Photoshop Graphics - Red Butterfly Graphic

In this Photoshop tutorial I will show you how to create the Red Butterfly in my image. Please see the image that I have provided to see the ending results. This is a red butterfly with a pretty drop shadow behind it. This would make a great addition to a website. These graphics are very simple to make. I will write this tutorial in detail so that the new Photoshop users can follow along too.

How to Create a Red Butterfly Graphic in Photoshop

Open your Photoshop program and let it load. Click File > New at the top of your Photoshop window to create a new canvas. Create your canvas about 100 pixels by 100 pixels. Set your background to white and click the OK button. Now you should see your new canvas in your Photoshop window.

Next, we will need to create a new layer to work on. If you are new to Photoshop, it wouldn't be a bad idea to study up on using Layers. Layers are a very important part of Photoshop. Locate your Layers Panel. It should be on the right side of your screen. Press F7 on your keyboard if you do not see your Layers Panel. In the bottom of your Layers Panel you will see an icon that looks like a sheet of paper with the corner curled up. Click that Icon to create a new layer.

Next, we will draw the butterfly. You will need to select your custom shape tool. If you don't know how to do that, follow these instructions. Click on your Shape Tool in your toolbar. Hold your mouse down until the box drops down. Then click on Custom Shape Tool in the drop down box.

Go to the top of your Photoshop window and click the arrow beside the Shape box. You will see a small arrow on the right side of that box, click that arrow. When the menu drops down, click on Nature. That will load your Nature Shapes. When your shapes load click on the Butterfly.

Next, draw your butterfly on your canvas. You can draw the butterfly any size that you want. Once you have drawn your butterfly, you will need to rasterize your layer. Right click on your Shape Layer and click Rasterize Layer from the pop up menu. This will make the edge of your butterfly smooth.

Next we will apply the effects to the butterfly through the blending options. Right click on your shape layer again and click Blending Options from the menu. When the blending options window opens, apply the following effects.

Drop Shadow

Blend Mode - Multiply
Color - # f07878
Opacity - 60%
Angle - 90
Distance - 15
Spread - 0%
Size - 10
Contour - Linear
Anti-aliased - Unchecked
Noise - 5

Inner Shadow

Blend Mode - Multiply
Color - # 993131
Opacity - 70%
Angle - 90
Distance - 11
Choke - 25 %
Size - 23
Contour - Linear
Anti-aliased - Unchecked
Noise - 0%

Inner Glow

Blend Mode - Multiply
Opacity - 35%
Noise - 0%
Color - # 981a1a
Technique - Softer
Source - Edge
Choke - 0%
Size - 8
Contour - Linear
Anti-aliased - Unchecked
Range - 50%
Jitter - 0%

Bevel and Emboss

Style - Inner Bevel
Technique - Smooth
Depth - 100%
Direction - up
Size -11
Soften - 4
Angle - 90
Use Global Light - Checked
Attitude - 67
Gloss Contour - Linear
Anti-aliased - Checked
Highlight Mode - Screen
Color - White
Opacity - 100
Shadow Mode - Multiply
Color - Black
Opacity - 0

Contour

Contour - Half Round
Anti-aliased - Checked
Range - 90%

Satin

Blend Mode - Overlay
Color - #e37878
Opacity - 100%
Angle - 90
Distance - 38
Size - 38
Contour - Ring
Anti-aliased - Checked
Invert - Checked

Color Overlay

Blend Mode - Normal
Color - # e866ac
Opacity - 100%

Click the OK button to apply the effects to the butterfly.

That's it!! Your butterfly should look like the one in my image. If you have any problems with this tutorial, please feel free to drop me a comment.