How to create an Impressive New Year 2012 card with Neon text in Photoshop CS5

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 300 pixels/inch. Select the background layer in Layers panel and click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel to 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 background:

Then we have to represent a plane surface, using the Rectangle Tool (U) draw the next rectangle.

Set Fill to 0% for this layer and click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel to selectGradient 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:

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 ’2012′. Press Enter to apply the text.

Set Fill to 0% for this layer and click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel to selectOuter Glow.

Add Bevel and Emboss:

Apply Color Overlay:

Add Satin:

We’ve got the next result:

Create a new layer now and choose the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) to make the next selection as shown.

Then apply the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill the selection with #0768B7 color. Place the layer under the layer containing the digits ’2012′.

Apply the next filter on layer: Filter >Blur > Gaussian blur:

… and also Filter > Blur > Motion Blur:

This way we’ll get the next shadow:

Make a copy of the last made layer and select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to stretch out the copy’s layer vertically. The copy’s layer needs to be situated under the layer with the digits.

Represent now the shadow of white color, using the method described above. Apply on the shadow also the filters mentioned earlier also. The layer will be placed under the layer containing the digits.

Create now a new layer and select here the Soft Round brush.

Use this brush to paint the canvas with the color #88F4FF (set brush Opacity to 60% in Options bar). Place this layer under the layer with the 2012 digits.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Color Burn.

Now we’ll create the next new layer, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) make the next selection.

Now we have to paint the digits’ zone with the color #9EF9FF, select the Soft Round brush to paint inside the selection.

We’ve got the next result:

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Hue.

Make a copy now of the layer containing the digits, rasterize it (create a new layer above the copy’s layer and hold CTRL button to select both layers in Layes panel. Finally press CTRL+E to Merge Down. Using the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command, turn around the rasterized layer and place it the same way demonstrated below:

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 30% in Options bar). Use this brush to paint in the mask to hide the next zones on reflection’s layer as it is shown below:

Next we’ll represent the highlight on the top upper half of the 2012 digits. Take now the Rectangle Tool (U) and draw the next rectangle.

Set Fill to 0% for this layer and click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel to selectGradient 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:

Hold Ctrl button and click on digits’ layer in Layers panel to get the next selection.

Make sure that highlight’s layer is active and click on Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel .

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

Use this brush to represent many small circles as shown. Choose different Brush Sizes and different Opacityvalue.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

Make a copy of the layer containing the made small circle. Apply on this layer the next filter: Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur.

We’ve got the next result:

Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Hard Round brush of black color.

Paint in the mask using this brush to hide the blur effect on several circles, as it is show below:

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Soft Light.

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush and Hard Round brush of white color to represent other circles.


Apply different brushes, also different Brush Sizes and different Opacity value.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Overlay.

Hold Ctrl button and click on digits’ layer to get the next selection.

Use the Soft Round brush of white color on the new layer to paint the digits’ edges.

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 Greeting card with Neon Digits is finished!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!