This tutorial has moved to http://craigabbott.co.uk/blog/add-wings-to-create-a-dark-and-sexy-angel/ – Sorry for the inconvenience!

Have you ever found old black and white photographs and wondered what they would look like in colour? Here is a simple short tutorial to show you how you can add colour (or change colours) in any photograph.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Final Image Preview: Click to Enlarge

Step 1

Take your black and white photograph and open it in Photoshop. The first thing we must do is unlock the background layer and add a Layer Mask. Double click the background layer in the layers panel and choose OK to unlock it. To add a layer mask choose Layer > Layer Mask.

Step 2

Next, duplicate the background layer and name it something it will relate to in the photograph, eg “Red Paint”.

Step 3

Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Make sure the Color Tick Box is checked and move the sliders until you get your desired colour. Note: Do not tamper with the Lightness Settings for now.

Step 4

Select the Layer Mask for the Red Paint layer and choose Image > Adjustments Invert. This will reset the picture back to black and white. Now, take a medium hardness brush and paint back in the areas you wish to colour with White.

Step 5

Duplicate the background layer again and name it appropriately. Eg. Gold Paint.

Repeat the previous steps with the Hue/Saturation and colour in the parts you want gold.

Step 6

Just keep repeating these steps for various colours. The more objects you choose and the more colour differences you apply the better your final image will look. Note: I tend to put all my other truck related layers below the Red Paint Layer, this means if I have taken my time with that I can afford to overlap and be slightly more messy on the layers beneath it.

Step 7

Now we can add some Layer Adjustments. With your top layer selected choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels and click OK. Adjust your levels slightly to make the image a bit more crisp.

Step 8

Create a new layer above everything, call it Channel Black. Choose Window > Channels. Cmd+Click/Ctrl+Click the Red Channel to highlight it on your image.

Choose Select > Invert. This will swap the selection for everything that is NOT selected. Set your colour to Black (hit D to reset your colours) and return to your new blank layer. Choose Edit > Fill and with Foreground Color selected click ok.

Set the Blend Mode to Soft Light and the Opacity to around 50%. This will just add a little bit of Contrast to our image.

And that is it. Obviously the more time you spend and the more colours you add the better your overall image will turn out.

]]> http://www.madtuts.com/2010/03/how-to-color-old-black-and-white-photos/feed/ 31 http://www.madtuts.com/2010/03/create-a-wayne-rooney-football-soccer-desktop-wallpaper/ http://www.madtuts.com/2010/03/create-a-wayne-rooney-football-soccer-desktop-wallpaper/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:47:37 +0000 Craig http://www.madtuts.com/?p=1187

Wayne Rooney is one of the most prolific strikers in the world right now, and in this tutorial I will be showing you how to use a variety of effects to turn an image of him, into a stunning football / soccer themed desktop wallpaper, whilst catering to the needs of several common screen resolutions.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Estimated Completion Time: 2 Hours
Final Image Preview: Click to Enlarge

Downloads Required:
Stock Images: WayneRooney
Fonts: DareDevil, Batman Forever
Brushes: Clouds, Splatter

Optional Downloads:
PSD File: rooney_tut.psd

See Me Do This:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C1RhKoKWVE

Before we start I would just like to point out that I do not support Manchester United. I am a die hard Newcastle United Supporter, and even with their fall to the Coca-Cola Championship, they will always be my team. But for the purpose of the tutorial I thought more people would be interested in Wayne Rooney than Andy Carroll. So… with my Geordie Faithful rant out the way, let us begin… =)

Step 1

Ok, first we need a photograph of a football player. I believe SportGFX.com to be one of the best sites around for free high resolution footballer images. So a huge thanks to them!

Go to SportsGFX’s football pictures forum, choose your country and your team and take your time looking for an image you like.

I chose this one.

Step 2

With your image open in Photoshop, double Click the Background Layer then click ok to unlock it. Rename the layer Rooney. Take the Pen Tool (P) and draw around your subject. Note: When using the Pen Tool zoom right in and use many anchor points to get a cleaner finish when we remove the background. If you rush this step you compromise the overall quality of the final image.

When done, use the Convert Path to Selection button in the Paths Window (Window > Paths).

Choose Select > Refine Edge. Use minimal settings, if you took your time with the Pen Tool you will get a nice clean finish. Do not use bad habits. A common bad habit is to use the Feather Tool to try and hide a rushed selection. It will look bad, don’t do it. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection. This will leave us with Wayne on a blank canvass.

Step 3

Choose Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and just make the colours a bit more vibrant.

Step 4

Create a new layer and name it Background. Fill it with black and place it beneath the Rooney Layer.

Step 5

Duplicate the Rooney Layer. Name it Rooney Clouds and drag it below the Rooney Layer. Hide the Rooney Layer so that only the Rooney Clouds layer is visible. At the minute they both look the same so it can get a little confusing.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Step 6

Un-hide the Rooney Layer. Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to resize and reposition Wayne more in the centre.

Step 7

Next, create a new layer and name it Clouds Left and position it under the Rooney Layer. Download the Clouds Brushes and take the brush called Pincel Muestreado 6. Increase the brush size and drop it onto the layer using a single click and the colour White.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All and use a Soft Round Brush and the colour Black to erase the overlapping parts of the cloud.

Step 8

Create a new layer and name it “Clouds Right”. Repeat step 7 except use the brush Pincel Muestreado 8.

Step 9

Duplicate the Rooney Layer again. Name it Rooney Back Blur. Cmd-Click/Ctrl+Click the layer mask to highlight the outline of Wayne, then fill with White.

Choose Select > Deselect to cancel the outline selection. Next, choose Filter > Blur > Radial Blur. Set the Amount to 100, the Method to Zoom and the Quality to Best.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the layer and choose Duplicate. Click OK. Hold down Shift and select both of the Blur Layers, Cmd-Click/Right-Click and choose Merge Layers. Then position the Layer below the Rooney Layer.

Step 10

Open your stock image up again in a new Photoshop document. Choose the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) and draw a circle around the ball. Choose Edit > Copy and return to the Desktop Wallpaper document. Choose Edit Paste to paste the ball in. Name the layar Ball.

Repeate the previous step for Duplicating and Blurring and name the Blur Layer “Ball Back Blur”.

Step 11

Create a new layer and call it Spatter. Download the Splatter Brush Pack then choose the Clone Stamp Tool (S). Choose one of the Splatter Brushes. You want one that has lots of individual droplets. Choose the Rooney Layer, hold down Alt and choose somewhere near his right shoulder, (I have marked my target are in green) then return to your Spatter Layer and drop the clone stamp tool a few times around that area. You can remove the ‘Squareness’ by simply erasing some of the droplets with the Eraser Tool (E).

Repeat this a few times for different areas (including the ball). The target is set by whatever layer is selected. So be sure to select the right layer for your target, and make sure you drop the clone stamp tool on the Spatter Layer only. Drag the layer under the Ball Layer.

Step 12

Duplicate the Spatter Layer. Name it Spatter Back Blur 1. Choose Filter > Blur > Radial Blur. Again set the Amount to 100, the Method to Zoom and the quality to Best.

Duplicate the Spatter Layer again and call it Spatter Back Blur 2. Repeat the Radial Blur, except this time make the Amount 20. Position both the Spatter Blur Layers beneath the Spatter Layer.

Step 13

Choose the Rooney Clouds layer and move Wayne into a more offset position. Choose a large soft brush and the colour Black. Then on the layer mask remove his legs and blend him into the clouds. Position the Rooney Clouds Layer above the Cloud Right Layer.

Step 14

Create a new layer above the Rooney Clouds Layer and name it Flag. Take the Pen Tool (P). Draw a curves shape off to the left of Wayne but overlapping his torso.

Choose the Convert Path to Selection Tool from the Paths Pallet. Fill the shape with white.

Choose the Pen Tool (P) again and draw a similar shape but on a smaller scale inside the existing one and fill it with Red.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All and choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M). Drag a rectangle over the left hand edge of the Shape. Then choose the Gradient Tool (G) and with a Black to Transparent Gradient selected draw in a gradient to fade out the edges of the flag.

Duplicate the Flag Layer and use the Free Transform Tool to Rotate and Position a flag on the other side.

Choose the Flag Copy Layer Cmd-Click/Right-Click and choose Merge Down. Make sure you Preserve the Mask. Use the Pen Tool (P) and draw a thin shape along the bottom edges of the flag and fill them with Black to give it a bit of depth. Note: Make sure you don’t have the Layer Mask selected when you fill with Black of you will simply delete some of your flag.

Step 15

Download this Image of the Manchester United Badge. I found this using Google Images with the key words “MUFC Logo”. Try to find a clean image with a decent size resolution.

Paste it into the document above the Rooney Layer and name the layer Badge. Because it is so clean we can simply use the magic wand tool to remove the background. Set the Tolerance to 50 and remove all things white and background like.

Resize and Reposition it using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T).

Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options.  Set the following Options.

Step 16

Download and install the Dare Devil Font. Type Wayne in Red and Rooney in White. Make them two separate layers then you can position them closer together for effect. You can Shift select both layers and choose Link Layers so they become one movable object if you wish.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the Badge Layer and choose Copy Layer Style. Cmd-Click/Right-Click the two text layers and choose Paste Layer Style. This will add the effects we just created on the Badge Layer.

You might notice from the text I varied the lower and uppercase letters to make it look how I wanted.

Use the text tool to write the letters i and o. This makes our 10 as the DareDevil font does not contain any numbers. You can rename the layer to 10 to save confusion.

Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Use the following settings.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Again add a gradient to fade the side of it like we did with the flag using a Grey and White Gradient. Position the layer above the Badge Layer.

Step 17

Next download and install the Batman Forever Font. I got the text by looking up Wayne Rooney on Wikipedia. You can make it up or get it from another source it doesn’t really matter. Obviously the idea is to write something Cool about the player though.

Set the same effects as previously except on the Outer Glow change the Size to 3 instead of 5.

Step 18

Next add the sponsors. I found all the sponsors on the official MUFC website and just Google Image searched each brand name, followed by the world Logo. eg Audi Logo.

Paste each one in and name the Layer appropriately. Then remove the background and Resize and Position it. You can add all the layers into a folder to make life easier if you wish.

Step 19

Now it is just a case of adding your mark to your wallpaper. Add it somewhere in the mix so that people can’t simply cut it off the edge and post it as their own. After all it is your work and your name should go with the image wherever it goes.

