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DIY Digital Creations for a
Spooktacular Halloween

From digital pumpkin carving to spine-tingling virtual backgrounds, these simple crafts are so fun, it’s scary.

All illustrations created with Galaxy Note20 and S Pen.

Whether you celebrate by nailing a killer homemade costume, perfecting your jack-o’-lantern’s toothy grin or testing out a new pumpkin spice recipe, Halloween offers countless ways to get creative. This year, we’re turning our attention to spooky digital projects that are super easy, just as fun as the real deal—and way less messy. Read on for inspiration, plus how to use S Pen to put your personal stamp on the final product.

Spookify your social feed

The real Halloween party this year will be happening on social media. And one surefire way to stand out? Giving your posts a spooky twist that’s uniquely you. You could turn yourself into a monster in a Halloween profile picture, add a skeleton to your videos, have a “ghost” pop up in your Story. Not an artist? Plaster Halloween-themed stickers onto your photos and videos. This time of year, nothing gets ‘likes’ like the frights. (As for captions, we recommend a Halloween pun or five.)

Call into the video chat with a haunted virtual background

Why dial into your video meeting from a regular old home office when you could greet coworkers from a horror-filled dungeon or mad scientist’s laboratory? With so many people doing video calls these days, there’s a new place to express your seasonal spirit: the video chat virtual background.

A spooky illustration of a video chat virtual background with Microsoft Teams interface elements. A woman sits in front of the background. Three glowing, menacing-looking jack-o'-lanterns sit in front of two black trees. In the background is a twilight sky of orange, yellow, purple, and red with a large moon in the center. A spooky illustration of a video chat virtual background with Microsoft Teams interface elements. A woman sits in front of the background. Three glowing, menacing-looking jack-o'-lanterns sit in front of two black trees. In the background is a twilight sky of orange, yellow, purple, and red with a large moon in the center.
Let’s make a spooky scene

Follow these instructions to create a virtual background that expresses your sense of Halloween décor–or should we say “dégore.”

Three side-by-side instructional images in the PENUP app with brush and color settings at the top of the screen. The first image is a blank canvas in the with the brush settings selected. The second image is four broad digital paint strokes of yellow, orange, red, and purple. The third image shows the borders of the different paint strokes blending into each other. Three side-by-side instructional images in the PENUP app with brush and color settings at the top of the screen. The first image is a blank canvas in the with the brush settings selected. The second image is four broad digital paint strokes of yellow, orange, red, and purple. The third image shows the borders of the different paint strokes blending into each other.
Paint a bright, bold twilight sky

Open a blank canvas in your PENUP app. Then pick three colors from your color palette for the sky. Select the oil paint brush in a large size and paint three broad strokes across the canvas. The colors will blend automatically but you can also use the blending brush (it looks like a white pencil) to mix them even more.

Three side-by-side instructional images in the PENUP app with brush and color settings at the top of the screen. The first image of the twilight sky illustration, now with two cuved yellow lines facing each other. The second image shows these two curved lines becoming a half-circle that looks like a moon nestled in the sky. The third image is a close-up of this moon, now covered in craters and more detail. Three side-by-side instructional images in the PENUP app with brush and color settings at the top of the screen. The first image of the twilight sky illustration, now with two cuved yellow lines facing each other. The second image shows these two curved lines becoming a half-circle that looks like a moon nestled in the sky. The third image is a close-up of this moon, now covered in craters and more detail.
Add a harvest moon

Use your oil paintbrush to make a yellow half circle. This will become your moon. Blend in colors from your sky background. Then use the pencil brush to outline the moon in yellow and add crater details. Play around with different brushes to see which give you the details you want.

An animated image featuring instructional images from the PENUP app. The animated image begins with the twilight sky with the moon in the background, now with a thick black line drawn in the foreground. Then we see more thin lines emerging from the thick black line. It's a tree with leafless branches. Finally, the image shows two black trees in the foreground in front of the twilight sky. An animated image featuring instructional images from the PENUP app. The animated image begins with the twilight sky with the moon in the background, now with a thick black line drawn in the foreground. Then we see more thin lines emerging from the thick black line. It's a tree with leafless branches. Finally, the image shows two black trees in the foreground in front of the twilight sky.
Bring in some (un)happy little trees

Use your marker brush to add a black tree trunk to the foreground. Then use the calligraphy brush to add thinner, finer lines for the tree branches. The S Pen can adjust the thickness of these lines based on your pressure level. Add one more tree to the other side to balance out the image.

