Easy Ombre Paper

Easy Ombre Paper
by Jenifer Juris

Create a custom ombre background using the multiply blend mode.

Step One: Create a New Document

  • Create a new 12×12 inch document (File > New > Blank File) at 300 pixels per inch with a white background. (Photoshop: Choose File > New.)
  • Press the letter D to reset the Color Chips.
  • Get the Move tool.
  • In the Tool Options, make sure Auto Select Layer and Show Bounding Box are unchecked. (Photoshop: Make sure Show Transform Controls is unchecked.)

Step Two: Create the Guide

  • In the Menu Bar, choose View > New Guide.
  • In the dialog box, set the Orientation to Horizontal and the Position to 2 inches. Click OK.

qt-easy-ombre-paper-img01

Step Three: Create the First Layer

  • In the Layers panel, click on the Create a New Layer icon.
  • Click on the Foreground Color Chip to open the Color Picker.
  • In the dialog box, choose a light pastel [color] pink and click OK. I’m using a light pastel pink (Hex #ffe4f5).
  • Press Alt Backspace (Mac: Opt Delete) to fill the layer with the Foreground Color Chip.

qt-easy-ombre-paper-img02

Step Four: Duplicate the Layer

  • In the Layer panel, change the Blend Mode of the colored layer to Multiply.
  • Press Ctrl J (Mac: Cmd J) five times to create five duplicates of the colored layer.

qt-easy-ombre-paper-img03

Step Five: Position the Layers

  • In the Layers panel, make sure the top layer is the active layer.
  • On the document, hold down the Shift key and click and drag the top layer up until the bottom edge lines up with the guide.

qt-easy-ombre-paper-img04

  • In the Layers panel, hold down the Shift key and click on the bottom colored layer. All the colored layers should now be active. The Background layer should not be active.
  • In the Tool Options, click on the Distribute Center icon to distribute the vertical centers. (Photoshop: Click on the Distribute Vertical Centers icon.)

qt-easy-ombre-paper-img05

Step Six: Finish Up

  • In the Menu Bar, choose View > Clear Guides.
  • In the Menu Bar, choose Layer > Flatten Image.
  • Save the image (File > Save As) as a JPG file.

You now have a nice background that can be used in numerous ways. Here are a few ideas to consider:

  • Add a white textured paper (Blend Mode set to Multiply) over the ombre paper to add realism.
  • Use the ombre paper as a background for a scrapbook page.
  • Clip the ombre paper to a large type layer to create a unique title.

The options are endless! Have fun and enjoy creating various colored backgrounds using this technique. Just remember to start off with a very light color as the Multiply Blend Mode intensifies the color with each duplicated layer. Here’s how I used my ombre paper in a scrapbook page:

qt-easy-ombre-paper-540

Credits:
Page & Photo: Jenifer Juris
Tutorial: Easy Ombre Paper by Jenifer Juris
Kit: Congratulations by Kristin Cronin-Barrow
Extras: Pink Flowers from Live, Laugh, Love by Studio Flergs, Gold Glitter Paper from Attitude of Gratitude by Jady Day Studios, Cardstock Blank Canvas by Susie Roberts
Fonts: Bonjour, Monopoly

After posting your results online,
return here and include the link in the comments.

Click Here to Download PDF

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Jenifer JurisAuthor: Jenifer Juris | Contact Us
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Comments (30)

  1. Julie

    Thanks! This is a fun technique! Love learning all these new things! 🙂

    November 14, 2016 at 7:13 pm Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      You’re welcome! I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂

      November 14, 2016 at 10:28 pm Reply
  2. Elizabeth Stead

    Can’t wait to try this, thanks for the tutorial!

    November 15, 2016 at 7:27 am Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      You’re welcome, Elizabeth! I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂

      November 15, 2016 at 10:25 am Reply
  3. Vivian

    I like this a lot and the fact that it is versatile. Thanks for telling different ways to use it!

    November 15, 2016 at 8:33 am Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      You’re welcome, Vivian!! 🙂

      November 15, 2016 at 10:24 am Reply
  4. Carol

    Thank you. Me too, love anything I learn on PS.

    November 15, 2016 at 10:13 am Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      Thanks so much, Carol! 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

      November 15, 2016 at 10:24 am Reply
  5. Grace Taylor

    I am doing something wrong. I have six layers but only three get distributed. I am certain that all layers except the background are highlighted. Must be some simple thing I am doing wrong but repeated tries have not changed the outcome.

