A little freebie to share with you guys today! I’ve gotten several emails asking me how to create hand drawn arrows in blog post collages. The truth is, for a long time, I used some arrows I had drawn on a piece of paper and scanned in at a super high resolution. It worked, but it was a bit laborious. Earlier this year I finally broke down and ordered a Wacom tablet, which is how most bloggers get the handwritten elements on to their posts, whether its an arrow or actual writing. (UPDATE: I should also mention that if you have an iPad, you can download the Paper app and use your finger or a stylus to get handwritten effects!)
But, if you’re not looking to purchase another blog accessory just to draw a few arrows or write a few words, I’ve got you covered. Below is a downloadable PNG file that contains forty different arrows, shapes and words that you can use in blog posts! Get the download after the jump, along with a quick Photoshop lesson on how to use them!
Bad news, friends… As many of you know, I transferred domains in the summer of 2014, and vmac+cheese became the blog you see here now. When that happened, I lost this download file in the process, so it is no longer available. I know, a huge bummer! If you downloaded this file previously, tips on how to use it — and actually, useful tips for any newbie Photoshop student — are still posted below.
Stay tuned — I’ll hopefully share more downloadable graphics soon! In the meantime, you can check out other blogging related tips elsewhere on the blog.
HOW TO USE THE FILE:
This file is set up on a transparent background, with all the shapes on a single document page. To use them:
1. In Photoshop, build your collage as desired, and open the PNG file you downloaded here.
2. Using the Rectangular Marquee tool, select the area around the shape you wish to use. Then copy (ctrl+ c or cmd+c) the shape, and paste it (ctrl+v or cmd+v) onto your collage layout.
3. You can use the Move tool to resize the shape, rotate it, and place it wherever you’d like on your layout. If you’re happy with the shape being black, you’re done!
4. If you want to change the color of the shape, you’ll need to add a fill layer and a clipping mask. Once you have the shape placed on your collage, be sure the shape is selected in the layers palette. Next, go to Layer –> New Fill Layer –> Solid Color. You can name the fill layer whatever you like, just be sure to click the radio button that says “Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask.”
5. Click OK. Next, the color picker window will pop up, and you can select whatever color you want the shape to be filled with. Click OK again. The shape should now be filled with the color you selected! In order to move the shape around on your layout, you’ll need to be sure that both the shape and the fill layer are selected on the Layers palette. If you select one or the other, it won’t move!
Enjoy them!
Get more downloadable blog resources at The B Bar >>
TERMS OF USE: You can use these downloads for personal use on your blog and blog layouts. The file and any part of it may NOT be used for digital download(s) on your website, and you may NOT re-sell or re-distribute this graphic on your own website, or in any other form (PDF, book, CD, etc). However, please feel free to link back to this post if you’d like to share! Also, it goes without saying, but you may not use this artwork as part of any racist, pornographic, or otherwise patently offensive material. If you have other questions on the file terms of use, you can always contact me!
Such a great little tip Victoria! I’m always looking for ways to get more creative with photoshop! :)
Um, how thoughtful are you? Such a great idea!
Love this!! Thank you!
Oh my goodness, thank you SO MUCH!! This is so generous and kind of you, made my day!
Oh, perfect! So neat. Thanks for sharing.
~Jah
http://www.chatteringgem.com
Love this! Thanks for sharing.
You are SO nice to do this, Victoria. It’s so refreshing to see a blogger give away tips + tricks to help others, as opposed to hoarding secrets. There’s enough room for everyone to be successful, and you’re always faithful to your readers and share your secrets. This is particularly inspiring to me as I’m a new blogger. Thank you!
Love these so much!! Thank you!!
You are too sweet!! Thanks so much for sharing Victoria!! :)
Thanks so much for this download! As a new blogger, things like this really make my day!
Thank you so much. I’m still just learning how to put my collages together and your advise is so helpful.
You’re a star!
Lauren x
Gordon + Gold
I will be using the heck out of these! Thanks so much!
This is the greatest…I don’t really want to admit how long I’ve tried to figure out how to do these arrows. No longer! Thank you :)
i seriously just googled how to do this today, thanks so much! it’s really nice of you =)
These are all so cute! Now I want one of those tablets to draw my own little doodads!
Kristina
Kristina does the Internets
This is so sweet of you! Thanks so much :)
This is brilliant!! Thanks a mill for sharing. You’re an absolute gem. Definitely going to use them :)
What a great tool! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing! Also, I loved visiting each and every blog from the commenters above me – refreshing my Google Reader now! : )
Much appreciated! What a nice treat for a random Tuesday :)
Yay! Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to try and use these.
http://happinessiscreating.com/
These are awesome! I always love your little hand-drawn elements, i’m excited to be able to do them too. Thanks for this :)
That’s so neat, thank you.
xo
http://pinksole.com
You are amazing lady! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
xx
Here&Now
wow, thanks so much for sharing these! x
& Pretty Things
Guilty! I totally asked you for these! SO excited to use these! You are the absolute best!!! xoxo
This is awesome, Victoria, thank you SO much! I just recently got a Wacom tablet and I only half know how to use it, but I do love the idea of it, haha. :)
You are brilliant ! Thank you so much .
xo Meg
http://meghansilva.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing!!!
Can’t wait to use them for my blog :)
ummm, awesome! thank you girl!
This is awesome! Thank you!
Um, hi. I love you. You’re the best. Thank you!
Thank you!!! I always just scrawl on my pics, but the mouse and I don’t always agree on what it should look like. ;) These will be so helpful!
Very thoughtful and caring! <3
This is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing. I have recently started a blog and appreciate the tips. This is such a great idea to incorporate into the blog.
—
Hope
Thank you for these graphics … and for the tip about the Wacom Tablet! I have a feeling it’s going to be my next Amazon splurge!
Thank you SO much! I’ve been needing to find some great handwritten arrows for a long time now. Much appreciated Victoria!
my goodness, aren’t you sweet!
Hooray!!! I received one of the tablets for Christmas but I haven’t had much time to play around with it yet unfortunately! Loving this fun download!! XoXo
Love these! Thanks so much for sharing!
-Kelly
Thanks so much for sharing this! Will be very useful. :)
these are SO great! thanks soooo much for sharing these! tHey’re so cute :)
These are awesome- thank you so much for sharing!
How do you change the size of the shape once it’s been pasted?
p.s. these are awesome :)
These are fabulous, thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks so much!But what if you don’t have Photoshop(I have a Dell laptop),it just shows the picture.Please help!
Thanks,
Adalia
chicandpeonies.blogspot.com
Sorry Adalia, these function only in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
You could try this free web-based tool that is similar to Photoshop in many ways.
http://pixlr.com/editor/
These are fantastic! I love how easy they are to use even without photoshop. My blog design is a total work in progress right now but these babies helped spruce up my about me page! It feels good to check that off my list :)
http://lemonthistle.blogspot.ca/p/about-me.html
Thanks so much!
Thank you! You’re a GEM! :)
hello! love these but for some reason i cannot download them? it says i do not have access!!
i’d really appreciate it if someone could help me out, thanks! :)
Hi Malu! I’m so sorry about that. I’m had the same issue, which triggered me spending the last hour trying to figure out what was going on. I transferred domains earlier this summer and migrated 6 years worth of content to this current site. From what I can tell in my WordPress databases, when that happened, we lost this single download file, because it was stored in a somewhat random place. So unfortunately, this download is no longer available :( I’ll hopefully create another one soon!