Steemit Welcome Image Design

I have participated @inquiringtimes' contest on welcoming new steemit members once, only on round 1. Now, I want to try to submit my entry for the round 4 on this welcome contest. This requires participants to create a welcome design image.

Looking for fresh images with the word "Welcome" that are attractive and, convey what steem is about in a few words or an image, that look nice and friendly.

So, I have come with a simple design as my entry.

Banner Concept

In this entry, I want to show a carefree spirit for the new members.

Images Used

I have created a banner using my own photos from my archive.

Background

^{Image1: Sunset view from my travel at Badian, Cebu Philippines. Image was taken using my smartphone.}

Foreground

^{Image2: My friends and I at Ilocos Norte, Philippines}

The Process

I have used the only graphics editor software I have - Adobe Photoshop CS5 in making this banner.

• Open the required images on Adobe Photoshop
  In my case, I have opened my image1 and image2.

• Select the banner foreground
  From image2, I have selected three for my foreground. Using the Polygonal Lasso tool [], I have cut down the selected components then paste it on a new Photoshop draft (jump.psd).
  

• Cut down the unnecessary pixels from the image
  Using the Polygonal Lasso tool [] and the Magic Wand tool [], I have removed the extra image pixel.
  

• Combine the background and foreground on a new canvas
  I have created new draft (welcome.psd) - canvas size: 1300 pixels (width), 780 pixels (height). I then place image1 for my background. From my first Photoshop draft (jump.psd), I have selected the 3 layers then created duplicate layers to my new draft. This was done by selecting the 3 layers, right clicking the images then on the menu, I have selected Duplicate Layers... from the menu option. From the Duplicate Layers dialog, I have set the Document value to welcome.psd.
  

• Add image effect
  I have added layer styles both on the image background and foreground. For the background, layer style used was Color Overlay with Color as its Blend Mode. Color used is closed to Orange (#e86b1d) to have a sunvet vibe. For the foreground, the 3 layers were applied with the same style - Color Overlay, Blend Mode: Normal, color: black (#000000).
  

• Add texts and Steemit logo
  I have added Welcome to Steemit text then the tag line Come for the rewards, Stay for the community.. The Steemit logo was also added.
  

• Add layer styles on text and logo
  Finally, I have added layer style to texts and logo. For the Welcome.. text, layer styles used are Drop Shadow (Blend Mode: Multiple, Color: Black), and Bevel and Emboss to give emphasis on the message. For the tagline: Color Overlay (Blend Mode: Normal, Color: White (#ffffff), Drop Shadow (Blend Mode: Multiple, Color: Black), and Stroke (Size: 2px, Color: #faf6f5). For the logo: Drop Shadow (Blend Mode: Multiple, Color: Black), Inner Shadow (Blend Mode: Multiply, color: black), Bevel and Emboss with Contour (default settings were used), Color Overlay (Blend Mode: Normal, color: white).
  

So, that's the simple process I have done to make this simple welcome banner. Hope you guys like it!