Click to enlarge the final image.

Step 20

Because we have made our image so large, now we can simply resize and reposition each part to make a wallpaper any resolution we want. For the sake of the tutorial I am going to make mine a Wide 1280×800.

Choose Image > Canvass Size and set the resolution to 1280×800 pixels. When it asks you about clipping just click ok.

Choose the very top layer, hold down Shift and then select all of the others except for the Background Layer. Use the Free Transform Tool and resize all the whole image to fit. Then its just a case of moving around each layer to fit the new resolution.

If you would like to see the video of me making this wallpaper you can view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C1RhKoKWVE

Thanks for taking the time to view this tutorial. Leave comments and feedback below. Don’t forget to upload your Photoshop pictures to our Facebook Page.

In this tutorial I will be showing you how to create a Vampire with a burning flesh effect, using blending options, source images and Photoshop brushes.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated Completion Time: 1 Hours
Final Image Preview:

Downloads Required:
Stock Images: Girl, Eyeball, Rust Texture
Brushes: Cracks

Optional Downloads:
PSD File: fleshburn_tut.psd

Rather than just show you the steps to make the burning flesh effect, I have decided to theme the entire artwork so it has a context in which it could be used. The theme is a vampire burning in the sunlight. I am aware that some of the techniques I will be showing you, I have already used in a previous Vampire Tutorial.

Step 1

Download the Source Image and open it in Photoshop, Duplicate the background layer and name it “Contrast”. Select Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast from the top toolbar. Increase the contrast so the image is made more vibrant.

Step 2

Download the image of the Eyeball and paste it into a new Photoshop Document. Use the Circular Marquee Tool (M) to draw around the pupil and iris. Note: Hold down shift to constrain the proportions and keep your circle perfect.

Choose Edit > Copy and return to our artwork, then choose Edit > Paste to drop the eye in, name the layer “Left Eye Base”. Resize and reposition the eye using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T).

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask to the eye. Layer masks enable us to delete parts (like the eraser), but bring them back if we change our mind (unlike the eraser).

Using the colour Black, and a Small Soft Brush, carefully remove parts of the eye so that it appears more natural.

Duplicate the layer, and name it “Left Eye Colour”. Set the Blend Mode to Multiply, and choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation from the Top Toolbar. Tick the Colourize Box and edit the settings.

Next choose Image > Adjustments > Levels and adjust the value on the right to brighten it up a bit.

Step 3

Repeat Step 2 for the other eye, but obviously name the layers “Right Eye Base” and “Right Eye Colour”.

Step 4

For the teeth, create a New Layer and call it “Left Tooth”. Then choose the Contrast Layer, take the Pen Tool (P) and draw a triangle on the front incisor tooth. Choose Window > Paths and click the Load Path As Selection Button (highlighted with the green arrow).

Once you have the path loaded, choose Edit > Copy. Select the Left Tooth Layer we made just before and use Edit > Paste to paste in the piece of tooth. Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to stretch it out and position it to look like a fang.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and make it a bit whiter.

Again activate the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T). Cmd-Click/Right-Click the selection and choose Warp. Stretch the top of the tooth about to take up the gaps and cut out any overlap. You can also tidy up rough edges with the Eraser Tool (E).

Create a new layer above the Left Tooth Layer and name it “Left Tooth Shadow”. Take a Soft Brush and draw a black line up the inside edges of the tooth.

Set the Blend Mode to Overlay then Cmd-Click/Right-Click the layer and choose Create Clipping Mask.

Step 5

Duplicate the Left Tooth Layer and call it “Right Tooth”. Position it over the right incisor and blend it in using the Warp Tool and Eraser like we did earlier. Repeat the steps for the Shadowing and name the layer “Right Tooth Shadow”.

Step 6

Download and install the Cracks Brush Pack from Brusheezy.com. Create a new layer and call it “Cheek Crack”. Using the colour Black and the Brush Crack4, drop a single click on the layer. Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to resize and position it on her cheek.

Select the Warp Tool like we did on the teeth and try to make the crack fit the contour of the girls face.

Step 7

Create a new layer and call it “Crack Colour”. Position it below the Cheek Crack Layer. Set the Blend Mode to Soft Light and the Opacity to 57%. Then, using a Small Soft Brush and the colour Red, subtly add some colour along the cracks.

Step 8

Duplicate the Cheek Crack Layer and call it Cheek Crack Light. Choose Image > Adjustments > Invert, to make the crack White instead of Black.

Next, choose Filter > Blur > Radial Blur. Set the Blur Method to Zoom and the Quality to 100.

Step 9

Create a new layer and name it Forehead Crack. Use the brush Crack5, and, just like before, use the Free Transform Tool to resize and position it.

Again, warp it to fit the contour of the girls head and colour in the lines on the Crack Colour Layer. Then duplicate it, invert it, and add the Radial Blur just like we did before.

Use the Eraser Tool to tidy it up where it overlaps the side of her head or where her hair would be covering it.

Step 10

Create a new layer, name it “Sun Burn”. Use a Large Soft Brush, and with the colour Red, draw some red down the side of the girls head, stick to the left hand side of her face though, and avoid the cracks we have just drawn in.

Set the Blend Mode to Soft Light and the Opacity to 40%.

Step 11

Create a new layer and name it “Sun Burn Intensifier”. Take a Large Soft Brush and the colour Black, draw over the top of the Red we did in the previous step.

Set the blend mode to Overlay and the Opacity to 66%.

Step 12

Download the Rust Texture. Or, alternatively, go into Google Images and type in “Rust Texture”. Choose a texture that has blisters and maybe some peeling paint. Then paste it into your artwork. Name the layer “Texture”.

Set the blend mode to Soft Light and use a large soft eraser to remove any parts you do not want.

Use the Warp Tool again to make the blisters fit the girls face. Then use an eraser to delete out any overlap over the side of her face and the cracks.

Step 13

Create a new layer, name it “Shadow”. Then take a Large Soft Brush and the colour Black. Blank out the right hand side of the picture up to her nose, as if the light was coming in over her shoulder at the left hand side of the picture.

Set the Opacity to 74% then using a Small Soft Eraser remove the black over the right eye to make it appear as if its glowing.

Step 14

Create a new layer and call it “Lightsource Blur”. Take a Large Soft Brush and the colour White. Draw some White into the top left of the picture.

Choose Filter > Blur > Motion Blur and adjust the settings.

Step 15

Create a new layer and call it “Lightsource Mild”. Again take a Large Soft Brush and White. Draw in some more light at the top left of the image.

Set the Opacity to 27%.

Step 16

Create a new layer and call it “Lightsource Intense”. Again use your Large Soft Brush and draw some more White in, this time keep it right near the top left.

Thats it! All that is left to do is sign it, and we are all finished.

These techniques obviously are good for a Vampire in sunlight, but they can also be used to make posters with shock value, such as Sun Bed / Skin Cancer Awareness.

Thanks for visiting MadTuts.com, be sure to add your efforts to the Facebook Fan Page.

]]> http://www.madtuts.com/2010/02/burned-cracked-vampire-flesh-effect/feed/ 24 http://www.madtuts.com/2010/02/manipulate-water-to-create-a-splash-artwork-in-photoshop/ http://www.madtuts.com/2010/02/manipulate-water-to-create-a-splash-artwork-in-photoshop/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:24:24 +0000 Craig http://www.madtuts.com/?p=463

In this tutorial I will be showing you how to take a simple photograph and turn it into a raging sea effect. Using background removal techniques, brushes and lighting effects you can create your very own surreal ‘God of the ocean’.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Difficulty: Advanced
Estimated Completion Time: 3 Hours
Final Image Preview:

Downloads Required:
Stock Images: Girl, Background, Guy In Water
Fonts: Base 02
Brushes: Water1, Water2, Clouds

Optional Downloads:
PSD File: splash_tut.psd, water_guy.psd

I would just like to thank Lorna Christie for the stock photograph of Sara Coulson. Lorna is a local photographer and the owner of Memorie Photography. Check out her website at memoriephotography.co.uk.

Step 1

Open your background image, and then paste in your image of the girl. Name the layer “Girl”. Resize the image of the girl using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) until you have her roughly into position.

Step 2

Select the Pen Tool (P). Using a series of clicks, draw around the edges of the girl, I followed the dress line and missed out her shoes at the bottom, as we are going to have her submerged in the water. NOTE: The more clicks you use the smother your image will be, so it is worth taking the time to zoom in and get right into all the corners as best you can.

Step 3

Once you have the girl all mapped out with the pen tool choose Window > Paths. Choose the Load Path As Selection button.

Step 4

With your path selected, choose Select > Refine Edge. Try not to use too much feathering, it is a common bad habit to try and use the feathering option to make up for a bad selection. Make sure your selection with the pen tool is clean and you should not need the feather tool so much.

One you click ok you should return to your image. Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection. This will hide the background and you should be left with the girl and the background image.

Step 5

We are going to add an effect to our girl layer to make her appear wet. Choose Filter > Artistic > Plastic Wrap. Adjust your settings to its not too over the top. You want it to be subtle enhancements, not overpowering.

Step 6

With the plastic wrap applied, darken the image down slightly. Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Just tweak it so its not as vibrant. Make sure you have the thumbnail of the girl selected, not the layer mask.

Step 7

Next we need to start adding some waves. Download and install Water1 and Water2 brush packs from Obsidian Dawn.  With the brushes installed, I found it easier to drop it down on a new document, and then copy and paste it into our artwork. I find it easier to resize the image than the brush size.

So create a new document, and make the canvas size huge. Make it 3500×3500 as the biggest brush preset is 2500 we will have plenty of room to work with. Fill the background with black.

Create a new layer and choose the brush Wave1. Set the brush size to 2500 and using White do a single click on the background.

Next, select the entire canvas choosing Select > All (Cmd+A/Ctrl+A). Choose Edit > Copy (Cmd+C/Ctrl+C) and then return to our artwork. Choose Edit > Paste (Cmd+V/Ctrl+V) to paste it into our document. Name the layer “Wave1″. Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to resize and position it at the bottom left hand side of our girl.

Step 8

Repeat the last step, only this time when using the Free Transform Tool, Cmd-Click/Right-Click on the wave and choose Flip Horizontal. Position the flipped wave at the right hand side of the girl. Name the layer “Wave2″. NOTE: Try to make the sizes a little bit different, as this will make it look less of an exact copy of the other side.

