Post pobrano z: How to Create a Grass Action Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial I will show you how to create a grass action in Adobe Photoshop using two brushes, and a layer style with a grass pattern. At the end of the tutorial you will have an action that lets you perform almost the entire process with a single click.

If you’d like to skip this tutorial but still wish to buy the action, you can head over to GraphicRiver and buy Grass Generator. The complete action has additional features, it works with 72 dpi and 300 dpi, and it also works with shapes.

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during this tutorial:

• Plump Font
• Background JPG image
• Grass Pattern

1. How to Create the Brushes

Step 1

Open Photoshop and create a new 350 x 460 px document.

Step 2

Press D on your keyboard to reset the Foreground and Background colors. Then pick the Ellipse Tool (U), and change its mode to shape.

Step 3

Start by drawing a long and thin oval shape.

Step 4

Now pick the Convert Point Tool and Control-Click on the center of the shape.

Step 5

Now click on the anchor point at the top to make it pointy. Do the same thing on the anchor point at the bottom.

Step 6

Control-Click on the thumbnail of the Ellipse 1 layer to create a selection around the shape. Then go to Edit > Define Brush Preset…, name it Base Brush and click OK.

Step 7

Pick the Brush Tool (B), and then Right-Click on the document and select the brush that we just created (Base Brush).

Step 8

Go to Window > Brush to open the Brush panel. Then set these settings in Brush Tip Shape:

• Size: 27 px
• Flip X: Unchecked
• Flip Y: Unchecked
• Angle: 0º
• Roundness: 100%
• Spacing: 130%

Step 9

Select Shape Dynamics with these settings:

• Size Jitter: 32%
• Control: Off
• Minimum Diameter: 7%
• Angle Jitter: 35%
• Control: Off
• Roundness Jitter: 26%
• Control: Off
• Minimum Roundness: 100%
• Flip X Jitter: Unchecked
• Flip Y Jitter: Unchecked
• Brush Projection: Unchecked

Step 10

Select Scattering with these settings:

• Scatter: 62%
• Both Axes: Unchecked
• Control: Off
• Count: 5
• Count Jitter: 100%
• Control: Off

Step 11

Select Color Dynamics with these settings:

• Apply Per Tip: Checked
• Foreground/Background Jitter: 100%
• Control: Off
• Hue Jitter: 2%
• Saturation Jitter: 13%
• Brightness Jitter: 11%
• Purity: -1%

Color Dynamics makes no difference to the final result of this tutorial, but it’s important if you want to use the brush with other things.

Step 12

Now click on the icon in the top right corner of the Brush panel and choose New Brush Preset. Then name it Grass Brush 1 and check the Capture Brush Size in Preset box. After that, click OK.

Step 13

Now let’s create a new preset. Go back to Brush Tip Shape in the Brush panel and make these changes:

• Size: 18 px
• Flip X: Unchecked
• Flip Y: Unchecked
• Angle: 0º
• Roundness: 100%
• Spacing: 339%

Step 14

Don’t change the Shape Dynamics settings; just leave it selected. Then select Scattering and make these changes:

• Scatter: 50%
• Both Axes: Unchecked
• Control: Off
• Count: 8
• Count Jitter: 0%
• Control: Off

Step 15

Leave Color Dynamics selected and save the preset as before, but this time name it Grass Brush 2.

2. How to Create the Text and Install the Pattern

Step 1

Go to File > Open…, and open the background that you downloaded (Background-Grass.jpg). 

Step 2

Pick the Type Tool (T) and write „GRASS”. Choose the Plump font, and then set the Size to 300 pt.

Step 3

Go to Edit > Presets > Preset Manager. In the Preset Type, select Patterns, click load…, and choose Grass Pattern.pat. After that, click Done.

3. How to Create the Action

Step 1

Go to Window > Actions to open the Actions panel.

Step 2

Let’s create a new set of actions. To do so, click the Create New Set icon, name it Grass Set, and click OK.

Step 3

Click the Create New Action icon, name it Grass Text, and click Record.

From this point on, everything you do will be recorded, so keep an eye on the Actions panel. If you make a mistake, click the Stop Playing/Recording icon, and delete the unnecessary step from the action Grass Text. Then click the Begin Recording icon to continue.

Step 4

With the text layer selected, go to Layer > Rename Layer… and rename it 1.

Step 5

Create a new layer by clicking on the Create a New Layer icon, name it Grass 1, and click OK.

Step 6

Select the layer 1 and go to Type > Create Work Path.

Step 7

Now select the layer Grass 1. Then pick the Brush Tool (B) and select the Grass Brush 1 with these settings.

• Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Flow: 100%
• Pen Related Options: Unchecked

Step 8

Go to Window > Paths to open the Paths panel. Then right-click the Work Path and choose Stroke Path. Choose Brush with Simulate Pressure unchecked, and then click OK.