An animated image featuring instructional images from the PENUP app. The animated image begins with the spooky twilight sky scene with trees in the foreground. Then three orange and yellow circles are added to the foreground. Then outlines of jack-o'-lantern faces are added to the three orange and yellow circles. Finally, the jack-o'-lanterns are fully colored in black with their eyes and mouths glowing. The video chat virtual background is complete. An animated image featuring instructional images from the PENUP app. The animated image begins with the spooky twilight sky scene with trees in the foreground. Then three orange and yellow circles are added to the foreground. Then outlines of jack-o'-lantern faces are added to the three orange and yellow circles. Finally, the jack-o'-lanterns are fully colored in black with their eyes and mouths glowing. The video chat virtual background is complete.
Invite a few pumpkin pals

In the foreground, use the airbrush to make three orange orbs. Then select a lighter yellow and adjust the opacity to 30. This will create the appearance of a glow. Now switch to the calligraphy brush (in black) and draw the outlines of jack-o’-lantern faces on top of the orange circles. Finally, use the black marker to color in the pumpkin except for the eyes and mouth.

An animated image featuring instructional images from the PENUP app. The animated image begins with the twilight sky with the moon in the background, now with a thick black line drawn in the foreground. Then we see more thin lines emerging from the thick black line. It's a tree with leafless branches. Finally, the image shows two black trees in the foreground in front of the twilight sky.
An animated image featuring instructional images from the PENUP app. The animated image begins with the spooky twilight sky scene with trees in the foreground. Then three orange and yellow circles are added to the foreground. Then outlines of jack-o'-lantern faces are added to the three orange and yellow circles. Finally, the jack-o'-lanterns are fully colored in black with their eyes and mouths glowing. The video chat virtual background is complete.
4
  • Let’s make a spooky scene

    Follow these instructions to create a virtual background that expresses your sense of Halloween décor–or should we say “dégore.”

  • Paint a bright, bold twilight sky

    Open a blank canvas in your PENUP app. Then pick three colors from your color palette for the sky. Select the oil paint brush in a large size and paint three broad strokes across the canvas. The colors will blend automatically but you can also use the blending brush (it looks like a white pencil) to mix them even more.

  • Add a harvest moon

    Use your oil paintbrush to make a yellow half circle. This will become your moon. Blend in colors from your sky background. Then use the pencil brush to outline the moon in yellow and add crater details. Play around with different brushes to see which give you the details you want.

  • Bring in some (un)happy little trees

    Use your marker brush to add a black tree trunk to the foreground. Then use the calligraphy brush to add thinner, finer lines for the tree branches. The S Pen can adjust the thickness of these lines based on your pressure level. Add one more tree to the other side to balance out the image.

  • Invite a few pumpkin pals

    In the foreground, use the airbrush to make three orange orbs. Then select a lighter yellow and adjust the opacity to 30. This will create the appearance of a glow. Now switch to the calligraphy brush (in black) and draw the outlines of jack-o’-lantern faces on top of the orange circles. Finally, use the black marker to color in the pumpkin except for the eyes and mouth.

S Pen
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Draw on photos to make a digital jack-o’-lantern

The jack-o’-lantern is the undisputed king of Halloween crafts. But while those glowing faces look great on the front porch, we’d rather skip the knives, open flames and handfuls of pumpkin guts. Enter the digital jack-o’-lantern.

An image of two digital jack-o'-lanterns next to each other in front of a brick wall. Their faces are illustrated digitally onto a photo of real pumpkins. There are also illustrated cobwebs and spiders in the corners of the image, a misty purple floor, and a bat with red eyes in front of a moon. An image of two digital jack-o'-lanterns next to each other in front of a brick wall. Their faces are illustrated digitally onto a photo of real pumpkins. There are also illustrated cobwebs and spiders in the corners of the image, a misty purple floor, and a bat with red eyes in front of a moon.
Let’s get started

Follow these instructions to create your own shareable digital jack-o’-lantern with as many spooky (or friendly or goofy) personalities as you want. Unlike a real pumpkin, it will live on, shrivel-free, forever.

A photo of two pumpkins next to each other in front of a brick wall with the interface of the Camera app on top of the image. A photo of two pumpkins next to each other in front of a brick wall with the interface of the Camera app on top of the image.
Take a photo of your pumpkin

Open your camera app and snap a picture. Tap the photo to see the editing tools. If you want to work on your pumpkin photo later, you can also find it in the Gallery app.

