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Learn how to realistically create a “posted” item such as a note, photograph, piece of paper, and more. It only takes a few steps and anyone can do it! The basic technique to do this is quite simple. Let me show you how.

First, make a shape you want to turn into a posted item on a special layer called “message”.

Now go to Edit > Transform > Warp. You’ll get nine points on your item. Dragging them around give your item a little perspective, so it does look more three dimensional.

Now duplicate the “item” layer and name the new duplicated layer “message shadow”. Drag this layer beneath your original “message” layer. Now, right click on “message shadow” and choose blending options. In these options under the drop shadow tool choose the look of your item’s shadow. Preferably, put “0” under distance so you get the shadow all around your item.

This is what you get.

If you look at your layers window, this is what you should have.

With the “message shadow” layer selected go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Make sure you have the new layer mask of the “message shadow” layer selected.

Now using the gradient tool (with a selected default white to black gradient”) make a gradient from the top to the bottom of your message.

This is what you should have looking at the layers window.

Now you have the basic form of a posted item.

As you can see, the “magic” is in the shadow. Since shadows act up if you try to use this gradient technique on the top layer, you always need to use a special shadow layer. With a bit more work, a few more drops of color and some text, you can make a very nice stick-it note.

Download the PSD used for this tutorial.