Design a Creative Retro Poster

Design a Creative Retro Poster

Final image

As always, this is the final image that we’ll be creating:

Resources for Tutorial:

FanExtra Premium Texture Set: Scratched

Photo of a Woman

Mountain Photo

Clouds Photo

FanExtra Broken & Beat Texture Set

Ornate Heart Vector

Free Illustrator Swirly Symbols

Crumpled Paper Texture

Step 1

Create a new document (600X650px).

Download the FanExtra Scratched Texture set and paste in the first texture, resizing it to fit your canvas:

Step 2

Now apply a couple of adjustment layers:

Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer Settings:

Hue: 0
Saturation: -100
Lightness: +90

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

87 / 1.00 / 255

Step 3

Paste in your mountain range photo, resizing and placing it at the bottom of your canvas.

Then go to layer>mask>reveal all and use a medium sized, soft black paintbrush (35% opacity) to mask off the sharp edges of your photo. Then reduce this masked layer’s opacity to 50%.

Step 4

Now apply a couple of adjustment layers to your mountain range layer. To make sure that these layers only effect your mountain range, not your entire canvas, be sure to go to layer>apply clipping mask for each adjustment layer:

Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer Settings:

Hue: 0
Saturation: -73
Lightness: +16

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

43 / 1.21 / 236

Step 5

Now use the same technique to paste in some clouds to the top left of your canvas:

After you’ve masked off your clouds, then apply adjustment layers (being sure to again apply a clipping mask to each):

Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer Settings:

Hue: 0
Saturation: -80
Lightness: +27

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

48 / 0.82 / 255

Step 6

Now cut out and paste in the photo of the woman.

Use your pen tool or lasso tool to cut away her shoulders, cutting instead around the line of her necklace:

Step 7

Now it’s time to start retouching our woman slightly.

Start by duplicating your woman layer, so that you retain the original image should you need to go back at any point.

Start by using your clone stamp brush to improve the surface quality of the woman’s skin. Use your personal judgement with what looks good, but be sure to use a soft brush for the main part, as we’re aiming for a soft facial look:

Step 8

Now create a new layer called ‘eyes brighter’.

Use a soft bright green paintbrush to brush over the colored parts of your woman’s eyes. Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 50% and change it’s blend mode to ‘color’:

Step 9

Now return to your woman photo layer and select her lips using the lasso tool.

Go to image>adjustments>hue/saturation and apply the settings below:

Hue/Saturation Settings:

Hue: -92
Saturation: -45
Lightness: -15

Step 10

Now duplicate your woman photo layer, moving the duplicate to be your top layer (above your ‘eyes brighter’ layer). Go to image>adjustments>desaturate to grayscale this layer.

Then go to filter>other>high pass and apply a 2.5px high pass filter.

Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’ and reduce it’s opacity to 60%. This should help sharpen your woman:

Step 11

Merge down your ‘eyes brighter’ layer with your original woman photo.

Then apply 3 adjustment layers over this merged layer (but beneath your high-pass layer). With each adjustment layer be sure to apply a clipping mask:

Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer Settings:

Hue: 0
Saturation: -65
Lightness: +10

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

17 / 1.05 / 219

Step 12

Now return to your original woman photo layer, and apply a drop shadow and inner shadow blending option:

Drop Shadow Settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Color: 000000
Opacity: 24%
Angle: 120
Distance: 5px
Spread: 0%
Size: 13px

Inner Shadow Settings:

Blend Mode: Multiply
Color: 000000
Opacity: 15
Angle: 120
Distance: 5px
Choke: 0%
SIze: 13px

Step 13

Now create a new top layer called ‘dodge/burn’.

Go to edit>fill and fill your canvas with 50% gray. Then change this layer’s blend mode to ‘overlay’.

Use a soft black paintbrush (around 10% opacity) to paint in the shadows (or burn areas). Then use a 10% opacity white paintbrush for the highlights.

The images below show your dodge/burn layer at ‘normal’ blend mode and then at ‘overlay’ blend mode:

Step 14

Now use your marquee tools to create a collection of low opacity circles/rectangles below your woman layers.

