Step 1: Creating a canvas

My favourite canvas size when creating vector is 500 x 500 because it is large enough to have details but small enough to fit on the screen and to notkillyour processor and steal your RAM.

Step 2: Creating a base

Grab the Custom Shapes tool (U) and draw you heart shape, make sure to leave space on the sides for an arrow, making sure the foreground color is a red a bit darker than the final product.

Step 3: Add some highlights

Duplicate the heart layer and make it a bit smaller, center it and change the color to white.



Create a layer mask and grab the Graident Fill tool. Create the gradient seen in the layer mask on the Layers Pallete.

Step 4: Little Details

Duplicate the new layer twice and set the original highlight layer to 50% opacity. For the two new layers use the Gradient Tool (on radial) to create little highlights on each bump of the heart (keep the gradient length shorter rather than longer.) Keep these layers on 100%.



Now we want to add some shadows. Duplicate the highlight layer (any of the 3) and change the color to black, set the layer mode to overlay and then change the gradient in the mask to feature the point of the heart as shown.



Some blending options (these should be applied to the base red heart layer.)

Step 5: The arrow

Choose from the custom shapes menu your favorite arrow, rotate it to be on a 45 degree angle like below and add a layer mask so that it resembles the mask below. (I first masked the part of the arrow that was covering the base layer,then just de-masked the bit which should extend out the front.)


Some more blending options (obviously applied to the arrow,)



Finally just create a new eclipse with a layer mask. Apply a Linear gradient so that the eclipse blends away and set to overlay.)




Now it's just to add a message like:

Happy Valentines Day!

or

I Love You!

The final result being:

This tutorial has been written by Ludwig Wendzich (alias.infnit/InFnit) for 13dots.com and is copyrighted by 13dots.com 2006. You are not allowed to copy or redistribute all or any part of this tutoial without permission. You are allowed to link to it.