How to Create a Retro Vintage Badge in Adobe Photoshop

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

This tutorial will show you how to draw your own shapes and use layer styles to create a vintage advertising badge. Let's get started!

The vintage badge we will be creating is a part of Retro Vintage Badges from my portfolio on GraphicRiver.

Tutorial Assets

Before you start creating this badge, download and install the fonts and the blue stripes pattern and download the stripes PNG image:

Stripes PNG image
Lobster Two font
Steelfish font
Blue Stripes pattern

If you're looking for more vintage font options, feel free to try out one of these:

32 Stylish Vintage Fonts

Melody Nieves

15 May 2022

1. How to Create a Document

Step 1

Let's start with a new document. Go to File > New and set Width: 850 px, Height: 600 px, Color Mode: RGB Color, and Background Contents: White.

Step 2

For our measurements we will use pixels, so if you are using inches or other units, go to Edit > Preferences > Units & Rulers and set the Rulers to Pixels. Hit OK to apply the changes.

2. How to Create a Badge Shape

Step 1

Start by adding multiple vertical and horizontal guides, which will help you to create the badge shape. Go to View > New Guide, and then choose Vertical orientation and set Position: 27 px. Repeat this step and consecutively create:

Vertical guides on Position 34, 41, 44, 56, 58, 76, 101, 118, 122, 130 and 154 px.
Horizontal guides on Position 11, 16, 41, 43, 55, 59, 69 and 107 px.

Step 2

Go to the View menu and select Lock Guides to prevent unwanted movement of the guides.

Step 3

We will snap our shape to the guides and document bounds, so we need the snap function to be prepared. Go to the View menu and check Snap if it is not already checked. Then go to View > Snap To and check the Document Bounds and Guides.

Step 4

Pick the Rectangle Tool and left-click your mouse in the document. Set Width: 155 px and Height: 108 px. Hit OK.

Step 5

Go to your Layers panel and double-click on the thumbnail image of the Rectangle 1 layer, and then change its color to #f1b377.

Step 6

Pick the Move Tool, and then move the rectangle in the document and snap it to the top left corner of your document.

Step 7

Zoom in to 500% for a better view of the guides.

Step 8

In this step we will add anchor points to our rectangle. Pick the Direct Selection Tool, right-click on the top border of the rectangle shape, and select Add Anchor Point.

Step 9

In the same way, add four more anchor points on the top border and two new anchor points on the left border.

Step 10

Right-click on the top left anchor point and select Delete Anchor Point.

Step 11

Move the anchor points on the top border of the shape to these intersection points, starting from the left anchor point:

Anchor point 1: move it to intersect with Vertical Guide 3 and Horizontal Guide 3.
Anchor point 2: move it to intersect with Vertical Guide 6 and Horizontal Guide 4.
Anchor point 3: move it to intersect with Vertical Guide 8 and Horizontal Guide 1.
Anchor point 4: move it to intersect with Vertical Guide 10 and Horizontal Guide 2.
Anchor point 5: move it to intersect with Vertical Guide 12 and Top Document Bound.

Step 12

Move the anchor points on the left border of the shape to these intersection points, starting from the top anchor point:

Anchor point 6: move it to intersect with Vertical Guide 2 and Horizontal Guide 5.
Anchor point 7: move it to intersect with Left Document Bound and Horizontal Guide 8.

Step 13

When you click on one of the anchor points, you will see its direction lines, which end with direction points. With the Direct Selection Tool still selected, you can click and drag these points.

Let's start with the first horizontal anchor point, which is near the top right corner anchor point. Select it and drag the Right Direction point to intersect with the corner anchor point, and then drag the Left Direction point to intersect with the Vertical Guide 11.

Step 14

Select the next horizontal anchor point, hold the Shift key, and move its Direction Points to intersect with the nearest Vertical Guides on the left and on the right side of the selected anchor point. Continue like this with all horizontal anchor points.

Step 15

Do the same as in Step 14 for the vertical anchor points, but this time hold the Shift key and move the Direction Points to intersect with the nearest Horizontal Guides.

Step 16

Now we have created a quarter of the final badge shape, and we can clear all of the guides. Go to the View menu and select Clear Guides.

