Butterfly Ribbon

Create a new file (File > New or Ctrl + N) with dimension 500 x 500 pixels and resolution 72 dpi

::Usually 72 dpi or 96 dpi and RGB mode are used to create Web Graphic, 300 dpi and CMYK mode for Print Graphic::

Prepare an elliptical path by choosing the ellipse tool at the tool pallete. Make sure path is selected

::If the Ellipse Tool is not shown, click + hold on the Ellipse Tool position icon until it shows another row of tools::

Click + drag the elliptical path on the canvas

::Make sure we save the path if we want to keep it for future use. To save the path,choose window > paths and double click on the path shown. It will be better to give meaningful name to the saved path::

Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N or Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N) called "wings"

::By making image on different layer, we will be given freedom to manipulate the layer such as move, rotate, scale, apply effect, apply filter, etc::

a. Show Actions Pallete by clicking ( Window > Actions or Alt + F9 )

b. Create a New Set by clicking the third icon from the right (Folder Icon).A new window will pop up. Enter a name for our new set

c. Create a New Action by clicking the second icon from the right (New Action icon). Another window will be popped up

• Name : to give the new action a name
• Set : where we want to store the new action
• Function Key : to specify a short cut key ("I use Shift+F4")

d. Action recording will start automatically

a. There are 2 things that we want Action to record

1. Brush : Make Paths Pallete visible ( Window > Paths ). Select the path we want to use as the brush line. Click the black triangle on the top right hand corner of Paths Pallete to show some more Paths commands, and choose Stroke Path ..., then choose Brush from the dropdown menu
2. Tranformation : Choose Edit > Free Transform or Ctrl + T to activate Tranformation handle. Move the registration point by pressing Alt + Click + Drag to the left hand side of Transformation handle. Rather than rotating manually, we will use the Option Pallete to use numeric input. In this case, we use 100.1% for both width and height and 1 degree for rotation input

b. Stop recording by pressing the record button (The second icon from the left) at Actions Pallete

c. Press"Shift + F4" repeatedly until we get an expected shape

a. Duplicate the "wings" layer by pressing Ctrl + Jto create another 3 wings (4 in total). Use transformation tool ( Ctrl + T or Edit + Free tranform ) to rearrange the shape as shown ( Limit ourselves on flipping vertically, horizontally and rotation 45 degrees )

b. Prepare gradient color by selecting Gradient Tool ( If it is not shown, click and hold on the paint bucket tool, as it will show up another row of tool). On the Option Pallete, click the black triangle next to gradient colour chooser, and select Blue, Red and Yellow gradient colour. Choose the first icon from the left for Linear Gradient direction

a. Create a new layer above every single layer ( New layer will be the top layer). Click + Drag from top to the bottom of the canvas. It will fill the whole canvas with gradient colour from Blue, Yellow to Red. Don't worry, it is normal

b. The next thing to do is merge "wings" layer by selecting all of them ( by Ctrl + Click on the layer - try to click on the right part, beyond the name of the layer ). Click the black triangle on the right top corner of the Layer Pallete, and choose Merge Layer or Ctrl + E. The 4 "wings" layer will be combined to be one

c. The last step is put the cursor in between Gradient layer & Combined Wings Layer. Press Alt + Click and voila, our Butterfly Ribbon is done