Create a Sports Poster Using Adobe Photoshop

This tutorial will show you how to create an eye catching sports themed poster in just ten simple steps. To create this sports day poster you will use a selection of copyright free images along with some basic text and block shapes of colour. The poster will have a simple but eye catching design which should immediately identify itself as a sports themed poster to the viewer, this is important to reach your target audience. See the section on Attention Grabbing Techniques for more about that.

For the poster, we will be using an A3 canvas, to create an A3 canvas go to File-> New and in the options window choose International Paper as the Preset and A3 as the size. Next we will add the base colours of the poster. I will be using an orangey yellow, sky blue and white. You can use different colours of course; I would recommend using your club colours to identify the poster as being connected to the club.



1. Once you have chosen the colours you want use the gradient tool (located within the paint bucket tool) and create a linear gradient from top to bottom. Now use the rectangle shape tool to create a rectangular shape at the top of the page, use the colour picker on the shapes layer to change its colour. Right click on the layer and select blending options to open the layer styles window. Now select 'stroke' and set its colour to white and it's size to 10px (select a higher value or different colour if you want)

2. Now open your club logo into Photoshop and then use the move tool to drag and drop the logo from its window into the poster window and resize and position it as shown below, using Edit-> Transform-> Scale. Next use the text tool to create a text box and type in the club name followed by 'presents the ultimate...'. The font style I used is Agency FB but you can try out different fonts if you wish. Remember you must highlight text in order to edit it using the text settings that appear across the top once the text tool is selected.

3. For the main poster text I have also used Agency FB. The automatic font sizes in Photoshop only go up to 72 but you can type in larger values to achieve even larger text. My text is at font size 200. So once again use the text tool to create a text box then type the text 'Family Sports Day' and set it's size, font style and colour to settings you are happy with. I also added a stroke and an outer glow to the text using the layer style window as shown in the image below.

4. Next on our agenda is the images. The poster will contain a series of sports action silhouettes of a selection of sports. You can find numerous silhouettes on the internet but I will also tell you how to create your own. First find an image you like and open it in Photoshop. Ensure the image is unlocked (check the layers window and double click on the layer to unlock it) and use one of the selection tools to select the part of the image you want to use. Then go to Select -> Select Inverse which will reverse your selection thus selecting all the unwanted areas.

5. Now simply press delete or backspace to remove the unwanted areas leaving you with just the part you want. Press Select -> Deselect (or Ctrl and D) to deselect the image. Use the eraser tool to tidy up any loose edges.

6. Lastly go to Image -> Adjustments -> Threshold and edit the settings until you get a white silhouette. If you can only get a black silhouette thats fine just go to Image -> Adjustments -> Invert to change it from black to white.

7. You can now repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for all the images you want and place them around the poster using the move tool. A nice touch is to place some image slightly overlapping the text from in front with others slightly behind the text. This will give the image more depth, to do it simply change the order of the images in the layers window.

8. To finish add any additional text that is required such as the time, date and venue of the sports day. Once again I have used Agency FB as the font style. You can use the Character window in Photoshop to change more text settings such as the distance between letters or lines of text. This can be useful to fit in all the information you want to without having to change the font size.

This same design could also be used for others sports related events, why not try it out yourself!

Create a Quiz Poster Using Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial we will be using mainly the text and shape tool to create a poster for a table quiz. The poster itself will portray a group of 4 people at a table with paper sheets in front of them, and thus simply representing a table quiz.

1.For the poster, we will be using an A3 canvas, to create an A3 canvas go to File-> New and in the options window choose International Paper as the Preset and A3 as the size.

2. Select Blue as the primary colour and white as the secondary colour in the colour picker boxes. Next select the gradient tool (within the paint bucket tool) and use it to drag and drop from the top to the bottom.

3. The next step is to create the header and footer sections of the poster. The easiest way to do this is to use the rectangular shape tool to create a rectangle at the top and bottom of the canvas. Rename the layers 'footer' and 'header' and change the colour of the rectangles using the colour picker box on the layer tab of each layer.

4. To set the header and footer apart from the content which is to come add a stroke to each rectangle using the layer style window. Go to Layer -> Layer Styles -> Blending Options and in the window which opens select stroke, change the colour to white and set the size to one you are happy with.

