How to: create a Christmas card in Photoshop

By Elena Santos on 17 December, 2007

Christmas card Photoshop tutorial

It's only a week to Christmas and you just realized you still have greeting cards to write and send. Well, before freaking out take a look at this simple Photoshop tutorial where you can learn how to create a nice Christmas card in just a few simple steps. You can then print as many copies as you need at your home printer and get all your card stuff done in one evening.

1. Open a blank document in Photoshop. It can be any size you want your card to be, but remember to use at least a 300 dpi resolution, because we're going to print this later on. Click on Layer - Layer Style - Gradient Overlay and fill in the background with a blue gradient effect.

Christmas card Photoshop tutorial

2. Create a new layer and draw a basic tree shape. You can also download this tree shape and open it in your document by clicking on File - Place.

Christmas card Photoshop tutorial

3. Create several copies of the tree on your document by pressing Ctrl+J. Assign each layer a different value in opacity and use also different shades of white and blue with color overlays to create an illusion of depth. You can freely resize the tree because it's a vector graphic and it won't lose quality.

Christmas card Photoshop tutorial

4. Now create a new layer and click on the Custom Shape Tool. Go to the shape menu and look for some snowflakes - you can find them under "Nature". Start adding snowflakes to this layer, using different shapes and sizes. Once done, turn this layer's opacity down to around 50.

Christmas card Photoshop tutorial

5. Create a text layer and add your personal message with your favorite text font.

Christmas card Photoshop tutorial

6. Add some border or shadow effects if you like, and you're done!

Christmas card Photoshop tutorial

Note: Would you like a different design for your Christmas card? Try the 2008 tutorial!

Comments

  • Sid Danes Sid Danes

    Wow Elena thanks, just hope none of my family are reading this!!! I'm going to follow the steps now and make a few. I'll let you know how I get on! Happy Christmas folks.

    • Sent on 19 Dec 2007
  • caca caca

    i would just like to say hello

    • Sent on 06 Nov 2008
  • Schizo Schizo

    Nice tutorial, thank you so much. I need that madly.

    • Sent on 01 Dec 2008
  • Venkatachalam Ramesh Venkatachalam<br /> Ramesh

    When i was very bored of reading help...i found this site to make a xmas card in photoshop...It is really good to learn some important options from this...i was able to draw a simple but attractive picture from reading this ...Thanking you..

    • Sent on 10 Dec 2008
  • tricia tricia

    i will like to creat my own xmas card wit this little ideal dat i hav leant frm you,& i willl be very greatful if i can learn thanks for teaching.

    • Sent on 11 Dec 2008
  • tricia tricia

    i will like to creat my own xmas card wit this little ideal dat i hav leant frm you,& i willl be very greatful if i can learn more, thanks for teaching.

    • Sent on 11 Dec 2008
  • kendell kendell

    this website is awsome

    • Sent on 21 Dec 2008
  • 80+ Merry Christmas Photoshop Tutorials-Part II - Photoshop Website - Tutorials,Brushes &amp; more.. 80+ Merry Chr<br />istmas Photo

    [...] 8.create a Christmas card in Photoshop [...]

    • Sent on 25 Nov 2009
  • Manpreet Manpreet

    I think that was fantastic description

    • Sent on 17 Dec 2009
  • divya divya

    just too cool. a wonderful idea and i am quite impress with this concept of creating your own card.thank u.

    • Sent on 18 Dec 2009
  • Tracy Tracy

    This looks superb but why cant I do it in my version of photoshop which is Elements 6.0 and 8.0? Are these only for cs2, 3 and 4?

    • Sent on 18 Dec 2009
  • alex alex

    I this not good ideas!!

    • Sent on 22 Nov 2010
  • Thunderous71 Thunderous71

    Done my own video on how to do this too inspired by this excellent tutorial works in all versions of Photoshop too! http://www.crashtutorials.com/?p=4

    • Sent on 07 Dec 2010
  • Rev. & Mrs. R.A. Jinadu Rev. & Mrs. R<br />.A. Jinadu

    Merry Christmas to you

    • Sent on 21 Dec 2010
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