Use a variety of colors, but make sure that they compliment your surrounding composition. Generally I made sure that each shape layer was around 30-40% opacity.

Step 15

Now paste in your vector ornate heart and vector swirls shapes. Ensure that these new shape layers are behind your woman layers, but above your background and colorful shapes layers.

Reduce the opacity of each shape layer until you’re happy with the result. I reduced my ornate heart shape layer’s opacity to 60%, and my vector swirls layers to around 35% opacity.

Step 16

Now create a new layer just above your woman photo layers called ‘highlight spots’.

Drag out a few white to transparent radial gradients. Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 70%. The images below show the highlight layer at 100% opacity, and then at 70% opacity.

Step 17

Now create a new layer called ‘color spots’. Drag out some more radial gradients, positioning them over your woman’s head. Each gradient should range from a bright, neon color to transparent.

Then reduce this layer’s opacity to around 10%.

Step 18

Now type out some text in the bottom-center of your canvas.

Font Settings:

Font Face: AW Conqueror Carved
Size: 62pt
Kerning: -50
Color: 26221a

Step 19

Now create a new layer called ‘text highlights’. Create a series of white to transparent radial gradients over the top of your text. Then apply a clipping mask, and reduce this layer’s opacity to 60%.

Step 20

Download the FanExtra Broken & Beat Premium texture set. Paste in the 9th texture from the set, and go to image>adjustment>desaturate.

Then reduce this layer’s opacity to 7%.

Step 21

Now paste in your Crumpled Paper Texture. Change this layer’s blend mode to ‘multiply’ and reduce it’s opacity to 25%.

Step 22

To finish, we want to apply some adjustment layers to really give a retro finish to our composition:

Gradient Overlay Adjustment Layer Settings:

Gradient: Blue, Red, Yellow (this is a default gradient)
Layer Opacity: 4%

Levels Adjustment Layer Settings:

29 / 0.96 / 250

Photo Filter Adjustment Layer Settings:

Filter: Sepia
Density: 25%

Exposure Adjustment Layer Settings:

Exposure: +0.03
Offset: +0.03
Gamma Correction: 1.04

And We’re Done!

You can view the final outcome below. I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and would love to hear your feedback on the techniques and outcome.

Photo Manipulate a Surreal, Gravity-Defying Desert Scene

Photo Manipulate a Surreal, Gravity-Defying Desert Scene

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create an conceptual surreal photo-manipulation. We are going to learn the process of creating depth of field using a few advance tools. We are going to learn how to blend images so seamlessly that it would look like a single image using the Brush tool, the Eraser tool and several adjustment layers.We will learn how to create light and darkness to make the background look seamless. We are going to learn how to use textures and give life to our image, and we are going to learn how to create a moody, dreamy tone using a few adjustment layers and lighting effects.

Final Image

Resources Used In This Tutorial

• Stormy Sky 3 – pelleron-stock
• Origami Kusudama Starsea – Missingno413
• quiet dunes – night-fate-stock
• Rusty Iron Chain – PNG – rarous-stock
• Iron Door Handle 2 – Falln-Stock
• iron ball – angeltouch1
• Walking on ice 1 – Arctic-Stock

Step 1

Create a new file with a width of 4500 px and a height of 4500 px at 300 dpi (Dots per Inch). Background Contents should be White.

Step 2

First off, let’s open the quiet dunes desert in Photoshop. We will be using desert from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the desert stock and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the desert and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “desert”

The result should be similar to this:

Step 3

Activate transform tool (Ctrl+t) as see below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 4

First off, let’s open the sky in Photoshop. We will be using Stormy Sky 3 from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas:

Click the stromy sky 3 and press M to Rectungular marquee tool and then make a selection around the sky and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 5

Again Activate transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd+T) and rotate the encircled square in the direction of the red arrow .

The result should be similar to this:

Activate transform tool (Ctrl+t) as see below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 6

Now Crate new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette :

fill these setting:

Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Sea layer and Color balance) to make a mask.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 7

Now activate the blur tool (B):

Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 8

Now Create a new layer and name it “Vignette”.Fill it with White color “#ffffff”.