Step 9

Choose a different brush, this time use Splash1. Do the same thing as before, dropping it into the blank document and pasting it over. Call this layer “Splash1″ and position it between the other two waves.

Step 10

Now, this is where your artistic side comes in. We need to colour the waves to make them look solid and not an empty shell. Create a new layer above our Girl Layer but below Wave1. Name it “Wave Colour”.

Choose a the Eyedropper Tool (I) and on the Girl Layer select a colour at the base of the wave.

With your new colour choose the Brush Tool (B). Choose a 45px soft round brush and draw in some colour on the Wave Colour layer.

You cannot simply use the same colour for the whole wave because the lighting changes throughout. So keep selecting different colours from the base using the Eyedropper Tool (I) as you progress along, You can even put darker streaks through the waves to create a more broken water effect.

Step 11

Now we need to add some spray, to make it really look like those waves are smashing against our subject. There are various spray brushes in the brush packs we downloaded. Create a new layer and call it “Spray”. Choose a few different brushes and with varying size, put some spray in.

Step 13

There is a brush called Splash1 which is perfect for the rock at the base of the dress.

Paste it in and name the layer “Splash 2″. Position it the same way as earlier using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T).

Step 14

Put a couple more various splashes in the sea using different brushes out of the brush packs. Name the layers to fit.

Step 15

Now we need to add some water to the girl in our picture. Use the waterfall6 brush and paste it into our document as before.

Use a large soft eraser and remove the pool from the bottom of the water fall.

Copy and paste it into our artwork as before, name the layer “Drips1″ and use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to resize it to fit the front fold of the dress. Do not constrain the proportions, squash it horizontally and stretch it out vertically to get a better effect.

Next, use the Free Transform Tool again, but Cmd-Click/Right-Click the selection and choose Warp. Bent and warp your water so that it fits the curve of the fold a bit better.

Step 16

Repeat the previous step for a few more cascades.

Step 17

Take the brush waterfall3 and drop it onto the blank document.

Take the eraser and remove the pool again. Then paste it into our artwork and name the layer “Blast1″. Use the Free Transform Tool to position it on the left next to the top fold of the dress.

Use the warp tool to make it look more curved, it looks like it is defying gravity a bit right now.

Once you are happy with your water blast, take the eraser tool and carefully take out the bits that overlap the dress. You can change the opacity a bit also to make it less white.

Step 18

Repeat the step for another water blast and name it Blast 2.

Step 19

Again repeat the step and name it Blast3. Only this time position the layer below the Girl Layer. Horizontal flip the image like we did with the wave earlier and position it on the right hand side. It will go behind her because of the layer positioning.

Step 20

Add one final blast but use just the tips so that it looks more like drips.

Step 21

Take the falling1 brush and drop it onto our blank document.

Just like before use a soft eraser on the bottom edge.

Paste it into our artwork and call it Fall1. Position the layer above Blast3 and use the Free Transform and Warp Tools to position it coming over her arm.

Step 22

Using the brush falling2, repeat the last step calling the layer Fall2. Change the opacity to around 78%.

Step 23

(PSD file for this step – Optional Download)

Download the image of the Guy In The Water. Open it in photoshop and use the Pen Tool (P) to draw around him like we did earlier with the girl. Keep as much of the splash as you can but just cut a rough edge around under him.

Delete the background using Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. If the option is not available its because the background layer is locked. Double click the background layer and click OK to unlock it.

Now take the Pen Tool (P) again and cut around the guys left arm. The hand is not present in the picture so we are going to remove the whole arm. Load Path As Selection when done.

Choose the Pen Tool (P) again and draw around the guys right arm. Load the path as a selection.

Duplicate the layer, then choose Select > Inverse and ensuring you have the layer mask selected, fill with Black. It will look like nothing has happened, but you have actually just got the guys arm left on this layer. Use the Free Transform Tool, Flip it Horizontally and rotate it into position.

As you can see his arm now goes off the side of the image. So choose Image > Canvas Size and make a relative adjustment to the width.

Click on one of the layers, then hold down Shift and click the other to highlight them both. Cmd-Click/Right-Click and choose Merge Layers. This will make our guy all one once more.

Usually now we would focus on making the join in the arm smoother, but for the size this guy will be resized to it wont matter as you wont see it anyway.

Copy and Paste him into our artwork, name the layer Man and resize him using the Free Transform Tool.

Step 28

Use the same brush as we used on the rock earlier, and on a new layer called “Man Splash” paste it in and resize it to mask the water already present.

Choose the Man Layer. Take the Sponge Tool (O), you may have to choose it by holding on the icon. It is in the same panel as the Burn and Dodge Tools. Set the Mode to Desaturate, the flow to 100%, then colour in the wave to take the orange out of it.

Step 29

Create a new layer called “Eyes” at the very top of the layers panel. Use the Pen Tool (P) and draw a path around the eye of the girl, just the iris and pupil do not include the white.

Choose the Circular Marquee Tool (M). Again like the Sponge Tool you may have to choose it from the Drop Down Menu. Holding down Alt, draw a circle over the pupil. This will leave us with just the iris selected.

Now fill it with the colour blue (#00aeef).

Step 30

Repeat step 29 for the other eye.

Step 31

With both eyes done, choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Set an inner glow using #bee7ff as the colour.

Step 32

Find the original background photograph in the layers panel, and duplicate it. Name it “Wet Rocks”. Choose Filters > Artistic > Plastic Wrap and do the same thing we did to the girl.

Use a large soft Eraser and remove the plastic wrap from everything but the rocks, the sky, the waves, the sea. Set the Blend Mode to Overlay, and reduce the Opacity to somewhere around 30.

Step 33

Choose the origninal Background Image. Select the Pen Tool (P). Draw along the horizon to select the sky. As always, load the path as a selection.

Choose Edit > Copy followed by Edit > Paste. Name the layer “Sky Dark”. Choose Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Adjust the sky.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask to our layer. Using a large round soft Brush, remove the tip of the wave so it becomes bright again, and also run your brush along the solid join of the horizon to blend it in a bit. Remember on a Layer Mask Black removes White replaces.

Now there is still a definite join where the sky meets the horizon. Use the Free Transform Tool on the Sky Dark Layer. Drag the skyline down into the sea slightly.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Levels and darken it down a bit further.

Step 35

Download and install the Clouds Brush Pack from the left side bar on Deviant Art. We will be using two brushes from this pack. Pincel Muestreado 3 and 8.

Take the brush Pincel Muestreado 3 and drop it onto our blank document like we were doing earlier with the Water Brushes.

Copy and Paste the image into our Artwork and name the layer “Clouds1″. Position the Clouds1 layer above the Dark Sky layer.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Lower the brightness level to make your clouds darker.

Take a soft round eraser and delete any overlap.

Step 35

Repeat the last step but use the brush Pincel Muestreado 8.

Paste the image in and name the layer “Clouds2″. Position the image behind the girl and again, touch it up with a soft eraser.

Step 36

The sky looks a little bit too blue still for my liking. So, choose the Sky Dark Layer and from the menu choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Tween the Saturation to make the sky a bit more gray.

Step 37

Now we will add the lightning. Create a new layer above the Dark Sky Layer and call it “Lightning”. Choose the Gradient Tool (G) and choose the Black and White default gradient. Draw a short gradient in. If you draw your line too long the lightning will not be sharp and the effect wont work. The red line below represents my gradient.

Now choose Filter > Render > Difference Clouds.

Invert the difference clouds by choosing Image > Adjustments > Invert.

Now set the Blend Mode to Screen.

Resize and position the layer. Use a large soft eraser to remove any unwanted clouds that are not part of the main bolt. Also touch up the top of the bolt to blend it into the clouds etc.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Tick the Colorize Box and make the lightning bolt blue.

Step 38

Duplicate the Lightning Layer, and call it Lightning Blur. On the duplicated layer choose Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set the radius to about 23 and click ok.

Step 39

Create a new layer right at the top of the pallet, name it “Rain”. Ensure you have Black and White as default colours (Press D) Choose Filter > Render > Clouds.

Choose Filter > Add Noise. Set the amount to 63, check Gaussian and Monochromatic.

Set the Blend Mode to Screen. Then choose Filter > Blur > Motion Blur and set the angle to 70. Make the Distance 50 and click ok.

Next, Choose Image > Adjustments > Levels and play with the settings until you are happy with your rain effect.

To finish the rain, use the Free Transform Tool just to stretch the layer off the top and bottom of the Artwork, as the noise effect gathers at the top and bottom and gives this cluttered effect.

Step 40

Choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation. Just to brighten the pic up a bit.

Step 41

Now all that is left to do is sign your artwork. I chose the font Base02 from dafont.com and positioned it along the horizon. Changing the Opacity to 30%.

And that is it… Please leave any comments or suggestions below, they are appreciated!

]]> http://www.madtuts.com/2010/02/manipulate-water-to-create-a-splash-artwork-in-photoshop/feed/ 55 http://www.madtuts.com/2010/01/create-an-avatar-character/ http://www.madtuts.com/2010/01/create-an-avatar-character/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:14:31 +0000 Craig http://www.madtuts.com/?p=641

In this tutorial I will showing you how to create an Avatar character, like those featured in the movie by James Cameron, from a stock photograph using the Liquify Tool and a series of Layer Masks.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated Completion Time: 1 Hours
Final Image Preview:

Downloads Required:
Stock Images: Angry Guy, Leather Texture, Logo

Optional Downloads:
PSD File: avatar_tut.psd

I am a bit late posting this tutorial as the Movie has been out since Dec 18th… However, here it is! If you feel I have missed anything, if you have a better suggestion,  or if you just think this tutorial was helpful, be sure to let me know in the comments below!

Step 1

Open your image in Photoshop. Choose your source image wisely, front facing portraits are much easier to apply this effect on. Once you get people on funny angles the eyes become more difficult as perspective has to be taken into consideration.

I found my Angry Guy Stock Image on SXC.hu.

Step 2

Choose Filter > Liquify. Choose the Bloat Tool (B) from the left Tool Bar, and with a brush that covers your entire eye click and hold until your eye is large enough for your liking. Do this for both eyes if both eyes are visible.

As you can see, my Angry Guy has lost his angry frown. So take the Forward Warp Tool (W) and pull his eyebrow back down.

