Whether it is reading literature for a course, studying through cases for a bar exam or the extensive instructions to a new gadget you decided to buy yourself; a book mark is a sure handy thing.
I always find reading that little bit easier too, if I have a bookmark that not just to keep my place but give me a chuckle every time it catches my eye. SO, here is a little tutorial for you bookworms out there!
You will need:
- Computer (with Photoshop)
- Printer (with ink)
- Some card or strong paper
- Coffee (not to do with the bookmark)
If you don’t have Photoshop yourself, try to find yourself a computer in one of the labs at the University/College. They’re bound to have the software you’ll need for this little tutorial!
Step 1 – New Document
Best dimensions for your bookmark:-
Height: 7 inches
Width: 2 inches
Resolution: 300 (or just 72 for the purpose of playing)
Step 2 – Abyss
Using your Elliptical Marquee Tool, draw an oval on the canvas, filling it with black:-
Next, double click the layer to access the layers style and apply the following gradient
Step 3 – Sky
In a new layer, behind our just drawn circle, apply a transparent gradient using the colour #95bfdc (or something similar and slightly bluey).
Step 4 – Grass
Create two new layers, one above our Abyss layer and one behind.
Using Photoshops present brush ‘Grass’, set your foreground brush to a light green and your background brush to a darker green. Next, on the layer behind Abyss, brush left-to-right across the canvas up about ¼ of the way.
On the other layer above Abyss, apply the same brush set just over the side of the hole so you should now have something that looks like this…
Step 5 – Speech Bubbles
In a new layer, draw a box using the ‘Rounded Rectangle Tool’.
Select the ‘Add Anchor Point Tool’ then on the bottom line, add three new anchor points then using the ‘Direct Selection Tool’, drag the middle point down to form the speeches direction. Holding Alt on the keyboard, you can turn the sharpness of the two handles to form a point.
Next apply the following stroke settings:-
Step 6 – The Speech
Copy the speech bubble layer and position it near the top.
Add in some text and feel free to adlib!
Duplicate the Speech Bubble layer again and repeat the steps above.
Step 7 – Final Touches
All that is really left to do now, is print! Use some plain white card or strong photo paper. Optionally, you can punch a hole in the top and tie a little string, wool – dental floss if you’re struggling – through.
Here are some finished examples (feel free to download!)
About the author
Alex is a graphic / web designer and an avid photographer. He runs his own blog over at Zen Elements which is the basis portfolio for all that graphic/web stuff he does.
Enjoy your reading!
The SLC Team