Table of contents for No. 144 in Photoshop Creative

It’s easy to take layers for granted, as they’re at the centre of everything we do in Photoshop. It’s therefore important to re-visit some of the most basic but essential tricks that enable us to work more efficiently to ultimately ensure we’re creating the best art possible. Check out our how-to guide on p18 for 25 tips on using layers, then have a go at creating this issue’s layer-intensive cover image on p24! We also have step-by-step tutorials on making a mosaic portrait by creating patterns from stock images, compositing multiple photos to produce surreal effects, and experimenting with blend modes for creative double exposures. There are advanced guides on mastering branding in Photoshop and creating video-game art, plus Elements tutorials that show you how to get the most out…

There’s nothing more inspiring than surfing the internet and seeing what other artists are creating, and we encourage you to do so. Here are some of our favourite pictures that caught our attention recently, from some of the world’s most exciting artists and designers. Abdelrahman Mohamed www.behance.net/ i-Manipulate I used the Brush tool and textures to make the background, and the Smudge tool to manipulate the model. I masked the face, used black lines and dragged it with the Smudge. I added orange and red to help brighten the atmosphere. Alessia Trunfio . co.uk First I did a rough pencil sketch, then I made shape layers with the Pen tool for all the objects and the body part, then I started shadowing and highlighting sections. Finally I gave the illustration…

Park.Agency was founded by Andrew Aden, an interactive art director and graphic designer with more than 10 years of experience in the digital design industry. But until this year, he was working with partners and they were called Workfilms Agency. Now Aden is going it alone – well, as a team of five – working between the main creative office in Nice and the sales team’s office in Santa Monica. Aden explains: “Our company started its story as a software production company, but we moved into digital and graphic design. For many years, we have been working in the entertainment industry, building websites for movies and artists. We had a chance to work for such brands like Disney, Universal, Bacardi, Sony and many others.” Through Sony Music and Universal Music,…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn Use the Rectangle tool, Pen, shape layers, Pattern Overlay, blur and modes Time taken 6-7 hours Expert Moe Hezwani “I love a challenge; I’m constantly faced with difficult commissions almost every day, and finding the best way to execute them is my favourite part. Making a piece of artwork like this mosaic portrait certainly takes time and patience, but finishing it is so satisfying. “I’m a professional graphic designer/illustrator, and Photoshop is my go-to platform for my designs.” It’s so rewarding when you finish a complex piece of artwork. This image has been created using hundreds of small rectangles, triangles and squares. They have been layered up with swatches of other African-style lifestyle or still-life images. When you look at this piece of artwork…

01 Use adjustment layers Use adjustment layers to create a black and white image. Open the image and go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Black & White. Drag the sliders and set all colours to -200. 02 Add more contrast Now increase the contrast using Levels. Go to Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Levels. Adjust the midtone input level until you see the details and contours of the image. 03 Clean up Hit Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+Opt/Alt+E to create a merged copy of the layers. Grab the Dodge tool and paint over the white areas and then use the Burn tool over the dark areas. 04 Define a brush preset Now press Cmd/Ctrl+I to invert the image. Crop it and then go to Edit>Define Brush Preset. Name your brush and hit OK. Press F5 and then select your…

Essentials Time taken 72 hours The artist Abesalom Kavelashvili “I’m Abesalom Kavelashvili, a digital artist and art director from Tbilisi, Georgia. I have more than eight years of experience working in the graphic and advertising industry. Working in the field of design, I gained experience creating visual work, design and artwork for more than a thousand big and small companies, brands and studios.” You can see Abesalom’s work at http://abesalom.com/. Abesalom Kavelashvili is a digital artist from Georgia. “Photoshop is my most-loved tool,” he tells us. “I use Photoshop to create most of my work. I love retouching and creating photomanipulations, and often work with vectors, adding details in Photoshop.” Detail is something that is obviously key in Hello, a photomanipulation that Abesalom created for a bank advertisement. It’s an…

Use Smart Objects Logos are often imported as Smart Objects so they are protected in their original state, particularly vector elements from Illustrator. It’s also worth considering Linked Smart Objects, when the source image will be called upon multiple times (for example, in a UI project). Work in RGB Design your elements in RGB, so they are ready to be used digitally, but be aware of how it will look in CMYK when applied to printing projects by going to View>Proof Setup and selecting Working CMYK. Explore Layer Comps Layer Comps are handy for showing clients how your branding could be applied to multiple versions of a web page or print product, helping them better visualise how their whole identity could develop. Collect product templates Use layered PSD templates to…

Essentials Time taken 4hours Expert Rodrigo Marinelli “Creating thepixelprosites one . expects a composition to see is .com very that challenging, but also very exciting because you can create anything from your imagination. You just need to have a good idea, choose the right photos, and use the correct Photoshop tools. It may sound simple, but it requires a lot of practice. That’s why it’s so important to follow tutorials to enhance your techniques. The best thing about working with Photoshop is that every day you can create a brand new world – it’s all up to you. “I’m an art director and have 11 years of experience in advertising agencies. I learned to use Photoshop by following tutorials.” For more of Rodrigo’s work, visit http://rodrigo_marinelli.prosite.com. By exercising advanced techniques…