Step 17

Select the Rectangle 1 layer in your Layers panel, and then go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and name the layer as Shape 2.

Step 18

Select the Shape 2 layer and go to Edit > Transform Path > Flip Horizontal.

Step 19

While the Shape 2 layer is still selected, go to Edit > Free Transform Path, check the Use Relative Positioning button, and set the horizontal position X: 152 px.

Step 20

Hold the Shift key and select the Rectangle 1 layer in your Layers panel, and then go to Layer > Combine Shapes > Unite Shapes.

Step 21

Select the Shape 2 layer in your Layers panel, and then go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and name the layer as Badge.

Step 22

Select the Badge layer and go to Edit > Transform Path > Flip Vertical.

Step 23

While the Badge layer is still selected, go to Edit > Free Transform Path and set the vertical position Y: to 105 px.

Step 24

Hold the Shift key and select the Shape 2 layer in your Layers panel. Then go to Layer > Combine Shapes > Unite Shapes, and your badge shape is now done.

Step 25

Hold the Shift key and select the Background layer in your Layers panel. Go to Layer > Align > Vertical Centers and then Layer > Align > Horizontal Centers. This step will bring our badge shape into the center of the document.

3. How to Create the Ribbon Shapes

Step 1

Start by adding three vertical guides which will help you with the process of creating the ribbons. Go to View > New Guide, choose Vertical orientation, and set the Position to 425 px. Repeat this step and create two more vertical guides on Positions 292 px and 559 px.

Step 2

Pick the Rectangle Tool and left-click your mouse in the document. Set Width: 78 px and Height: 56 px. Hit OK.

Step 3

Select the Rectangle 1 layer and go to Layer > Rename Layer and rename it to Ribbon 1.

Step 4

Pick the Move Tool and snap the rectangle in the document to the center vertical guide.

Step 5

Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and name it as Ribbon 2.

Step 6

Now hold the Shift key and snap the Ribbon 2 on the opposite side of the same vertical guide.

Step 7

Pick the Rectangle Tool again and create a new rectangle by clicking into your document. Set Width: 50 px and Height: 50 px. Hit OK.

Step 8

Go to Edit > Transform Path > Rotate and set the Angle to 45°. Hit Enter twice to apply the rotation.

Step 9

Change the color of this shape for better visibility. Double-click the Layer thumbnail in your Layers panel and choose any different color from the Color Picker, and then hit OK. In my example it is #bababa.

Step 10

Go to Edit > Transform Path > Scale and change the horizontal scale W: to 60%. Hit Enter twice to apply the change.

Step 11

Pick the Move Tool and snap the center of the rectangle to the same vertical guide as the ribbon shapes.

Step 12

Hold the Shift key and select the Ribbon 1 layer in your Layers panel to select both ribbons and the rectangle. Then go to Layer > Align > Vertical Centers.

Step 13

Select the Ribbon 1 layer, and then hold the Control key and click on the Layer Thumbnail of the layer Rectangle 1. Finally, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide Selection.

Step 14

Select the Ribbon 2 layer, and then hold the Control key and click on the Layer Thumbnail of the layer Rectangle 1. Finally, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide Selection.

Step 15

Your ribbon shapes are now ready and you don't need the Rectangle 1 layer anymore, so select it and hit the Delete key.

4. How to Create the Ribbon Stitches

Step 1

Pick the Line Tool, hold the Shift key, and draw a horizontal line with a length of 394 px. If you can't find the Line Tool, click and hold the Rectangle Tool and then you can select the Line Tool.

Step 2

Change the line properties:

Fill: No Color
Stroke: Red Solid Color
Set stroke width: 3 pt
Stroke Options: select the dotted stroke
Weight: 1 px

Step 3

Go to Layer > Rename Layer and rename this layer to Stitch 1.

Step 4

Create another stitch by going to Layer > Duplicate Layer and name the layer as Stitch 2.

Step 5

Hold the Control key and select the layers Stitch 2, Stitch 1 and the Background layer, and then go to Layer > Align > Horizontal Centers.

5. How to Arrange All of the Elements

Step 1

Select the layer Ribbon 1, pick the Move Tool, and then hold the Shift key and snap the ribbon to the right vertical guide. Then select the layer Ribbon 2 and snap this ribbon to the left vertical guide, while holding the Shift key.

