Final Image :

dove

Open a new document  of width = 700 px and height = 700 px. in Adobe Photoshop CS2 and in Illustrator  document can be of any  size for Illustrator) . The document in Photoshop should have equal sizes on all sides. You can temporarily fill the background with any color. Continue with the following procedure :


STEP 1 > Creating a background :

Create a new layer by selecting the 'New layer' icon in layers box. Name this layer = Background. Fill this layer > Background, with color # 135a75 ( Dark Blue shape ).Fill the Background layer using shortcut = ALT + Backspace. Set the forground color in color swatch as = # 339999  ( Blue shade ) and the background color as # 135a75 ( Dark blue shade ). Selecting the Background layer, go to FILTER menu > FILTER GALLERY > TEXTURE > GRAIN. Set the grain intensity to 25 and the Contrast to 50 with Regular grain type used. Set the Blend mode of this layer as = NORMAL. Right click the Background layer and set the Gradient Overlay adjustment under Blending options.

Gradient Overlay setting : Set the Blend mode to = ' LINEAR LIGHT ' with opacity as 100% and style used as = Radial with angle = 90% and scaled to 125 %.The Gradient style used is a newly created gradient of two colors. See the image included to understand how the gradient colors should be set. First select a default available black and white gradient, and select the ' NEW ' option. After giving a name, select the Black color of the Gradient and under color swatches, select = # 1d436d(Dark Blue color ). Now select the white color of the gradient and select color icon and select color =  # 02e2f6 ( Light Blue color ). Hence, the black color is replaced by Dark blue color and white is replaced by light blue color. Do not change the location values of colors and leave the default location position as in black and white gradient's position.


STEP 2 > Drawing a border :

Now use the Move tool and select all the items created so far, that is the entire document content. Using the Transform tool ( shortcut CTRL + T) reduce the size a little to have some white background space for the border. Position the selection in the center, leaving some margin distance on all four sides. For applying border to the Background, use rectangular marquee tool and make a rectangular selectionof the document content only, that is the size of the background and not the whole document. Next use SELECT menu > REVERSE option and you will see an area is selected. When the Marquee tool is selected, related sub options appear at the top. Keeping the selection as it is, use the ' Add to Selection ' icon and draw a square at the top left corner. and also at the top right corner. You will notice that the extra square shape is also added to the rectangular selection.

STEP 3 > Adding effect to the border :

Keeping the border still selected, create a new layer and name it = BORDER, and keeping the selection as it is, set the foreground color as = # 22bc9d ( Green shade). Use ALT + Backspace to fill the Border layer. The result is that, the selection is filled with green color in the new layer created = BORDER.  Set the forground color in color swatch as = # 22bc9d ( Green shade ) and the background color as # 339999 ( Blue shade ).  Selecting the Border layer, go to FILTER menu > FILTER GALLERY > TEXTURE > STAINED GLASS and adjust the Cell size as = 15, Border Thickness as = 5, and Light Intensity as = 5. Leave the Blend mode of this layer as = PIN LIGHT.


STEP 4 > Drawing the Bird :

Now, that the Background is completed, let us start with the drawing of the Dove shape. In Photoshop document, use the Pen tool to draw a closed figure. Refer to the image included to have an idea of the result. Drawing using pen tool can not be explained. The simple tip is that when you click a point and then you click a nearest point, you will have a stright line. Also, when you click on a particular area and then, click on an area near the point, but instead of removing the finger from the mouse, if you drag the mouse a liitle in any direction, you will have a curve. The farther the diatance between the two points, the larger is the curve obtained and vice versa. For this drawing at the feathers area, the corners are not sharp but have curves. This is obtained by clicking between two points that are very close or almost next to each other. Name this shape layer as > Dove.

Dove_path


STEP 5 > Effect for the Dove :

Once the closed dove shape is formed,  double click the shape color icon in layers section and change the color to white. Now you can use the Direct selection tool or the Convert Point Tool, to smmothen the edges that are straight. Once you are satisfied with the final figure, right click the Dove layer and select the option > Blending options which is also available at Layers menu > Layer Style > Blending options. Adjust these sub options under Blending options >

  • Outer Glow setting : The Blend mode is = Screen, and the glow has opacity of 75 % and noice of zero percentage. The type of glow used is = Gradient. The gradient used is a newly created gradient of two colors. First select a default available black and white gradient, and select the ' NEW ' option. Give any  name for this gradient. Select the Black color of the Gradient and select the color icon and under color swatches, select = # 0f6262 (Greenish Blue color ). Just enter this value under the swatches instead of searching the color. Now select the white color of the gradient and select color icon and select color =  # cccc33 ( Light Green color). Hence, the black is replaced by blue and white is replaced by green. The ' Softer ' technique is used with spread set to 35 % and size is set to 25 px. The contour used is the Linear contour and range is set to 50 % and Jilter is set to zero percentage.
    outerglow_dove
  • Bevel and Emboss setting : The bevel used is = ' PILLOW EMBOSS ' and technique used is = Smooth with Depth= 121 % and direction set to = UP. The size is set to = 15 px and soften level is 9 px. The contour used is = ' Linear contour ' and Highlight color is White and mode is = Screen and shadow color is Black and mode is = multiply and both set at 75%. The bevel is placed at an angle of 120 degree.
  • Stroke setting : The stroke size is 5 px. The stroke is positioned = Outside with Blend mode set to = Normal and opacity is reduced to = 75 % . The stroke fill type is color and the color is close to the shade of white. The color used is # f8f8f8.


