Jack-o-Lanterns

I claim the copyright to this tutorial.  You are free to do whatever you please with what you make, but please do not take my tutorial.  Do not send the tutorial through email.  Only share my link.

This tutorial is intended for a beginner to learn about using vectors.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

To do this tutorial you will also need Photoshop CS.  You may download a free trial at Adobe.

Remember to save as a .psd file often!

1.  Open a new, transparent image, size = 500 x 500.

2.  Right-click on the shapes tool and choose the Ellipse Tool.

3.  In the Tool Options Bar at the top, choose the first icon after the ellipse tool, Set style = null,

Set color (click on color box) =

4.  On your transparent image, draw out a somewhat flattened ellipse.

5.  In the Layer Palette, right-click on the blank space of the ellipse layer and choose Blending Options.

6.  When the Layer Style box comes up, click on the words:  Inner Glow.  Set Blend Mode = Normal, Opacity = 75%, Noise = 0%, Glow color = , Technique = softer, source = edge, choke = 0%, Size = 73 px.

7.  In top menu, click Layer > Duplicate Layer.

8. In top menu, click Edit > Transform Path, Scale.  In top tool options bar, click the chain (or paper clip thing ) to lock the scale's proportions.

9.  The Transform Path puts a deformation box around the ellipse, push in on the right and left side nodes, about 1/4th in on each side.  When satisfied, click the check Mark in the tool options bar to apply the transformation.

10.  In top menu, click Layer > Duplicate Layer.

11.  In top menu, click Edit > Transform Path > Again.

12.  In top menu, click Layer > Duplicate Layer.

13.  In top menu, click Edit > Transform Path > Again.  Repeat this step a second time.

14.  In top menu, click Layer > New > Layer.

15.  Choose the Pen tool.  In the tool options bar at the top, click on the first icon after the pen tool (apply to shape),  click the second pen tool (free form), Style = null, Color = a shade of green that you like for your stem.

16.  Draw in a stem near the top of the pumpkin.

17.  Choose the mover tool and move the stem into place.

18.  In the layer palette, right-click on the stem layer and choose Blending Options.  Click on the words Inner Shadow.  Apply these settings:  Blend Mode = Normal, Color = a very dark green, Opacity = 50%, Angle = -90, Distance = 9, Choke = 0, Size = 10

19.  In top menu, click Image > Duplicate.  Minimize the original for later use.

20.  On the duplicate in top menu, click Layers > Flatten Image.

21.  Save this image as a blank pumpkin in .psd to be used later to decorate other graphics that you make. 

22.  Maximize your original pumpkin.  Now we will make it a Jack-o-lantern.

23.  Choose the pen tool.  Select the first icon after the pen, select the first pen, Set the style = null (disregard pic)  Color = black.

24.  In top menu, click Layer > New > Layer

25.  Left-click 3 times to make a black triangle for one eye (off-center of the pic).

26.  Right-click on the triangle layer and click on the words Inner Shadow:  blend mode = normal, Color = a very bright/light colored orange, opacity = 100%, Angle = -13, Distance = 9, Choke = 0, Size = 6.

27.  In top menu click Layer > Duplicate Layer.

28.  In top menu, click Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal.

29.  With the mover tool move both eyes into position. 

30.  In top menu, click Layer > New > Layer.

32.  With the pen tool set the same, left- click to 3 times to make a triangle nose.

33.  Right-click on the triangle layer and click on the words Inner Shadow:  blend mode = normal, Color = a very bright/light colored orange, opacity = 100%, Angle = -13, Distance = 9, Choke = 0, Size = 6.

34.  In top menu, click Layer > New > layer.

35.  With the pen tool draw out a mouth (see below).  Don't worry, a triangle will form after you click your 3rd point, but keep clicking around your mouth and the black shading will adjust with each click.

36.  Right-click on the triangle layer and click on the words Inner Shadow:  blend mode = normal, Color = a very bright/light colored orange, opacity = 100%, Angle = -13, Distance = 9, Choke = 0, Size = 6.

37.  In top menu click Layer > Flatten.

38.  Save this image as a jack-o-lantern in .psd format to be used later.

39.  If you wish to send your jack-o-lantern as is through email, save as .gif format.

 Please do not remove this tutorial from my site.  Share my url.