Step 9

Select layer 1. Then create a new layer and name it Grass 2.

Step 10

Now pick the Brush Tool (B) with these settings:

• Brush: Grass Brush 2
• Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Flow: 100%
• Pen Related Options: Unchecked

Step 11

Go back to the Paths panel. Right-click the Work Path and choose Stroke Path. Just like before, choose Brush with Simulate Pressure unchecked, and then click OK. After that, delete the Work Path.

Step 12

Now select the layer 1 again. Then hold down the Shift key and click on the layer Grass 1 to select all layers (except the Background layer).

Step 13

Right-click on the layer Grass 1 and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Step 14

Now double-click on the layer Grass 1 to open the Layer Style window. Let’s start with Bevel & Emboss:

• Style: Inner Bevel
• Technique: Smooth
• Depth: 100%
• Direction: Up
• Size: 26 px
• Soften: 0%
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Angle: 90º
• Altitude: 30º
• Gloss Contour: Linear
• Anti-Aliased: Unchecked
• Highlight Mode: Screen
• Highlight Mode Color: #ffffff
• Highlight Mode Opacity: 16%
• Shadow Mode: Multiply
• Shadow Mode Color: #000000
• Shadow Mode Opacity: 30%

Step 15

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Multiply 
• Color: #000000
• Opacity: 22%
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Angle: -90º
• Distance: 14 px
• Choke: 16%
• Size: 4 px
• Contour: Linear
• Anti-aliased: Unchecked
• Noise: 0%

Step 16

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Overlay
• Dither: Unchecked
• Opacity: 46%
• Reverse: Unchecked
• Style: Linear
• Align with Layer: Checked
• Angle: 90º
• Scale: 89%

Click on the Gradient Bar and make a gradient with these settings:

• First Stop Color: #000000
• First Stop Position: 0%
• Second Stop Color: #FFFB9C
• Second Stop Position: 100%

Step 17

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Normal
• Opacity: 100%
• Pattern: Choose the Grass Pattern that you installed at the beginning of the tutorial.
• Scale: 25%
• Link with Layer: Checked

Step 18

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

• Blend Mode: Multiply
• Color: #000000
• Opacity: 31%
• Use Global Light: Unchecked
• Angle: 23º
• Distance: 12 px
• Spread: 0%
• Size: 1 px
• Contour: Linear
• Anti-Aliased: Unchecked
• Noise: 0%
• Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow: Checked

After that, click OK.

Step 19

Rename the layer Grass 1 to Grass Text. After that, click on the Stop Playing/Recording icon in the Actions panel.

And the result is:

Congratulations, You’re Now Done!

In this tutorial, you learned how to create a grass action in Adobe Photoshop.

We started out by creating our brushes, then we created the text, and while recording an action, we added a border to it using the brushes and a Path, then finally a Layer Style to make it look like grass.

Things to Remember Before Playing the Action:

• Make sure that you have installed the Pattern.
• Make sure that the Brush Opacity and Flow are set to 100%.
• Make sure that you are playing the action with the text layer selected.

To play it, you need to select the action Grass Text and click Play on the Actions panel. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial, and feel free to leave your comments below. This action we just created is part of Grass Generator. 

Post pobrano z: How to Create a Vintage Doily Frame With Flowers in Adobe Illustrator

If you’re into retro flower illustrations, this tutorial will definitely
catch your attention.

Today we’ll create a vintage frame by using basic
shapes, the Warp Tool, and a Scatter Brush. You will learn how to create pansies and the laced doily. In the end, you’ll get a
very romantic illustration!

Have you ever had a chance to visit GraphicRiver? I love their collection of pansies—they are adorable.

1. How to Create the Pansy Flower

Step 1

After creating a New Document 850 x 850 px Width and Height, we will start by drawing the petals for our pansy.

First, we’ll draw an ellipse and then stretch it out as if you were stretching out a piece of pizza dough. Use
the Ellipse Tool (L) to make an ellipse. On the Tools panel (Window
> Tools), double-click on the Warp Tool (Shift-R). 

In the new
dialogue window, enter the options presented below. The Width and Height
on the Global Brush Dimensions can be different from the ones I used. It
depends on the petal size for the one you’re making. Then, click OK. 

Once
you’ve entered the necessary options, grab the Warp Tool (Shift-R) and
pull the mouse in different directions, as shown by the arrows in the
image below.

Step 2

Add another darker ellipse on top of the shape you’ve created. Change the
options for the Warp Tool: double-click on the Warp Tool (Shift-R and
Enter), and in the section for Global Brush Dimension, decrease the Width
and Height values. Then, hit OK. Now, by using the Warp Tool (Shift-R),
stretch this darker ellipse to create the shadow on the petal.

