Photoshop Tutorial: How To Create a Cute Beautiful Owl from Scratch

In this tutorial, I will teach you how to create a beautiful image of a cute owl. I will show how to change the look of a regular image into something meaningful. We'll use Photoshop and some non-difficult steps to achieve our goal. Like in my other tutorials, we'll also use some tools.

* Polygonal Lasso Tool.
* Free Transform Tool.
* Dodge and Burn.
* Adjustments.

I hope you enjoy it, like I did.

End result:

Author:

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Practice tutorial

Tags:owlscratch

Step 1

Open a new document 950 X 950 px.

Resolution: 100

Fill the document with Black color (000000).

Do not change the name of layer, "Background".

Step 2

This image was provided by Pxleyes for a contest. You can download it, by clicking over the image with the right side of your mouse.

Save Image or Picture As....

Give the image a name.

Save it in a place where you can have access to it.

Step 3

Name this layer, "Branch".

Use the Eraser Tool (E). Start erasing the middle areas of the branches. I used a hard brush. 15 px size.

Step 4

This step is to show you, how the branches will look, after you have cleaned them.

Step 5

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L), to make a selection of the area marked in red.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V), the selection.

Name new layer, "Branch 2".

NOTE: Make two more copies of layer "Branch 2", name them, "Body 1" and"Wing 1". Keep them on a safe place, we'll use them later, when we work on the body and wings.

Step 6

It seems that we have to make some copies of the same layer. Well, do not hesitate, these steps are important.

Make other copy of layer, "Branch 2". (The warped form). Name new layer, "Branch 3". (Again), we'll use it later to make the ears.

For layer "Branch 2".

Filter - Liquify - Warp.

Use a Brush Size 200.

Brush Pressure: 50.

Try to get a shape, or form, as shown in image.

Step 7

Make a copy of layer, " Branch 2". Do not name new layer.

Edit - Transform - Flip Horizontal.

Merge new copy of layer "Branch 2 " down. Layer name remains, "Branch 2".

Try to get a shape like shown in image.

Step 8

If it is getting a little confusing. Just go back an check your steps, and the layers that you have saved to use later. We are entering to more confusing steps, but at the end, our result will be beautiful. You will be surprised with your accomplishment.

Make a copy of layer, "Branch 2". Do not name layer. We will use this layer a lot in this transformation. Our goal here, is to make a beautiful, circular form, and to achieve this, we'll use several layer, that is why, we will merge all layers used to make this form, down.

Step 9

This is a crucial step. Pay atention carefully to using the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T).

Overlap the two layers, with "Branch 2" and "Branch 2 copy" together, as if it was one.

Use Ctrl + T to open the Transform Tool.

Place the middle point, or Transformation point, where the red circle is.

Step 10

With the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T) active, and the transformation point moved down to the red circle, move the right, top handle just a little to the right, as shown in image.

Step 11

Press Enter, to deselect the Transform Tool.

Hold, Ctrl + Alt + Shift, at the same time, and HIT the T key several times to start the tansformation or rotation. This image, shows an action of hitting the T key 15 times. Do not worry about new layers, we'll merge them down when our form is finished.

You can see the red circle in the middle. It is where the rotation takes place.

Step 12

Here is our shape or form after 40 rotations and 40 new layers. Isn't it already beautiful?

Merge all of these new layers down, just link all layers, and go to Layer - Merge linked. It will merge all layers down to layer "Branch 2". Leave the name as it is, "Branch 2", we'll change the name later.

Step 13

THE EYES.

Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M), to make an oval selection, on a new layer. Name this layer, "Eye 1".

Use color # 704113 (Kind of Brown) for your foreground.
Use color # DCAC13 (Kind of Yellow) for your background.

Follow the directions given in image to make eye.

Step 14

Merge down the layers that you used to make layer, "Eye 1".

Make a copy of layer, "Eye 1", name new layer, "Eye 2".

Edit - Transform - Flip Horizontal.

Step 15

THE BODY.

Do you remember layer "Body 1", a copy we'll use to form the body, we talked about this layer, on step 5.. We'll use it in this step to start forming the body of the owl.

