Create an amazing print ready poster! - Photoshop Tutorial

“Creating a Print Ready Poster” Tutorial Outcome: Colors are a bit off to show you difference between RGB and CMYK. By the way the girl in this poster is Kate Upton. Minimal Requirements: Adobe Photoshop CS Difficulty: Hard Time: 2 Hours Pictures used: Today we are going to make a poster. There is one […]

“Creating a Print Ready Poster”

Outcome:

Colors are a bit off to show you difference between RGB and CMYK. By the way the girl in this poster is Kate Upton.

Minimal Requirements: Adobe Photoshop CS
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 2 Hours

Pictures used:

Today we are going to make a poster. There is one thing to note – I’m going to use CMYK color mode. Reason I’m using CMYK instead of RGB is because I’m making it print ready. RGB is used mostly on displays, like computer monitors while CMYK is more popular in printing. Printers use CMYK color mode and it’s easier to understand the file that needs to be printed. It’s like translating into their language. If you try to print something that is in RGB mode on a CMYK printer colors will get all messy.

If you wish to follow this tutorial completely you will need these pictures and brushes, downloaded from bittbox.com www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-hi-res-watercolor-photoshop-brushes www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-hi-res-watercolor-photoshop-brushes-set-ii

Let’s start:

1. Open up ‘Girl’ image.

2. We are going to make a cut out using Pen Tool (P). Main reason I’m using Pen Tool is that I get most quality results with it. You can use whatever fits you right but I’m going to use Pen Tool. It’s pretty easy, you just click and add points witch make a path. If you want to curve your line in between two points you need to click and hold when adding a next point.

3. Here is my finished result.

4. Go to ‘Paths’ window (Window > Paths) and CTRL+CLICK on the little icon next to the path name.

5. Using Lasso Tool (L) I began to remove some parts from my selection that I don’t need. I did that by clicking and holding on my selection, while my ALT key was pressed. In this case, ALT+CLICK&HOLD hotkey gives me power to subtract parts from my selection. (If you hold SHIFT instead of alt you will add to your selection)

6. After I’m satisfied with the selection I’m going to RIGHT CLICK on it and select Refine Edge. These are the options I used but you can use whatever you wish. If you do not have ‘Refine Edge’ in your Photoshop version you can just delete the background.

7. Zoom in on the head and select this part. Delete it with 50% Opacity Eraser brush. Reason I did this is because when I put some other background this part will be semi-visible. They are sunglasses, right?

8. Bring in to your document ‘Texture’ picture.

9. Add a new adjustment layer. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance. I used this options so my texture becomes brighter.

10. Now I added a new adjustment layer – Levels. (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels) I just changed the position of my Black level. (Before it was 0, now it’s 43)

11. I have added a new gradient map. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map. It’s an ordinary Black-To-White gradient map. After adding it I have clicked CTRL+G hotkey. It makes a clipping mask on to the ‘Girl’ layer. Also I have put my blending mode to Darken and on 60% Opacity.

12. Added a new layer Brushes.

13. Paint something once using brushes that you can download on top of this tutorial. Brushes are too big (2500 px), so use half of their size (1250 px).

14. Now I selected this part. Clicked ‘Add Layer Mask’ button. I organized my layers better, added a layer folder.

15. Now I duplicated this layer by using CTRL+J hotkey. Transformed it a bit. Also you can paint white and black on your layer mask so some parts become visible / invisible. Play with it a bit. Here is how I did it. Sometimes I used my past layer, sometimes I re-did 13th step. Use your imagination on this step.

16. Added a Gradient Map and put it to Hard Light blending mode.

17. Created a new layer group called ‘elements’. Using my Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and my Paint Bucket (G) I created this.

18. Added a layer mask and using brushes I have made it like this.

19. Open up ‘car’ image. Delete background parts. Image > Adjustments > Gradient Map. Use Purple-To-Yellow gradient map. Transform it like this. I have selected this part and deleted it using feather selection. Right Click on selection > Feather ( 15 px ) > Delete.

20. Open up ‘woman’ image. Delete unnecessary parts. Transform it. Using brushes delete a bit. Image > Adjustments > Gradient Map.

21. So you have got the point? These few steps are pretty much the same, open up an image, get rid of unnecessary parts, blend if needed (layer mask or delete using brushes) and apply a gradient map with the color as same as on your picture.

22. Again the same thing but with ‘radio’ image.

23. Make a new layer below ‘girl’ layer. CTRL+CLICK on the icon of ‘girl’ layer’s mask.

24. Fill it with pink.

25. Gaussian Blur it. ( Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur )

26. Put it to Overlay blending mode.

27. Now I blended a bit my ‘radio’ and ‘bag’ layers. ( Erased some parts using brushes )

28. Created new layer group called ‘Final Edits’. New layer. Image > Apply Image

29. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient map. You can see two colors I used.

30. Put it to Overlay on 50% Opacity.

31. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter > Magenta. 85% Opacity.

32. New Layer. Image > Apply Image.

33. Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. After that Edit > Fade Sharpen ( 75% ).

34. Make a new layer again, fill it with whatever color you want. Filter > Noise > Add noise.

Congratulations! You have made your print ready poster. Now you can go somewhere and print your work. Also this is an awesome gift idea! Enjoy and be sure to follow us regularly.

Continue reading here: Design a simple icon - Photoshop Tutorial

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