Christmas Card - Bauble & Ribbon

[jolmack]

Hi,

I was looking through old forums and found instructions on how Wendy made the ribbons on the Christmas card

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4700

However, Wendy, can you tell me how you get the ribbons to "pop" and look almost three dimensional. I have tried all the different shadow techniques, but none take on the look you have presented. I also did the burn and dodge, but somehow, my ribbons still look flat.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1DonUrYGwUXXD65cKs4exZErGDwAD1

At least I am ahead of the game and working on this year's Christmas card already! Smile!
Thanks
Jill

[Wendy]

Hi Jill ...

Its never too early to start planning for Christmas ... :)

Take a close look at one of the ribbons ...

You can see where I did a gradient across the ribbon instead of just using fill that makes it look more realistic. Now if you look closely you will see that I used the burn tool all around the edge of the ribbon and that makes it look more 3D ... I also used the dodge tool in some of the central parts of the ribbon.

There is also a very slight drop shadow on the ribbon itself and then (if you look at the main images again) you will see that I also added another shadow (this time on its own layer). Drop shadows do make thing pop out so you may just need to add that ...

Here is a close up of just one ribbon .. I have left it larger so that so you see more of the detail :)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1J3ZWMwqVANn4T4qVYBDK9Lb4PXOd_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1J3ZWMwqVANn4T4qVYBDK9Lb4PXOd)

Try it and see how it works out but if you are still having problems then just post an image on pixentral and I'll take a look for you.

Wendy

[jolmack]

Hi Wendy,

I guess I have to start over on the ribbons and really try to make them smoother. I did the gradient and the dodge & burn, but practice will make.... better, right? The ribbons just don't look smooth and natural.... practice, practice.... at least I have 4 1/2 more months (wow! I can see the dust piling up around my house!:eek:

I tried the drop shadow, with really small pixels (3) and tried to add a shadow on its own layer, couldn't quite figure out how to make that.

Here is my attempt:

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=168ml6WPXJEuupS7BZiCN7HJM5oe

Thanks for your help.
Jill

[jolmack]

Forgot to say that the maroon bulb isn't finished yet, it will have a picture of my other two in there.

[Litespeed]

Wendy -- I found an even better way -- thanks to you of making a ribbon with sharp edges. I'm just using the Sheer Filter and now I don't have to worry about my edges looking sloppy. Christmas card -- here I come!!!:D

[Wendy]

Hey Litespeed ...

Do let me see your card when you have finished it :)

Wendy

[jolmack]

I was playing with the shear filter too today. I was reading through that tutorial (thanks Wendy) and found it makes beautiful ribbons!

Jill

[Wendy]

Hi Jill ...

I just noticed that you said in yout original message that you found the tutorial whilst searching the archives. A while back I made a list of all my tutorials and put them into two threads ... (it makes them a lot easier to find).

For the ones that are on the subscriber area you will need to be logged on before you try to access the individual tutorials:

Wendy's Mini Tutorials (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3641)
Wendy's Scrapbooking Mini Tutorials (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=88048)

Hope the lists help :)

Wendy

[Litespeed]

Here is my card so far, not sure if I should do anything else to it or not -- any suggestions?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/Litespeed/Christmas-card-in-the-makin.gif

The reason for the two faded pictures on the end, is because those pets have passed away, but I wanted to include them.

[Wendy]

Hi Litespeed ...

Oh well done !!! ... you have made a really good job of doing your card :) and I am sure that come Christmas all your friends will love it :)

Wendy