Open layer, "Body 1", and duplicate it 7 times. Overlap layers together as shown in image with a red arrow.

Merge all seven layers down to "Body 1". Do not name new layer, it will remain as it is,"Body 1".

Step 16

Make other copy of layer, "Body 1". Do not name layer.

Edit - Transform - Flip Horizontal.

Merge new layer down to layer, "Body 1", and name new layer, "Body".

Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T) to make the body longer, as shown in image.

Step 17

Use the Burn Tool (O), to burn layer, "Body" just a little.

Use a 100 px, soft brush, and an exposure of 60%.

Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M), to make an oval selection, as shown in image.

Select - Inverse (with selection active), press the BACKSPACE key to cut the oval for the body.

Step 18

Using the Marquee Tool (M), make other oval selection of the red area from layer, "Body", as shown in image.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V) selection. Name new layer, "Head".

Step 19

Layer "Head".

Put layer "Head", on top of layer, "Body". Merge the two layers down to form one single layer, name it, "Body".

Step 20

Now, and interesting move.

Bring back layer, "Branch 2", the one with the circular transformation, and place it on top of layer, "Body", we'll start forming the eyes.

To make the form smaller, use the Trasform Tool (Ctrl + T), pull a handle to the center of the object. You'll see the small form now.

I used Dodge and Burn Tools (O), to give some highlights, and a darker spot at the center of layer, "Branch 2". I used a soft brush, and an exposure of 50%.

Step 21

Make a copy of layer, "Branch 2", do not name new layer. We'll merge it later.

Place new layer, as shown in image.

Step 22

Place layers, "Eye 1" and "Eye 2", on top of layer, "Branch 2", and "Branch 2 copy".

Step 23

Merge down layers, "Branch 2", Branch 2 copy", "Eye 1", and "Eye 2", down to form a single layer, name it, "Eyes".

Our owl is looking beautiful already!

Step 24

The Ears.

To start forming the ears, we'll bring back layer, "Branch 3", (The warped copy from layer, "Branch 2".)

Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), Copy (Ctrl + C), and Paste (Ctrl + V), a rectangular selection of the red area. Name new layer, "Ear 1".

Duplicate layer "Ear 1", 5 times, make it kind of vertical, to get the shape of an ear. Use the Eraser Tool (E), to form the ear.

After the ear is formed, duplicate layer, "Ear 1", name new layer, "Ear 2".

Edit - Transform - Flip Horizontal.

Step 25

Place layers, "Ear 1", and "Ear 2", behind layer, "Body".

We'll work on the wings next.

Step 26

The Wings.

Open layer, "Wing 1".

If you do not have it, just get a new layer with the shape shown in Fig. 1. Name this layer, "Wing 1".

Duplicate layer, "Wing 1", 10 times, in a vertical form, to get a shape like Fig. 2.

Use the Eraser Tool (E), to start erasing areas that you do not need. Remember the form of a wing. Use the Burn Tool (O), as you did on step 17, to burn layer, "Body".

Step 27

Duplicate layer, "Wing 1", name new layer, "Wing 2".

Edit - Transform - Flip Horizontal.

Put the wings on top of layer "Body". Use a soft brush, 30 to 50 px, and opacity of 60%, to give a shadow underneath the wings, and eyes.

Step 28

The Beak.

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L), to make a selection of the red area. Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V) selection. Name new layer, "Beak".

You can use any area from source image to make the beak, I just liked this one, red area, but it is up tp you.

Use the Eraser Tool (E), to give the selection the shape of a beak.

Step 29

Place layer, "Beak", between layers "Eyes", as shown in image.

Step 30

The Feet.

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L), to make a selection of the red area from source image.

Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V), selection. Name new layer, "Foot 1".

Use a hard 5 px brush, and a dark color, to draw little lines over layer, "Foot 1".

Duplicate this layer, do not name new layer, leave it as it is.

Step 31

Merge the two layers together to form a single layer, name it, "Foot 1".

Make a copy of layer, "Foot 1", name new layer, "Foot 2".

