How to Make a Peeling Sticker Effect in DesignScape

You can make a peeling sticker effect in DesignScape by following our fun tutorial. We will guide you through the steps as well as how to save your project. DesignScape is a great editing alternative to Photoshop and Illustrator. Available to Gold Plus Members, DesignScape is browser based so there’s no need to download anything. We have a free 30 day trial of the Gold Plus Membership for you to try. So why not sign up today?

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For this tutorial we will use a font called Feelin Sweet and this vintage paper texture pack.

Step 1 - Create your Text Object

We need to create our text and prepare it first before creating the peeling sticker effect. Begin by starting a new project, we used the dimensions 1500 x 1000 px with a DPI of 300. You can use any size document that works best for you.

Add your Text

Next, create your text using the Text Tool on the left hand side and change the font. We left the color as black. We also changed the leading of our text for a more aesthetic appeal.

Apply Offset Stroke to Text

We now want to add an offset stroke to our text. Change the color of the stroke and when done, we will add a second offset stroke.

Our first stroke size was set to 15 px with a light blue/purple color. To add a second stroke, while in the Layer StylePanel, click on the “+” sign icon next to the Stroke option. A second stroke option will be added.

Click on the second stroke to open and edit the settings. Change the color to white and size to 30 px. Then click OK

Change Background Color

You will not be able to see the second stroke because the background is the same color. For now, we will change this so that the stroke is visible. Click on the Background layer to select it. At the bottom of the Layers Panel click on the eff icon and select Color Overlay.

In the Color Overlay settings, click on the Color Picker and choose a color. Then click OK and click OK once more to close out of the Layer Style Panel.

Edit Second Stroke if Needed

Now that we can see the second stroke, we can edit it further. Select the Text layer then double click on the eff icon on this layer. Make sure that the second Stroke option is selected. Edit as needed.

Rotate your text by clicking on the Move Tool on the left toolbar and tick the box for Transform controls. Now click + drag the top right corner counter clockwise to angle the text.

Step 2 - Create Selection for Peeling Sticker

We want to add a textured feel to the sticker but we need to first convert our text to a Smart Object. In the Layers Panel right click the Text layer and select Convert to Smart Object.

Add Pattern Texture to the Text

To give the texture feel we will use a Pattern Overly. We need to save the pattern to the DesignScape library first. Open the texture you want to use by going to File > Open. Then go to Edit > Define New > Pattern and DesignScape will add the pattern to the library.

Go back to your sticker project, click on the eff icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel. Then choose Pattern Overlay. In the settings, click on the drop down menu for the Patterns and select your uploaded pattern. Change Blend Mode to Overlay and Opacity to about 50%.

You can make the effect stronger if you want. Click OK to close out of the settings.

Next, right click on the Text layer and select RasterizeLayer Style.

Make Selection with Lasso Tool

To create the peeling sticker, we are going to use the Polygonal Lasso Tool. On the left side panel, click + hold your cursor over the Lasso Tool to open the options. Now select the Polygonal Lasso Tool.

With the tool active, make a selection by clicking once to place the first point. Then carry on until you close the selection. The shape is not important as long as you have a straight cut where the sticker will “curl” back.

With the Text layer still selected, press Ctrl + J to copy the selection to a new layer. Rename this layer by double clicking and naming it Sticker Curl. With this layer still selected, Ctrl + click it to make the selection active. Now, click back on the Text layer.

We are going to delete this area on the Text layer. We want to expand this selection a bit to prevent any ghosting issues when deleting. Go to Select > Modify > Expand and input a value of 2px then click OK.

Hit Delete on your keyboard then go to Select > Deselect. You won’t see anything until you click on the eye icon for the Sticker Curl layer. This will hide the layer. To make it visible, click again on the eye icon.

Fill and Rotate Selection

Add a white fill to the Sticker Curl by adding a Color Overlay like we did with the background layer. With the layer still selected, go to Edit > Transform > Flip Vertically.

