Crumpled paper effect - part 1

Step 1: Getting started.

Create a new file, a bit larger than you want your finished paper to be, size doesn't matter. Make the background of your file white.

Next you will have to create a new layer.

For those new to Photoshop to create a new layer go to file, click until the drop down box appears, then select new. The new layer will then be shown on screen, as this point it might be an idea to give it the title of step one and change the background contents to white. Although a quicker way to create a new layer is to click Ctrl-Alt-SHIFT-N.

Step 2: Setting up your gradient options

For those new to Photoshop you will find the gradient tool in the second set of tools and it is the third tool down on the right hand side (to some it will look like a bucket – if so right click on your mouse and the option for gradient tool will appear) Now click on gradient tool.

On the bar at the top you will see MODE click on this until the drop down box appears and change the MODE to DIFFERENCE – This is very important.

From the Gradient tool's Shape Options which are located in the section to the left of the mode box, choose diamond or reflected or both, I prefer to use the diamond.

Choose black and white for your Foreground/Background colours. The quickest way to do this is to type the letter ‘D’ and Photoshop will then set them for your Defaults!

Now drag your gradient across your canvas over and over, going in different directions each time, starting from different points and creating different size shapes.

Your canvas will appear to get a little crazy but very cool. The more wild it appears, the more crumpled your paper will be in the end.

This is the result of probably around 40 strokes with the Diamond Gradient.

Step 3: Folding the paper

Select FILTER then from the drop down menu select STYLIZE and from the pop out menu select EMBOSS. Choose the angle for where your light will be coming from. I chose these settings but you choose the settings which best reflects the depth of the creases you wish to create.

Step 4: Adjust levels control

There are two ways to do this you can either go to IMAGE then from the drop down menu select ADJUSTMENTS and from the side pop out menu select LEVELS

Or simply select Ctrl & L and the levels box will appear.

Now you need to change the input levels until you achieve a colour best suited to your project once you have the desired result click ok.

If you want to change the colours you do this by selecting IMAGE then from the pop out menu select ADJUSTMENTS and from the side pop out menu select HUE/SATURATION (make sure that the colourize box is ticked.

Step 5: Cutting out the paper

Now we'll cut out the paper. You're going to be making a selection of the part of the paper you're going to keep, in order to get rid of the borders. However if you want the borders, then you're done!

For the selection of the paper you want to keep, you will want to have a somewhat irregular border, but not too strange and make sure that you include the bits with the darker shadows. The best way to achieve this is to use either the Lasso tool or the Polygon lasso tool.

After you have made your selection click the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers palette (this is the icon next to the f) . This will add a Layer Mask leaving the selected part visible and the unselected part hidden.