5. To create the table we will use the ellipse tool and drag out a shape similar to the one seen below. Colour the shape brown, using the colour picker box on the layer. Rename the layer 'table' and position it beneath the footer layer in the layers window.

6. Next to create the people: use the ellipse tool to create the bodies, naming/numbering the layers as you go. Once the four bodies are created open the blending options window through Layer-> Layer Style-> Blending Options and set the setting to those shown below.

7. Repeat the process for the heads adding the same layer style and line them up as shown below. Once the heads and bodies are complete link each pair together as a smart object; Layer-> Smart Objects -> Convert to Smart Object. This will keep the layers neater and easier to manage.

8. Now to create the sheets of paper. Select the pen tool and click to create anchor points that will form the shape of the paper. Set the colour of the 'pages' to white and add a black stroke using the blending options window as before. Unlike the bodies and head.

9. That completes the shapes for now so we will move onto the text. First off add the footer text. Type in whatever text you need. The image below shows the settings used to get a realistic date in Photoshop using the tools in the character window.

10. The headline text is next on the agenda. The font used here is called 'Agency FB' and is a standard font already available in Photoshop. You can choose any font you want but be sure to choose a font that is clear and easy to read. Be sure to make the word 'Quiz' the largest word as it will get the point of the poster across immediately. People pass by numerous posters and other visual material everyday so it is vital for the text to be as clear and easy to read as possible.

11. The final shape to be added to the poster will fill the remaining space on the left hand side of the poster and effectively frame the headline text. We wil try to create a shape in the style of draped, hanging material like a flag. To do this first use the Pen Tool to create the shape of the flag. Next use the blending options window to add a linear gradient on the shape. Use the settings below to get the effect of highlights on the curving, flapping material.

12. Finally add your club crest or business logo onto the flag. Add a warp effect to the logo using Edit-> Transform-> Warp. This will allow you to make it appear as if the logo or crest is on the flag.

If you have a strong existing logo you may decide to leave out the flag element and just add the logo by itself into the space on the left hand side, like in the two examples below.

How to create a Logo using Illustrator or Photoshop

This tutorial is completed in Illustrator but all the tools and techniques used are also available in Photoshop. The reason I am using Illustrator is that Illustrator is the best program (in my opinion) for creating vector graphics using the pen tool. Professional Logos are made as vector graphics, allowing them to be resized up or down without loss of quality.

Although this tutorial focuses on the actual production stage of the logo it is important to remember that the graphic design process should always be used. Therefore this stage should be preceded by analysis of any brief, research, brainstorming, and idea development (ideally through sketching). Alongside these design process stages you should also be considering the logo design principles. Ideally read the artcle in full before completing your own logo design but to recap quickly the principles state the logo should be...

• Simple

• Versatile

• Timeless

• Memorable

• Appropriate

For the purposes of this tutorial we will be creating a logo for a design company called 'Cut & Paste'. The design aims to reference the company name within the text styles and shapes used. Now lets begin.

1. Go to File-> New and create a canvas 700px wide and 500px tall. This is not a mandatory size, as the logo (once completed and exported) can be scaled up or down to any size. However, if you want to follow the tutorial exactly using the font sizes and other dimensions used then keep to 700px X 500px.

2. Open the layers window and rename the layer 'Shape 1'. Now use the rectangle shape tool to create a shape 610px x 125px. With the shape selected (with the path selection tool) open the stroke window and add a 5pt white stroke using the settings shown in the image below. Depending on how you clicked and dragged to create the shape the scissors arrow head on the stroke may appear in a different corner. To set the scissors to the position shown, go to Object-> Transform -> Reflect and edit the settings until you get it into the position shown.

3. Now, press the new layer button in the layers window and name the layer 'Shape 2'. With the new layer selected use the rectangle shape tool to create a shape 600px x 115px. Set the shape colour to white and add a uniform stroke of 5pt with the scissors arrowhead (the 5pt stroke all around should make the shape the same size as the previous shape). Position the shape directly on top of the first shape getting the scissors arrowheads to overlap as shown below. Once again go to Object-> Transform -> Reflect and edit the settings until you get the arrowheads into the position shown.

4. For the next shape we will once again create a new layer, call it 'Shape 3'. Use the pen tool to create a black coloured shape similar to the one shown below, remember to complete the shape by joining the last anchor point to the initial anchor point. Once completed you can move the anchor points of the shape into the exact form you want using the direct selection tool. Once again set a 5pt white stroke with a scissors arrowhead, the settings are shown alongside the shapes in the image below. That completes our work on the shapes.

