Merry Christmas Greeting

In this very detailed tutorial I will show you how I made a Merry Christmas greeting card with Photoshop.

Create a new file (File>New), having 600×800 px and 72 dpi.
Using the Rectangle Tool (U), try to make the background of the picture we want to represent next.

Apply for the made layer the next parameters by making a click on the same layer on the layers’ panel.
Fill 0%
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Select now the Pen Tool (P) to draw a ray of white color which shape may be corrected with the Convert Point Tool.

Using the same tool and the same method, draw one more ray of white color.

Take the Pen Tool (P) to represent several rays of white color too, as in the picture below:

Getting a better result it’s possible when combining in a group all the layers containing the white rays (press Ctrl button to mark out the corresponding layers and hold on left mouse’s button when taking the marked layers on Create a new group selection). Apply for the made group the following parameters: Opacity 50%

Choosing the Rectangle Tool (U), try to make the primary layer of the pattern’s element:

The layer’s parameters: Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Make a copy of the last layer, changing on the made layer’s copy the next parameters: Blending mode-Lighter Color
Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Using the same instrument, draw now an inclined line which shape should be corrected again with the Convert Point Tool.

The layer’s parameters: Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Blending Options>Stroke

Gradient’s parameters:

Make eight copies of the inclined line and choose the Free Transform option to place the copies as it is indicated below:

Hold on Alt button and make a mouse click between the layers that contain the inclined lines and the layer containing the horizontal line (on the layers’ panel). As a result the layers with the inclined layers are applied in the limits of the horizontal line.

Start representing the Christmas tree now. Firstly we’ll take the Pen Tool (P) to represent the tree’s top that may be corrected with the Convert Point Tool.

The layers’ parameters: Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Using eth last instrument, try to represent now the next part of the tree, this time of white color. Place this layer lower than the layer containing the tree’s top (on the layers’ panel).

Next we have to draw the next tree’s layer, colored with #036803, a layer that must be placed lower than the previous one (on the layers’ panel).

Apply for the last layer the next parameters: Blending mode-Luminosity

Select again the Pen Tool (P) to represent the next tree’s element. For making the necessary corrections on the element’s shape, use the Convert Point Tool.

The layer’s parameters: Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Try to make the next tree’s layer of white color, applying the same method. Use the same instrument for this operation.

Take the Pen Tool (P) to represent one more layer of the tree, colored with #036803, placing this layer lower than the previous layer (on the layers’ panel).

Apply the next parameters for the last layer: Blending mode-Luminosity

Using the same tool, make another layer of the Christmas tree:

The layer’s parameters: Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Apply the Pen Tool (P) to draw the next layer of the tree, colored with #036803. Place this layer lower than the previous one too.

The next parameters should be used for the last layer: Blending mode-Luminosity

Using the earlier described method, we can represent the next layer of white color. The correction’s instrument is Convert Point Tool, as usually.

The layer’s parameters: Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Next step includes representing the trunk of the Christmas tree. Use for this stage the Rectangle Tool (U) and then make the corrections on it with the Convert Point Tool. Place this layer lower than the previous layer on the layers’ panel.

The layer’s parameters: Fill 0%
Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Now it’s time to represent the star on the fir tree, colored with #FFF90D. In this case we have to choose the Custom Shape Tool.

Using the Ellipse Tool (U), it’s possible to represent the tree’s decorations, selecting the colors’ codes indicated below:

Apply for the balls’ layers the same parameters: Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:

Using the Custom Shape Tool (U), we can represent many snowflakes of white color and different sizes.

Take the previous instrument, Custom Shape Tool (U) to represent the primary layer reserved for the Christmas garland that has white color.

Select the Convert Point Tool and press simultaneously the SHIFT button to mark out all the figure’s upper tops. Then we have to use the Free Transform option while pressing also the SHIFT button to draw down the tops.

Apply the next parameters for the last layer: Blending Options>Outer Glow

Blending Options>Inner Glow

Blending Options>Stroke

Using the Ellipse Tool (U), we may represent a circle, colored with #FFAF38

Make a copy of the last made layer and choose Free Transform option to place the layer as the next picture shows it. In this case we should use next color - #00C100

Make four copies of the made circle that has the color #FFAF38 and make also four copies of the green circle. When alternating the circles’ copies, it’s possible to make them look like in the picture below:

Select Add a Mask option for the last green circle and make a mouse click on the layers’ panel. Use next a standard brush of black color to paint the zone where the green circle borders with the first made circle.

Press Alt button and make a mouse click between the layer containing the Christmas garland and the layers containing the circles’ copies for the circles to be applied in the limits of the garland’s edges.

Make a copy of the recently made layer of the garland (of white color). Using the Free Transform selection, it’s possible to make the copy smaller, applying for it the color #FF6800.