Now, again using the Forward Warp Tool (W), spread the nose out. Avatars have wide flat noses. Click OK when you are happy.

Step 3

Choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and draw a square around your eye. Choose Edit > Copy then Edit > Paste. Name the layer “Eye”.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Make the eye yellow like the Native Avatars.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to apply a layer mask to the Eye Layer. Now use the layer mask to erase the background of the eye and the pupil, leaving just the iris in yellow.

Step 4

Create a new layer and call it “Skin Blue”. Take a Blue Colour (#0000ff) and fill the layer. Set the Blend Mode to Multiply.

Now Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All and do the same thing as before, removing the blue to make the eye appear clean.

The eye looks too red, so take the Sponge Tool (O), set the Mode to Desaturate and take the colour out of the eye on the Background Layer.

Choose the Background Layer. Choose Image > Adjustments > Levels just to brighten it up a little bit.

Step 5

Download the Leather Texture and paste it into your Artwork. Name the layer Leather Skin 1. Set the Blend Mode to Overlay.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate. Then choose Image > Adjustments > Levels to brighten up the leather.

Chose Edit > Free Transform. Cmd-Click/Right-Click the selection and choose Warp. Pull the Leather Texture to fit the shape of the guys head.

Set the Opacity to 50% and choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Use a Large Soft Eraser and tidy up the edges.

Step 6

Repeat the Leather Effect on the bottom half of the face and neck. Name the layer Leather Skin 2.

Step 7

Take the pen tool and draw the outline of a stripe on the left of the guys face.

Load the path as a selection, and fill with Dark Blue (#060026).

Duplicate the layer and use the Free Transform Tool to rotate and position a new stripe.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the layer in the layers panel and choose Merge Down. On the merged layer set the opacity to 60%. Again add a layer mask, and remove the over hanging edges with a large soft eraser.

Step 8

Create a new layer and call it Nose Stripe. Set the Blend Mode to Overlay. Take the Brush called Rough Round Bristle and draw a stripe from the guys forehead right down the centre of his nose using the colour #0000ff.

The stripe is also continued onto the chin, and I made it wider on his forehead then on his nose.

Step 9

Next create a new layer and call it Glowing Dots. Choose a small soft brush and use a series of clicks to put some dots on your avatar. NOTE: Only do one side of his face for now.

Duplicate The Layer. Then using the Free Transform Tool, Cmd-Click/Right-Click the selection and choose Flip Horizontally. Position the dots on the right hand side of the face.

Rename the layers Glowing Dots Left and Glowing Dots Right.

On the Glowing Dots Left Layer. Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Add an Inner and Outer Glow.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the Glowing Dots Left Layer and choose Copy Layer Style. Cmd-Click/Right-Click the Glowing Dots Right Layer and choose Paste Layer Style. This will add our glows to the right hand side also.

Create a Layer Mask on the Glowing Dots Right Layer (Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All). Use a large soft eraser to just take out the right hand side of the dots and blend them into the shadow.

Step 10

Download the Avatar Logo and Paste it into your Artwork. Name the layer Logo and change the Blend Mode to Screen. There is a lot of black surrounding our image so don’t position the logo where this black will be incorporated as we are going to remove it in a moment.

Once into position use a large soft eraser just to tidy up the edges that are visible around the logo.

Step 11

Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and draw a rectangle around the picture and the logo omitting all the pointless black around the image.

Choose Image > Crop.

Step 12

Choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast.

And that is all there is to it!

Please leave comments and suggestions, they are greatly appreciated!

Ever been planning a great event, and you just can’t find a decent invitation without paying a fortune? In this tutorial I will be showing you how to use a variety of techniques to create your very own professional, custom party invitations.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated Completion Time: 1-2 Hours
Final Image Preview:

Downloads Required:
PSD File: invites_template.psd
Stock Images: Texture, Envelope, Skyline, WineGlass, Beer Glass, Approved Stamp, Streamers
Fonts: Futura Light BT, Futura XBlk BT, Daisy Script, Lucida Handwriting

Optional Downloads:
PSD File: invites_tut.psd

Step 1

First download the template file. Upon opening this you will see there are three columns. The document represents an A4 sheet of paper. Each column represents one invitation. So when we are finished you will be printing three invites per page.

Step 2

We will be using the centre column. For no reason other than your workspace is not as limited. Start by creating a new layer, name it invite and draw a rectangle in the centre column with the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), leaving a reasonable border. Fill it with colour using the Paint Bucket Tool.

Step 3

Download a texture to apply to the invitation. www.imageafter.com have a massive library of royalty free textures. I chose this one. Paste it into your document and shrink it to a managable size using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T / Ctrl+T). Duplicate this layer, then position the two textures one above the other. This is to cover a larger area but keep the pattern small. Cmd+Click (Right-Click) the duplicated layer and choose Merge Down. Name the layer “Texture”.

Cmd-Click (Right-Click) the Texture Layer and choose Create Clipping Mask. This will make our pattern fit our invite. A Clipping Mask means the layer you have selected will only show up on what is on the layer underneath it.

Step 4

Next we will be creating somewhere for our photographs to go. Create a new layer. Call it “Upright Separator”. Choose the Rectangular Marquee tool (M) and draw a narrow rectangle down one side of your invite.

Fill it with White. The problem with this is it blends into the background so we cannot see where it is overlapping the sides of the invite. So i filled my background with a different colour for now. I chose Green as this will not conflict with my Purple colour scheme.

Again cmd-Click the layer and create a Clipping Mask. Then rotate it counter-clockwise slightly using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T).

Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and apply a drop shadow to the Layer.

Step 5

Create a new layer and name it “SideBar”. Fill the layer with a colour, I used #181d26 which is a really dark (almost black) blue. and again make it a Clipping Mask. Don’t panic when it seems to wipe everything we have just done.

With the SideBar Layer still selected, hold down cmd and click the thumbnail of the Upright Separator Layer. This should highlight the upright selection. Then choose Layer > Layer Mask > Hide Selection. This will make our Upright Separator show through from the layer below.

Next, with the layer mask selected, choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) drag a rectangle roughly the side of the blue section to the right of the Upright Separator. Cmd+Click (Right-Click) inside the this selection and choose “Transform Selection”. Then rotate and move it to fit the entire right hand side and press Return.

Making sure your Layer Mask is selected, fill the selection with Black and the Wallpaper Texture should show through once more.

Step 6

Create a new layer and name it “White Box”. Again make it a Clipping Mask and drag it below the “Upright Separator” Layer. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to draw a rectangle over your Texture and fill it with White.

Now we are going to have to start and think of a colour scheme. I am going to go with Pink and Purple. Just because they are typical girl colours, and I am making my particular invite for a girl. When you have decided create a new layer above the White Box layer. Name it “Top Separator”. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool and draw a rectangle just overlapping the top of the White Box slightly.

Fill the rectangle with a colour, it does not matter which colour you choose because we will be applying a gradient overlay. Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Select Gradient Overlay, and choose a Pink to White gradient. Also choose Bevel & Emboss. Set them to the settings below.

Rotate your Top Separator slightly clockwise using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T / Ctrl + T).

Step 7

Download the picture of the Envelope. Paste it in above the White Box Layer and name the layer Envelope 1. Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T / Ctrl+T) to resize and rotate it into position.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Tick the box that says ‘Colorize’ and make your envelope a yellowy colour. Click OK

Next, choose Image > Adjustments > Levels. Edit the input in the left hand box to darken your envelope.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Then click the thumbnail of the envelope (not the layer mask we have just created), Use the Magic Wand Tool (W). Set the tolerance to 30 and click just off to one side of the yellow envelope to highlight the white background that came with the image. Click back onto the layer mask and fill the selection with black to remove it. This will stop the white poking out the top of our Top Seperator.

Now simply duplicate the Envelope Layer, call it Envelope 2 and use the Free Transform Tool to position it. NOTE: Sometimes duplicating a layer can remove Clipping Masks from the levels above the duplicate. Simply Cmd-Click (Right-Click) each of the layers and create the clipping masks once more if this happens.

Step 8

Next we need to add some text to our invite. I have used a font called Futura XBlk BT. Type the name of the Birthday Boy/Girl and choose a size that goes from one side of the invite to the other. In my case this is 43pt.

Now, choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. We are going to add a Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Bevel & Emboss and a Gradient Overlay.

And it should look something like…

Next Duplicate the layer. Again choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and change the settings to the following.

This will give the text a shiny almost iPhone type effect.

Step 9

Ok now we need to actually state what the invitation is for. Choose a font, I chose Daisy Script. Type “is turning X” with X representing how old the person is. I have went for 21 as these are usually pretty big events worthy of such a high class invitation.

Again choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Add a Drop Shadow, Outer Glow, Gradient Overlay and a Stroke using the following settings.

Now we are starting to have something resembling a party invitation.

Step 10

Now we will add some photographs. This will totally create a custom feel to our invitations. Choose a photograph you like and paste it into a new layer above our “is turning x” layer. Name the layer Photo1. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) to crop your image and get it to a size (using the Free Transform Tool Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) where it will fit nicely into our sidebar.

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Now we have to unlink the layer mask from the photograph, simply click the chain in between the two thumbnails.

Choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and draw a rectangle around your photo, ensuring you remain clear of the edge of the invite, the text and the white upright. Then, Cmd-Click/Right-Click this selection and choose Transform Selection.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the selection again and choose Distort. You can now drag the right hand edge to fit the taper of the White Upright. you can also put a chamfer on the bottom edge, but leave the top and left hand edges square.

Now set your Background Colour to Black (Hit D to default to Black and White, then hit X to swap them round) and, making sure you have the Layer Mask selected, hit Delete. Now you have your photograph shaped to fit, the cool thing about un-linking the Layer Mask is you can drag the layer around, leaving the mask in the same place. So you can choose the exact bit of the photograph you want in the window.

Now, im a big fan of vivid colour. So click on the thumbnail of Photo1 (Not the Layer Mask) and choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate. Immediately after, choose Edit > Fade Desaturate. Set the levels to around 70%. This will put a little bit of colour back into the Black and White photo.

Next choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and add a grey Stroke to the Photo.

Step 11

Repeat Step 10 for a few more photos to fill up the Side Bar. It is now also ok to chamfer the top edges, so that they appear to fit together. Square off the bottom edge on the last photo.

Step 12

Next add a new layer and name it Date. Use the Text Tool (T) and type out the date of your party. Use the font Futura Light BT. Select Window > Character and change the horizontal spacing to around 350.