5. Now we will add the text. You can add the text all on one layer but as we will be using 4 different fonts in 4 separate text boxes it is easier to create a new layer for each piece of text too. For the purposes of the tutorial we will create a new layer each time we add a new piece of text.

6. Firstly we will add the 'CUT' text. Create a new layer call it 'CUT' and use the text tool to click and drag out a text box roughly to size you want (you can resize it afterwards if needed) and type the word CUT in Arial Bold and with a font size 110pt

7. Highlight the text with the text tool and change the text colour to white and add a 2pt black stroke. Open the stroke window and tick the dashed line box and set the values to those shown in the image below.

8. Next, we will add the ampersand. Create a new layer for the ampersand, and create a text box on that layer. Type '&' in font style Arial Bold, in a font size of 72pt and set the text colour to white.

9. Now the 'Paste' text. Once again create and name a new layer, use the text tool to create a text box and type 'Paste'. The font used for the paste text is called 'Cut It Out' and is a free to download font available HERE. Set the font colour to Black and the font size to 90pt as shown in the image of the font settings tab below. Use the path selection tool to position the text as shown.

10. Finally the 'Design Company' text. As before, create and name a new layer, add a text box and type in 'Design Company'. The image below shows the text settings used.

11. The completed logo should now resemble the image below. You can continue to develop the logo by editing the colours of the text or shapes, trying out different font styles or adding effects from the 'Effect' tab in the top menu. You can easily create your own logo for new your company or a class project using the tools and techniques explained here but always remember to follow the previous steps of the design process as it is always easier and quicker to create the logo once you have a design sketch to follow. Trust me on that, you don't want to have to learn the hard way!

Create a Cartoon Character

1. To create this cartoon character we will be using vector graphics created by the shape tool, pen tool and associated Photoshop tools and techniques. First create a new A4 canvas in Photoshop by going to File-> New and choosing international paper and then A4. You could choose any other size but if you wish to follow this tutorial exactly then you need to choose an A4 canvas size.

2. The first part of the character we will create is the body, represented by a simple circle. Use the elliptical shape tool to click and drag out an ellipse and then hold on the shift key (while still clicking and dragging) to get a perfect circle. You can resize the circle once you have released the mouse using Edit-> Transform-> Scale. Try to create a circle approximately half the width, and one third the height of the overall canvas. To change the colour of the circle double click on the Finally, in the layers window, right click on the layer, select layer properties and name the layer 'body'.

3. Next, while still on your 'body' layer, go to Layer-> Layer Styles-> Blending Options. In the window which opens select inner shadow and stroke and set the options to those shown in the image below.

4. Next we will create the eyes of our little character. Again we will use the ellipse shape tool to create two ellipses for the eyes. Set the colour to white, add a stroke of between 10pt and 20pt and name each layer 'right eye' and 'left eye'. Now to reshape the eyes into the shapes shown below; First use the add anchor point tool (within the pen tool) to add two anchor points either side of the bottom anchor point on the left eye. Next use the direct selection tool to move that bottom anchor point upwards slightly. For the right eye add two anchor points either side of the top anchor point and two either side of the bottom anchor point and , once again, use the direct selection tool to move the anchor points to obtain the desired shape. Don't be too particular though as the eyes or eyebrows may cover any wobbly looking lines.

5. Now to add the eyeballs; once again start by using the elliptical shape tool to create two ellipses for the eyes, colour these layers blue and name them 'left eyeball' and 'right eyeball'. Next add an inner shadow to the eyeballs using the options shown in the image below. If the eyeball appears below the eye just drag and drop its layer above the eye layer in the layers window.

6. The pupils of the eyes will once again be started by using the elliptical shape tool to create the shapes. Next colour the shapes layers black and name them 'left pupil' and 'right pupil'. To complete the pupils add a bevel and emboss as shown in the image below.

7. We will now complete the eyes by rotating the eyeballs and pupils slightly and positioning and resizing them as necessary to match the image below. Don’t worry that the right eyeball is out of the eye as the eyebrow will cover this.

8. To create the eyebrows we will be using the pen tool. Click and drag to create the curved line anchor points used to create the shape of the eyebrow. Don't be too particular about the shape to start just be sure to join the last anchor point to the initial anchor point to complete the shape. You can then use the direct selection tool to move the anchor points around to achieve a better shape. Finally colour the eyebrows orange.

