Moving Graphic: A Christmas Tree in the Snow

 Lately I have been resuming my practice of Photoshop, and have added Adobe Illustrator as well.  I have always had this bent towards artistic creations, and desire to exercise it much more that I have.

A few years back, I created a moving gif file of a Christmas tree in the snow.  I found the picture of an  outdoor Christmas tree and added animated falling snow to the picture.  It came out well.  Since that time I had forgotten how to add motion to a gif file.  This past week I have been studying and experimenting with Photoshop 2021 (I have an Adobe subscription and get the most up to date programs as soon as available).  Photoshop 2021 is more powerful than my older versions, but also different.  I took an online course to get myself back up to speed.

Anyway, I used the same picture of a Christmas tree that I used eight years ago, and added falling snow as a learning, or re-learning exercise.  Here it is, enjoy. (Click on the picture to see a larger version.)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Jesus Christ

Trees with lights

Sprigs of Holly

Santa Jolly

Candy Canes

Frosted Panes

Pumpkin Pie

Snow filled Sky

Turkey Dressing

A Pastor's Blessing

Baked Hams

Yellow Yams

Swirling Snow

A Fireplace Glow

--AND-- (the non-rhyming part)

Christmas Wreaths
Pine Cones

Colorfully Wrapped Presents with Ribbons

Great old Christmas Movies on TV

Egg Nog and Rum

Garish Winter Sweaters

Christmas Cards

Family and Friends

Naps by the Fire

Whatever Christmas means to you, here's hoping you will make new and pleasant memories of this day.

Christmas Tree in the Woods with Animated Snow #photoshop

I published this Photoshop last year, on Christmas Eve, 2013.  That didn't give anyone time to copy and post it elsewhere.  However, now that we are almost one year after its initial appearance, it has become my number one visited page.

Here it is again.  Merry Christmas y'all!  Feel free to repost on your website or blog.

For full enjoyment, start the YouTube video below and listen to "O Come All Ye Faithful" while watching the falling snow.

Photoshop For Today: A Christmas Candle By The Window

The only things real in this image are the pine boughs and the doiley beneath them.  Everything else is Photoshop.

Use it if you like it.

A Stogie Christmas Stocking (Can I Make One For You?)

Yesterday I created this Christmas tree graphic (see previous post). The nice thing with Photoshop is that you can easily substitute backgrounds. I thought it might be fun to create special Christmas stockings for bloggers and friends. Mine is on top (note the extra large sock). I created one for Robert Stacy McCain below, using his familiar blog theme of "hit the freakin' tip jar!" If any bloggers out there want one, email me or leave a comment on the message you want on your Christmas stocking.

Christmas Scene: Christmas Tree and Fireplace (Photoshop)

I must be bored.  I Photoshop a lot when I'm bored.

Here's another Christmas scene, of a closeup of a decorated Christmas tree, with fireplace and sleeping cat in the background.  Use freely anyway you like.

To make the tree, I collected various photos of pine tree branches off the web, used the background eraser tool to create a transparent image, then bunched the branches together to make the tree.

I created the round glass decorations from Photoshop, tried to put a reflection into the ornaments with a bit of shine.  I also created the silvery tinsel icicles using Photoshop; the effect is so-so.  (UPDATE:  I improved the realism of the icicles using filters to "crinkle" them - now they more closely resemble the tinfoil ones you buy in stores.)  Trees without a bit of tinsel always seemed somewhat bare to me.

Then I hung a couple of candy canes and an angel (all from the web) onto the branches, and added some lights (also from the web).  I put a little background glow behind the lights.

Finally, a fireplace and a sleeping cat to finish it off.

I do Photoshops for the fun of it, but also to continually learn new techniques.  And now I am somewhat less bored than when I started.

Christmas Scene (Photoshop): Candle, Table & Dog

I like doing Photoshops of holiday scenes.  Here's a Christmas candle, decorated with pine branches, in front of a window looking out on a snowy evening.  Pooch is sleeping beneath the table.

All images were unrelated and taken off the web, then combined to create the scene.  The candle was created in Photoshop, as was the snow.

Use it freely anyway you like.

Click on pic to see it full size.

Photo: Dog In A Manger

This is one of those "Awwww" photos that people are always emailing to you with unverifiable stories about them.  I usually discard such emails with extreme prejudice; however, I love dogs and I love traditional Christmas scenes.  So whether the accompanying tale is true or not, I don't know (Snopes is silent on it).

The apocryphal tale is that the pooch was an abandoned dog who sought a warm place to sleep for the night, so crawled into this manger scene and cuddled up with the baby Jesus figure.  Someone later found a home for the dog.  Anyone who would abandon a dog of such beauty is a Grinch for sure.