Create a new layer below the text, name it “Date Box” and draw in a rectangle around the date using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M). Fill it with Grey (#363636).

Change the colour of the text to white.

Step 13

Create a new layer above the Date Layer and call it Time. Use the Text Tool (T) and write the time your party starts and finishes.

Create a new layer below Time and call it Time Box. Again create a rectangle using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (T). Fill it with colour. I used Purple (#440e62). Again change the text colour to show it against the dark background.

Create a new layer above Time and call it Venue. Type the name and address of the venue.

Again create a new layer calling it “Venue Box” and position it under Venue. Draw a rectangle behind it, but this time fill it with a slightly different colour. I used #8560a9

Change your text to contrast the purple again.

Create a new layer above Venue and call it “Dress Code”. Add a line of text stating how you would like your guests to dress.

Create a new layer below Dress Code and call it “Dress Code Box”. Fill it with the same colour as the Time Box.

Create a new layer above Dress Code and call it “RSVP”. With the text tool you can write it as R.S.V.P, but I prefer to write it as Répondez s’il vous plaît as it looks a bit more classy for this type of invite. Change the font to something calligraph. I chose Lucida Handwriting.

Create a new layer below RSVP and call it “RSVP Highlight”. Create your rectangle and fill it with red (#9e0b0f).

Now create another Layer below this and name it “RSVP By”. Write in a means of contact such as a Phone Number.

Again create a new layer and call it “RSVP By Box” and draw your rectangle in. Fill it with the same colour as Venue Box. Finally, change your text colour to contrast.

Step 14

Now we will throw in some horizontal separators between each of the boxes to break them up a bit.

Create a new layer above the Upright Separator Layer. Choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and draw a horizontal separator. Fill it with White.

Duplicate the layer several times and position a divide between each box we made. Remember to re-apply the clipping mask to the SideBar as it will probably be removed when you duplicate the Horizontal Separator Layer. Also, do not place a divide between the red and purple of the RSVP as we want this information boxed up together.

Choose Horizontal Separator Copy 6 and holding down shift choose the original Horizontal Separator. This will highlight all the layers we have just made. cmd-Click and choose Merge Layers.

Next cmd-Click the Horizontal Separator Layer and choose Merge Down. This will merge it into our Upright Separator layer and will apply the drop shadow to the new separators we have just made.

Step 15

Create a new layer above the RSVP By Layer and name it Footer Box. Draw a rectangle like we did earlier and fill it with the same colour as Dress Code and Time.

Download the image of the Skyline Silhouette and paste it in above the Footer Box Layer. Name the layer Skyline1 and use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to shrink it down and move it into place.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Tick the Colorize box and make your skyline a dark purple colour.

Duplicate the layer and name it Skyline2. Choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate to make the image black and white. Shrink it slightly and position it using the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T).

Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and add a 1 pixel white stroke to the Skyline2 Layer.

As you can see there is a part of a sky scraper sticking through into our RSVP section. Simply erase this using the Eraser Tool (E).

Step 16

The envelopes are looking a bit bare. So we will add some more images to liven things up a bit.

Download the image of the Wine Glass. There are plenty of images around on Google etc that you can use, you don’t have to buy the one i am using. Just for tutorial purposes I must use Royalty Free Photographs. Paste it into your document above the Envelope2 Layer. Name the Layer Wine Glass. Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to position it where you can see it.

Set the Blend Mode to Multiply.

Step 17

Download the image of the Beer Glass. Paste it in above the Wine Glass Layer and name the layer Beer Glass.

Choose the Magic Wand Tool (W). Set the Tolerance to 10 and select the white around the Beer Glass. Hit delete to remove it.

After this move the wineglass down to hit the Horizontal Separator, as the reflection of the Beer Glass makes the wine glass look out of place.

Step 18

Download the image of the Approved Stamp. Paste it in above the Envelope 2 Layer. Name the Layer Approved.

Set the Blend Mode to Multiply and reduce the Opacity to about 40%. Then Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) to Resize and Position it.

Step 19

Download the Streamers picture. Open it in photoshop and choose the Magic Wand Tool (W). Set the Tolerance to 50 and remove the Black Background.

Choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (T). Draw a rectangle over the area to the right of the 2009 balloon and choose Edit > Copy.

Return to our invite and Paste in above the Approved Layer. Name the layer “Streamers”. Set the Blend Mode to Multiply and shrink it down using the Free Transform Tool.

Use the eraser tool and remove any overlap above the pink separator

Step 20

Select the Texture Layer. We need to make it look a bit sharper. Choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Levels. Change the left hand value to around 50.

Next choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Tick the colorize box and change the values to make the background purple to go with the rest of our theme.

Step 21

Create a new layer above the SideBar Layer. Make sure it is NOT a clipping mask like the layers below it. Cmd-Click/Right-Click the layer and choose Release Clipping Mask, or drag the layer above the next layer up and back down to release it. Using the Text Tool (T) write the age of the Birthday Boy/Girl, in my case 21, using the font Futura Xblk BT. Set the font size to 100.

Choose Window > Character and set the Horizontal Spacing to -100.

Using the Free Transform Tool rotate the 21 and position it slightly behind the name on the invite.

Select the texture layer, use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to draw a large rectangle and choose Edit Copy.

Paste the layer in above our 21. Name it “21 Texture”.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the layer and choose Create Clipping Mask.

Use the Free Transform Tool (Cmd+T/Ctrl+T) and resize the 21 Texture.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Choose Image > Adjustments > Levels. Slide the right arrow to the left to increase the white in the pattern.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the thumbnail on the original 21 layer and choose Select Pixels.

Choose Select > Modify > Contract. Set the value to 20 and hit ok.

Next choose Select > Inverse. Make sure you have the 21 Texture Layer selected and choose Layer > Layer Mask > Hide Selection.

Use the Text Tool (T) and select the original 21 layer. Highlight the text and change the colour to White.

Choose Layer > Adjustments > Blending Options and apply a 5 pixel Black Stroke to the 21 Layer.

Do the same to the 21 Texture Layer.

Step 22

The Name looks a bit too Transparent now. So duplicate the Name Layer. Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Uncheck the Drop Shadow.

Step 23

Choose the Custom Shape Tool from the Tool Bar.

Choose Shape, the the small Arrow, followed by All. Then find the 5 Point Star.

Create a new layer right at the top of our Layers Pallet.  Call it Star 1. Drag out a Star Shape. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the proportions.

Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Add a Gradient Overlay.

Also add a 3px Black Stroke.

Duplicate this Layer several times. Use the Free Transform Tool to Rotate and Resize your stars into place.

Step 24

Stick your logo on the bottom left and your done with the design.

Step 25

For printing purposes we must now clone this entire invitation into each of the three columns. So create a New Group and call it Centre. Choose the very top layer of your invite, hold down shift and choose the very bottom layer (Not including the Background Layer). Drag these into the Centre Folder.

Cmd-Click/Right-Click the Centre Folder and choose Duplicate Group. Call the duplicate Left. Drag the invite into the left hand column.

Duplicate it once more and call it Right. Drag this into the right hand column and you are ready to print.

Remember to delete your Background Layer – or fill it with White before your print or it will print an entire sheet of A4 green.

Thank you for taking the time to check out this tutorial. Please leave comments and suggestions below.

In this tutorial I will be showing you how to use a variety of techniques to create a surreal sketch effect, using high resolution images, creating brushes and manipulating paths in both Illustrator and Photoshop. If you don’t have Illustrator you can still create the effect using the PSD files supplied

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop / Illustrator
Version: CS or Higher
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated: Completion Time: 2-3 Hours
Final Image Preview:

Downloads Required:
Main Image: Sara Coulson Photograph by Stephanie Aubert
Stock Images: notepaper, hand with pencil, humming bird 1, humming bird 2, humming bird 3
Fonts: king and queen, one way
Photoshop Brushes: grunge brushes, spatter brushes

Optional Downloads:
PSD File: sketch_tut.psd
Rainbow Curve Path for Step 25: rainbowcurve.psd (Required for those whithout Adobe Illustrator)
Square Path for Step 28: square.psd (Required for those without Adobe Illustrator)

Step 1

The source image I have chosen is from an aspiring local Photographer called Stephanie Aubert, who was kind enough to allow me to use it for the purpose of this tutorial. So please take the time to check out her website, and her work, at www.stephlewisphotography.co.uk. The model in the picture is Sara Coulson, another excellent local Photographer. You can find her, and check out her Photography at facebook.com/saracoulson.photography.

Ok lets begin. First, locate and open your source image. Ctrl-Click (Right Click) the “background” layer and choose Layer From Background to unlock the layer for editing. Rename this layer “Girl”.

Step 2

Choose the Pen Tool (P). Using a series of clicks create a work path around your subject. I zoom in and use many Work Points. The more points you have the smoother your image will appear.

Step 3

One you have completed your Work Path. Find the Paths Pallet. You can find it in the Menu Bar at the top under Window > Paths. Find the “Load Path As a Selection” button at the bottom. This will select the area around our girl.

Step 4

With the girl selected choose Select > Refine Edge from the top toolbar. This will allow us to tweak the background around our model before we delete the background, this is to maximize the crisp, clean look in your work. Tweak the settings until you are happy, and click OK. A common bad habit is to over do the feathering to compensate for the bad selection. This makes your work look blurry, so always ensure you take your time, use the pen tool and zoom in close before you get to this stage. The arrow below indicates background change. If you cant see your edges very well simply change the background.

Step 5

Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection to remove the background from behind your subject. Just to explain what we are doing here, a Layer Mask hides parts of your picture as if you have deleted it. If you delete it, its gone forever. If you use a layer mask you can simply draw it back in if you change your mind. Therefor you should always try to use Layer Masks instead of using basic tools like Delete and Erase.

Step 6

Download and open the picture of the notepaper. Select the entire image by choosing Select > All (Cmd+A / Ctrl+A) and then select Edit > Copy (Cmd+C / Ctrl+C). Paste it into our artwork image and drag it below the “Girl” layer in the Layers Panel. Name this layer “Notepaper”. With the Notepad Layer still selected we will use the Free Transform Tool to resize it. Choose Edit > Free Transform, then simply drag the corners until you reach the desired size (TIP: Hold down shift at the same time to keep the proportions constrained and stop stretching).