Step 2

Select the Stitch 2 layer in your Layers panel, hold Shift, and then select the Background layer to select these and all layers in-between. Go to Layer > Align > Vertical Centers.

Step 3

Select the Badge layer and go to Layer > Arrange > Bring to Front.

Step 4

Select the Stitch 2 layer, go to Edit > Free Transform, and set vertical position Y: 278 px. Hit Enter twice to apply the change.

Step 5

Select the Stitch 1 layer, go to Edit > Free Transform, and set vertical position Y: 321 px. Hit Enter twice to apply the change.

6. How to Add a Style to the Ribbons and Stitches

Step 1

Select the Stitch 2 layer, hold the Control key, and select the Stitch 1 layer. Then go to Layer > New > Group from Layers and name it Stitches.

Step 2

Right-click on the Stitches group and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

Add a Color Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Normal
Pick the color #977e53
Opacity: 100%

Step 3

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Pick the color #000000
Opacity: 55%
Uncheck the Use Global Light box before setting an Angle: 110°
Distance: 1 px
Spread: 55%
Size: 0 px

Hit OK to apply all changes.

Step 4

Select the Ribbon 2 layer, right-click with your mouse on it, and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Normal
Check the Dither box
Opacity: 100%
Style: Linear
Angle: 180°
Scale: 100%
Click on the Gradient and set these color stops:
Color stop 1 - Color: #594a2e Location: 0%
Color stop 2 - Color: #a28450 Location: 100%

Step 5

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Pick the color #171718
Opacity: 73%
Uncheck the Use Global Light box before setting an Angle: 45°
Distance: 3 px
Spread: 100%
Size: 0 px

Hit OK to apply all changes.

Step 6

Select the Ribbon 1 layer, right-click with your mouse on it and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Normal
Check the Dither box
Opacity: 100%
Style: Linear
Angle: 0°
Scale: 100%
Click on the Gradient and set these color stops:
Color stop 1 - Color: #594a2e Location: 0%
Color stop 2 - Color: #a28450 Location: 100%

Step 7

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Pick the color #171718
Opacity: 73%
Uncheck the Use Global Light box before setting an Angle: 135°
Distance: 3 px
Spread: 100%
Size: 0 px

Hit OK to apply all changes.

7. How to Duplicate and Add a Style to the Badge Shape

Step 1

Double-click with your mouse on the Layer thumbnail of the Badge layer to open the Color Picker and select the color #712020. Then hit OK.

Step 2

While the Badge layer in your Layers panel is selected, go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and name it as Badge 2.

Step 3

Double-click with your mouse on the Layer thumbnail of the Badge 2 layer to open the Color Picker and select the color #a38551. Hit OK.

Step 4

Use the shortcut Control-T to show the transform options for the shape and set the horizontal scale W: to 95% and vertical scale H: to 95%.

Step 5

Select the Badge 2 layer in your Layers panel, and then go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and name it as Badge 3.

Step 6

Double-click with your mouse on the Layer thumbnail of the Badge 3 layer to open the Color Picker and select the color #912a2a. Hit OK.

Step 7

Use the shortcut Control-T to show the transform options for the shape and set the horizontal scale W: to 98% and vertical scale H: to 98%.

Step 8

Select the Badge 3 layer in your Layers panel, and then go to Layer > Duplicate Layer and name it as Badge 4.

Step 9

Use the shortcut Control-T to show the transform options for the shape and set the horizontal scale W: to 94% and vertical scale H: to 94%.

Step 10

Select the Badge layer, right-click on it with your mouse, and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

Add a Satin style with these settings:

Blend Mode: Color Dodge and pick the color #ffffff
Opacity: 45%
Angle: 132°
Distance: 7 px
Size: 21 px
Check the Invert box

Step 11

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Pick the color #000000
Opacity: 100%
Uncheck the Use Global Light box before setting an Angle: 90°
Distance: 4 px
Spread: 0%
Size: 7 px

Hit OK to apply all changes.

Step 12

Select the Badge 2 layer in your Layers panel, hold Control and left-click on the Layer thumbnail of the layer Badge, and then go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

Step 13

While the Badge 2 layer is still selected, right-click with your mouse on it and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

In the Blending Options check the Layer Mask Hides Effects box.