9. To complete the face of our character we will use the pen tool to create a quizzical smirk and for a little detail use the elliptical shape tool to create cheeks. Colour the cheeks either one tone darker or lighter than the yellow of the face and colour the mouth the same orange as the eyebrows.

10. The last parts of our little cartoon character are the arm and hand. To keep the quizzical look going we want to have the arm and hand scratching the chin (if he had one!) of our character. Similar to the eyebrows, we will use the pen tool to create the arm and hand in three separate shapes. First the arm. Use the pen tool to click and drag creating curved line anchor points and complete the shape by joining the final anchor point to the initial anchor point. Tip: The fewer anchor points you can use the smoother the curve on the arm will be, 6 anchor points would be enough if you can manage it!

11. Finally the hand is made up of 2 shapes, a simple warped ellipse for the wrist and then a detailed shape representing a hand with thumb and fore finger stretched out with the other fingers closed; only showing knuckles. Take your time to create these shapes and remember to complete the shape by joining the final anchor point to the initial anchor point. Don't be too particular about getting the shape perfect the first time around as you can always use the direct selection tool to move the anchor points around or even add or remove anchor points using the appropriate tools.

12. For added detail add an inner shadow to the hand and wrist shape using the options show in the image below.

The completed emoticon style cartoon character should now look something like this. Hope you enjoyed the tutorial, now how about trying to create different emoticon cartoons.

Create your own Angry Bird using Illustrator or Photoshop

This tutorial is completed in Illustrator but all the tools and techniques used are also available in Photoshop. The reason I am using Illustrator is that Illustrator is the best program (in my opinion) for creating vector graphics using the pen tool. Logos and cartoons are normally made with the pen tool so they are created as vector graphics, allowing them to be resized up or down without loss of quality, therefore this image will be created using the pen tool. Now that that is cleared up, let's begin.

1. Go to File-> New and create a canvas 700px wide and 500px tall.

2. Go to the layers window and rename the base layer 'Body'. Select the ellipse shape tool and create a circle, set the colour of the circle to red and put a 7px black stroke on the circle.

3. Use the direct selection tool to move the top and left anchor points slightly, as seen in the image below.

4. Now use the add anchor point tool (within the pen tool) to add 6 anchor points across the top of the body, don’t be too particular about the placement as we will be moving them soon anyway. See the image below.

5. Next select the direct selection tool and drag the 2nd and 4th anchor points upwards and the use the handles on each anchor point until the shape resembles the image below. (If there are no handles on the anchor points it is possible they are straight line anchor points, use the convert anchor point tool and click and drag slightly on each point to convert them to curved line anchor points.)

6. Now open the layers window and click the button circled in the image below and create a new layer, call it 'belly'.

7. Next, while on the belly layer, use the ellipse shape tool to create the rough shape of the belly, colour the shape in white and set the stroke to 0pt. Then zoom in and use the direct selection tool to move the anchor points and their handles into a shape similar to the image below.

8. Open the layers window again and click the new layer button and create a new layer, call it 'eyes'. If it is not the top layer, move it to the top. Use the ellipse tool to create two circles for the eyes, each circle should be white with a 3pt stroke. To overlap one eye over the other as show in the image below, right click on one eye and select move to front.

9. Next create a new layer, call it 'eyeballs'. Use the ellipse tool to create two small black circles without any stroke. Position the eyeballs as shown in the image below.

10. Again create a new layer, call it 'eyebrow' and ensure it is the top layer. Use the Pen tool and click (do not click and drag) one at a time creating new straight line anchor points in the shape shown below remembering to join the last anchor point to the original point.

11. The final part of the image is the nose. Create a new layer, call it 'nose' and once again ensure it is the top layer. Use the pen tool to create the rough shape of the nose, remembering to join the last anchor point to the original anchor point. Give the shape a yellow colour and a 3pt stroke. To edit and refine the shape of the nose use the direct selection tool to move the anchor points and their handles around. You may also need to use the convert point tool as the nose shape uses both curved line and straight line anchor points. The image below shows the completed image alongside the layers used to create it.

The pen tool can be difficult but remember practice makes perfect so after completing this tutorial perhaps try creating the rest of the angry bird family or other cartoon images.