    November 15, 2016 at 2:16 pm Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      Hi Grace! It could be a few things. First, make sure you’re using the correct distribution button in the tool options. Second, like you said, double check and make sure all of those layers are activated in the layers panel. The other thing that could have happened is that you accidentally dragged more than the one top layer to the top guide. If you dragged say three layers up (at one time) on accident, this result could also happen. Let me know if you’re still stuck after trying these things out.

      November 15, 2016 at 4:48 pm Reply
      • Grace Taylor

        thanks, I think it was the latter. I did get it to work and I like the result. This is such a good way to learn new things and practice some I had forgotten.

        November 18, 2016 at 10:47 am Reply
        • Jenifer Juris

          I’m so glad you got it to work!! 🙂

          November 18, 2016 at 1:09 pm Reply
  6. Sharron Lamb

    Love something so easy that is so effective. Thanks Jenifer.
    http://digitalscrapperclasses.com/forums/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=87722&title=easyombrepapertutorial-way-to-go-preston&cat=500

    November 15, 2016 at 2:44 pm Reply
  7. norah stack

    Thankyou for the tutorial, love it!
    Is there a way to change the color or do we make anew one for the color we want?
    Thanks

    November 16, 2016 at 12:18 am Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      Yes, you’ll have to make a new one for the color you want. I’m so glad you enjoyed the tutorial! 🙂

      November 16, 2016 at 11:46 am Reply
  8. This was a super easy tutorial, thanks very much Jenifer.

    November 16, 2016 at 4:07 am Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      I’m so glad you like it!! 🙂 Thx!

      November 16, 2016 at 11:45 am Reply
  9. Dorrie

    Jenifer you are a wonder. This was such an easy tutorial and I really liked it. I’m sure there are many uses for it. Always nice to learn something new.

    November 16, 2016 at 3:37 pm Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      Thank you so much, Dorrie!! You’re too kind! 🙂

      November 16, 2016 at 3:38 pm Reply
  10. Ngaire

    Thanks for this fun and easy tutorial Jenifer. I completed a LO in super quick time for me!

    November 16, 2016 at 5:09 pm Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      You’re so welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it and were already able to put it to use! 🙂

      November 16, 2016 at 6:00 pm Reply
  11. Julie Singco

    Such a versatile tutorial not only in choice of color but in application of the final product. Thanks for the inspiration, Jenifer.
    http://digitalscrapperclasses.com/forums/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=87732&title=winter-coveralls&cat=1707

    November 17, 2016 at 2:31 pm Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      Thank you so much!! 🙂

      November 17, 2016 at 3:26 pm Reply
  12. pixie

    What a fun tutorial! The ombre paper went together quick & easy. I started with a pastel green. After I distributed the layers, I replaced the one that covered the whole 12 x 12 with a light paper from the kit. I love the texture in the result!

    http://digitalscrapperclasses.com/forums/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=87756&nocache=1

    November 18, 2016 at 11:15 am Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      Great job on this! I’m so glad you liked it!! 🙂

      November 18, 2016 at 1:08 pm Reply
  13. Renee Diprose

    Thank you for sharing this fun tutorial. That is very cool what the Multiply mode did on all those paper layers.
    I redid mine about three times as my starting color was a bit too dark – but I really like how this last one turned out. I also flipped it vertically to have the darker stripe at the bottom.
    Thanks Jenifer 🙂
    http://digitalscrapperclasses.com/forums/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=87789&title=together&cat=500

    November 20, 2016 at 1:02 am Reply
    • Jenifer Juris

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Love your take on it!! 🙂

      November 20, 2016 at 1:24 am Reply
  14. Ann Bricker

    Thanks for the tut Jenifer, it was fun & easy too.
    https://community.digitalscrapper.com/c/community-gallery/ombre-paper-janessa-had-her-graduation-open-house

    May 27, 2023 at 8:39 pm Reply
  15. Ann Bricker

    I enjoyed doing this paper that I did another — this time I tweaked the paper by squishing it, duplicating it & flipping it. Loads of fun!
    https://community.digitalscrapper.com/c/community-gallery/another-ombre-paper-i-did-a-little-tweeking-of

    May 28, 2023 at 7:55 pm Reply
  16. LeAnn

    Oh what a wealth of information is on this site!

    May 25, 2024 at 12:11 pm Reply
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