CSS tips and tricks

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to create a love themed wallpaper using Photoshop’s Stroke path and Pen tool.

Create new Photoshop document file

In order to start designing we must create a new 1600x1200px Photoshop file and after doing that you must fill the background with #316b94 color:

Create custom pattern

Now we’ll create a 5x5px pattern to use it for our background:

Now you must zoom 100% (press Z on your keyboard and click several times or use Ctrl+ several times) on the new pattern 5x5px file and you should have this on your screen:

Select the Pencil Tool(B)

Hold down the left mouse button and choose the second option from the list and after please check you have the following settings for your pencil brush:

Start creating pattern

From the top-left corner to right-bottom corner start drawing 1pixel:

Define Pattern

From the top horizontal menu select Edit(Alt+E) and further choose Define Pattern. Congratulations, you just learned how to create a custom pattern.

Add styles to your background

With the pattern you’ve just created go to Blending options and add the following styles:

The background should look like this:

Design the wings

Now we have the background we should go further and add our two wings.

Start creating feathers

You must select Pen Tool and start adding points until you create a shape like this one:

Then add the following effects:

Add more feathers

Place more feathers using slight different shapes with same blending options until you achieve a wing…you should overlap them as it’s shown bellow:

This is why you should achieve by placing feathers one by one:

Duplicate the left wing

After you’ve created the left wing duplicate the layers you used for it and having all duplicated layers selected go to Edit->Transform and Flip Horizontal. A tip for you is to group layers for easier management of layers.

Create a heart

Create a heart with Pen Tool or you can choose heart symbol from custom shapes.

Add the following effects:

And you will have:

Add a new layer like this and use the following gradient:

Add abstract shapes and lines

Selecting Pen Tool and Path instead Shape Layers you must create a custom path like the one bellow and then apply a stroke path with the following brush settings:

This is my result i achieved using two stroke paths but yours can be different, depends of what stroke path you’re create:

Add glowing circles

Select the Elipse Tool (U) and holding down the Shift key create several circles like in this figure and place them behind heart shape, then apply the Outer Glow effect.

Repeating the last step add more circles for the final step, vary their blue color and place them in the right-bottom corner:

Download wallpaper

Thanks for reading this tutorial, if you have something to say don’t hesitate to comment this article or to contact me!

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:

• 11 useful online tools for web developers and designers
• PNG8 alpha transparency using Adobe Fireworks
• How to create 3D typography effect using Extrude&Bevel
• Here’s a quick way to style an input button
• Create a cool wallpaper