Create a Stunning Merry Christmas Background with Red Baubles for Greetings Card

Final Image Preview

Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop with the size 1900px by 1200px (RGBcolor mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill with #462500 color thenew background layer.

Then use the Rectangle Tool (U) to draw a rectangle with #1C1200 color.

Set Fill to 90% for this layer.

Now we’ll draw a Christmas bauble, use the Ellipse Tool (U) to draw the next shape.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Using the same tool, try to represent the next shape as shown.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Continue representing the Christmas bauble, draw the next shape using the Ellipse Tool (U).

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Next we’ll make the next bauble’s layer, using the Ellipse Tool (U).

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Now we’ll draw the highlight on lowest part of the bauble, use the Ellipse Tool (U) to draw the first ellipse. PressAlt button or select Subtract from shape area (-) from Options bar and draw another ellipse to cut the top part as shown. Foreground color is #320000.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Inner Shadow.

Apply Gradient Overlay:

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

On the highlight’s right side we’ll draw a reflection, use the Ellipse Tool (U) to draw the first ellipse with whitecolor. Press Alt button or select Subtract from shape area (-) from Options bar and draw 2 another ellipse to cut the reflection two times as shown.

Set Fill to 11% for this layer.

Next we’ll draw the lateral highlight on the right side. In this case use the Ellipse Tool (U) to draw the first ellipse. Press Alt button or select Subtract from shape area (-) from Options bar and draw another ellipse to cut the left side as shown. The Foreground color is #FCFBFB.

Take the same tool to represent the top highlight on the ball.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Using the same method of representing the highlight on the right side, we have to make the same element on the left side.

Now we’ll represent the bauble’s support, choose the Pen Tool (P), set the drawing mode on Shape Layers inOptions bar and draw the next shape as shown. Place the layer under the previous made layers.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Represent now the next element belonging to the bauble’s support element, applying the same tools used before (Pen Tool (P)).

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Now we have to draw on the support’s top a kind of highlight too. In this case we’ll use the Pen Tool (P), set thedrawing mode on Shape Layers in Options bar and draw the next shape as shown. Place the layer under the previous bauble’s layers.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Take the Ellipse Tool (U) again to represent the ring on the support. For the beginning we’ll draw the first ellipse. Press Alt button or select Subtract from shape area (-) from Options bar and draw another ellipse to cut the central part of the ring as shown.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Let’s represent now the thread for the support element, draw a line as shown using the Line Tool (U) (setWeight to 3px in Options bar).

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Combine in a group all the layers composing the Christmas bauble, its support and the thread (press CTRL button to select the necessary layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while dragging the selected layers on Create a new group icon from bottom part of the Layers panel). Make two copies of the made group and choose theFree Transform (Ctrl+T) command to change the copies’ sizes, placing them the same way from below:

Now let’s start processing the background. In this case create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush from Brush Tool (B).

Use this brush to paint the bottom part of the layer with #0F0900 color. Place this layer under all the previous made layers, except the very first layer of the background.

Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 10% in Options bar). Paint in the mask using this brush to hide some part of the layer as shown.

Create a new layer and use here the Soft Round brush to painting the background as shown.

Place the layer above the previous one. The color this time used for the brush is #FFD0A7 (change brushOpacity to 30% in Options bar).

Create a new layer again and select on it the Soft Round brush mentioned above to paint the top part of the background. The brush’s color is #4C0000. Place the layer above the previous made one.

On the next new layer we’ll continue painting the background on top half, using the Soft Round brush of the color #FF6C5C (change brush Opacity to 80% in Options bar).

Place the layer above the previous one.

Insert the mask on the same layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 20% in Options bar). Paint in the mask using this brush to hide some parts of the background to get the same effect as on the next picture it is shown.

Create a new layer and select for it the Soft Round brush of black color (Opacity – 10%).

Paint the background with this brush as on the next picture it is shown. Place the layer above the previous one, but lower than the bauble’s layers.

Insert now the glow under the baubles. Create a new layer and apply on it the Soft Round brush.

Represent glow effect using this brush. Place the layer above the previous one, but lower than the layer containing the horizontal line.



Set Fill to 65% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Screen.

Now let’s create a bokeh effect on the background, choose the Ellipse Tool (U) to make a small circle.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Make now many copies of the last made layer and choose the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to change the copies’ sizes, placing them as on the next picture. Use a different value for Opacity and Fill options. Place the circles’ layers above the background’s layers, but lower than the balls’ layers.

Using the same tool, try to represent more circles:

Apply a different value for Opacity on the layers, make copies of them and choose the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to change the copies’ sizes, placing them the same way demonstrated below. The circle’s layer should be placed lower than balls’ layers.

Take the Ellipse Tool (U) now to represent a circle on the bottom part of the background.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Make many copies of the last made circle layer and select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to change the copies’ sizes, placing them as below. Choose a different value for Opacity on the made copies and place them under the balls’ layers.

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush.

Use this brush to represent the balls’ glow, using the color #FFAAA6 (brush Opacity – 10%).

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Color Dodge.

On the next new layer we’ll select a Soft Round brush.

Use this brush to represent the glow effect on the baubles’ supports. The brush’s color is #F89000 (brushOpacity – 20%).

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Screen.

Next we have to draw a shining star on the baubles. Choose the Pen Tool (P), set the drawing mode on Shape Layers in Options bar and draw a vertical ray of white color.

Make a copy of the last made layer and select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to place the copy as it is shown below:

Make copies of the recently made rays’ layers and choose the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to change the copies’ sizes, placing them the same way from the picture below:

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush of white color.

Use this brush to draw a glow effect as shown.

Take the Ellipse Tool (U) to insert a small circle of white color.

Set Fill to 17% for this layer.

Combine in a group all the layers composing the shining star (press CTRL button to select the necessary layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while dragging the selected layers on Create a new group icon from bottom part of the Layers panel). Make now eight copies of the got group and apply the Free Transform (Ctrl+T)command to change the copies’ sizes, placing them as below. Several layers containing the rays we’ll place under the balls’ layers.

Insert the message text for greeting card. Select the Horizontal Type tool (T). Select a font, size and color in the Character panel.

Click in the canvas and type ‘Merry Christmas’. Press Enter to apply the text.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close theGradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush of white color.

Use this brush to represent the shining effect on several decorations.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

On the next layer we’ll add more brightness for some card’s fragments. Use the Soft Round brush of whitecolor (brush Opacity – 20%).

We’ve got the next result:

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections.

We’ve got the next result:

Our Merry Christmas Background with Red Baubles for Greetings Card is finished!
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas

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