Producing your own background is a lot easier
than going online and hunting for one. By
creating your own, you can design the exact
style you are after and reuse it as many times
as you like. Discover how to design your own
floral background by using the Brush tool, layer
styles, custom shape tool and channels in four
very easy steps. You can apply this technique
with any illustration or even a photograph.
Creating seamless patterns in Photoshop is
very straightforward. First you need to create a
square document. Hit Cmd/Ctrl+N then set the
Width to 400px, Height to 400px and click
OK. Go to File>Place ‘Ornament.png’ and hit
Return/Enter. To create the pattern, go to
Filter>Other>Offset. In the Offset window, set
the Horizontal to 100px right and Vertical to
100 pixels down, select Wrap Around and click
OK. Now go to Edit>Define Pattern, rename it
and click OK.Useablackpen
After you have drawn your illustration and
beforeyouscanit,readytobeusedin
Photoshop,it’sagoodideatouseablack
inkpenorballpointpentodrawover
yourillustration.Bydoingthis,you
willfindthatcuttingoutyour
illustrationisaloteasier.EXPERT TIP
- DRAW
Draw an illustration or
use ‘Flower_SI.jpg’. Go
to the Channels palett
click the Blue one to
make a selection. Go to
Select>Inverse, duplicate
the background layer.
3. BOKEH EFFECT
With the hexagon Custom Shape
tool (U), draw white hexagons. On
anewlayer,withasoftwhitebrush,
dot a few circles. Change Opacity of
both layers to 35%. - FINISHING TOUCHES
Createagreentowhitegradientbehindthe
image. Select the top layer, Cmd/Ctrl/Alt/Shift+E
to merge. Go Filters>Render>Lens Flare, move
theplustothetop-lefthandcorner,change
Brightness to 100% and pick 150mm Prime.
ADD COLOUR
Createanewlayerandfillwith
your favourite colours. You can
use the Gradient tool to create an
interesting background colour.APPLY THE PAT
Go to Layer>New Fi
In the new layer win
In the Pattern Fill wi
Scale and then click- COLOUR IT IN
Ontheduplicatedlayer,set
theStrokelayerstyletoSize:
1px and Position: Inside.
Createanewlayerbehindthe
cut-out illustration. Select a
soft brush and colour in