Today we will use the pen tool, some basic shape transformations, and color blending to create a fresh-looking shampoo bottle within the context of an advertisement. Let’s get started!

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.

• Orange
• Orange Inside

Step 1

Let’s start by creating a new file with a dimension of 700×1000 px and a resolution of 300 ppi.

Step 2

Next, using the Gradient tool (G) set to Radial Gradient, apply the color numbers indicated below.

Step 3

Next, using the Pen tool (P) create two main shapes on two separate layers: (1) Main body of the shampoo bottle then name this layer as “Main” and (2) The cap of the shampoo bottle and name this layer “Cap”, just like as shown below.

Step 4

Next step is to add the color and shadings for the two main shapes we made. First we should activate the marquee selection or “running ants” around each shape. This will help us to limit the brush tool from coloring any parts of our work that we don’t need to color.

Next, using the Brush tool (B) set to a Size of ~90px and Hardness of 0%, color the shapes we made using the color numbers indicated below. The color numbers are arrange in that manner because we want to make the illusion that as if the cap is cylindrical in shape.

Step 5

Using the same brush settings we used for the cap, color the bottle just like as shown below. Adding darker colors on both sides of the bottle makes an illusion that the shape curves away from you giving a final effect of a rounded bottle.

The final effect, for both the cap and the main bottle, should look like as shown below.

Step 6

After adding the base shading for the bottle, we’ll add another layer of shading but this time we’re going to be using a darker shade of grey with a color number of a2a2a2. For this step, we’ll include the top and the bottom part of the main bottle. The shading at the top part of the bottle should be a little less dark in comparison to the lower parts of the bottle.

Step 7

Next step is to add the green strip that’ll flow across the bottle. First, add a new layer and name it as “Greenstrip” then using the Pen tool (P) create a shape just like as shown below. Make sure it is smooth and curves down elegantly to emphasize the contour of the bottle. Once you have defined the shape, press right-click and select Make Selection from the dropdown menu.

Step 8

Next using the Paint Bucket tool (G) fill the entire selection with color #aff012. Then using the Brush tool (B) set to medium hardness, apply color #628903 on both sides of the bottle just like as shown below.

Step 9

Next step is to add additional details for our bottle, in this case a cross-sectional view of an orange. To start, using the Magic Wand tool (W), select the areas we don’t need, just like as shown in Fig. 1. Next, after you defined the selection, click Refine Edge. On the Refine Edge window, select Smart Radius then follow the outline of the orange, just like as shown in Fig. 2. The finish product is shown below. In addition, duplicate this layer then hide the duplicate for the mean time. We did this because we’ll use the duplicated orange layer later for additional effects we want to achieve.

Step 10

Next, resize the “Orange” layer by pressing Command/Ctrl + T, Fig. 1. Next, using the Rectangular Marquee tool (M), select about half of the orange then press right-click then select Free Transform from the dropdown menu, Fig. 2. Resize the selected area just like as shown in Fig. 3. Do the same process, but now only selecting at least 1/4 of the orange, Fig. 4. The Final effect should look like Fig. 5. Position the modified orange image on the lower left portion of the bottle. Next, by Command/Ctrl + Clicking the thumbnail of the “Greenstrip” layer, it’ll activate the selection marquee around the outline of the object. Next, press Command/Ctrl + Shift + I to inverse the selection then hit delete. The final effect should look like Fig. 6. Finally, duplicate this layer and resize it, just like what is shown in Fig. 7

Step 11

Like what we did in the previous steps, press Command/Ctrl + Click the thumbnail of the “Greenstrip” layer to activate the selection marquee around the entire outline of the object. Next, using a soft-medium sized brush with color number close to #000000, apply a subtle amount of shading in the corner area where we placed the oranges just like as shown below.

Step 12

Next is to add the “sealed” portion of the bottle. For this procedure, we’ll start first by placing the base color. To do this, press Command/Ctrl + Click the “Main” layer’s thumbnail to activate the selection marquee around that object. Next, by using the Rectangular Marquee tool (M) set to Intersect with Selection, make a rectangular shape just like as shown in Fig. 1. Once you released your click with the left mouse button, it’ll automatically intersect the two main shapes you made leaving only the middle/intersected parts, Fig. 1. Next, using the Paint Bucket tool (G), fill the entire selection with color #dddddd, Fig. 2. The final effect should look like Fig. 3.

Step 13

Next is to add the recessed area for the cap. To do this, using the Rounded Rectangle tool (U) set to a radius of 0.15 inches, make an oblong shape just like as shown in Fig. 1. Next, using the Paint Bucket tool (G), fill the entire selection with color #a34100 then decrease its Fill opacity to ~82%. Next, follow the Layer settings indicated below. Press Command/Ctrl + T to resize it just like as shown below.

Step 14

Next, using the Pen tool (P) make a line like as shown in Fig. 1, then go to the Brush tool (B) then change its settings with the values indicated in Fig. 2-2, then return to the Pen tool (P), press right-click then select Stroke Path from the dropdown menu, Fig. 2-1. Select the Brush as the tool for making the stroke. The final effect should look like Fig. 3.

Step 14

Next, like what we did in Step 14, make a line using the Pen tool (P). Next, go to the Brush tool (B) then change the brush settings with the ones indicated below. Select again the Pen tool (P) then press right-click then select Stroke Path from the dropdown menu. Select the Brush as the tool for making the stroke.

Step 15

Next, go to the Brush tool (B) then use the Brush Settings indicated below. Then, using the Pen tool (P), define a line like as shown below. Lastly, press right-click then select Stroke Path from the dropdown menu. Select the Brush as the tool for making the stroke.

