Brochure Part II: Free Photoshop Tutorial

Topics Covered in This Photoshop Tutorial:

Advanced Smart Object workflows, comprehensive Free Transform techniques, strategic Layer Group organization, professional Curves adjustments, and sophisticated Bevel & Emboss effects for dimensional design elements

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

In this comprehensive exercise, we'll integrate a portrait photograph into the decorative oval of our banner design. Since final sizing requirements often evolve during the design process, we'll leverage Smart Objects to maintain maximum flexibility and non-destructive editing capabilities. This workflow approach mirrors real-world professional design scenarios where client revisions and output requirements frequently change.

Welcome, Mr. Disston!

1. You should still have the yourname-Kissimmee brochure.psd file open from the previous exercise. If you closed it, re-open it now. If you haven't completed the previous exercise:

   • Navigate to the Photoshop Class folder, then into the Kissimmee Brochure subfolder and open Kissimmee Part 1 done.psd.
   • Immediately save it as yourname-Kissimmee brochure.psd to preserve your work.

2. In the Layers panel, select the banner ornament layer to establish the correct layer hierarchy for the incoming portrait.

3. Navigate to File > Place Embedded to import the portrait as a Smart Object.

   NOTE: Place Embedded embeds a complete copy of the source file within your current Photoshop document as a smart object, ensuring complete portability when sharing files. This differs from Place Linked, which maintains a dynamic connection to the original file on your system. While linked objects update automatically when source files change, they require you to share both the PSD and linked assets. For client deliverables and collaborative workflows, embedded smart objects provide superior reliability.

4. Browse to the Kissimmee Brochure folder, select portrait.psd, and click Place.

5. Press Return (Mac) or Enter (Windows) to accept the initial placement size and complete the smart object creation.

6. Click the eye beside the portrait layer to temporarily hide it while we create our selection.

7. Select the Elliptical Marquee tool from the toolbar.

8. In the Options bar, verify that Normal is selected from the Style menu to ensure unrestricted proportions.

9. Position your cursor precisely at the center point of the decorative oval in your banner design.

10. Hold Option (Mac) or ALT (Windows) while clicking and dragging outward from the center to create an elliptical selection that fits snugly within the ornamental oval boundaries, as shown by the white dashed selection line below.

    

11. In the Layers panel, click the empty space where the eye icon was beside the portrait layer to restore its visibility.

12. At the bottom of the Layers panel, click the Add layer mask button to create a mask from your active selection.

13. Click the link icon between the layer thumbnail and mask thumbnail to unlink them, enabling independent positioning of the image within the mask.

14. Click directly on the portrait layer's thumbnail to target the image content rather than the mask for the following adjustments.

15. Select the Move tool and reposition the portrait to achieve optimal composition within the oval mask.

16. Choose Edit > Free Transform to access the transformation controls for precise sizing and positioning.

17. Position your cursor over any corner resize handle until you see the resize cursor .

18. Hold Shift–Option (Mac) or Shift–ALT (Windows) and drag to proportionally resize from the center, scaling the portrait to show the subject's head and shoulders effectively.

19. Move your cursor slightly away from the corner handle to access the rotation cursor .

20. Click and drag to rotate the portrait, ensuring Mr. Disston appears properly oriented within the oval frame.

21. When satisfied with the positioning and scale, press Return (Mac) or Enter (Windows) to commit the transformation.

22. Click between the layer thumbnail and mask thumbnail to re-establish the link , ensuring the image and mask move together in future adjustments.

23. In the Layers panel, click the Add a layer style button and select Inner Shadow to add dimensional depth to the portrait.

24. Configure the following Inner Shadow parameters for a subtle, professional effect:

    Opacity:	70%
    Angle:	90°
    Size:	6 px

    Click OK to apply the effect.

Editing the Smart Object

Now we'll demonstrate the power of Smart Objects by making non-destructive adjustments to the portrait's exposure. This workflow showcases why Smart Objects have become essential for professional retouching and design work.

1. The portrait requires darkening to better integrate with the banner's overall tone. Notice the distinctive Smart Object icon in the portrait layer thumbnail. Double-click this thumbnail to open the Smart Object for editing.

2. If prompted, Photoshop will display a dialog explaining that changes made within the Smart Object require saving to update the parent document. Click OK to acknowledge this workflow.

3. The Smart Object opens in a new document window (portrait.psd) with its own independent layer structure and adjustment capabilities. This isolation allows complex edits without affecting the main composition.

4. In the Layers panel, expand the photo restoration layer group, then expand the nested contrast & color layer group to reveal the organized adjustment structure.

5. Double-click the curve thumbnail in the contrast adjustment layer to access the Curves interface.

6. In the Properties panel, drag the middle-right control point downward to the horizontal midline, effectively darkening the midtones while preserving highlight and shadow detail.

