How to Create Candy Cane Typography with Photoshop and Illustrator

In this tutorial we will create a superb candy cane type design using Illustrator and Photoshop. Apply this effect to your own text and create cool and unique cards!

Along with creating this, you will learn how to:
- create advanced vector pattern brushes
- customize blending modes in Photoshop
- create shading and lighting
- retouch photos to fit the same scenario
- create backgrounds for your image
- use adjustment layers

Difficulty: Intermediate – Advanced
Completion time: 1 hour
Tools: Illustrator CS3, Photoshop CS3

Resources:

- paper texture from bashcorpo

Candy Cane Typography Final Image

STEP 1

Open Illustrator and create a new document of “Letter” setting in CMYK color mode at 72 dpi.

STEP 2

Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a gray rectangle like below.

STEP 3

Draw another rectangle, but make it a lot thinner than the previous. Also change its color to red or another color contrasting the first.

STEP 4

Grab the Selection Tool (V) and rotate the second rectangle. You don’t have to be very precise with it, just follow your artistic sense.

STEP 5

Hold the ALT key and click-drag the red rectangle to the right. Hold SHIFT key while dragging to move it orthogonally.

STEP 6

Hit CTRL+D three times. This will duplicate your last command input – in this case, copying a shape.

STEP 7

Select the gray rectangle lengthen it a bit, copy it (CTRL+C) and paste it to front (CTRL+F). Hit CTRL+SHIFT+] to bring it in front of the other shapes.

STEP 8

Remove its Fill, select all the red rectangles and right-click > Make Clipping Mask. Select all artwork (CTRL+A)  and hit the Merge button. Then paste in front a copy of the merged shape (CTRL+C > CTRL+F). Grab the Eraser Tool (SHIFT+E), hold the ALT key and erase the left side, along with a part of the red stripe.

STEP 9

Move the copied shape to the right until the first red stripe aligns with the second stripe from the shape below it. Reduce Opacity to see it better. Now select the shape above and set its Fill color to black.

STEP 10

Grab the Selection Tool (V), select the black rectangle, hold the ALT key and click-drag the middle distortion point, like below.

STEP 11

In the Pathfinder window (Window > Pathfinder), click the Merge button. Then select all artwork and hit Merge again. Grab the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the black rectangle and hit Delete.

STEP 12

Select all artwork and click-drag it into the Brushes palette (F7) Set it to “Pattern Brush”. Grab the Path Tool (P) and draw a long straight path. Then click the brush you just created. This is a good way to check if your pattern is correct.

STEP 13

Click the Grab the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a circle. Hold the SHIFT key while click-dragging to make it perfect.

STEP 14

Click the rectangular shape and copy the Height value from the top menu bar. Select the circle and paste this value to Width and Height.

STEP 15

Select both shapes and align them to horizontal axis. CTRL+click near the design to deselect, then grab the Direct Selection Tool (A) and select the left side anchorpoint of the circle and hit Delete. Align

STEP 16

Grab the Selection Tool (V) and align the resulting shape like in the image below. Slect the rectangle and ALT+click-drag to create a copy. Realign the copy with its original, just like in STEP 9.

STEP 17

Select the half-circle, remove its Fill, hold SHIFT and click the rectangle behind it. Now right-click > Make Clipping Mask. In the Pathfinder window (Window > Pathfinder), click the Merge button.

STEP 18

Open the Swatches palette (Window > Swatches) and click-drag the resulting shape into the palette. Name this “candy-end”. In the Brushes palette (F5), select our brush. Make sure you have everything deselected (CTRL+click in a blank area).

STEP 19

Open the dropdown menu and select Options. Click the last box and select “candy-end” from the list. Hit OK. Select the practice path and click the brush again. See how it looks.

STEP 20

Do the same for the other end of the path.

STEP 21

Now that we have a candy-like pattern brush, lets create the text. I used “Giddyup Std” font as reference. Grab the Horizontal Type Tool (T) and type the text below. Use multiple rows.

STEP 22

Select all text and go to Object > Expand, then go to Object > Path > Clean up.

STEP 23

In the Layers palette (F7), click the “Create New Layer” button and lock the layer below it. Select the newly created layer.

