December 25, 2016

Crescent Moon Photo Collage in Photoshop

In this Photoshop tutorial, you will learn how to create a crescent moon photo collage in Photoshop.

We'll be using the Custom Shape tool that comes with Photoshop.

Once you have arranged it to your satisfaction, you can play around with other Photoshop's tools to add your own artistic effects. 

Let's get started!
Crescent Moon Photoshop Collage Shapes (Free Template)
Final result.

Download This Template

Download Crescent Moon Photoshop Collage template here or find others free Photoshop Collage Templates here.



Video: Crescent Moon Photo Collage in Photoshop.

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1. Create a new Document
Choose File> New (or Ctrl+N).

In the pop-up window, type a name in the Name field and enter the following information:

Width 3000 pixels, Height 2000 pixels, Resolution 300 Pixels/Inch, Color Mode RGB color, and Background contents White.

Click OK.

2. Choose Custom Shape Tool
Select the Custom Shape Tool from the Tools panel, or else just press U.

Press Shift+U to cycle through the six available shape tools until the one you want is active. 

In the Options Bar, make sure Shape is chosen from the menu then choose shape color.

To choose the color of the shape, click the color swatch in the options bar, and then choose a color available.

You can also choose a color from the Color Picker.

Lastly, enter a value for the stroke size and select the crescent moon shape from the Custom Shape pop-up panel.

If you do not find the crescent moon shape in the panel, click the arrow in the upper-right corner, and choose “All”. 

When asked to replace current shapes, click OK to replace current shapes with the shapes form “All”.
the Custom Shape Tool.
The Custom Shape Tool.

Click the color swatch in the options bar, and then choose a color available.
Click the color swatch in the options bar, and then choose a color available.

You can also choose a color from the Color Picker.
You can also choose a color from the Color Picker.

Select the Crescent Moon shape from the Custom Shape pop-up panel.
Select the Crescent Moon shape from the Custom Shape pop-up panel.

If you do not find the Crescent Moon in the panel, click the arrow in the upper-right corner, and choose “All”.
If you do not find the Crescent Moon in the panel, click the arrow in the upper-right corner, and choose “All”.

Click OK to replace current shapes with the shapes form “All”.
Click OK to replace current shapes with the shapes form “All”.

3. Draw a Crescent Moon Shape
To draw a Crescent Moon Shape, click inside your document and drag away from the starting point.

When you release your mouse button, Photoshop completes the Crescent Moon shape and fills it with your chosen color.
Draw a crescent moon shape.
Draw a crescent moon shape.

4. Select the Rectangle Tool
Select the Rectangle Tool from the Tools panel, or else just press U.

Press Shift+U to cycle through the six available shape tools until the one you want is active.

In the Options Bar, make sure Shape is chosen from the menu then choose shape color.

To choose the color of the shape, click the color swatch in the options bar, and then choose a color available.

You can also choose a color from the Color Picker.

Lastly, fill the stroke size.
the rectangle tool.
The rectangle tool.

Option bar for the rectangle tool.
Option bar for the rectangle tool.

5. Draw a Rectangle Shape
To draw a rectangle shape, click inside your document and drag away from the starting point.

When you release your mouse button, Photoshop completes the rectangle shape and fills it with your chosen color.
Draw a rectangle shape in the document.
Draw a rectangle shape in the document.

6. Add Drop Shadow
Choose Layer> Layer Style> Drop Shadow.

The Layer Style dialog box appears with the Drop Shadow option checked.

Set your desired angle, distance, and size. Click OK.
Add a drop shadow layer style.
Add a drop shadow layer style.

7. Adjust Shape Size And Position Using Free Transform
Select the shape layer on the Layers Panel then resize and reposition it using Edit> Free Transform Path.

