Andrew Buckle / graphicxtras

Spiral custom shapes and modifying them Created 100s of different designs of spirals for Photoshop (though they were created  in Illustrator in most cases as Photoshop is not the best app for vectors) but once you have the shapes, what can you do with them ??? You can use them as is, of course, and simply add them as a pixel fill or path or shape layer Check out the video below relating to modifying a spiral shape using the direct selection tool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRLSRVc4_kA So how can you edit them using the direct selection tool. Well the key is that you use it as a shape layer and modify the anchor points as well as the segments etc and you can move them back and forth to create all kinds of variations of designs which can then be all re-selected and used to define as a custom shape via the edit menu. You can then save that selection as a CSH file and use them in future projects. http://www.graphicxtras.com/spirals.htm On the spirals page you can find a lo

If you are using a mac then a really wonderful application to checkout (especially if you catch one of their special offers) is the " Amberlight " (from Escape Motions).  They have also a number of other tools that are equally as useful such as Flame Painter.  You can use the tool to create intense fire themed backgrounds as well as overlays as well as abstract art that can be quickly added as a pattern or used as a source for new brushes as well as just great images for your work.  You can find out more about the tool, as well as download a trial version, via  http://www.escapemotions.com/products/amberlight/index.php The above image was created in Amberlight and then has been manipulated in Adobe Photoshop CC by combining multiple layers from the Amberlight application and then adding an oil paint filter effect as well as a color lookup adjustment. All kinds of interesting variants can be created using those filters and others in Photoshop. All you have to do

Been going through a lot of my site and updating all the tutorials and adding links to a central location (though they will be split off shortly into different sections as well) http://www.graphicxtras.com/tutorials.htm The tutorials are on the subject of Photoshop, PSP, Illustrator, Creative Cloud, Fuse etc and always adding new ones, also mainly in sync with my videos on Youtube.com as well, http://www.youtube.com/graphicxtras