And of course, my avatar! XD

Ha, I bet there will be someone clever enough to know my idea already.What to do, I really lack of idea now. =="

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GOTH

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Lol, my fifth online exercise will be on Photoshop effect such as filter effects. And deng deng deng deng.... This is what I come out with.. =X

Goth, one of my favorite movie and novel. =D Lol, actually I only interested with the female actor: Rin Takanashi. She is cute.=X

Swt, back to our topic. I will show you step by step how I play with the filter effects.

This is the original picture:

1. First, I use poster edge effect on the picture. To use the effect, go filter> artistic> poster edge.

2. Go adjustment layer> black and white to turn the picture into black and white only. Go to Filter>Render>Difference Clouds. Hit Ctrl+F one time to add more contrast. Now go to Filter>Artistic>Plastic Wrap and use these settings:

3. Now apply some wind, do this by going to Filter>Stylize>Wind and use these settings:

4. Apply Ink Outlines, Filter>Brush Strokes>Ink Outlines and use these settings:

5. Now duplicate the layer (right click the background layer and select duplicate). Now select Screen for the Layer Blending Option, this will add more brightness to the fantasy background. Next make a new layer, then go to Filter>Render>Clouds and set the Layer Blending mode to Screen as well.

6. Now select your bottom layer Background and press Ctrl+U to activate hue/saturation window. Select your duplicated later and add these Hue/Saturation settings as well.

7. Next step is to do the video frame. Please refer to my previous post to know how to do it.

8. The last step is easy, add in words using type tool. Add the stroke and drop shadow effect on it.

And taada... It is complete. =D
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Steps by Steps

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How to do E-Wallpaper

1. Add in the background that I search from Google to use as background for the wallpaper.

2. Go to layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue & Saturation. Change the value until the you have the effect you want. Use clone stamp and healing brush tool to edit the layout.

3. Draw the white avatar using Adobe Illustrator.

4. Transfer it to your photoshop. Add in MMU logo and the word "MMU" on the book.

5. Add in MMU logo. Use the magic wand to select the unwanted part, delete to remove it.

6. Paint the background with white color using brush tool.

7. Open a new Photoshop file. Type down FOM OPEN DAY, we are going to mask it. Add in a photo above the words. Press and hold Alt and position the cursor between layers to create clipping mask icon. Use move tool to position the photo until the FOM building photo is at the location you want it to appear. Next, go to adjustment layer > stroke to make the outline of the photo. After that, use drop shadow so that the words appear in 3D form. Transfer the outcome to your original photoshop workspace. Sharpen it.

8. Open a new file again. Type down details such as 21st march 2010.... Use magic wand to select the outside area (select everything except the words). Press Shift + Ctrl + I and then Ctrl J to duplicate a new layer. Go to bevel and emboss to add in effects on the words. Go to screen and change the status to color overlay. The words will look like 3D and crystalize.

9. After transfer the words to the original workspace, open a new file again as you are going to edit the FOM photo. For the 1st picture, I will make it like a video frame. To do so, create a new layer and color it black. Use marqueel tool to draw a rectangle. Delete it. Use rounded rectangle tool to draw the rectangles around the black frame. Group them and then rasterize it. Use drop shadow or add in words to make it more realistic. Now, insert the photo you want at the centre of the frame.Transfer the outcome to the original workspace.

10. To make the photo frame, there is also another way which is easier to use. Insert the pictures you want into your workspace. Sharpen it (Optional). Now go to layer> stroke. Adjust the value until you are satisfy with it. By now, you should have the frame already. Use drop shadow.

11. Repeat step 10 to get another picture.

12. Add in details of MMU open day using type tools.

And taadaa~ It is done.
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