Using the Move Tool, reposition the Sticker Curl so the bottom right corner touches the top right corner of the text. Then click + drag the rotation point (box in middle) to where these two corners meet.

We want to rotate this so the edge of the Sticker Curl layer lies flat with the edge of the Text layer. Place your cursor over the bottom right corner and it will turn into rotational handles. Now click + drag to rotate until the Sticker Curl layer is adjacent to the Text layer.

As we moved the rotation point from the middle to the corner, it is now easier to rotate the layer.

Reposition and rotate again as needed until the two sides meet up. To better see this you can change the color by clicking on the eff icon on the layer, then select the Color Picker. Remember to change this back to white once lined up.

Step 3 - Add Gradient to Peeling Sticker

To create a more realistic look we need to add a gradient. Make sure that the Sticker Curl layer is selected, then click on the bottom icon eff > Gradient Overlay. The Layer Style Panel will open. Make sure to untick the Color Overlay.

We are now going to tick on a few options and change their settings.

Adjust the Gradient Overlay

In the Gradient Overlay Settings, click on the Gradient. In the Gradient Editor, double click on the left most color box. This will open the Color Picker box.

We want to use a light gray but you can use the same HEX code that we did #515353. Click OK once done.

Leave the right color stop as white but click and drag it in closer to the gray point. You can input the Position value of 19% to make things easier. You will not see the result as yet but we will fix that soon. Remember to click OK.

Change Position of Gradient

The rest of the settings will depend on where you have placed your sticker peel. For this project the following settings worked best:

Angle: 140

Scale: 18%

Off X: 0%

Off Y: -14%

We want to create a hard edge at an angle. Keep in mind, these are non-destructive settings and can be adjusted at any time by clicking on the eff icon next to the layer.

Add an Inner Shadow

In the Layer Style Panel, tick the box for the Inner Shadow option then click it to change the settings. We want the inner shadow to run along the edge of the Sticker Curl. So the settings below worked best for this project:

Blend Mode: Multiply

Opacity: 34%

Angle: -28 (untick Use Global Angle)

Distance: 26 px

Spread: 9px

Size: 17

Contour: Linear

Noise: 0%

Select the Satin Option

Now, tick the Satin box and click to access the options. For this we used the following settings:

Blend Mode: Hard Light

Opacity: 44%

Angle: -42%

Distance: 88

Size: 95

Contour: Roundy Hill (click on the drop down arrow)

Invert: Un-ticked

Add a Drop Shadow

Tick and select the Drop Shadow option. We used the settings below for the Drop Shadow:

Blend Mode: Normal

Opacity: 39%

Angle: 21

Distance: 3

Spread: 14

Size: 4

Contour: Linear

Noise: 0

If need be, go back and change any settings as required to get a result you are happy with.

Step 4 - Apply Gradient to the Text

For the final step we will add a gradient to the text. Click on the Text layer to select then on eff > Gradient Overlay. Click on the Gradient to access the color stops. Change the Blend Mode to Screen.

The left color and right color stops should both be changed to black. To add color stops click once between the two color stops. Change the color by double clicking on the stop or on the Color Picker box. Move the color stops by clicking + dragging them.

We added an additional five color stops alternating between black and gray. After changing each color, remember to click OK on the Color Picker. You must do this before moving onto the next color stop to commit the changes.

We adjusted the rest of the settings as follows:

Angle: 139

Scale: 57%

Off X: 0%

Off Y: 0%

Once you are happy with everything click OK.

You can go back and change the background to something more appealing. Drag and drop your background into DesignScape and place it above the Background layer.

Here is the final result of our project.

Learning how to make a peeling sticker effect in DesignScape opens up a world of creative possibilities. These designs can be used to promote products, social networking, or just creating a fun project. We hope that this tutorial was insightful and will help you in your future projects with DesignScape.