1.

First, start Photoshop CS and open the Palm Tree image from your samples folder.  When it opens, make the image 100% zoom.

Your screen should look something like this.

2.

Select the elliptical marquee tool from the tool box and drag your mouse to make a selection around the palm leaves as shown. (If you press Shift while you drag your mouse, the elliptical marquee tool will draw a perfect circle.)

When you have made your selection, click Select from the menu bar, and then click Feather from the select menu.

When you see the feather selection dialog, set the radius to 10 pixels, and click OK.

When you have completed your custom brush, the fact that the selection was feathered will manifest itself in a smoother brush stroke.

3.

Click Layer, click New, and click Layer Via Copy from the layer menu. You should see two layers in your layers palette. Make the background layer invisible by clicking the eye icon at its left.

Your Layers Palette should now look like the one shown below..

4.

Click Image from the menu bar and then click Trim. This will display the following dialog.

Make sure that the Transparent Pixels radio button is selected, and then click OK. This will trim away most of the unnecessary transparent pixels from the visible layer.

Your layer image should look like this.

5.

Now it is time to create your brush. Click Edit and then click Define Brush Preset in the edit menu.

When the Brush Name box appears, type a unique and recognizable name for your new brush, and click OK.

6.

Now, select the Brush tool from the toolbox, and then display the brushes palette by pressing the F5 key.

Scroll to the end of the brush presets. (Your new brush should be appended at the end of the list.)

If you let your mouse pointer hover over the brush for a moment, you will see the name for the brush in a comment box.

When you find your new brush, click on it.

Once it is selected, you can modify the size and shape, or any of the other brush attributes in the left of the brushes palette.

7.

Click Brush Tip Shape at the top of the attributes on the left of the brushes palette.

When the brush tip shape options are displayed in the right of the Brushes palette, adjust the diameter to 45 pixels.

Enter -37 degrees for the angle, and 72% for the roundness in their respective fields.

Adjust the Spacing setting to 25%.

When you are finished, click the Create New Brush icon.

8.

In the Brush Name dialog, enter a name that is unique and recognizable. Click OK to create the brush.

This new and improved custom brush will be appended to the end of the brush presets list. (It may be a good idea to delete the first palm brush you made to avoid confusion.)

9.

Close (X) the Palm Tree image, and do not save any changes to it.

Click File and then click New to create a blank canvas.

In the New dialog box, specify a height and width of 500 pixels, and also make sure to set the Colour Mode option to RGB Colour.

When you are finished setting up the canvas, click OK to create it.

10.

When the canvas appears on your screen, make sure that the brush tool is selected.

In the options bar, select Normal for the blend mode, and make sure that your new brush is selected by clicking on it in the brush palette list. (It should be appended to the end of the list.)

Choose a foreground colour from the colours palette (like green), and paint on the canvas with your new Palm Brush. Make the diameter of the brush large enough to see the texture in the stroke.

When you are finished, close (X) Photoshop CS without saving the file.