This tutorial was the result of a Happy Accident. As I was preparing the graphics for this week’s Noteworthy spotlight, I stumbled upon (you could say I tripped over them) Photoshop’s blending modes. In this tutorial, we’re going to use those blending modes to create the image below:
If you’re a small business owner and create your own graphics, you might find the following techniques useful when creating your next ad on N.E.E.T. Magazine or BUST. You could also use these techniques to create wedding or party invitations, scrap-pages, postcards, greeting cards, etc.
Here are the links to the resources I used to create the images in this tutorial:
- vintage wallpaper @ The Graphics Fairy
- color palettes @ my ColourLover account
- textures @ Nesster’s Flickr
- Cursif @ Dafont
- brushes @ FiftyFivePixels Deviant Art (read their Terms)
- actions @ Pioneer Woman
Okay, let’s get started!
|
Open a New Document. Width: 525 px Height: 713 px Make sure that the background content field is set to white. I will refer to this document as “Main Doc” for the rest of this tutorial. Open the vintage wallpaper file. Copy and paste the image into the Main Doc. Change the opacity of the vintage wallpaper layer to 65%. |
|
Open any one of the four color palette files and copy and paste the image into the Main Doc. I’m using “Melancholy Marie” in these steps. |
|
Change the opacity of the color palette layer to 67% Change the Blend Mode: Go to the Layers Menu >> Layer Style >> Blend Options >> Blend Mode >> Linear Burn Play around with the other Blend Modes for some interesting results — this is the fun part. |
|
Now, let’s add a vintage look. Open a texture file. Copy and paste the image into the Main Doc (above the color palette layer). Change the Blend Mode to Multiply. |
|
Create a New Layer above the texture layer. Choose Black using the Color Picker from the Tool Box. Select the Rectangle Tool (with auto fill option) from the Tool Box. Drag a rectangle on the new layer you just created so that it only covers the right half of the document. Change the layer’s Blending Mode to Hue. |
|
Windows >> Actions Look for pwactions2 Select the Seventies Action Click on the play button |
|
Create a New Document. Make sure that the background content is set to White. Select the Color Picker and select the color Black. Choose a Retro Girls brush Make one impression on the New Document. Select the Magic Wand from the Tool Bar Cbange the Tolerance to 20 Select the white background and hit delete Select >> All |
|
Copy and paste the Retro Girl impression into the Main Doc Postion her to the lower right corner of the Main Doc Add a drop shadow for depth. opacity: 46 angle: 77 degrees distance: 5 spread: 0 size: 5 |
|
Time to add your text. And, we’re done! |
Here are some variations, using other color palettes (click the image to enlarge):
I really enjoyed creating this tutorial and I hope you find this useful! :)
{ 19 comments }
I always love your tutorials! They’re so practical and fun! Thank you for what you do! :)
Oh I love the blending tools. I can see your tutorials being used for students! they are really well done!
Thank you Katrina! Will continue to send people here!
Hi, I just wanted to say that your blog is very very inspiring, i love it!!
cheers from Paris,
Ruth
i just found your site and it’s really great! thanks so much for creating such a helpful place :)
pretty! i really wish i owned photoshop. i want a MAC too.
one day hopefully. :)
You’re the goddess of tutorials!!!!
just got my macbook! now all i need is to get photoshop…and i can play along with your awesome tutorials!!!
very intimidating but I’ll try. I’ve been wanting to do this but din’t have any idea how. Thanks for sharing!
Wow–this is great! I’m definitely going to try this one! Looks great….love your site.
what a wonderful tutorial! such a great graphic too. lovely.
oh thank you, thank you! Can’t wait to give this a try x
Love the graphic you created and love even more the song you chose. I used to be an obsessive Moz fan back in high school! You have such a great blog!
Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial. The result of your ‘manipulations’ is amazing.
Wow, this is very cool! I have been using photoshop, but only doing very simple things like adding words to photos. Really wanting to try to do this “layering” . Thanks for tuitorial, definitely going to try it!
Love it, love it, love it!!! But then again I love everything that you do! Thanks for the great tutorial, I will try this out for sure.
This looks fabulous–I love it!!!
HUGS,
Cindy
I’m trying to learn my way around Photoshop (well, Elements) and it’s so great to see a tutorial from someone who also has a style I love!
Thanks!
Beautiful digital collage. I love the fact that you included a tutorial. Thanks so much!
oh, wow. thank you so much for this. you have no idea how much i appreciate your hard work and free tutorials! i’m sure i speak for everyone :)