Paper Folds
This is a simple method to put some folds into
your paper or even photos. I am using Photoshop
CS3, but you can do this with PS Elements as
well. Be familiar with your gradient tool and
adding layers as this will help you out.
Using one of the papers from Funky Fall by
Dora’s Designs at ScrapStreet, I cut out a
rectangle to use for folds. I placed this on a
light background so you can see the folds and
shadows.
Select your gradient tool and click on the
gradient ‘swatch’ at the top of the screen to
create a new one (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Gradient Editor
Select a toning color for the start and end
stops (bottom line of the colour bar) based on
the paper colour. Add the shaders (my name for
them!) at the top of the colour bar by clicking
in position. Depending on how many folds and at
what positions, you will add different opacity
shaders along the length. For this example we
have three shaders making two folds from the top
of the paper.
I
set my "0" opacity shaders (white ones) at 33%
and 66% and the "100" opacity shaders (black
ones) at 35% and 68%. The small gap between
them allows for a more gradual blending. Give
your gradient a name and save if you wish (it
will default to be the current gradient anyway).
Select the linear gradient (left-most arrow in
Figure 2). Create a new layer above the paper
and make a clipping mask (use your layer menu or
Alt+Ctrl+G in Windows). From the middle of the
top of the paper, drag the mouse down the paper
to the bottom. This will fill the clipping mask
with the gradient.
Figure 2. Clipping Mask
Change the settings of the blend mode to
multiply and the opacity to the depth of fold
you are happy with. You can play about with
these settings to achieve different depths and
shadings especially with photos.
You might like to add some easy drop shadows to
give more realism to your paper or photo (Figure
3). Use your paper layer and add a drop shadow
and alter the settings to suit the effect you
want to achieve. Make sure you you uncheck the
global light and knock out layer shadow. You
want to increase the distance and size, but not
the spread. Use multiply as the blend mode and
decrease the opacity.
Figure 3. Drop Shadows
If you want to add a little lift to the paper,
then very simply add a layer beneath the paper
and call it shadow lift or something memorable.
(If you are clever with PS then you can use
masks.) Using a brush (round works best) and
choosing a similar shade to the gradient, change
your brush size to fit between the folds so a
small portion appears underneath the paper.
Using your marquee tool, select along the length
of the paper at one side (shadow layer) so that
your brush only affects this part. Position
your brush and pop the shadow under the paper
and extending a bit over the edges (Figure 4).
Repeat this for each fold.
Figure 4. Shadow Layer
Then change the blend mode and opacity and fill
to your desired effect. Repeat on the other
side. Remember there are no hard and fast rules
about this so experiment.
The end result is shown in Figure 5. This would
be fabulous to do journaling on as it looks like
a letter unfolded.
Figure 5.