Step 7

Next we need to make our notepaper look a little bit more grungy. Choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate. The paper will now be grey in colour, but still does not look very dirty.

Step 8

Before we can progress we need to install the THB Grunge Brush Set. Some operating systems will allow you to simply double click on the .abr file to install the Brush Set. If not you simply drag the .abr file into the following directory.

• On Mac:- /Users/{username}/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS3/Presets/Brushes
  
• On Windows:- C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop\Presets\Brushes

Then follow the images below to load up the brush set.

Step 9

Create a new layer above the Notepad Layer. Choose the colour black. Then choose one of your newly installed grunge brushes, adjust the size, and make some mess on the paper. Repeat the step a few times making sure each brush stroke is on a new layer. I used the corner brushes and used the Free Transform Tool like before to rotate and flip the images to where i wanted them. To flip an image Ctrl+Click / Right-Click the image when in Free Transform Mode. Take note of the red square highlighting “Normal” as this will be changed in the next step.

Step 10

Choose the Blend Mode (highlighted in the previous step) and set it from Normal to Overlay. This will make the black become a lot less translucent and look a bit more like grubbyness than paint. After that download and install the Spatter Brushes, the same way we did with the Grunge Brushes, ready for the next step.

Step 11

Now we have the Spatter Brushes installed, create a New Layer. Pick a brush of your choice and create some spatters over the light areas of the notepaper. Change the Blend Mode from Normal to Color Burn. Call this layer Spatter Burn. Repeat this step but aim for the darker areas. Change the Blend Mode to Color Dodge this time and name the layer Spatter Dodge. You can also mess about with the opacity to make the blending more subtle.

Step 12

Next take a large soft brush and a brown colour. Create a new layer just above the notepad layer Dab the brush around the outside edges. Name this layer Grunge Brown. The Ctrl+Click / Right-Click and choose Create Clipping Mask. A clipping mask is a bit similar to the layer mask we made earlier. What it does is uses the layer directly under it to determine what is hidden and what is not. The colour we have drawn on will only show up over the note paper and not the entire background.

Set the Blend Mode to Linear Burn, and decrease the opacity until you are happy with the look.

I was still not happy with how dominant the brown was. So I selected and decreased the opacity of my Notepad Layer, to around 50%. Then selected Image > Adjustments > Levels. Change the value in the middle box to about 0.55. You can slide the middle arrow left and right until you get the look you prefer.

Step 13

Once you are happy with your background create a new layer above the Grunge Brown layer and name it White Solid. Take a large soft brush and choose the colour white. Draw a rough circle behind your subject. Try not to stray too far away from her edges the idea is to drown out the background directly behind her.

Step 14

Next create another new layer above White Solid and name it White Fade. Draw some more white spreading even further out from behind her. Try to drown out the top of the page and leave the detail at the bottom. Adjust the opacity a bit until the top is only just visible.

Step 15

Next we must make out girl into a pencil sketch. So we duplicate the layer by selecting it and dragging it onto the new layer icon, or by Cmd+J / Ctrl+J. Once the layer is duplicated choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate to make it black and white.

Now duplicate the black and white layer to make three. This time choose Image > Adjustment > Invert. The picture will become like an old negative that was used to develop photos. Set the Blend Mode from Normal to Color Dodge.

Do not be alarmed at this point. As you will lose all the detail from your image.

Now choose Filter > Other > Minimum and set your radius to around 3.

Now choose the layer Girl Copy, hold down Shift and select Girl Copy 2 so they are both highlighted. Ctrl+Click / Right Click and select Merge Layers. Rename this layer Girl Sketch. The layer mask will vanish so be sure to create a new one by selecting the layer mask button.

Step 16

Now this is your first chance to really get creative. With the boring bits out the way you are free to decide which bits are sketch and which bits are photograph. Using the Pen Tool (P) like we did at the start remove some parts of the image. I removed her arms (leaving one glove), a leg and her torso using the vest top as a guide. The idea about a layer mask is that anything you draw in Black deletes, anything you draw in White gets un-deleted.

Then, using a brush called Rough Round Bristle I removed some of her chest making it appear jagged.

Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and create a drop shadow on the Girl Sketch Layer.
If you find you want to make the neck shadow a bit more defined (like i did) you can add a layer between the two Girl layers and call it Neck Shadow. The simply draw in a bit of shading with a grey brush and use the Opacity function to blend it in.

Step 17

Now we will make the retro curves. To do this we need to make a whole new brush from scratch. I like to make high resolution brushes, because you can use a high resolution image scaled down, but can’t always use low resolution scaled up. We will make a new photoshop document to create our brush. Choose File > New. Set the background to Transparent, and just make it some crazy size – mine is 2000×2000.

Choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M). Draw a large, slim rectangle.

Fill the rectangle with Black using the Paint Bucket Tool. Then choose Edit > Free Transform. Ctrl Click / Right Click the selection and choose Skew. Click the right hand upright line and drag it up til the bottom and top edges are at about 45 degrees.

Now Ctrl+Click / Right Click the Thumbnail Image in the Layers Pallet.

With your rectangle selected choose Edite > Define Brush Preset. Give your new Brush a name then close down that window, we are done with this now.

Now choose Window > Brushes and find your brush. We are now going to tweek the settings of this brush so that it does all the work for us.  We will be editing the Brush Tip Shape, Shape Dynamics, Scattering and Other Dynamics. Use the image below to copy the settings for each section.

Remember to check the padlocks once you have finished to make sure your brush is saved for future use.

Step 18

Now you have got your Brush create a new layer. The layer will end up beneath the Girl Layer, but i like to create it at the very top of the list so I can see everything I’m drawing, then move it later on. Once you have created the layer, name it Retro Curves, and choose Layer > Styles > Blending Mode. Choose Gradient Overlay. Now click on the Gradient and choose one you like. The one I Chose was in a different preset called Spectrums. To find it click the small arrow highlighted within the gradient editor.

Next choose drop shadow. Change the Blend Mode from Overlay to Darker Color and change your settings to the image below.

We will also apply an Inner Shadow. Again copy the settings from the image below. Make sure you change the colour to White as this is easy to miss.

Now click OK.

Step 19

Next set your Brush to around 1000 pixels and click a couple of times to create a ribbon of colour.

Next Ctrl-Click / Right-Click the layer Retro Curve and choose Copy Layer Style. Create a new Layer, Ctrl+Click / Right Click it and choose Paste Layer Style. This will duplicate all the Gradients and Shadows we just set on the previous layer. Now use some more clicks and build your ribbon up a little more. Repeat this step a couple of times resizing your Brush smaller each time.

Now we have our ribbon we must merge the layers before we can manipulate them all as one. Select the top layer, holding down the shift key select the Retro Curve layer and all three layers should highlight.

Step 20

Now choose Edit > Free Transform. Rotate the ribbon and position it roughly where you want it. You can stretch it out to make sure it goes off both sides of the image also.

One it is in place hit Enter to confirm it. Then choose Edit > Transform > Warp. Drag the web around using the edges to warp your curve into a shape you want.

Step 21

I decided my curve was a bit too bright so I used Image > Adjustment > Brightness and Contrast and just lowered the brightess a touch. Drag  the Retro Curve Layer under the Girl Layer.

Step 22

Ctrl-Click / Right Click the Thumbnail Image of the Retro Curve Layer and choose Select Pixels, like we did with the Black Rectangle earlier. This should select the entire ribbon. Now choose the layer mask on your Girl Layer. Set your background colour to black (TIP: hit D to default your colours to black and white, then hit X to swap the forground/background colours) and hit delete. This should remove the area of her leg blocking the curves giving the appearance of it passing between her legs.

Step 23

Now the ribbon is just about finished. The only problem is a Tutu is usually translucent. Meaning some light passes through it but it is not totally transparent. So to do this duplicate the Retro Curve layer and call it Retro Translucent. Drag it above the Girl Sketch Layer.

This looks like its just undone all the hard work we have just done but dont worry! Simply Ctrl-Click / Right Click the Layer and make it a Clipping Mask. Now change the Opacity to around 25%.

Now you should have a faint trace of where the curve should be passing under the Tutu. The only problem is it has hit her leg also. So create a Layer Mask and simply erase the parts hitting her leg using a white brush. Leaving it to show through the sides of the Tutu.

Step 24

Next download the image of the guy holding the pencil and open it in Photoshop. Use the Pen Tool (P) to cut out the hand just like in the previous steps. Be sure to cut around the shadow also as we need to keep this to maintain the effect. Then paste it into the Artwork by Ctrl-Click / Right Click on the layer and choosing Duplicate Layer. When given the option choose your Artworks file name from the drop down list. Return to your Artwork, name the layer Hand Pencil, Then use the Free Transform Tool to shrink it to a size you want.

Step 25

Now we will create some cool effect using Adobe Illustrator. If you do not have Illustrator do not panic just download the PSD files Square and Curve. Here I have supplied the images so you can simply copy and paste it.

Download: rainbowcurve.psd
Download: square.psd

To use them simply open the PSD file in Photoshop. Choose Window > Paths from the toolbar menu. Click on the path in the pallet then choose Edit Copy. Return to your Artwork and choose Edit > Paste then follow the tutorial as normal.

Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new Print Document that is 1500×1000 pixels. Choose the Pen Tool (P) and click a point near the middle left, click down the bottom and hold the mouse in to curve the line.

Choose a different tool (any will do its just to deselect the anchor point) then choose the Pen Tool (P) again. Now draw another curve, keep the left hand edge closer together than the right.

Next choose the Blend Tool (W). Select one line the select the next and a third line will appear between the two.

Next double click the Blend Tool Icon that is already selected in the Tool Pallet. Choose Specified Steps and enter 50. You will then see it create a mass of lines in between the two we have drawn.

Once you are happy with your shape. Choose Select > All to highlight everything then choose Edit > Copy.

Step 26

Return to our Artwork in Photoshop. Create a new layer and choose Edit > Paste. When you are prompted select As Path.

Most likely it will end up far bigger than we want so choose Edit > Free Transform and shrink it down to size and move it into position with the Path Selection Tool (A).

Now choose the Brush Tool B and select a 1px hard brush.

Choose the Pen Tool (P) once more, choose a bright colour (I chose Green) and Ctrl-Click / Right-Click anywhere on your picture. Select Stroke Path from the drop down menu and make sure the Simulate Pen Pressure is unchecked.

