Designing A Valentine Card From Scratch
February 7th, 2009 in Designing, Graphic Design, Illustrator, Tutorials by kailoonHappy Valentine’s Day! I’ve created an illustration and convert it into a valentine card. I will show you the process of the creation. I am sorry to tell you that I am not going to provide the vector within the download for this tutorial. However, if you are interested in getting my sweet valentine’s couple, you can get it from the newly launched Graphic River – a Layered Photoshop, Vectors, Icons and Add-ons Markerplace From $1.
Result

Step 1
Let’s get started by inserting our sketch into Illustrator to begin the drawing process. I have a few tutorials which cover these techniques. I think you can refer back in details if you like. Here are the tutorials:




Step 2
Create a new document with 600px X 300px. Fill the background color with pink (#f08fb0). Create a new layer and rename it as color. Randomly paint the layer with a 200px soft brush with 60% opacity. The colors I am using are #e595b7, #f7c89c and #beeee2. You can use your own color set. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur > Radius 70px. Duplicate the color layer.

Step 3
Create a new layer and rename as texture. Fill it with black and set the blend mode to screen. Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Add a 400% Gaussian Monochromatic Noise. Set the layer fill to 20%.Then, go to Filter > Artistic > Watercolor and apply the setting as show in the image.

Step 4
Create another layer and rename as line. Fill it with black and set the blend mode to soft light. Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Use the setting below.

Step 5
With the line layer selected, go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Apply the setting below. Then, Erase the bottom part using a 300px soft brush. Then import the character vector from Illustration as a smart object.


Step 6
Draw a white shape like what you see in the animation below. Rasterize the shape. Erase most of the part as shown in the example image. Apply Color Overlay; I am using the same pink color. CTRL + J to duplicate the layer. CTRL + T to transform the layer. Set the transform angle to 15 degree for each new duplicated layer. After all, select all the pink layer and Press CTRL + E to merge all layers. Create a new layer above it. Set the blend mode to Soft Light. Paint the center of the shape with black using a soft brush. ALT + click in between the new layer with the pink layer to create a mask of the pink layer.

Step 7
Select a 40px hard brush. Press F5 to bring up the brushes setting and set accordingly. Paint as you like.

Step 8
Create a new layer above all the layers. Select a 400px soft brush. Press a few times as shown below. Set the layer blend mode to soft light.

Step 9
Almost there, type in the message you like. If you like, you can follow mine. I am using Myriad Pro, 60pt, semibold italic and white color. Apply a 1px outside stroke with #8b8782 color. Inner Shadow Distance 1px, Size 3px, -49 degree of angle, 24% opacity with Multiply blend mode. Drop Shadow with Soft Light blend mode, 100% opacity, 5px Distance and Size.

Step 10
I am trying to increase the realistic feel of the character. Create a new layer above the character smartobject. ALT + click in between the new layer and the smartobject to create a masking effect. Set the new layer blend mode to soft light. Gently paint the new layer according to the smartobject’s edge with white color to create a lighting effect. Create another layer and mask it as well. This time, we will be using black color to create the shadow effect.

Result

This is a ridiculously great tutorial… Okay now the question, How can i get HallMark or one of the big card companies to buy your idea off them? Now that’s a post.
Fantastic. I like this.
This is a very nice, detailed process. Explaining each step that goes into the design is really helpful. The card design really turned out well.
Wonderful arts and they way you brought it live is amazing, texturing and other effects is also fine. Thanks for this.
Thanks for great idea!
Although I am a traditional watercolor artist by profession, its great to keep up with how to do things with Photoshop.
Mary Irwin
very good
very beautiful tutorial, i am really thankful to you for this best training.
Wow nice buddy … thanks for this tutorial
A great looking card. It will have to wait untill next year though as I have missed valentines!
Wow, Nice tut and nice website too !
Keep up the Good work guys.
hello, khai loon…i love your design….may i know what is the software you are using to design this perfeact valentine card
I use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
I really like the design and also how you explain your steps, I have seen some other tutorials and they lose what their main tip is. Great post keep up the good designs.
Thanks :)
Oh yes Mr Kai…
Keep up the good stuffs…
Mr Kai ho…
Ganbatte Mr Kai…
=p
For some reason, I can’t get the watercolor texture in step 3 to work at all. I have the texture layer filled with black, above my two color layers, and it’s set to screen. Applying the filter changes nothing.
Other than that, I love the style of this piece. I look forward to reading more of your tutorials!
Sorry, I missed 1 step! Updated. Really sorry about that :P
I wish all of you have the sweetest valentine’s day!
niceee..! Two thumb up for you Mr Kai!
The background color set all the mood
nice composition
Hi there, nice tutorial :D
I really like your stuffs. Keep sharing.
Best regards from Indonesia
This is a great tutorial. I’ll be sure to use it for my boyfriend this year. :P
Amazing. Thanks for sharing this and I’m surely checking out your other tutorial “Illustrate Image Into Vector” :)
Thank you! I hope these tutorials can give you some tips or help :)