Now, you can edit and reposition the rectangle shape as follows:
  • Resize the rectangle shape by dragging any corner while holding down the Shift key to keep the shape does not distort.
  • Move the rectangle shape by clicking and hold anywhere inside the shape and drag.
  • Rotate the rectangle shape by moving your cursor farther out from any corner until you see two arrows. Click and hold, then drag the shape.
  • Press Enter key when you are done.
Resizing and reposition rectangle shape using the Free Transform.
Resizing and reposition rectangle shape using the Free Transform.

8. Duplicate Shape
Duplicate the shape layer we previously created by choosing Layer> Duplicate Layer, or by pressing Ctrl + J.

Then reposition it using Edit> Free Transform Path
Duplicate the layer and then adjust the size and position using Free Transform Path.
Duplicate the layer and then adjust the size and position using Free Transform Path.

Duplicate shape as much as you want.
Duplicate shape as much as you want.

9. Hide or Delete The Crescent Shape
You can delete the crescent moon shape or simply turn off its visibility option by clicking the eye icon on the left.
Hide the crescent shape.
Hide the crescent shape.

10. Save File As Template
Choose File>Save (or Ctrl+S) to save your project file as a template for later use.

Navigate to the folder where you want to store your template file.

Type a name in the File Name text box and leave the default Photoshop (*.PSD;*.PDD) format.

Click Save to store the project file.

Save this template file so that someday you can use it again.

11. Insert Image
For this Photoshop Collage tutorial, I'll use images that I downloaded from Pixabay.

Select the layer to which you want to insert an image.

Go to File> Place to open the picture you'd like to insert.

Click on the picture, then click OK.

You can now edit and move the picture as follows:
  • Resize the picture by dragging any corner while holding down the Shift key to keep the picture does not distort.
  • Move the picture by clicking and hold anywhere inside the image and drag.
  • Rotate the picture by moving your cursor farther out from any corner until you see two arrows. Click and hold, then drag the picture.
  • Press Enter key when you are done.


Insert image.
Insert image.

12. Create a Clipping Mask
On the Layers panel, make sure the layers to be clipped are listed consecutively.

Remember, you must stack the image layer above the Rectangle layer.

Click the image layer to be clipped, then choose Layer>Create Clipping Mask (or Alt+Ctrl+G).

When layers are put into a clipping mask, the content of the bottommost layer (the Rectangle layer), clips the layers above it (the image layer).
the content of the Rectangle layer, clips the image layer.
The content of the Rectangle layer, clips the image layer.

13. Insert Other Images
Repeat steps 11 through 12 to open and manipulate each image you'd like to insert.
Insert all the images.
Insert all the images.

14. Add Pattern To The Background
If you'd like a background with a pattern, select the Background layer on the Layers panel and then choose Edit>Fill.

Choose your pattern from the Use drop-down menu and then click OK.
add a pattern for the background.
Add a pattern for the background.

15. Group All the Rectangle Layer
While holding down the Shift key, click all the rectangle and images layer, then choose Layer>Group Layer.
Group layer.
Group layer.

16. Add Text
Select the Horizontal Type tool from the Tools panel, or press T to select the type tool.

Press Shift+T to cycle through the four available type tools until the one you want is active.

Your cursor will look like an I-beam, similar to the one you see in a word processing program.

Select type Options, such as font, style, size, and color, in the tool Options bar.

Click on the part of your image where you want to add text in Photoshop.

Enter your text.

To start a new paragraph, press Enter.

When finished, click the Commit button on the Options bar or you can just press Ctrl+Enter.

Photoshop creates a new type layer.

You can add a drop shadow layer style to your text by choosing Layer>Layer Style>Drop shadow.
the Horizontal Type tool.
The Horizontal Type tool.

Add text.
Add text.

17. Save Your Document
Choose File>Save or else just press Ctrl+S to save your project file.

The Save As dialog box appears.

Navigate to the folder where you want to store your project file.

Type a name in the File Name text box and leave the default Photoshop (*.PSD;*.PDD) format.

Click Save to store the project file.

Once you have finished, you will probably also want to use File>Save As (Shift+Ctrl+S) to export the image in a more widely used format, such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.

Here is the result:
Crescent Moon Photoshop Collage.

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