STEP 6 > Stroke highlight for the Dove shape :

Now make a duplicate copy of the dove ( name this layer as = Dove_Stroke), and use the MAGIC WAND TOOL and select the white color so the entire white region is selected. Press the Delete key on the keyboard and remove the fill region. Also, right click and disable the Bevel setting. Leave only the stroke and set the stroke color as = # 339999 (Blue shade). So in this layer you will only have stroke and no fill or bevel. Set the blend mode of this layer to = COLOR BURN.

dove_stroke


STEP 7 > Color change for the Document image :

Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool and selct the whole document. Create a new layer by clicking the ' Create a New layer ' icon in layers dialog box. Name this layer as = Yellow. Set the foreground color in the color box under tools as = # 339999 ( Yellow shade). Next, use the shortcut, ALT + Backspace to fill the Yellow layer with yellow color set under color box to be filled within the rectangular selection made using Rectangular marquee tool. Set the Blend mode of this Yellow layer to = DARKEN. If the blend mode is left to be Normal, the Dove shape will not be visible. Hence, seeting the Blend mode to Darken would apply the yello shade to thw hole backgroung and the dove shape.


STEP 8 > Drawing the First set of Twirls in Adobe Illustrator :

To draw the twirls, let us make use of the Illustrator tools. Select the Arc Tool, that is available with the line tool in Tools section. Holding on to the SHIFT key, click on the workspace and drag to get a perfect arc shape. If the SHIFT key is not held, the arc size would be too thin or thick.  Next to the arc tool, there is another tool called, Spiral Tool. Using this tool, you can draw a shape with many circular layers. Click on an area. Drag towards the right or left direction. The more you drag, the larger would be the size of the spiral shape. Then without releasing the finger from the mouse, move the mouse in upward or downward direction. This movement would contribute to the rotation of the spiral shape. Hence the scaling and the rotation can be done while drawing the shape and need not use the Transform tool later. Draw another spiral shape and move them in different directions to get the shape in another angle. Hence totally, you shall have, three shapes consisting of two spiral shapes and an arc shape. Position them as seen in the image below with an arc placed in between two spirals. NOTE : The twirls do not have fill color, so the stroke color for all the three shapes is Black and stroke size is 2 px.

D_pat1

STEP 9 > Importing Twirls to Adobe Photoshop :

Select all the three shapes (SHIFT + select the shapes to select multiple shapes at a time) and drag them into the Photoshop document we were working. All the three shapes are placed as a smart object as a single form. Name this layer as = T1. Now you can transform it by rotating the shape at 90 degree and position it at the right side. Make a duplicate copy of the smart object either selecting the layer T1 and using CTRL + J as the shortcut to create a duplicate OR select the shape in the document, and use ALT and click the shape and drag to get a duplicate. Name the duplicate layer as T2. Using the Transform tool, simply reduce the size and place it below the original smart object present in T1 layer. Make a duplicate of the T2 layer and place it below the T2 shape. Name the third duplicate as T3 in the layers section. View the image included to understand the positioning of the shapes belonging to T1, T2, and the T3 layers.


STEP 10 > Positioning the Twirls :

Selecting the T1, T2 and the T3 layers ( either use SHIFT + select the shapes in the document to select all the shapes at a time OR use CTRL + select the T1, T2 and the T3 layers to select the shapes in those layers altogether), create a duplicate using the short cut CTRL + J. The duplicates still being selected, right click and select the option = MERGE LAYERS to merge the three twirls layers into one layer. You can hide the original T1, T2 and the T3 layers for future reference and name the merged layer as = Twirl_ Right because the twirl is placed on the right side. Create a duplicate of this Twirl_ Right layer using CTRL + J and name it Twirl_ Left. As the name indicates, position this duplicate on the left and using the Free Transform tool, right click and select both > Flip Horizontal and then Flip Vertical options to position the shape parallel to the Twirl_ Right shape.

T1_dove


STEP 11 > Drawing the Second set of Twirls in Illustrator :

Select the Arc Tool again , and holding on to the SHIFT key, click on the document area and drag to get a perfect arc shape. The stroke color is Black and the stroke size is 2 px. Use the TWIRL Tool that is available with the Warp tool in the tools section. Using this tool, click on the arc and hold for a little durartion. Do not click on the end points of the arc. Click on the corners but not at the extreme end. Also, the more you hold on to the mouse click, the more are the number of twirls created. Similarly, click on the other end of the arc also. Hence, you would have two twirls on a single arc shape on both the ends.