Step 16

Next is to add the shiny and reflective effect for the bottle. To do this, using the Pen tool (P), make a shape just like as shown in Fig. 1. Next, press right-click then select Make Selection from the dropdown menu. Next, using the Paint Bucket tool (G), fill the entire selection with color #ffffff, Fig. 2. Finally, decrease the layer’s Opacity level to 12%, Fig. 3.

Step 17

Next using the Pen tool (P), make a line just like as shown in Fig. 1. Next, go to the Brush tool (B) then change the brush settings with the values indicated in Fig. 2 and with a color number of ffffff. Finally decrease the layer’s Opacity level to ~20%, Fig. 3.

Step 18

Next is to add the brand. Using the Type tool (T), set to a font family of Myriad Pro and font style of Bold, type the name of the brand that you like, in this case Sonsilk, Fig. 1. Next go the Character settings tab then change the Tracking value to -80. This will, in effect, decrease the distance of each letter within the word, Fig. 2. Next, right-click the layer of "Sonsilk" then select Rasterize type from the drop down menu. With this, the Sonsilk layer can know be directly edited. I decided to add a little more style with the brand, so I used the Rectangular Marquee tool (M) to delete the upper and lower end points of the letter "S", Fig. 3. Then, using again the Rectangular Marquee tool (M) make a rectangular shape that’ll serve as the new extensions of both the end points we just deleted, Fig. 4. The final effect should like Fig. 5. As you can see I also change the dot for the letter "I" and turn it into a wavy shape.

Step 19

Next, using the the Pen tool (P) make a rectangular shape that slightly slants on the right side just to follow the main shape of the bottle. Then, press right-click then select Make Selection from the dropdown menu. Using the Brush tool (B), set to a soft-medium sized brush, color the selection using the color numbers indicated below.

Step 20

Next step is to add the tiny ridges for the "sealed area" we did earlier. To do this, first make a line using the Pen tool (P). Next, press right-click then select Stroke Path from the dropdown menu. Select the Brush as the tool for making the stroke. Do this process for making a black line (#000000) and a white line (#fffffff) following the brush settings prior to using the Pen tool (P). Make sure to do this in two separate layers. Next, move the white line just enough to cover half of the black line, then merge these two layers. Duplicate these layers until you covered the entire "sealed" portion.

Step 21

Next, add the additional information about our product. You can search the web or look at your shampoo bottles at home to give you an idea how and what words manufacturers use for their products. After that, place it using the standard Type tool (T). Rasterize the text then distort it just like as shown below so that it’ll give the impression that it curves slightly towards the back of the bottle, thus giving additional support for the cylindrical shape effect of our bottle.

Step 22

The upper right corner of our shampoo bottle design seems empty, so I added another strip to add additional information. Using the Pen tool (P) define the shape of the strip, press right-click then select Make Selection from the dropdown menu. Next, color the selected area with the corresponding color numbers indicated below. Lastly, add some additional text or information.

Step 23

Next step is to add additional dark shadings and contrast on the lower portions of the bottle. To do this, first, press Command/Ctrl + click the thumbnails of both the "Main" and "Cap" layer to activate the selection marquee around the objects selected. Next, using the Brush tool (B) set to a size of 500px and Hardness of 0%, paint lightly on the lower parts of the selection. Lastly, change the layer’s Blend mode to Overlay then decrease its Opacity level to ~60%.

Step 24

Next is to add the some oranges sitting beside the bottle. This will add the “fresh look” we want to achieve for our product. To do this follow the step-by-step procedure below.

Step 25

Next, let’s add some water droplets for the main bottle and the oranges. Using the Brush tool (B) with a size of ~3-5px and hardness of ~30%, follow the procedure below on how to digitally paint a basic water droplet. After that, using a brush set to a size of ~3px and hardness of 100% following the layer settings below, add some smaller water droplets or effusions.

The final effect should look like as shown below.

Step 26

Next, select all layers that make up the entire main bottle in the layers tab. Once selected, drag the selected layers on the Create a New Layer icon. This will duplicate all layers selected. Lastly, press right-click then select Merge Layer from the dropdown menu.

Once the layers have been merged, place two duplicate shampoo bottles on both sides of the original bottle like as shown below.

Step 27

Next, select the two duplicate bottle layers by Command/Ctrl + clicking the layers. Press right-click then select Merge Layers from the dropdown menu. Lastly, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and apply a subtle amount of blur of about 1px.

Step 28

To add reflections for the bottles, just select the layers of the Main bottle, the one that hasn’t been blurred, then press Command/Ctrl + T to activate the Transformation handles. Once activated, press right-click then select Flip Vertical then place it directly below the “main” set of bottles just like in Fig. 1. Next, using the Eraser tool (E), erase the areas indicated in Fig. 2. Lastly, decrease the layer’s Opacity level to ~17%, Fig. 3.

Step 29

Next add a new layer then, using the Paint Bucket tool (G), fill the entire layer with color #353535, Fig. 1. Next, change the layer’s Blend Mode to Soft Light, Fig. 2. Next, using the Eraser tool (E), erase the areas indicated in Fig. 3. Finally, decrease the layer’s Fill level to 77% to see the final effect we want to achieve.

Step 30

I reduplicated the bottles that we blurred earlier then blur it again using Gaussian Blur with a value of ~1-2px.

Step 31

For the last step, we’ll add a subtle amount of noise to somewhat add a blend effect for all the layers. To do this, first add another layer then using the Paint Bucket tool (G) fill the entire selection with color #000000. Next, go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise then follow the indicated value below. Finally, change the layer’s Blend Mode to Multiply then decrease its Opacity level tp ~3%.

Conclusion

That’s it, we’re done. The final product is shown below. Hope you had fun working on this project and learned something new! Thanks for reading!