   

7. Choose Window > Arrange > 2-up Vertical to display both documents simultaneously. Note that the oval portrait in the brochure hasn't updated yet—this demonstrates Smart Object independence.

8. Ensure the portrait.psd window is active and save the file (File > Save). Watch as the portrait in the brochure instantly reflects your adjustments—this real-time updating exemplifies Smart Object efficiency.

9. Close the portrait.psd file to return your focus to yourname-Kissimmee brochure.psd.

Since 1881

Next, we'll incorporate the historical date typography and apply targeted layer styles to create visual hierarchy and brand consistency throughout the design.

1. Open the file Since 1881.psd from your project folder.

2. If Photoshop prompts about updating text layers for vector-based output compatibility, click Update to ensure optimal quality at all sizes.

3. In the Layers panel, hold Shift and click the 1881 layer to select both text layers simultaneously.

4. Choose Layer > Group Layers to organize these related elements into a manageable unit.

5. Double-click the default Group 1 name and rename it Since 1881 for clear project organization.

6. To transfer the grouped text elements to your main brochure design:

   • With the Since 1881 group selected, choose Edit > Copy.
   • Click the yourname-Kissimmee brochure.psd tab to switch documents.
   • Choose Edit > Paste to add the group to your main composition.

7. Close Since 1881.psd without saving changes, as we only needed to extract the text elements.

8. Back in your main brochure file, verify the Move tool is active.

9. Leverage Photoshop's Smart Guides (magenta alignment indicators) to precisely position the Since 1881 group beneath the banner ornament, maintaining proper visual spacing.

10. Click the disclosure arrow next to the Since 1881 group to reveal its contents and access individual layers.

11. Select the 1881 layer specifically, as we'll apply a distinctive stroke effect to emphasize the historical date.

12. Click the Add a layer style button and choose Stroke from the effects menu.

13. Configure the stroke with these professional parameters:
    • Size: 2 px for subtle definition
    • Position: Outside to preserve character spacing
    • Click the color swatch and enter these CMYK values for brand consistency:
      C: 12 M: 57 Y: 95 K: 5

14. Click OK twice to apply the stroke effect and close all dialog boxes.

15. Click the collapse arrow next to the Since 1881 group to streamline your layers panel view.

Thank My Lucky Stars

We'll conclude this exercise by creating custom decorative stars using Photoshop's shape tools, then applying sophisticated layer effects to achieve a cohesive, professional appearance that complements our vintage theme.

1. Access Photoshop's extensive shape library by opening the Shapes panel through Window > Shapes.
2. In the Shapes panel, click the panel menu icon in the top-right corner and select Legacy Shapes and More to access additional shape collections.
3. Click and hold the Rectangle tool in the toolbar, then select the Custom Shape tool from the flyout menu.

4. In the Options bar, verify these critical settings:

   • Ensure Shape is selected in the leftmost dropdown (not Path or Pixels).
   • Click the shape thumbnail icon next to the Shape label to open the shape picker.
5. Navigate through the shape hierarchy: Legacy Shapes and More > All Legacy Default Shapes > Shapes to locate the star options.
6. Locate and double-click the solid 5 Point Star shape (avoid the outlined version) to select it.

7. Hold Shift to constrain proportions and drag to create a star positioned to the left of the word SINCE, as demonstrated in the reference below.

   

8. In the Layers panel, double-click the shape layer name and rename it star for better organization.
9. Double-click the star's color thumbnail to open the Color Picker and input these warm, vintage-appropriate CMYK values:
   C: 4 M: 19 Y: 69 K: 0
10. Click OK to apply the new color.
11. Select the Move tool and fine-tune the star's position to achieve optimal balance with the Since 1881 text.
12. Click the Add a layer style button and select Bevel & Emboss to add dimensional depth.

13. Apply the settings shown below to create a subtle yet effective beveled appearance. Leave the dialog open for the next step:

    

14. Click directly on the words Drop Shadow in the left panel (not just the checkbox) to enable and access drop shadow options.

15. Configure these drop shadow parameters for optimal depth and realism:

    Use Global Light:	Uncheck this first
    Angle:	60°
    Distance:	1 px
    Spread:	2%
    Size:	3 px

16. Click OK to apply all layer effects.
17. Hold Shift–Option (Mac) or Shift–ALT (Windows) and drag the star to the right side of SINCE to create a duplicate with identical styling.
18. In the Layers panel, Shift-click the second star layer to select both star layers simultaneously.
19. Press Cmd–G (Mac) or CTRL–G (Windows) to group the star layers for easier management.
20. Rename the new group from Group 1 to stars for clear identification.

21. Save your progress with File > Save and keep the file open for the next exercise. You've successfully mastered advanced Smart Object workflows, precision masking techniques, and sophisticated layer styling—essential skills for professional design work in 2026's competitive market.