Tutorials / Icons and Buttons , August 10th, 2011
Learn how to create a heart in Photoshop using custom shapes and layer styles from this easy to follow Photoshop tutorial. I will use the default Photoshop heart shape found in CS4, but you can use any other shape. By simply moving the heart I will create a simple 3d heart effect; the same technique can be applied to create other 3d shapes in Photoshop.
Being a vector heart, I can easily change the shape and color of the heart. A vector shape can also be resized without loosing its quality. If you decide to resize the heart don't forget to scale the effects of the layer style otherwise it will look weird. The PSD file is made with Photoshop CS4 and can be downloaded for free by all our registered users.
Simply use the default heart custom shape to draw a heart and choose a brite beautiful red color #f31f1f. Call this layer Heart 1 as it will be our base layer. Now open the Layer Style Window and add Inner Glow and Gradient Overlay:
Duplicate the Heart 1 layer and call it Heart 2. Reduce the Fill of the Heart 2 layer to 0%. Add Gradient Overlay using color #ffadad. Make sure you have the Reverse option checked. The gradient is similar with the one use before, with opacity differences with small location changes. See the image of the Gradient Editor below:
Duplicate the Heart 1 layer and place it below, call it Heart 02 layer. Move it to the right and up just like in the image. You can even change its shape a little by resizing it vertical/horizontal. Now add Gradient Overlay ... here comes the complicated part because my gradient is very complicated with lots of colors. You'd better download the PSD file to see the exact colors/locations.
I have decided to add an extra touch to my 3D heart shape, more precisely to add a stars outline. For that create a new layer called Stars above all the others. Set the foreground color White. Pick a simple star brush, size 20 px. Open the Brushes Panel and make the following settings:
This file is free for personal, non-commercial use only and can not be redistributed or sold without our written permission. If you have any questions you can contact us.
4 comment(s) for "Make a Heart in Photoshop"
How did you manage to get you ellispe at an angle like that? I cannot seem to do that, and using the transform tool to change the angle doesn't work either cos that changes the angle of the whole heart...
*confused* :( reply
You are right about this issue. You have to rotate the Ellipse using the Transform Tool. Use the Path Selection Tool to select only the Ellipse Shape.
You will also have to modify the Anchor Point of the Ellipse Tool, moving it using the Convert Point Tool to select the Anchor Point.
I will have to write a tutorial on how to work with Vector Shapes and Vector Tools.
I personally know my way around photoshop fairly well and I was still lost, confused, and very bewildered by this tutorial! The images while wonderful, distract from the rest of the text giving us hex codes for colors and other instruction. There is no instruction on how to create a diagonal ellipse, or how to create that custom gradient (thankfully I had experience on that last one or I'd have stopped long ago).
Good idea and a really fun end result, but very confusing execution on the instructions. reply
I understand that this tutorial isn't so well explained from your point of view. I have really tried to explain all the steps ... with preview images for the brush settings, for the gradients used and so on.
It is true that I have missed the diagonal ellipse but I have added all the instructions in the first comment reply.
As for the custom gradient simply you have to click on the area you want to add the color point. The gradient is defined by Color, Opacity and Location and you have to set them like in the image.
I hope that the PSD file was helpful!
reply