Flower Header

* This layout tutorial was written in 2009
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In this tutorial I will be teaching you how to make the layout used in my portfolio. Most of this tutorial will probably be the same as my Flower Power tutorial, except with a few effects at the end - as that is the method I followed.

To begin, create a new transparent image sized 684 x 289. Create a new raster layer. Then take () tool and match your settings to mine below:
Selection type: Point to point
Mode: Replace
Feather: 0
Smoothing: 6
Anti-alias
Trace around the blank image and make a shape like I have to the right, don't worry about being completely precise because the smoothing of 6 will round any pointy corners.

Now we are going to colour in this petal. Using the brush tool at a big size - change its colour to: #FFC010 (or whatever you choose) and colour in the petal. Press (CTRL+D) to lock this petal into its place.

Now it's time to put all of these petals in place. This can be done by duplicating the first layer petal a few times, then using tool to rotate each petal and put them all into the correct place.

It looks strange at the moment, what we have to do to get it to look normal is to take the shapes tool (). Making sure the top pallet is crossed out, highlight the second pallet at any colour you like, I'm using the colour: #F6D084. Draw a circle in the middle. To add a bit of depth to the image, we're going to right click the vector layer created by the circle and convert it to a raster layer. Then, we'll duplicate that raster layer, go to Effects > 3D Effects, and match your settings to mine:
Smoothness: 76
Width: 4
Depth: 21
Ambience: -26
Shininess: 13
Angle: 0
Intensify: 54
Evaluation: 57
Set that layer to normal at 8% and merge it down.

Then, starting from your second layer (don't include the circle in the middle), go to Layer > Merge > Merge Down, and merge down ALL of your layers except from your bottom layer - this is so the flower is now one layer on its own.

Next, click your mouse on the layer of the flower we've just created and duplicate it three times. Use tool to rotate all of the duplicates in different directions and also to resize each of them; then set them all to hardlight at 80%.

Press CTRL+C to copy that flower, then go to File > New, create a new image ANY size, it just has to be bigger than the flower. Fill the background with 100% solid #FA7D02. Press CTRL+E for your flower to appear now over this blank black image, there should be dots around your flower. With these dots still highlighted, go to Adjust > Brightness and Contrast > Brightness/Contrast, brighten it at its fullest so that the flower it white. After this, go to Selections > Modify > Expand, and expand the flower by 4. Press CTRL+C to copy this new flower, minimize this image and go back to your original flower image.

Press CTRL+L to paste this white flower as a new layer, set that layer to Darken and 100%. Use this () tool to slightly rotate this outline, and also use it to move the outline so that it is not directly over the flower. Merge all your layers visible once you're done.

I don't see the point of going through how to do the leaf, because it's basically the exact same method, except without the many different petals and circle in the middle. Once you have created your leaf, it's just a matter of organizing your flowers and leafs. Remember, when you paste your leafs as a new layer, put them behind the layers of flowers. Also remember to use tool to resize and organize your flowers in the correct place.