PSD Tutorial: Design A Snowy Christmas Card With A Snowman
In this tutorial, we'll be creating a christmas card illustration that features a snowman. As well as that, it will be the second of many from our festive selection this christmas. The snowy and icy christmas themed background, also used in the other snowman tutorial, is really what makes this illustrated christmas card outstanding. By using the mysterious light rays, the icy backgound, the stars, and the space, we've created a very unqiue christmas card that you can e-mail to all of your family and friends for them to enjoy. We've also included a font which you can download from DaFont.
If you don't have Adobe Photoshop, or you would like to upgrade to the new CS5.5 Version, take a look at the Adobe Special Offers from the online Adobe Store. If you're new to Photoshop, we have some beginner tutorials and basic tips coming very soon for some of the lesser established designers.
If you don't have Adobe Photoshop, or you would like to upgrade to the new CS5.5 Version, take a look at the Adobe Special Offers from the online Adobe Store. If you're new to Photoshop, we have some beginner tutorials and basic tips coming very soon for some of the lesser established designers.
Download Photoshop (PSD) File
Download Icy Textured Background
Download Twig Photoshop Brush
Download Stars & Space Background
Download Christmas Card Font
Download Mysterious Light Rays Background
Merge This Tutorial With This Photoshop Effect
Photoshop Tutorial Step 1: Designing The Snowy Christmas Background
1.1. Begin a new A5 document (File » New) and make sure the Image » Mode is CYMK (if you intend to print your design).
1.2. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Gradient Overlay ranging from #333399 to #000033. Make the Scale 150%.
1.3. Paste in the Stars & Space Background, Edit » Transform » Scale it to document size.
1.4. With Image » Brightness/Contrast, lower the contrast to the minimum. Do the same with Saturation.
1.5. Alter the Blending Mode to Vivid Light, the Opacity to 40%, and then duplicate. Blending Mode to Overlay and Opacity to 70%.
1.6. Paste in the Mysterious Light Rays Background, Edit » Transform » Scale it to document size.
1.7. Alter the Blending Mode to Divide and Opacity 70%. Duplicate (Ctrl + J) again.
1.8. Paste in the Icy Textured Background (always on top) and Edit » Transform » Scale it to document size.
1.9. Alter the Blending Mode to Overlay, the Opacity to 80%, and the lower the Saturation at Image » Hue/Saturation.
1.2. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Gradient Overlay ranging from #333399 to #000033. Make the Scale 150%.
1.3. Paste in the Stars & Space Background, Edit » Transform » Scale it to document size.
1.4. With Image » Brightness/Contrast, lower the contrast to the minimum. Do the same with Saturation.
1.5. Alter the Blending Mode to Vivid Light, the Opacity to 40%, and then duplicate. Blending Mode to Overlay and Opacity to 70%.
1.6. Paste in the Mysterious Light Rays Background, Edit » Transform » Scale it to document size.
1.7. Alter the Blending Mode to Divide and Opacity 70%. Duplicate (Ctrl + J) again.
1.8. Paste in the Icy Textured Background (always on top) and Edit » Transform » Scale it to document size.
1.9. Alter the Blending Mode to Overlay, the Opacity to 80%, and the lower the Saturation at Image » Hue/Saturation.
Photoshop Tutorial Step 2: Creating The Snow And Mysterious Moon
2.1. Firstly, Create A New Layer, and with a hard brush, make some snow. Add a large, white Layer Stroke (white) and flatten.
2.2. Add another 1px black Stroke with 5% Opacity, and then a Layer » Layer Style » Gradient Overlay with 40% Opacity.
2.3. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Bevel & Emboss with 100% White Opacity and 16px Soften. Duplicate (Ctrl + J).
2.4. Lower it a little, and then Edit » Transform » Flip Horizontal. Repeat this step and you should have 3 layers of snow.
2.5. Add an Outer Glow to the bottom snow layer. Alter the Color to White, maximum Size, and the Blending Mode to Overlay.
2.6. Now Create A New Layer, hold Shift while using the Elliptical Marquee Tool, and then Fill (G) the selection with #FFFF4B.
2.7. Repeat that step again on top of the circle (but slightly offset) and this time erase to create a half-moon shape.
2.8. Add a lack Stroke with 5% Opacity and a Bevel & Emboss with maximum Size, Soften and White Opacity.
2.9. Make the Opacity overall 95%. Finally include an Outer Glow with a Blending Mode of Overlay and a 70px Size.
2.2. Add another 1px black Stroke with 5% Opacity, and then a Layer » Layer Style » Gradient Overlay with 40% Opacity.
2.3. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Bevel & Emboss with 100% White Opacity and 16px Soften. Duplicate (Ctrl + J).
2.4. Lower it a little, and then Edit » Transform » Flip Horizontal. Repeat this step and you should have 3 layers of snow.
2.5. Add an Outer Glow to the bottom snow layer. Alter the Color to White, maximum Size, and the Blending Mode to Overlay.
2.6. Now Create A New Layer, hold Shift while using the Elliptical Marquee Tool, and then Fill (G) the selection with #FFFF4B.
2.7. Repeat that step again on top of the circle (but slightly offset) and this time erase to create a half-moon shape.
2.8. Add a lack Stroke with 5% Opacity and a Bevel & Emboss with maximum Size, Soften and White Opacity.
2.9. Make the Opacity overall 95%. Finally include an Outer Glow with a Blending Mode of Overlay and a 70px Size.
Photoshop Tutorial Step 3: Adding The Snowman & Christmas Card Font
3.1. Details about the snowman can be found here.
3.2. With the Text Tool, make the "Merry Christmas" with the Christmas Card font shown above.
3.3. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Bevel & Emboss with a maximum Size and 25% Black Opacity.
3.4. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Outer Glow. Raise the Opacity and Size to it's maximum.
3.5. Finally add a black 1px Stroke with 50% Opacity, and then make the Opacity of the overall layer 95%.
3.6. With the snowman, simply move the layer in between two layers of snow.
3.7. Lower the Satuation by -20 from the Image » Adjustments » Hue/Saturation section.
3.2. With the Text Tool, make the "Merry Christmas" with the Christmas Card font shown above.
3.3. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Bevel & Emboss with a maximum Size and 25% Black Opacity.
3.4. Add a Layer » Layer Style » Outer Glow. Raise the Opacity and Size to it's maximum.
3.5. Finally add a black 1px Stroke with 50% Opacity, and then make the Opacity of the overall layer 95%.
3.6. With the snowman, simply move the layer in between two layers of snow.
3.7. Lower the Satuation by -20 from the Image » Adjustments » Hue/Saturation section.