Now goto Filters > Distrot > Lens Correction:

When the Lens Correction box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now change the layer mode to “Multiply” and the opacity to 100%:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 9

Activate a new layer and name it “Source light”.

Right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

paint over the highlighted area

Reduce opacity to 65%

The result should be similar to this:

Step 10

Now Create new solid color adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

When the solid color box opens, input the following:

Reduce the opacity of the color fill layer to 40% and change the layer mode to “exclusion” :

The result should be similar to this:

Now Create new photo filter layer from the bottom of layers palette.

fill these setting:

The result should be similar to this:

Now activate brush tool (B) and paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Now Create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now Create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now Crate new Color Balance adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette:

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now Crate new gradient map layer from the bottom of layers palette .

When the gradient map box opens, input the following:

now do the opacity of the gradient map layer to 100% and change the layer mode to “luminosity” :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 11

Now,let’s open the Origami Kusudama Starsea in Photoshop. We will be using the Origami ball from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Origami ball and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the ball and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to ” Origami ball “:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 12

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “origami ball” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 13

Now Create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (origami balllayer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following:

Now Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (origami ball layer and hue/saturation) to make a mask.

The result should be similar to this:

Now Create a new Curves adjustment from the bottom of layers palette

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now go back to “origami ball” layer and then creat a Color Balance adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following.

The result should be similar to this:

Now Create outer glow adjustment layer from the bottom of the layer palette:

When the outer glow box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 14

Now,let’s open the iron ball stock in Photoshop. We will be using the iron ball from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the iron ball and press p to activate the pen Tool and make a selection around the ball.Now activate Move tool (v) Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “iron ball”.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 15

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “iron ball” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 16

Now activate Erase tool (E) with these settings Now let’s erase :

Brush size: 100px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 17

Now creat a Curves adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Iron ball layer and Curves) to make a mask.

The result should be similar to this:

Now Crate new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (iron ball layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 18

Now let’s create a shadow of our iron ball.Create a new layer and name it “Iron ball shadow”.

Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 100px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

Now paint over the highlighted area.

Step 19

First off, let’s open the Iron Door Handle 2 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Door Handle from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Iron Door Handle 2 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the Door Handle and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “iron ball ancor”.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 20

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “iron ball ancor” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 21

Now activate Erase tool (E) with these settings Now let’s erase :

Brush size: 100px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 22

Now Crate new Color Balance adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Iron ball ancor layer and Color Balance) to make a mask.

The result should be similar to this:

Now Crate new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .

When the Curves box opens, input the following.Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Iron ball ancor layer and Curves) to make a mask.

The result should be similar to this:

Just duplicate the Iron ball (Ctrl+j) ancor layer and change it’s name to “origami ball ancor” .Do the same setting as we do on iron ball ancor layer.

Step 23

Now,let’s open the Rusty Iron Chain – PNG in Photoshop. We will be using the chain from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Rusty Iron Chain – PNG and press V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “Chain”.

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Chain” layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Now Duplicate Chain layer (Ctrl+j) and make a long chain.See as below.

Step 24

Now let’s work with our Origami ball.Create a new layer and name it “Light”.

Now activate pen tool(p) and draw a line.See as below:

Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 5px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 100%

Flow: 100%

Color: #ffffff

Then now again activate pen tool (P) and make a right click and choose Stock path.

When the Stock path box opens, input the following:

Now again right click and choose Delete path.

The result should be similar to this:

Now Crate Outer glow layer from the bottom of layers palette .

When the Outer glow box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Draw some more lines.

Step 25

First off, let’s open the Walking on ice 1 in Photoshop. We will be using the man from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Walking on ice 1 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the man and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to “man”.

The result should be similar to this:

Now go to Filter > Blur > Motion blur:

When the Motion Blur box opens, input the following:

Reduce the opacity to 65% :

Make some more man shadows.

And We’re Done!

You can view the final outcome below. I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and would love to hear your feedback on the techniques and outcome.