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Hello. This is the 2nd tutorial from Christmas series. I will explain how to make a Christmas illustration using Photoshop. So let’s begin.

Enjoy your holidays.

Create a new document with these dimensions:

Now choose a background color scheme. Use as usual a color fill along with gradient fill.

Then create a new shape using round shape tool. Create 2 separate shapes on 2 separate layers.

Then overlay the shapes with rounded gradients (White to foreground). To solve the problem with shapes just create a new layer and fill the gradient directly on it.

Now use a little bit of layer styling on this very layer, not on the shape layer.

And there we have it.

Link the shape layer and the gradient layer, link them together and merge using merge linked command.

And this what we have now. 2 different non vector layers.

I suggest you to transform the big ball layer to match the lighting.

And there we go.
Now what we will do now is a real time reflection. Well you now the reflection in the Christmas ball is like in the mirror. For this we will pick any photo with some interior.

Drag it directly to our project area using the move tool (v). it will be on the separate layer automatically.

The dimensions are smaller than I thought so just transform it.

Now apply clipping mask feature.

And there we have it our image inside the circle.

Use a layer mask that reveals all to blend the edges a little bit.

 
And Spherize filter in Filter > Distort menu box.
The layer must be selected.

I suggest you to spherize the image several times.

Plus to that change the blending mode to Luminously and opacity level to about 79%-75%.

You can also erase a little bit ob the image to blend the edges.

And here we go. This was the first step. Now do the same thing create 2nd clipping mask with the same image.

And round 3 ? the 3rd clipping mask.

Play with opacity and layer modes as well.

paint over it (on a new separate layer) to accent the ball roundness. Spotlights ? with white and shadows with dark blue. Well something like this.

Here is our current layer order. You can see 3 clipping masks. If you’re confident in your result just link the 3 clipping masks and you source layer and merge them into 1 single layer.

Create a copy of the big ball layer. We will need it to create a reflection in the smaller ball. So watch.

Select the whole small ball layer and spherize, but our newly created Copy.

Create clipping mask.

I’ve also painted a little bit.

With mere PS brush:

Now I will create these little metal thingies. Don’t even know the name).

For this operation I will use my Wacom tablet. But do know that there are several ways to paint in PS depending on your skills and techniques. Basic color:

Midtons.

Render the edges.

Now I will paint the ribbon.

A little bit of snow. Can be done with basic brush changing the flow and master diameter.

The text. And we are done here.

Enjoy your holidays.

+ View full size image

Enjoy!