D_pat2


STEP 12 > Positioning of  Twirls In Photoshop :

Select the arc shape and move into the Photoshop document. Name this shape which is also placed as a smart object as = A1. Position this layer at the bottom. Create a dupliacte of A1 layer using CTRL + J and name the duplicate as A2. Position this on the top and using Transform Tool, right click and use both the sub options called = Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical.


STEP 13 > Adding effect to the Twirls :

The effect that is going to be added, is COMMON for all the Twirl layers namely = Twirl_Right, Twirl_Left, A1 and A2. Right click any of these four layers, for example A1 layer and select the Blending options. The only adjustment that we are going to make is > STROKE. Once the following stroke adjustment is applied, right click the A1 layer for which the stroke is applied and select the feature = ' Copy Layer Style '. Now select layers = Twirl_Right, Twirl_Left and A2 ( CTRL + select to select multiple layers) and right click and select the feature = ' Past Layer Style '. The stroke setting is placed to all the Twirls. This feature saves time by avoiding setting the adjustment individually for each twirl layer.


Stroke setting common for ALL Twirl layers : The stroke size is 2 px. The smaller the stroke the better is the result. The stroke is positioned = Outside with Blend mode set to = VIVID LIGHT. The Blend mode is the most important adjustment. Not all the blend modes are suitable for obtaining the desired result. Similar Blend modes that can be used are > Hard Light, Linear Light and Pin Light. Other modes do not contribute effectively in this example.The opacity of the stroke is 100 % . The stroke fill type is color and the color is close to the color used is # 3fc8d1 ( Light Blue shade/ sky blue).


STEP 14 > Drawing a petal of a flower  in Illustrator :

Use the Pen Tool and click on the area to get one anchor point. Click near first point at a verticular space distance and without removing  your finger from the mouse and drag slightly so that a curve is formed. Next, click at a vertical distance aomewhere near the first point.The shape obtained looks like a flower petal.This petal is formed by three clicks and hence made of three anchor points. More points can be selected using 'Add Anchor Point'  option available with Pen tool. Also, the shape can be altered using ' Direct Selection Tool by selecting particular anchor points and moving them in different direction. Set the fill color to White and stroke color to Black with stroke size set to 1 px.


STEP 15 > Forming a Flower from the Petals :

Now make FIVE more copies of the petal by  using the ALT key and click the shape and drag to make a duplicate or copy and paste the shape whose options are available in Edit menu. Select each shape using the Selection tool  positin each copy created next to one another. Select each petal and Rotate them using Free Transform Tool to get the required curve / arc form with no straight edges. You can also use the Object menu > Transform > Reflect > Horizontal / Vertical options to flip the shapes. When the five petals are positioned properly, copy them as a set ( SHIFT + select the shapes to select mutiple shapes at a time ). Paste them using CTRL + V and rotate the set using Free Transform Tool. Position this set  next to the original set of five petals. Make sufficient copies of the set of five flowers and arrange them so that they will form a circular shape.


STEP 16 > Positioning the Flowers :

Once the perfect flower is formed, select the entire shape that includes all the petals and drag them into the Photoshop document. The entire flower is a single entity because it is stored as a smart object. Name this layer as = Flower 1.Reduce the size of this shape using the Free Transform tool and make FOUR copies of the same using any Duplication method, that is either > Copy-Paste method, Shortcut method of selecting the layer and making duplicates using CTRL + J, or the easiest way of selecting the shape and using ALT key and clicking the shape and drag to get a duplicate. Name these layers as = Flower 2, Flower 3 and Flower 4. Position these flowers over the twirls where there is an arc extension. The Blend mode of this layer is Normal.


STEP 17  > Adding Dual color to a single flower :

Right click the Flower 1 layer and select Blending options and adjust the following Gradient overlay adjustment.dove_grad

Gradient Overlay setting : Set the Blend mode to = ' HARD LIGHT ' with opacity as 100% and style used as = Radial with angle = 90% and scaled to 150 %.The Gradient style used is a newly created gradient of three colors. See the image included to understand how the gradient colors should be set. For creating a new gradient, choose a default available Orange-Yellow-Orange gradient, and select the ' NEW ' option. After giving a name, select the Orange color of the Gradient and under color swatches, set the color to = # f90d07 ( Red color shade ). Leave the yello color as it is. Select the orange color of the gradient and select color icon and set the new color also to orange color but a slightly different shade. The code for the new color is # ff9900. The location of Red color is = 34 %, Yellow color is = 54 % and finally the Orange color is 92 % on a scale of 100 %. The Location values help in obtaining the correct mix of the three colors.

flower_dove


STEP 18 > Applying the color style to all the flowers :

Once the Gradient style is applied to the Flower 1 layer, right click and select the option > Copy layer style. Select the remaining flower layers that is Flower 2, Flower 3 and Flower 4 layers and right click to use the option > Paste layer style. The Blend mode for all the layers are Normal. All the three flower shapes have dual colors similar to the Flower 1 layer. Check that the layers are arranged in the following order. Since the list of layers are big, i have divided the layers into two parts. The top most layer is the A2 layer and the layer placed at the bottom is Whit Background layer with the Lock symbol.

Dove_layers


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