STEP 24

Grab the path tool and trace the text, but do not follow it entirely, feel free to connect words, add loops and cool knots. When you’re done tracing, select all these paths. Get creative!
NOTE: If you want to change colors, simply go to the shapes created, change their colors and create a new brush. My color choice was light gray with pink. The black background if for the pics to be more clear, adding this is not compulsory.

STEP 25

Go to Object Expand Appearance, then go to the Pathfinder window and hit “Merge”, then go to  Object > Path > Clean up.

STEP 26

Open Photoshop and go to File > New to create a new document of 1600 x 2300 px in RGB color mode at 72 dpi.

STEP 27

Grab the Gradient Tool (G) and apply the gradient shown below to the background layer.

STEP 28

Click-drag the vector text from Illustrator to Photoshop resize it a bit and hit enter. Right-click near the layer thumb, select “Rasterize Layer”, then click the “fx” button and select Blending Options. Use the settings below.

STEP 29

Create a new layer (CTRL+SHIFT+N), set Blending mode to Multiply, grab the Brush Tool (B), set Hardness to 0% and remove any extra setting from the Brushes palette and paint some shadows to give it a more 3D look. Use a dark purple color.
Tip: CTRL+click the text layer and go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All.

STEP 30

Create a new layer (CTRL+SHIFT+N) and place it below the text layer, grab the Brush Tool (B), set Hardness to 0% and remove any extra setting from the Brushes palette and paint some shadows, as if parts of the text bend away from the wall.

STEP 31

Open the “paper texture”. Select all (CTRL+A), copy it (CTRL+C) and paste it into our document (CTRL+V).Place the layer above the background layer. Resize it to fit the canvas and hit Enter. Set Blending mode to Multiply.

STEP 32

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid color… and Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance, Black & White. Use the settings below for each.

STEP 33

Select all artwork (CTRL+A, copy merged (CTRL+SHIFT+C)  and paste it. Go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. Hit OK.

Done!

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20 Spectacularly Inspiring 2012 Wallpapers

2012 wallpapers certainly will come up with more new creative designs and patterns covering more area of human interests. People are becoming crazy about the wallpapers. Especially youngsters are always curious in collecting new wallpapers of different designs. Several varieties of designs have already been added in the wallpaper collection.

We shared on request some of 2012 Wallpapers, these are too beautiful and selected from all over the world and designer you need to see and share these wallpapers because this is one of the superb collection..

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5 Simple Ways to Get Your Work Out There

One of the hardest things to do when starting out as a designer is to get your name and work out into the world. It can be an intimidating feat, as more designers are popping up all over the globe, but here are a few things you can do to get people interested in your work. 1. Keep a blog or online portfolio. “Misha” by Dan Matutina for GOOD Magazine View Source This is a cause for argument, but putting your work up online is one of the easiest, most immediate ways to circulate your work. Dan Matutina, or Twisted Fork, says that a lot of his work were commissioned because of the samples he posted on his website and Behance portfolio. Clients stumbled upon his work, were impressed and hired him. While you run the risk of copycats, chances are, you will get to reach someone you might not get to meet otherwise. It helps if you actually get your stuff out there. If you’re not comfortable yet, try uploading 400-pixel wide “screenshots” of your work up on Dribbble. Setting up blogs is easy and free. See what happens when you do. 2. Create and cultivate passion projects. “Self Portrait” by Mark Weaver View Source From March 2008 to December 2009, Mark Weaver created Make Something Cool Every Day, a collection of exercises. This helped him work on his style and get people interested in him and his work. Another designer, Nicole Meyer, started Branding 10,000 Lakes, which was circulated quite a bit last year. “Woodpile Lake” by Nicole Meyer View Source These projects challenge you as a designer, and you end up creating output even on your downtime. Plus, when you generate buzz for these fun personal projects, you also pique a widespread interest towards your other design work. 3. Go to design workshops, galleries, and events. Networking is a big and important part of this line of work. Getting to know similarly-minded people will not only help your growth as a designer, but also helps you create ties with the current scene in your area. When someone respectable gets to know what you can do, and can vouch for you and your work, it will go a long way, in terms of support, credibility, and circulation. 4. Make a business card. A common argument may be that the main source of communication these days is done over some digital means.  But this doesn’t mean that business cards are obsolete. Put your contact information, website or portfolio on these babies and hand them out at gatherings, events and parties. After a busy night of socializing, it will help new acquaintances and potential clients attach a name to a face. It also puts your contact information—literally—right at their fingertips. “Fitzgerald Business Cards” by The Heads of State View Source We posted 35 Quality Business Card Design Templates to get you started. Look through these  posts for even more inspiration. 5. Get to know people outside your field. Once you’ve established connections with the people in your own industry, branch out and meet other people from different walks of life. Small business, enterprising individuals, and companies outside the creative bubble need design services, too! It’s a big world out there, and it may be tough for you to start out, but these steps will help you at least get your name out there, ready for possibilities.