This will draw the path in with the brush we have selected. Hit delete to remove the work path.

Name this Layer Retro Rainbow and create a Layer Mask on it. We will now go about removing it from her face. Just like we did with the curves and the leg, simply erase the lines from over her face and glove but NOT Her elbow. This will give the effect that the lines come up and over her shoulder.

Step 27

Now this bright green curve is not exactly looking brilliant right now. So, like we did earlier with the other curves we are going to give it a spectrum gradient. Choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and select Gradient Overlay like we did before and choose a spectrum colour. I just chose the same one as earlier to avoid too much colour variation.

Change the Opacity to around 30%. Select the layer mask again and choose a large, round, soft brush. The idea here it to delete the bottom of the rainbow out making it look like it gradually fades out.

Step 28

Next we will make some squares. Return to Illustrator and create a new Print Document like we did before. Choose the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a square by holding down the Shift key to constrain the proportions.

Now draw a second square inside the first one.

Again the same as before choose the Blend Tool (W) and Click both of the rectangles to make that third line appear in between. Double click the Blend Icon and again choose Specified steps and enter a number. I chose 13, you can use whatever you think looks best.

Choose Select > All. Then choose Edit > Copy and return to Photoshop.

Step 29

Back in Photoshop create a new layer, name it Square 1 and choose Edit > Paste. Resize and rotate the square path using the Free Transform Tool and follow the previous steps for the Stroke Path and the Gradient Overlay.

Repeat this step for a couple of more squares. I found that just shrinking the same square did not have as good an effect as returning to Illustrator and changing the specified steps to less than 13. Name your layers accordingly Square 1, Square 2 etc. Then drag the layers to below the Retro Curve Layer.

Step 30

Now we will add our Humming Birds. Download Humming Bird 1. Use the Pen Tool (P) and a Layer Mask to remove the background from behind the subject.

Next duplicate the layer to your Artwork like we did with the Hand Pencil earlier, and resize it using the Free Transform Tool. Name the Layer Hum Bird 1.

Drag the Hum Bird 1 Layer beneath the Girl Layer and Position it so just the head is visible.

Now we make it a sketch just like we did with the Girl earlier (Step 15). Duplicate the Layer, Desaturate the copy. Duplicate it again and Invert it. Switch the Blend Mode to Color Dodge. Choose Filter > Other > Minimum. Set the value to 2 then merge the two Layers together. Name this Layer Hum Bird 1 Sketch.

Darken the layer down a bit by choosing Image > Adjustment > Levels. Set the centre value to about 0.53.

Ok thats the easy Bird done. The next two are a little bit more complicated. But it is nothing we havn’t done before. We will use the same techniques as the Girl Sketch Layer on each of the other two birds.

Step 31

Download Humming Bird 2. Open it in Photoshop and remove the background just like we have been doing with the other subjects. Duplicate the Layer into our Artwork and name it Hum Bird 2. Drag the Layer to the very top so it is on top of the hand. Resize and rotate it using the Free Transform Tool until you are happy with its position.

Again follow the steps to make it into a sketch and name the Merged Layer Hum Bird 2 Sketch.

Now, create a Layer Mask on Hum Bird Sketch 2. Like we did with the girls neck earlier (Step 16), use a large raggy brush and remove some of the sketch layer so the coloured humming bird shows through from the lower layer. Again I used Rough Round Bristle 100.

Now, there is not really much definition between the black and white and the colour. So click Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Apply a drop shadow and a stroke to the Hum Bird 2 Sketch Layer.

If there is too much black from the stroke on the coloured humming bird just tidy it up with a smaller harder brush in the layer mask. It is because using a rough brush like Rough Round Bristle does not always entirely erase everything 100%. So sometimes there is something there the eye cant quite see but the stroke picks up on it.

Step 32

Ok the final humming bird. Im sure you notice the steps are getting less detailed, this is simply because it is stuff we have already covered. I don’t want to seem patronizing, or waste my time covering steps in detail that we have already covered earlier in the tutorial.

So… Download Humming Bird 3. Again open it in photoshop and remove the background using the Pen Tool (P). Duplicate it into your Artwork, Name the Layer Hum Bird 3 and drag the layer beneath the Girl Layer. Resize and Rotate it using the Free Transform Tool and position it somewhere so the beak is just going behind the girls head.

Turn the bird into a sketch again like before, apply the layer mask again on the merged layer and remove some of the sketched area. I left the head exposed as that is where all the vibrant colours are. Again apply our Drop Shadow and Stroke to the layer. We can do this quickly by Ctrl-Click / Right-Click on the layer Hum Bird 2 Sketch and choosing Copy Layer Style. Then Ctrl+Click / Right-Click Hum Bird 3 Sketch and choose Paste Layer Style.

Step 33

I kept looking at humming bird 3 and just thinking it didnt look right. So i decided to add a second wing. Duplicate the Hum Bird 3 Layer. Name it Wing. Choose the Pen Tool (P) and draw a path from the base of the wing around the body of the bird.

Once you have drawn your path click the Load Path As a Selection button again like in Step 2. Make sure you have your layer mask selected and delete the body of the bird so just the wing is left. You might not notice it has gone as the wing is still in place at the moment, so drag your wing clear of the body to make sure you have got it all.

Click Edit > Free Transform. Then Ctrl-Click / Right-Click your selection and choose Flip Horizontal.

Now, if we try and place this behind our subject now, the wing is going to lay over the top of it. So drag the layer Wing below the layer Hum Bird 3. Then position the wing behind the subject, do not resize it, but rotate it if you like.

Step 34

We are now going to tweak the Girl Sketch Layer so it is more in sync with the Humming Birds. I feel the sketch of the girl is not dark enough.

Choose the Girl Sketch Layer. Select Image > Adjustments > Levels and just fine tune the centre so it is more in sync with that second humming bird.

Step 35

Now we will add our font. Choose the Layer Hum Bird Sketch 2, as this is the highest layer and we want our text at the top. I used a font called the King & Queen font which I got off www.dafont.com. Choose the Text Tool (T). Im going to type the name of the Model as I think of this image as a Portrait. Choose a gray colour (I used #898989) and type your text.

Now, duplicate the text layer. Then copy the Layer Style from the Retro Rainbow Layer and Paste it onto the Duplicated Text layer. We now have a spectrum/rainbow version of our text.

Next, choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Mode. Choose Bevel & Emboss.

It looks a bit ‘too much’ at the moment, but once we hack it up with the Rough Round Bristle Brush again it should get us a better effect.

So, create a Layer Mask on the Duplicated Text Layer and use a rough brush like in the previous steps to remove bits of the colour.

Step 36

Choose the Text Tool (T) again. Sign your work. I used the font called One Way which I got from www.getfreefonts.info.

Choose Black as your colour and type your name or website or whatever you are using to sign the image. I tried to aim for the lines on the notepaper to make it look more hand written.

I wrote Craig Abbott on one line, then created a new text layer to write .co.uk as simply pressing return ment the .co.uk did not hit the line on the notepaper.

Step 37

Now we will simply do a brightness tweak to the entire image and we are finished.

Choose the very top layer, in my case its my .co.uk Text Layer. Then choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness and Contrast.

Click OK

Adjust the Brightness to around -30 this should make all the sketch a lot more detailed.

And that is it… Click below to see our final image.

Thank you for taking the time to view my work. Please leave your comments and suggestions. I love to read your feedback.

In this tutorial I will be showing you how to create a stunning poster using various lighting techniques in Photoshop.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated: Completion Time: 2 Hours
Final Image Preview:

Optional Downloads:
PSD File: postergirl.psd
Fonts: defused

I would like to start off by saying that unfortunately the image I used of the brunette is not free for me to distribute.
If you would like to purchase the image you can get it from http://www.stockxpert.com/browse_image/view/31891261.

You can purchase it at a reasonable size (1697 x 2546) for 5 credits at a cost of $4.99 which converts to about £3.50 roughly. It is worth registering for the stockxchange sites as you can get loads of royalty free photos to use on all sorts of design work.

If you chose not to buy this image you could always find an alternative. Use one of your own? Or search one of the following websites for a free photograph.

www.sxc.hu
www.stockxpert.com
www.123rf.com

Also, the PSD File available for download (above) is a smaller resolution than the original image I worked with, due to file sizes. The original being 125mb.

Step 1

Create an image with a black background. Try to make it a reasonable size so that your stock image can fit in the centre with plenty of area left to work with. Its easier to crop off excess later than to add to it.

We must start by removing the background. Copy and paste in your stock image and select the Pen Tool (P). Draw a path around your object using a series of clicks. I tend to spend a lot of time doing this, zoom right in and get right into all the curves. The more clicks you have the smoother your image will appear.

All of the images can be clicked to enlarge.

Step 2

Once you have created a path around the entire subject select the ‘Load Path As a Selection’ button from the bottom of the Paths tab. Highlighted in the following image with the large red arrow. If you cannot see this button choose Window > Paths from the tool bar at the top.

Step 3

Now your subject is highlighted choose Select > Refine Edge from the tool bar and tamper with the settings until you get the desired look. Try not to use too much smoothing and feathering as you lose the sharpness in the image.

Step 4

Once you have the desired effect click OK and hit delete to remove your background.

The next step is to sharpen up our source image a bit. We do this using a high pass filter and you can see a slightly more detailed tutorial of what we are doing here. Simply duplicate your layer by dragging it onto the new layer symbol in the layers tab (or right click and choose duplicate layer).

Step 5

Now on the new layer choose Filter > Other > High Pass from the tool bar. Set the amount to 5px and click OK.

Step 6

Now don’t worry when the whole thing goes a big gray mess. Simply choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and change the Blending Mode from Normal to Overlay.

This will make our image appear a higher resolution than it actually is.

The next step is to start creating some light behind our subject. Create a new layer above the background layer but under the girl. Select the gradient tool and choose one that is reasonably subtle. I chose ‘Copper’ and changed the white highlight to a darker brown.

Step 7

Now draw a diagonal line from one side of your image to the other to create your gradient.

Step 8

Now we must create a layer mask to hide this gradient. So choose Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All from the toolbar.

After it has been hidden, choose the Lasso Tool (L) and draw a sort of splodge around the girl.

Step 9

Choose Select > Modify > Feather from the toolbar. This decides how much the sides fade. I set mine to 250 as my image is such a large resolution, but if you are using a smaller image you would obviously make it less. Its just a case of playing around until you get the desired effect. Once you have done the Feather hit delete and you should have a bit of a lighting effect behind your girl.

