Using Light and Shade to Bring Text to Life

In this tutorial we are going to take some very basic principles of light and shade to make a rather impressive-looking text effect.

Click to go to PSDtuts.

How To Create A Vector Wacom Tablet In Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a vector Wacom tablet in Illustrator CS4 using some basic shapes, gradients, and effects. In order to follow this tutorial, you should have some prior experience with the Pen Tool and know how to manipulate preexisting points and curves.

If you don't know how to do this already, you may have a hard time following some of these steps. I strongly recommend you learn the Pen Tool (Illustrator's Pen Tool: The Comprehensive Guide is a good tutorial on that), inside and out, considering Illustrator practically revolves around it. Let's get started!

Click here to go to Vectortuts.

Create a simple vibrant light effect in photoshop

Starting away from the computer, we’ll use a few household objects to create some photographic resources. Then follow this Adobe Photoshop tutorial to manipulate the images with various tools and techiques to produce a vibrant design made up of intense light streams effect.

Click here for the tutorial.

Add Fantastic Color to 3D Text

This is the first part of a two part series. Part two will be released tomorrow. In this piece you will learn how to bring a simple text to life and place everything in fantastic, colored and glowing 3D space. Some neat techniques covered here will allow you to bring your art to the next level. Don't miss it!

Click here to go to PSDtuts.

How to Create an Abstract Vector Design in Illustrator

A great looking abstract design can be created from the simplest of shapes. Let’s take a look at compiling various geometric shapes and objects to form a dynamic composition in Illustrator, then polishing it all up with some transparency effects to create a trendy vector illustration.

Click here for the tutorial.

How to Design a Skate Deck with a Cool Skull Pattern

Illustrator’s built in Symbol Sprayer can be a highly useful tool for quickly creating awesome pattern graphics. Let’s look at creating a few vector skull graphics, then combine them into an intricate pattern design to customise a skateboard deck.

Click here for the tutorial.

Illustrator Tutorial – Create a Colourful Abstract Wavy Ribbon

Here we have a simple walkthrough on how to create a colourful abstract retro ribbon shape in Illustrator, which can then be used as an element in your designs.

Click here for the tutorial.

Dazzling Dance Photo Manipulation Photoshop Tutorial

In this detailed and lengthy Photoshop tutorial, you will learn how to combine photos and add special effects to turn a normal photograph into a stunning artwork. You will also learn several tricks to reduce your Photoshop document file size and number of layers and layer styles.

Click here for the tutorial.

6 Quick’n'Dirty Photoshop Text Effects From Scratch

Photoshop is great for embellishing display text with little effects. When you add layer styles into the equation, you have the added benefit of the styles being easily transferable. In this tutorial you will learn how to make six different effects using just layer styles. So really this is like six tutorials in one!

Check it out at PSDtuts.

Creating a striking logo in Illustrator

Every designer has their own process when it comes to creating a logo, this method is really easy and time efficient.

Click here for the tutorial.

How To Create a Striking Typographic Illustration

Designing a strong, coherent graphic brand identity is one of the most rewarding tasks in graphic design. It is a unique opportunity to create something that will go on to be used in many different places, applications and designs. In this multi-part tutorial series I'll take you through the processes and design I used to create the Rockable Press brand and its many different applications both offline and on. We'll begin by looking at the creation of the Rockable logo, look and feel and brand.

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How to Create an Identity Package in Illustrator

In this Illustrator CS4 tutorial learn how to create an Identity Package including: business cards, letterhead, and envelopes, all in Illustrator. In the tutorial you will set up your document, design the identity package, and learn best practices for proofing and sending to the printer. This tutorial will focus more on setting up your document to create this package, rather than focusing on the creative aspects of the design.

Click to go to Vectortuts.

Use lighting effects to make photos sparkle

Turning a run-of-the-mill photo into a dazzling one is simple – when you know the right tricks. In this tutorial, Photoshop maestro Aeiko shows how to create a variety of light effects that can be applied to photography or illustration with equal impact.

From sparkles, pixie dust effects, coloured light spots and light beams, to using splatter effects as a form of lighting, it’s all here. Some of the tricks you’ll learn are created through cunning use of stock photography, while others make use of Photoshop’s built-in tools.

Click here to go to Digital Arts.

Creating a Vinyl Record In Photoshop

This tutorial explains how to make a vinyl graphic from scratch. We will outline techniques to avoid choppy edges and create proper texturing and lighting for a realistic looking vinyl.

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Advanced Glow Effects

In this tutorial, learn create some really sharp-looking glow effects using a combination of layer styles, the Pen Tool and Color Blending. The end effect is quite stunning and hopefully you'll pick up some tips you didn't know before.

Click here to go to PSDtuts.

Making high gloss web/interface buttons in Illustrator

How to make your very own web / interface buttons, it's a great way to get a website look that's clean and up to date.

Click here for the tutorial.

Super Cool Watercolor Effect in 10 steps in Photoshop

How to create a very nice design using watercolor brushes. It was inspired by the work of guys such as Bruno Fujii, Margot Mace, Raphaël of My Dead Pony and Stina Person. Masks and Watercolor brushes it's inspired by another great digital artist, the master Scott Hansen the mind behind ISO 50 and also some images from the Daily Inspiration.

So in this tutorial we will use Photoshop, some brushes from Brusheezy and some stock photos.

Click here to see.

Create clean 3d text with a lense blur in Illustrator

This is a really simple and quick tutorial on how to create some really effective 3d text with a blur for a great finished look.

Check it out here.

Making Little Planets in Photoshop

Learn to create little planets using a regular photograph or a panoramic photograph in Photoshop. It's very a very simple technique but with a really cool end result.

Check it out here.

Creating a Stunning Old-World Look in Photoshop

Create a sort of old-worldy composition featuring a compass with an HD lighting effect and making use of some awesome vector artwork.

I hope you have some time on your hands, this is a LONG tutorial!

Check it out at PSDtuts here.

Creating A Fantastic Fantasy Night Sky In Photoshop

Last month while browsing the web, I found this amazing tutorial. Create some incredible clouds using Photoshop.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create cartoon-style clouds using Photoshop and a bit of Illustrator. It's easy enough for a beginner and a great technique even for a pro.

Check it out at PSDtuts here.

How to Turn Humdrum Photos into Cinematic Portraits

There are a plethora of ways to treat a portrait for a myriad of uses, but that is for another feature. Let's tackle adding drama or a cinematic quality to a regular, humdrum portrait. Let's even throw in a little bit of faking HDR. That way if you work on a project that requires a stunning shot without the stunning photography, you'll be able to cobble something together using your mad skillz! Check out this tutorial at PSDtuts here.