Easy tutorial: Sticky note

Step 1

Create a new document: 300x300 pixels.

Step 2

Create a new layer and call it 'sticky note'.
Select the Pen Tool (P) and start defining some control points in order to shape them as a sticky note.


You can follow these images as an example:

Step 3

Duplicate the 'sticky note' layer, name it 'shadow' and drag it bellow the 'sticky note' layer.

Step 4

Go to blending options of the 'sticky note' layer (should be on the very top) and use these values:


; Gradient Overlay

• Opacity: 100%
• Gradient: from #f4db42 in location 0% to #ffec69 in location 100%;
• Style: Linear (Align with Layer - checked)
• Angle: 72º
• Scale: 100%

Step 5

Go back to your 'shadow' layer. Apply a dark color on it (black is fine) by double-clicking the color thumbnail and picking the color you want.

Step 6

Nudge it to the left and to the bottom by 6 (to 8) pixels each.

Step 7

Change the opacity of this layer ('shadow') to approximately 50%.

Step 8

Press Ctrl+T or go to menu Edit > Free Transform to transform this layer.

Step 9

You'll now see 8 control points. Hold down Ctrl and click and drag the top-left control point right under the sticky note margin.


Use the images bellow as reference.

Extra step 9

Extra: if you prefer to add blur effect to the 'shadow' (will result in a soft shadow). To do this go to menu: Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set it to 3,5 pixels.

Step 10

To give it a more realistic look I went over to flickr.com and searched within the Creative Commons licenses for 'wood texture' and found this one by alexeya.
I downloaded this image and applied it as a background to the existing image.

Step 11

To complete the overall look I added some handwriting text. Enjoy!

Give it a sleek shiny look:

Shiny: Step 1

Ctrl+Click on the 'sticky note' layer. This will create a selection with the note shape.

Shiny: Step 2

Create a new layer on top of that one and name it 'shiny'.

Shiny: Step 3

Right click on the Marquee tool and select Elliptical Marquee Tool.

Shiny: Step 4

Make sure the option 'Subtract from selection' selected.

Shiny: Step 5

Click and drag your mouse until you get a nice subtraction of the existing selection to make the shiny effect.

Shiny: Step 6

Select the Gradient Tool (G) and set your foreground color to white (#FFFFFF).
Go to the Gradient dropdown selection and click the second one: Foreground to Transparent.
Now, click and drag your mouse through the selection as you see below:

This is the result