Introduction:

This tutorial will show you how to make a killer Fashion Model Poster using basic Photoshop functions like Layer Styles, Vector Masks and Filters like Motion Blur. At a time when there’s more DOWNLOADING of source material than actually USING it, this tutorial will get you through the end with only three stock images—two if you have experience with Cinema 4D.

Also, instead of the monotonous step-by-step form of tutorials you find all over the net, I’m using a different approach. Basically I’ll be explaining each effect separately so that you can use this elsewhere and not restrict yourself to the final image here.

This tutorial has two main divisions.

• Part One – The background
• Part Two – The model & effects.

Each effect will be explained separately.

So let’s get our hands dirty!

Part One – The Background

Lets start with a new document,  sized 1200 x 1600 px. Press D to set the default palette colors as Foreground Black & Background White. Press Alt + Backspace to paint the background black.

Above this make a new Group, and name it ‘clouds’. Set the group Blend Mode to Normal and set the Opacity to 75%

Within this new ‘clouds’,  Group make a new layer . Select the Gradient Tool(G) and apply a linear gradient going diagonally. Use the colors Orange (#fd7c00) and Purple (#6f156c). Reduce the opacity of the layer to 65%.

Above this make a new layer. Press D to bring back the default colours to Black/White. Go to Filter > Render > Clouds > Make. Blend Mode : Multiply; Opacity  100%

Next, Merge (Ctrl+E) the group. Duplicate this layer. Go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur with the following settings: Distance: 600 and Angle :90.

Set the Blend Mode to Soft Light. Opacity is automatically 75% since it’s duplicated from a layer of opacity 75%

Now let’s bring in the main city element of our background on to the canvas. Found this stock photo on sxc.hu. Remember – you don’t have to shrink the image for it to fit entirely in the canvas. Our objective is that the main yellow building should occupy a significant amount of space in the canvas, towards the left side.

Once the positioning is done add a Vector Mask to the layer: Layer > Vector Mask > Reveal All

Now using the Lasso Tool (L) or simply Brush (B) , chuck out excess portions of the buildings (sky). You can use a Soft Brush(Hardness: zero) at the end to make things a little smooth.

Add a Gradient Overlay by going to Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay. Use the same orange and purple colours as we had used previously. Blend Mode : Hue

Name the layer ‘city’. You should get something like the image below:

Make 2 COPIES of ‘city’.(Ctrl+J) TWICE

Merge the two copies so that the vector mask gets applied and layer style vanishes.

Name the upper layer ‘city_colour’ and the lower layer ‘city_blur’. Follow? Look at the screen shot to clear doubts.

On ‘city_colour’:

Apply a Gradient Overlay by going to Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay with the following settings: Blend Mode : Overlay, Opacity : 75%, ‘Purple – Orange’,  Angle : 120 degrees.

Apply a Vector Mask(Reveal All) and paint black over all those parts where you’d like to see the motion blur effect.

On ‘city_blur’

Goto
Filter > Blur > Motion Blur
Angle 90
Amount 441

Since after applying a motion blur, the extreme ends become transparent, copy this layer(Ctrl+J) a few more times to extend the blur and then merge it.

On this blurred layer (merged) apply a Gradient Overlay with values same as on layer ‘city’

Blend Mode : Hue
Opacity : 100%
Orange – Purple
90 degrees

You can add a vector mask on the blur layer to make minor adjustments.

Make a new layer above all and with a soft round brush paint black over the bottom part of the image:

Merge everything in part one

This is the end of part one.

Part Two – Model & Effects

Now lets bring our model into the picture.

I got this particular picture while browsing the model’s personal website. You can take any picture you want.

Using the Pen Tool (P) – always my first preference for extracting figures – to make a path around the model. No need to try and include every strand of hair – just go with the general direction of the head. Once path is complete, right click on it and select Make Selection. Feather = 0, Anti-aliasing ON.

Now that we have the marching ants ( yeah, that’s what it’s called ) around the body , just use the Move Tool (V) to bring it on to our canvas. Place it above all other layers and resize (Ctrl+T) it appropriately.

Make a Group called ‘Model’ and place her inside it.

Above the model –
Goto
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves
Click Ok and replicate the curve shown below.
Starting from top-right
POINT 1 = Output-172 Input – 193
POINT 2 = Output-132 Input – 174

Next, hold Alt and move the mouse between the two layers. When you see the cursor turn into two overlapping circles, click. Now the curve will affect only the model.

This effect will make all small extraction errors disappear. If you still spot something wrong, just add a vector mask and using a soft brush remove it. Merge the Curve with the model.

Effect – Facelift

This is really a clever trick to give the model a grungy feel. The shattered pieces is actually a Cinema 4D render. You can do it yourself or just download several such renders from sites like planetrenders.net.

Bring the ‘pieces’ on to the canvas. Let this be below the model. Hide it. Press Ctrl+ click on the ‘pieces’ thumbnail. This makes a selection of the pieces.

Now keeping the model layer selected – press Ctrl+J. This will make a copy of the model BUT only the small shattered like parts. Now simply with the Move Tool (V) shift the layer slightly left and watch the neat effect.

Create a Vector Mask and with a Hard Brush (Hardness 100) paint over the areas where you don’t want the scratches.

Make a Group BELOW Model called ‘Shatter’

Effect – Wings

The ‘wings’ shattering effect isn’t very difficult. It’s just about using your common sense. We already have a ready-made shatter BUT in the shape of a blob or circular splat. So what we do is simply place it behind the model and apply a vector mask, then with a Hard Brush just paint on the sides to acquire the shape. Do this for each ‘wing’.

Effect – Chunk Extraction

Again this effect adds to the “shattered” appearance. On the merged layers of part one, with the Polygonal Lasso (L) Tool make a sharp selection. Remember Feathering should be zero to achieve sharpness. Press Ctrl+J to copy that selection and apply a layer style

Layer > Layer Style > Outer Glow
Apply the following values.

Make such an extraction on both sides. You can also select a part of the model and move it.

The idea is to move a part of the image but to keep it ‘close’ to the original positions to show the similar colours so that it appears that it’s moving out.

Here’s the final set up of layers to clear any doubts.

To view the final image click here. The full PSD file can be downloaded here: [download id=”51″]

You might find the output quite dissimilar to mine since there is a render involved and lots of brushing. Also, I redid the design for the tutorial so my end result is slightly different from the tutorial screenshots. But the fact is that with any tutorial, even if you use the same values you will always find minute differences in outputs. Nevertheless, feel free to ask for any kind of help whether related to this tutorial or not. It’s what I enjoy doing. You can drop comments or contact me personally at [email protected]

This is DC signing off…