Step 14

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Linear Dodge (Add)
Check the Dither box
Opacity: 18%
Style: Reflected
Angle: 90°
Scale: 100%
Click on the Gradient and set these color stops:
Color stop 1 - Color: #ffffff Location: 0%
Color stop 2 - Color: #171718 Location: 100%

Step 15

Add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Pick the color #171718
Opacity: 46%
Distance: 0 px
Spread: 23%
Size: 16 px

Hit OK to apply all changes.

Step 16

Select the Badge 3 layer, right-click it and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

Add an Inner Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Normal and pick the Color #a73d2c
Opacity: 100%
Distance: 0 px
Choke: 100%
Size: 3 px

Step 17

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Opacity: 54%
Noise: 10%
Pick the color #000000
Technique: Softer
Source: Edge
Choke: 0%
Size: 21 px
Check the Anti-aliased box

Hit OK to apply the changes.

Step 18

Select the Badge 3 layer, right-click it and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

In the Blending Options, set the Fill Opacity to 0%.

Step 19

Add an Inner Glow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Opacity: 20%
Noise: 21%
Pick the color #5e1010
Technique: Softer
Source: Center
Choke: 0%
Size: 62 px
Check the Anti-aliased box

Hit OK to apply the changes.

Step 20

Go to File > Place, select the Stripes image you downloaded from the tutorial assets, and hit Place. Move the image up a few times with your Up Arrow key and then hit Enter to place the image.

Step 21

Select the stripes layer in your Layers panel, hold Control and click on the Layer thumbnail of the layer Badge 4. Then go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

Step 22

While the stripes layer is still selected, right-click it and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

In the Blending Options set the Fill Opacity: 0%.

Step 23

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Linear Burn
Check the Dither box
Opacity: 7%
Style: Radial
Angle: 90°
Scale: 100%
Click on the Gradient and set these color stops:
Color stop 1 - Color: #171818 Location: 0%
Color stop 2 - Color: #ffffff Location: 100%

Hit OK to apply the changes.

8. How to Add and Style the Text

Step 1

Pick the Type Tool and select the Lobster 2 font. Set the Font Style to Bold Italic and the Size to 52 pt, and then pick the color #dec9a4 and write the word "Awesome" in the document.

Step 2

Pick the Type Tool again, but now select the Steelfish font. Set the Font Style to ExtraBold Italic and the Size to 30 pt, and then pick the color #a58752 and write retro vintage badge anywhere in the document.

Step 3

Select the Awesome layer in your Layers panel, and then hold the Control key and select the retro vintage badge layer. Go to Layer > New > Group from Layers and name it Texts.

Step 4

While the Texts group is selected, Right-click it and select Blending Options to add a Drop Shadow with these settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Pick the color #171718
Opacity: 75%
Uncheck the Use Global Light box before setting an Angle: 120°
Distance: 1 px
Spread: 0%
Size: 2 px

Hit OK to apply all changes.

9. How to Create a Background

Step 1

Select the Background layer, and then go to Layer > New > Layer from Background and name it as Background. This will unlock the background layer.

Step 2

While the Background layer is selected, Right-click on it with your mouse and select Blending Options to apply the following style:

Add a Pattern Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Normal
Opacity: 100%
Click on the Pattern box and choose the Blue Stripes pattern downloaded from the tutorial assets.
Scale: 50%

Step 3

Add a Gradient Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Linear Burn
Check the Dither box
Opacity: 84%
Style: Radial
Angle: 0°
Scale: 70%
Click on the Gradient and set these color stops:
Color stop 1 - Color: #dec9a4 Location: 0%
Color stop 2 - Color: #76603b Location: 100%

Step 4

Add a Color Overlay with these settings:

Blend Mode: Color
Pick the color #ffffff
Opacity: 48%

Hit OK to apply the changes.

And this should be your final result.

Congratulations! You're Done!

In this tutorial, you learned how to create a retro vintage badge in Adobe Photoshop. We started by creating the badge and ribbon shapes, and after that we styled the shapes and added some text layers. Finally, we created the background.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial, and feel free to leave your suggestions, comments, and outcomes below.

This vintage badge is a part of Retro Vintage Badges from my portfolio on GraphicRiver.