A photo of two pumpkins in front of a brick wall with the Camera app's brush selection and editing interface on top of the image. A photo of two pumpkins in front of a brick wall with the Camera app's brush selection and editing interface on top of the image.
Pick your brush and color

Tap the pencil icon, then tap the icon that looks like a paintbrush and palette. There you can select your brush type, size and any colors you want to use. We recommend starting with the Basic brush at size 20 in a vibrant orange.

A photo of two pumpkins in front of a brick wall with the beginnings of jack-o'-lantern faces. Yellow eyes and mouths have been digitally illustrated onto them. The image editing interface is on top of the photo. A photo of two pumpkins in front of a brick wall with the beginnings of jack-o'-lantern faces. Yellow eyes and mouths have been digitally illustrated onto them. The image editing interface is on top of the photo.
Draw the face

With the S Pen or your finger, draw your jack-o’-lantern face on the pumpkin photo. Make it as creepy or ridiculous as you want it to be. Unlike real pumpkins, digital pumpkins give you plenty of chances for do-overs.

A photo of two digital jack-o'-lanterns in front of a brick wall with illustrated white cobwebs in the corners and an illustrated black bat in front of a white moon. The image editing interface is on top of the photo. A photo of two digital jack-o'-lanterns in front of a brick wall with illustrated white cobwebs in the corners and an illustrated black bat in front of a white moon. The image editing interface is on top of the photo.
Add frightening flair

Use the Glow Pen at the largest size to draw a full moon. Use the Basic tool at the smallest size to add a black bat in front of it, then switch to white to hang some cobwebs. To create a spooky, misty floor effect, use the Marker tool to color the floor purple. Then draw smaller black horizontal lines across it. With the Pattern/Mosaic pen tool at maximum size, blend the color together.

An image of two digital jack-o'-lanterns next to each other in front of a brick wall. Their faces are illustrated digitally onto a photo of real pumpkins. There are also illustrated cobwebs and spiders in the corners of the image, a misty purple floor, and a bat with red eyes in front of a moon. An image of two digital jack-o'-lanterns next to each other in front of a brick wall. Their faces are illustrated digitally onto a photo of real pumpkins. There are also illustrated cobwebs and spiders in the corners of the image, a misty purple floor, and a bat with red eyes in front of a moon.
Make it move

To add a little motion, save your pic then open it in Live Messages. You can make an animated spider by selecting the Ink tool at the smallest point size. Draw a white line downward to create a dangling web with our creepy-crawly friend at the end. To give your bat glowing eyes, use the same Ink tool but switch the color to red.

An image of two digital jack-o'-lanterns next to each other in front of a brick wall. Their faces are illustrated digitally onto a photo of real pumpkins. There are also illustrated cobwebs and spiders in the corners of the image, a misty purple floor, and a bat with red eyes in front of a moon.
An image of two digital jack-o'-lanterns next to each other in front of a brick wall. Their faces are illustrated digitally onto a photo of real pumpkins. There are also illustrated cobwebs and spiders in the corners of the image, a misty purple floor, and a bat with red eyes in front of a moon.
4
  • Let’s get started

    Follow these instructions to create your own shareable digital jack-o’-lantern with as many spooky (or friendly or goofy) personalities as you want. Unlike a real pumpkin, it will live on, shrivel-free, forever.

  • Take a photo of your pumpkin

    Open your camera app and snap a picture. Tap the photo to see the editing tools. If you want to work on your pumpkin photo later, you can also find it in the Gallery app.

  • Pick your brush and color

    Tap the pencil icon, then tap the icon that looks like a paintbrush and palette. There you can select your brush type, size and any colors you want to use. We recommend starting with the Basic brush at size 20 in a vibrant orange.

  • Draw the face

    With the S Pen or your finger, draw your jack-o’-lantern face on the pumpkin photo. Make it as creepy or ridiculous as you want it to be. Unlike real pumpkins, digital pumpkins give you plenty of chances for do-overs.

  • Add frightening flair

    Use the Glow Pen at the largest size to draw a full moon. Use the Basic tool at the smallest size to add a black bat in front of it, then switch to white to hang some cobwebs. To create a spooky, misty floor effect, use the Marker tool to color the floor purple. Then draw smaller black horizontal lines across it. With the Pattern/Mosaic pen tool at maximum size, blend the color together.

  • Make it move

    To add a little motion, save your pic then open it in Live Messages. You can make an animated spider by selecting the Ink tool at the smallest point size. Draw a white line downward to create a dangling web with our creepy-crawly friend at the end. To give your bat glowing eyes, use the same Ink tool but switch the color to red.

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