Getting a Handle on the Creative Process for Graphic Designers

The Graphic Design industry is very competitive, and trust me, it can certainly get stressful and frustrating at times. However, it doesn’t always have to be that way. Here, I have broken down my design process. This is how I create my design layouts from start to finish. Basically, with some focus, structure, and a little bit of talent, creating rewarding and professional design work can be produced more efficiently and with less stress.

Research

The very first thing on my long list is to research and learn as much about my client(s) as possible. The more I know, the easier the project will be. For instance, I can only imagine the embarrassment of having a client question why images of plastic bottles were used when they only sell organic material. So to avoid such mistakes, I analyze my customers to ensure accuracy, and start off on the right foot to avoid any problems or issues later on.

Brainstorming
I find that striving to be as unique and innovative as possible while still following the current trends, ensures a fresh and creative way of thinking. I often look through magazines, sketch, browse the internet, and listen to music to get creative inspiration. Occasionally, I’ll look for previously designed materials a client has created, just to see where their graphic design and/or branding stands. Sometimes this helps spark a new idea or concept. Making thumbnails and rough sketches helps me work through my ideas. I also tend to ask friends and colleagues about what they think to me get a different perspective on the design. I’m most creative when I’m relaxed, so I make sure that I am comfortable, otherwise I find it very hard to keep focused. If I’m stuck on an idea then I go for a walk to clear my head because forcing an idea won’t result in a good design. This is just my method, everyone has their own way of getting in to that “creative zone”.
The Elements
For me structure is important, I use a few elements as guidelines that help me to balance the level of unity within a composition. I basically break down design into three categories typography, negative space and color.

Typography

Typography is a very substantial and fundamental part of any design. After I’ve come up with a good concept or two, i‘lI start looking for an appropriate typeface, one that will define the mood and act sort of like an anchor that I can work with. Usually I’ll spend a good deal of time searching for something tasteful and fitting. The following two fonts sites - www.dafont.com and www.fontfreak.com - are two pretty good font resources with lots of variety. Once I have picked fonts that I like, I’ll play with it for a while, resize it, kern it, rotate it etc. and just have some fun with it. To keep the piece more cohesive and easier to read, I prefer to keep the number of typefaces in a design to a minimum to maintain consistency.

Negative Space
It took me a while to realize that less is really more and that there are big advantages of using more open space in any design. It helps with contrast and clarity and the overall message of the design comes through clearer. If there is too much going on, and my design starts to get cluttered, then I’ll take a step back and really look at how the whole piece looks as a whole. If there’s something that looks awkward or doesn’t need to be in the design, then I remove it. I think paying attention to the negative space throughout the design process inevitably points me in the right direction and saves time with revisions or alterations later on.

Colors

I like to have fun playing with different color combinations. There are so many color schemes that sometimes I’ll spend hours if not days trying to decide on one that will present the look and feeling I want to portray. I always thought that the psychological effect that colors present was fascinating. For example, when you see red, food may come to mind. While seeing the color blue, the feeling of tranquility and relaxation is felt by the viewer. I always found the unique meanings of color pretty handy for design. Using the right colors will make all the difference. I’ll usually try and pick tones rather than straight colors because it’s less generic. I am also a big fan of plain black and white, because the combination and contrast is so strong. A good site I check frequently is www.colourlovers.com, which is a site where users post their favorite color combinations. Colourlovers.com also does a great job explaining what color combinations are good or bad and why.
As a closing note, I’d like to say that graphic design really is a driven industry led by people who truly are proud and passionate about it. I have a hard time separating myself from my designs, and when an idea gets shot down I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me a little. So, what do I do? I push myself harder, because It really does reflect in the design. I’d say some of my best work came from ideas that were the result of constructive criticism.