Edit - Transform - Flip Horizontal.

Place them as shown in image.

Step 32

The Tail.

vUse the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L), make a selection of the bottom of layer, "Body". Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V) selection. Name new layer, "Tail".

Step 33

Select the thickest area from the branch, from source image, to build the branch.

Step 34

Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L), to make a selection of the red area. Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V) selection. Name new layer, "Branch". Place this layer, below layers, "Foot 1" and "Foot 2".

Step 35

Image - Adjustments - Brightness/Contrast.

Lower the brightness of the branch to -80.

WOW! our owl is finished! We'll work on a background, to put the image together.

Step 36

Add the source image to form the background. Make it fit inside the frame of your document. Twist it, of flip it horizontal, it is up to you. Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl + T), to do this.

Step 37

Lower the brightness of the branches on the background.

Image - Adjustments - Brightness/Contrast.

Brightness: -100.
Contrast: - 50.

Image - Adjustments - Curves.

Input: 70.
Output: 40

Step 38

Here we are at the end of the road. Our image is now completed. I hope you enjoyed working on this tutorial, and I also hope that you learned something new. I know how hard it is to work on Photoshop, but I think the results are beautiful.

I wish you the best of luck in your path through Art. Do not hesitate in asking questions, this is a way of learning. I am sure that we, tutorial writers, and members of Pxleyes, will help you. If you are not a member, join us, this is a community of Artists. You will be welcome.

Thank you for your patience.

22 Comments:

Alan2641 says:

Wonderfully detailed and well written as always -- good job

(3 years and 50 days ago)

George55 says:

Thank you Alan, your comments always welcome.

(3 years and 50 days ago)

hereisanoop says:

Fantastic author..... I think you are making 'me' an expert by giving such tutorials..

(3 years and 43 days ago)

George55 says:

Thanks Anoop. Will learn from yours too.......

(3 years and 43 days ago)

langstrum says:

The detail is superb as usual, and I think even the beginner can do exactly these steps and come up with similar result. I'm still wondering why you can make the perfect round shape with the last piece fitted to the first one, did you calculate the rotation angle before starting these steps?

(3 years and 43 days ago)

nishagandhi says:

i have always loved ur entries George!! very well written!!

(3 years and 42 days ago)

Lamantine says:

Great tutorial !

(3 years and 42 days ago)

nasirkhan says:

Detailed and wonderful tutorial as always Keep up good work friend.

(3 years and 42 days ago)

CorneliaMladenova says:

Ooooo, sweet little cutie! Thank you, George! Lovr the big yellow goggled eyes

(3 years and 42 days ago)

mqtrf says:

Buen tutorial! un resultado muy bueno y los pasos muy detallados

(3 years and 42 days ago)

George55 says:

Thank you all for your support... and good luck to you in life as well in your Art.

(3 years and 42 days ago)

[banned] says:

Easy to follow steps. Nice tutorial for all.
Anyone can follow the steps and create that.
Nice article. Thanks for sharing!!!

(3 years and 42 days ago)

[banned] says:

What a tut, absolutely great. Keep up the good work.

(3 years and 41 days ago)

erikuri says:

Fantastic, simply amazing!

(3 years and 41 days ago)

swordfish says:

great job ......... !

(3 years and 39 days ago)

[banned] says:

Great tutorial. Very inspiring. Very nice to learn. Awesome technique used. Very useful resources. Thanks for share this very creative tutorial.

(3 years and 39 days ago)

shankarsadamate229 says:

Very Nice George!

(3 years and 38 days ago)

Guest says:

Gorgious

(3 years and 34 days ago)

Guest says:

Another great, fun tut.
Thanks George

(3 years and 28 days ago)

[banned] says:

Wow! This is an amazing tutorial. I learned so many manipulation skills with this.

(2 years and 320 days ago)

Guest says:

Brilliant!! First time I have followed one of these tutorials and the end product actually looks right!!

(2 years and 300 days ago)

Guest says:

It's too complex to me.I got confused with layers and nothing came off the matter I wish somebody would help me with this.

(2 years and 234 days ago)

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