Valentine

Valentine's Day is a just ahead. So let us create something appropriate in Photoshop.

Step 1 : I have opened a number of images in Photoshop.

The Layers Palette looks like this.

Step 2 : Click on the topmost layer. Press SHIFT and click on the bottom. All the layers are highlighted.

Step 3 : Press CTRL+E. All the layers merge into one.

Step 4 : Click the Custom Shape Tool.

Step 5 : At the top click on the Heart.

Step 6 : Drag out the Heart Shape.

Step 7 : CTRL+CLICK the Shape 1.

Step 8 : A column of marching ants appears around the heart.

Step 9 : Drag the Shape 1 Layer to the Trash Can.

The heart shaped selection remains.

Step 10 : Press CTRL+J. The selection is copied and pasted onto Layer1. Click off the eye icon on the bottom layer.

Step 11 : Click the Elliptical Marquee Tool.

Step 12 : Press SHIFT and draw out a perfect circle.

Step 13 : Go to Filter>Distort>Spherize.

Step 14 : The Spherize dialogue opens. Set the Amount at 100%. Click OK.

The image looks like this.

Step 15 : Move the circle to the right. Press CTRL+F.

Step 16 : Move the circle to the bottom. Press CTRL+F.

Step 17 : Move the circle to the right. Press CTRL+F.

Step 18 : Move the circle to the left and press CTRL+F.

Step 19 : Move the circle to the top, but keep away from the edge. Press CTRL+F.

Step 20 : Move the circle to the right top. Press CTRL+F.

Step 21 : Move the circle to the bottom. Press CTRL+F.

Press CTRL+D to deselect.

Step 22 : Press CTRL+T. A selection forms. Press SHIFT+ALT and resize the selection. Press ENTER.

Step 23 : Press CTRL+J. Layer 1 duplicates into Layer 1 copy.

Step 24 : Press v on the keyboard (shortcut for Move Tool). Move the second heart to the right and a little to the bottom.

Step 25 : Go to Edit>Transform>Flip Horizontal.

Step 26 : The second heart has been flipped vertically.

Step 27 : Click the fx button and click on Inner Shadow.

Step 28 : I have set the Size and Choke at 128  and 45 respectively. Nothing hard and fast about it. It will depend on your image. Click OK.

The heart at the bottom has been given Inner Shadow effect. 

Step 29 : Press ALT and drag the fx icon to Layer 1.

Both the hearts have been given the Inner Shadow.

Step 30 : Click the New Layer icon. Layer 2 forms.

Step 31 : Click the Elliptical Marquee Tool.

Step 32 : Press SHIFT and draw out a circle.

The Foreground/Background should be set to the default Black/White.

Step 33 : Press CTRL+BACKSPACE to fill with Background Color which is White.

Press CTRL+D to deselect.

Step 34 : Go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur.

Step 35 : Drag the Radius till the White circle is blurred.

The image looks like this.

Step 36 : Press v (Move Tool) and move the white blurred circle a bit to the bottom.

Step 37 : Press CTRL+J. Layer 2 duplicates into Layer 2 copy.

Step 38 : Drag the blurred white circle to the second heart.

Step 39 : Click on Layer 1.

Step 40 : Press CTRL+New Layer icon. A new Layer 3 forms under Layer 1.

Step 41 : I have clicked on Pure Magenta in the Swatches. Hover the cursor to see the names of the color swatches.

Step 42 : The Foreground Color changes to the swatch clicked.

Step 43 : Press ALT+BACKSPACE to fill with Foreground Color.

Step 44 : Click the New Layer icon. A new Layer 4 forms over Layer 3.

Step 45 : I have opened this texture. You will good Textures on http://www.deviantart.com/

Step 46 : Press CTRL+A, then CTRL+C.

Step 47 : Click back on the document you were working on and press CTRL+V.

Step 48 : Lower the Opacity to 85%

Step 49 : Click on Layer 1 copy.

Step 50 : Double click Effects under Layer 1 copy.

Step 51 : Click on Outer Glow.

Step 52 : Drag the Size and Spread sliders suitably.

Step 53 : Press ALT and drag the fx icon to Layer 1.

The hearts.

Add Text. That is all.

Other photoshop tutorials are here