Design a Cool Old Book with Photoshop

by: John Conanan

Preview
Here is a preview of what your completed old book should look like.

Steps 1 through 5

Step 1:

Let's start out by creating a new file. I used a 500x600 pixels canvas set at 72dpi, and I filled my background with a white color. Now create a new layer set and name it Old Book. In a new layer draw a large rectangle with 270x402 px dimensions and #D2C3B3 color shade.

Step 2:

Under Layer Style(Layer > Layer Style) add a Drop Shadow, Inner Glow and Pattern Overlay blending options to the rectangle layer with #D2C3B3 color shade.

Step 3:

Now duplicate the first rectangle and place it next to the original.

Step 4:

Create a new layer, on the middle of your current book design add a black rectangle with 28x402 px dimensions.

Step 5:

Under Layer Style(Layer > Layer Style) add a Drop Shadow, Gradient Overlay and Stroke blending options to the black rectangle layer. Then on the layers palette set the blending mode to Lighten.

Steps 6 through 10

Step 6:

Select your Horizontal Type Tool and above your screen under the options palette set the font family to Baskerville Old Face, regular, 11 pt, crisp and #6B5033 color shade. In a new text layer type the text you want to be written on the page.

Step 7:

Add more text on the second page of the current book design.

Step 8:

Highlight your 'Old Book' layer set on the layers palette and go to Edit > Merge Layer Set. This should turn your 'Old Book' layer set into a regular layer with your current book design. Now create a new layer set and name it 'Final Book'. Place the current book design layer inside the new layer set.

Now apply some perspective to the book design by going to Edit > Transform > Perspective. When the distort points appear on your book design, drag the bottom points to the left to make the same perspective from the picture below.

Step 9:

Under Layer Style(Layer > Layer Style) add a Gradient Overlay and Pattern Overlay blending options to your current book design layer.

Step 10:

Now add some torn pages design showing on the bottom of the book. First add a marquee selection around the bottom edge of the book, see the picture below for the proper location.

Steps 11 through 15

Step 11:

While the marquee selection is on your screen go to Edit > Copy. Then go back to Edit > Paste. This should add a new layer on your layers palette with the bottom part of the old book design.

Step 12:

On your tools palette set the foreground and background color to black then go to Filter > Distort > Glass and add the settings below. For the torn pages design to show correct set the layers blending mode to Lighten on the layers palette.

Step 13:

Duplicate the 'Final Book' layer set and merge it down like you did in step eight. With the copy of the current book design layer add a filter effect, go to Filter > Distort > Ripple.

Step 14:

Now move the layer of your second book design with the ripple effect under the original. Then apply some perspective so the left and right edge is showing some details.

Step 15:

Add little cut-outs on top of your book, same method from step 10 and so on just keep the cut-outs shorter.

Steps 16 through 20

Step 16:

Choose the Polygon Tool and set the sides to 4 and check anti-aliased. Under Polygon Options check smooth corners and uncheck star. Now in a new layer draw a polygon with #875F34 color shade on the top center of the book.

Step 17:

Place the polygon layer under all the layers in the 'Final Book' layer set. Position the shape so its only some of the shape. Now under Layer Style(Layer > Layer Style) add a Stroke and Satin blending options to the brown polygon layer.

Step 18:

Now duplicate your 'Button' layer set twice and position them as shown below.

Step 19:

Make a new selection at the bottom of the old book and paste it into your canvas. Same method from step ten and eleven. Now grab the bucket tool and fill some spot on the layer design with #D6BDA4 color shade.

Step 20:

Under Layer Style(Layer > Layer Style) add an Inner Shadow blending option to your layer design from step nineteen.

The final result
And here it is your very own Old Book. View Full Version