Step 10

Now our girl seems a bit too bright, so lets desaturate the image a bit. Choose the base layer for your girl (not the one with the high pass filter) and choose Image > Adjustments > Hue and Saturation. Tick the Colorize box and move the sliders to make the girl almost black and white but with a bit of a sepia tint.

Step 11

Now go back to the ’splodge’ layer we created before and duplicate it the same way you did with the girl. Choose ‘Filter > Pixelate > Mezzotint and select Long Lines from the drop down menu. Now it will look a bit weird, but choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending options and change the opacity to about 15%.

Step 12

Now create a new layer. Choose the Brush Tool (B), right click and choose a large soft brush. Select some vibrant colours, (I used Pink and Yellow) and simply make a couple of clicks around the edge of the girl using various sized brushes.

Step 13

After this again change the opacity. Set it to about 40% so that it is a lot more subtle.

Then create a new layer again, above the pink and yellow and choose white. White will make our colours appear even more vibrant. Select a slightly smaller brush and put in some white. Play with the opacity again, mine is about 64%.

Step 14

Create another new layer above the girl this time. Choose the soft brush again and draw a couple of coloured circles. I put one either side of her as this will make it look like the light is bursting past her.

Step 15

Now choose Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and change the Blend Mode to ‘Color Dodge’. This will make the two circles of colour appear much more intense.

Create another new layer just above the background. Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) draw some large and small circles around the area. Fill them with a bright green.

Step 16

Change the Opacity to about 7-10%.

Repeat this for two more layers and just mess with the opacities. But use different colours. I used yellow and pink to go with my green.

Step 17

Now create a new layer above our Mezzotint layer but below the coloured circles. Choose the Channels Tab (Window > Channels) do a CMD-Click (CTRL-Click) on the layer labeled green. You will notice some of your image will highlight.

Step 18

Now go back to your layers tab, press (D) to reset your colour pallet, and press CMD+Backspace (CTRL+Backspace) to fill the area with white. Next choose Filter > Blur > Radial Blur from the tool bar. Set  the Amount to 100, the Blur Method to Zoom and the Quality to Best and click OK.

Step 19

Now lets make some lightning.  Create a new layer just above the background. Select the Gradient Tool again but this time choose a Radial Gradient. Choose the standard Black and White gradient, not the copper one we used earlier. Press (D) to make sure your colours are defaulted. Draw a reasonable size circular gradient somewhere around your subject.

Step 20

After this go to Filter > Render > Difference Clouds. Then press CMD+I (CTRL+I) to invert the image.

Step 21

Next choose Image > Adjustments > Levels and change the black output level to around 180 until you get the desired lightning effect.

Step 22

After you have your lightning simply choose the Eraser Tool and delete the mess in the surrounding area so you are left with just the circular bolt. Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue and Saturation from the tool bar, and like earlier tick the Colorize box. Change the hue and saturation until you get your electricity the desired colour.

I again went for a bright pink. Select Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and set the Blend Mode to Screen. This way the black background is gone and you can put your electricity wherever you want it.

Repeat the step two or three times and position them around your subject.

Step 23

For the next section we must create a new Brush to work with. Select Window > Brushes from the tool bar. and change your settings to these.

Step 24

Create a new layer above the girl, and using this brush, mess about with the size and draw in some random flicks of colour. Use the Eraser and delete anything that obstructs her face etc. Select Filter > Blur > Gausian Blur and set the radius to 1px.

Step 25

Create another new layer just above the green circles etc we made earlier. Repeat the previous step but use much smaller brushes and draw in way more dots. Use a variety of colours and try to make them appear as if they are dispersing the further away from the light they get.

Step 26

Go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Select Outer Glow.

Duplicate the layer, change the opacity to about 12% and reposition it slightly.

Step 27

Select your Background layer and choose Filter > Render > Lense Flare. Position this roughly where your light source appears to come from and click ok.

Step 28

Now its just a case of adding your own touch to it. Your name, website. Anything. Choose a funky font from www.acidfonts.com or www.dafont.com and stick it somewhere in your image (I used Defused), and your done!

Thank you for taking the time to visit this tutorial. Please leave any comments/suggestions below.

In this tutorial I will be showing you how to take a simple image and turn it into a rather dark Halloween style Vampire portrait.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop
Version: CS or Higher
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated Completion Time: 1 Hour
Final Image Preview:

Downloads Required:
Stock Images: Stock, Background, Bat
Fonts: Sanctuary

Step 1

I used an image of myself which I took (in just one take lol) with my digital camera. Obviously you have to act a little bit, and try to envision what it is you are trying to create. Even if you look stupid in the photograph, the more over the top it is the better your final image is probably going to look.

So… Here is my original image.

Step 2

The first thing we need to do is remove the background. Choose the Pen Tool (P) and use a series of clicks to draw around your subject. I zoom in close and use as many points as possible, this makes the image smoother.

Step 3

After you have penned your outline, select Window > Paths and choose the Load Path As Selection button.

Step 4

Once your selection is highlighted choose Select > Refine Edge and tweak the settings until you have your cut away image how you want it.

Step 5

Once you click ok your image will return to the background, now we choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection. This will leave you with just the cutaway on a transparent background. Create a new layer below your subject and fill it with black.

Step 6

Next we are going to make the eyes a bit more eerie. Make a new layer above the Subject. Again select your Pen Tool and draw around the iris of the eye.

Step 7

Again load the selection up like we did before. Then choose the Elliptical Marquee tool. The idea is to delete the selection around the pupil. So try and guage roughly where your circle would have to start, hold down the Alt key and Click, holding the mouse button down, take your finger off Alt, now hold down shift. Shift will make your selection stay perfectly round. Drag over the pupil. It might take a couple of attempts to get it right.

Step 8

Now select the Dropper Tool (I) and select a shade of white from the side of the iris. Using  the Paint Bucket Tool (G) fill the selection with the White you have selected.

Step 9

As you can see it looks blatantly fake so we must dress it up now to make it appear more convincing. Using the Eraser Tool (E), choose a small soft brush and wipe around the edges slightly to blend it into the eyelids a bit more.

Step 10

Next choose the Blur Tool (the rain drop found under the paint bucket tool) and just give a little bit of a blur to the inside edge of the pupil.

Step 11

After this press CMD+E (CTRL+E) to merge the layer down onto the Subject Layer. When it asks you about the Layer Mask make sure you select Preserve.

Step 12

Now choose the Clone Stamp Tool (S). This works by copying a selected area. So hold down alt and choose a bit of the white to the side of the eye. Now using a series of click carefully try to texture the white of the eye we made to blend into the surrounding vessels etc.

Step 13

Now repeat this for the other eye.

Once both your eyes are done we need to make the image a bit less colourful and a bit darker. Select your Subject Layer making sure you choose the image and not the Layer Mask. Choose Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Adjust the Saturation to dull the skin tone down.

Step 14

Now select your subject layer and choose Window > Channels. Holding down the CMD (CTRL) key click on of the channels. You are looking for the one that selects the biggest light source. I chose the green layer.

Step 15

Choose Select > Inverse. This will swap the selection to the background. Press D to default your Colours. Or choose black from the Swatches. Choose Edit > Fill from the top toolbar. Make sure foreground colour is selected then click ok.

Your image will go very dark but dont worry. Choose Image > Adjustments > Levels and change the black and white levels to suit.

Step 16

Ok so the image looks the part. Now we need to make some teeth. Choose your Pen Tool (P) again and draw a triangle on one of your incisor teeth. Load it as a selection again and then copy and paste it onto a new layer. (Edit > Copy – Edit > Paste)

Choose Edit > Free Transform and stretch and rotate the tooth to a big point. Some Vampires are displayed with small teeth, others large it is up to you which you choose. For me… Bigger is always better haha.

Step 17

Use the Eraser Tool like earlier to blend it into the tooth. Next choose Edit > Transform > Warp. Bend your tooth a bit to make it look a bit more natural.

Step 18

Next we need to use the Burn Tool (O) to make the tooth look a little more 3D. You need to make sure it is the Burn Tool that is selected and not the Dodge or Sponge Tool. Click and hold on the Tool and make sure the hand is selected. Pick Highlights and 50% for the brush settings. Now choose a soft round brush and just stroke the two sides of the tooth. This will darken the edges but leave the middle highlighted so that the tooth looks round.

Step 19

Now merge it down like we did before, making sure we preserve the Layer Mask. I then used the pentool to highlight the tooth and increased its brightness using Image > Adjustments > Brightness & Contrast. Just to make it a little less yellow lol. You can also use this on the entire Subject Layer and increase to contrast to make it a little more intense. I also edited one of my bottom teeth for extra effect the same way as before.

Step 20

Next I selected the Layer Mask on my Subject Layer, choose a white brush and carefully edited out my cheek on the far side so the eye was left glowing in the dark.

Step 21

Now we add the blood. Create a new layer. Choose the Lasso Tool, Zoom right in and draw your blood manually onto the tooth.

Step 22

Fill it with a dark red colour. Then using the Burn Tool try to darken down the bottom right hand edges only.

Step 23

Now choose the Dodge Tool – It is in the same place as the Burn Tool and looks like a line with a circle on top. Choose Highlights and 50% again for the settings. Now use it to highlight just the top edges this time.

Step 24

Now choose the brush tool choose white as your colour and select a 1px brush and just dab a couple of highlights onto those top edges to make it look wet.

Step 25

Repeat this on a few teeth and then use Image > Adjust > Brightness & Contrast to darken it down and blend in a bit better. I even added a blood trickle down the side of the mouth. If you are going to do this try to follow the contour of the face. Look at the bends in the skin and try to draw the blood following its natural path.

Step 26

Next we add the moon into the background. I used the image below but if you google ‘Clouds Full Moon’ you can get many different cool variations.

Step 27

Paste your image in below the Subject Layer. Move it around and mess with the contrast until you get the desired look.

Step 28

I then added a bat for novelty purposes. Download the image below and paste it into your image above the clouds layer.

You could also use this one. But I didnt.

Step 29

You will end up with something like this.

After this it is just a case of creating a logo. I used a font called Sanctuary. Download it HERE.

I also used the bat logo again and inverted it to make it white using Image > Adjustments > Invert. Then just added some blood like before.

And you are done!

Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions! They are appreciated!