Step 3

Let’s continue. Create a violet ellipse and stretch it out again with
the Warp Tool (Shift-R). Don’t worry—it may look weird now, but once we
put everything together, it’ll be cute. Just you wait!

Step 4

Select all details of the petal and group them together
(right-click > Group). Make two more copies of the petal (Control-C,
Control-V) and arrange them as shown below.

Step 5

To create the fourth petal, make a copy of the first one, and then slightly
expand its size and rotate it to the right. Change the colors of this
petal as shown in the image below. 


The fifth petal peeps shyly from behind, so we’ll place it behind and slightly tilted to the left. This one will have the darkest color.

Step 6

In the middle of the flower, create two yellow circles (Ellipse Tool
(L)) and stretch them with the Warp Tool (Shift-R) to make the pistil
and stamens for our pansy. Keep up the good work!

2. How to Create the Leaf

Step 1

This process will be very similar to the way we created the petals.
We’ll start with the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw two ellipses, and then
stretch out both ellipses in different directions by using the Warp Tool
(Shift-R). 

When transforming the smaller, darker ellipse, change the
Width and Height in the Warp Tool options (double-click on the Warp Tool and
set the necessary values). Using the changed Warp Options (Shift-R),
warp the smaller ellipse to create a leaf-like shape.

Step 2

In this step, we will add the veins of the leaf.

Using the Pencil Tool (N), draw a bunch of veins throughout the leaf.
Remember to remove the fill color and choose a dark green stroke color.
Before drawing, be sure to check the Round Cap button on the Stroke
panel. 


When you are done with the lines, expand them. Select
one vein and press Select > Same > Fill color. This will select
all the lines you just outlined. Now go to Object > Expand and hit
OK. 


Keeping all veins selected, unite them by pressing the Unite button
on the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). Still keeping them
selected, make a small touch with the Warp Tool (Shift-R). The veins
will now look more realistic.

Step 3

Make another copy of this leaf. You can make a mirror reflection of the
existing one. While keeping the leaf selected, right-click your mouse
and select Transform > Reflect. 

Once you get a dialogue box, select
Axis Vertical, Angle 90 degrees, and press Copy. Make this copy slightly
smaller. If you want more changes, you can stretch the new one with the
Warp Tool (Shift-R) (optional).

3. How to Create the Background

Step 1

Let’s make a light cream square for our background. Using the Rectangle
Tool (M), click on the artboard and create a square 850 x 850 px with no
stroke and the fill color presented below.

Step 2

Draw a circle with the Ellipse Tool (L) while holding the Shift button.
Place this circle in the middle of the square. To do this, open the Align
panel (Window > Align). Set the alignment to Artboard (open the
fly-out menu and go to Show Options if you don’t see the Align To
section shown here), make sure that your shapes are selected, and click
the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center buttons. In the
end, your circle should be in the middle of the square.

Using the same method, align the square.

Step 3

In this step, we’ll create a Scatter brush that we can use to make our
doily. Delete the fill color and set the stroke color of your choice.

Using
the Ellipse Tool (L), hold down the Shift key to make one circle with
relatively large stroke weight and no fill. On top of this circle, add a
smaller one with a thinner stroke weight.

To make a copy of the
smaller circle, select it, and then while holding the Shift and Alt keys,
drag it down. Select these two small circles and group them:
right-click > Group. 

While keeping them selected, press the Rotate
Tool (R) and the Enter key. In the pop-up window, enter 45 degrees and hit Copy. Press
Control-D and you’ll get a copy of these circles rotated in 45-degree increments. 

Continue pressing Control-D until you get the whole flower
made from small circles and one large circle in the middle. Expand this
image: select all circles and go to Object > Expand.

Step 4

After expanding the image, the stroke color will automatically change to
the fill color. Change this fill color to white and drag the entire set
of circles to the Brushes panel. Select the Scatter Brush and enter the options for Scatter Brush presented below.

Step 5

Now we will use this brush to design our doily. Select the white circle
in the middle of the artboard which you created before, and hit the
newly created brush. Tadaa—you just made a doily! You can also change
the stroke Weight on the Stroke panel if you’d like to adjust the size
of the side lace ornaments.

4. Place All the Elements Together

Step 1

Now return to your pansy. Make two more copies of it and arrange them together; feel free to change the size.

Step 2

Let’s not forget our leaves! Make as many copies of the leaves as you want
and place them behind the flowers, but over the background. Congratulations!
You’re done!

Awesome Work, You’re Done!

A round of applause for a job well done! I hope you enjoyed learning
some of the processes and shortcuts during the creation of this image in
the Adobe Illustrator. As always, feel free to share your project and
ask questions in the comments section below. Happy designing!