VARY SIZES Not everything in the map has to be realistic in size; it’s a nice effect to vary the sizes of objects and landmarks. The best thing about creating a detailed digital-art piece is that you can spot something new every time you look at it. A geometric map is no different, and as long as you have space, you can fill the area with as many buildings, landmarks and national objects as you like. While this might look like a job for the Pen tool in Photoshop or Illustrator, this map is made completely from selections and brushes. Just remember that holding Shift keeps your brush stroke straight – great for the cricket stumps or tree trunks, for example – and Shift can also help you to create…

Stephen Proctor has recently graduated from studying graphic design at university. “I began using Photoshop to create banners and avatars for friends, and this led me to pursue a career in the creative sector.” Stephen’s work varies from one image to the next, but nature and the environment are strong themes. We asked Stephen all about his design secrets and what goes into such work. What do you think makes a good Photoshop composition? I like something that I’ve never seen before; Pawel Nolbert, for example, interests me. I look for a clear message and a meaning within the composition though, as telling a story is important. I do love detail, looking closely at blending techniques to create a smooth transition between elements interests me. What stories are in your…

GET IN TOUCH Send us your images now for the chance to appear in future galleries Create your own gallery online PhotoshopCreative.co.uk Upload your images to Facebook Search PhotoshopCreative Tweet us your creative artwork @PshopCreative Alternatively, you can email: pcr@imagine-publishing.co.uk Matheus Albuquerque   co.uk/user/Matheus%20 Albuquerque Image of the issue In this image I explored light, using Color Dodge and hot colours for the sun. Inspired by the artist Cintya Warmling, I wanted to give the message of life beyond Earth. Alexandre Perez www.photoshopcreative.co.uk/user/alexandreperez This is an image about how a child can imagine their own world. I used a playful theme in this picture, working carefully with the lighting, mainly using green and yellow colours in my adjustments. Katie Lupa   SkyLemonBerry28 Using my own images and stock from the…

Planning and prepping 08:30 First of all, I answer emails and make plans for the day; it helps me to be more productive. Beyond that I print materials and ready sketches for the first brainstorm and meeting of the team. Getting the ideas 09:00 On average, it takes a couple of hours to brainstorm with the team. Then, inspired and full of ideas, we can proceed to business. Monitoring the plan 11:00 This lasts from four to six hours with breaks for coffee. Often I have a second project on the go that allows for periodic distractions, and maintains my enthusiasm for what I’m doing. Client catch-up 14:00 Discussing and agreeing the details of projects with customers face-to-face or by Skype is an integral part of the working day. Using…

The Layers palette is a cornerstone for Photoshop creativity. It’s hard to imagine building an ambitious photomanipulation – or a even making a simple edit to a photo – without them, and it’s actually through layers that you can add masks, apply adjustments or create clipping masks. It’s easy to forget that layers were initially introduced to Photoshop for a simple reason: to keep your work organised. They can certainly help you to build a picture and reorder elements of your project, but at their core, they’re a tool to help you stay on top of what goes where in your project. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN… SHORTCUTS Discover quick and simple ways to duplicate, merge and arrange your layers. ADJUSTMENTS Use the Layers panel to tweak brightness, unify colours, add…

01 First shadow layer Once you have brushed in your shadows using a black soft brush, select the first shadow layer and go to Filter>Blur>Surface Blur, and set Radius to 64 and Threshold to 144. 02 Soften the highlights Next, grab the highlight layer and select the Surface Blur filter once again. This time you want to make Radius: 70 and Threshold: 100. 03 Second shadow layer Select the second shadow layer and use the Surface Blur filter for the final time. Change Radius to 64 and Threshold to 144. 04 Edit with a layer mask There may be areas of shadows and highlights that you don’t like. If so, add a layer mask, grab a soft brush and brush away the areas you don’t want.…

Essentials Works with Elements CS CC What you’ll learn Use colours, blend modes and textures for a double-exposure effect Time taken 1hour Expert Mark White “The colours for this double exposure were discovered completely by accident; it goes to show what you can do in Photoshop when you just play around with blend modes and colours, and for me, experimenting is the best way to learn and improve. “As senior staff writer on Photoshop Creative, I’ve learned all kinds of quick tips to help with even the most impressive-looking pictures.” Blend modes are vital in Photoshop, and can turn ordinary ideas into extraordinary pieces of artwork in seconds. But so many of us end up using blend modes for the same effects in the same kinds of projects. What if…

Essentials Works with Elements CS CC What you’ll learn Use masks, brushes, filters and blend modes to create a fantasy portrait Time taken 2hours Expert Andre Villanueva “Masks are one of my favourite and often-used features. They enable me to merge characters, be selective with adjustments and hide brushwork, with the all-important option to restore if needed. “I discovered Photoshop when studying web design. I’m now art director for a tech company, soothing my inner instructor by sharing techniques with readers.” One of the biggest draws to Photoshop editing is the power to alter reality. Now there are varying degrees to this. You can perform minimal retouching to give something a slight boost, push it a bit further into the threshold of the supernatural, or go all out and forge…

Throughout this feature, we have focused mainly on branding for commercial clients, but your first and most important branding project is likely to be your own. You need to have a strong personal brand in order to attract the clientele that you want. “A weak, anonymous or ugly logo is bad publicity for your own studio. The logo itself represents the materialisation of a designer’s qualities and expertise,” agrees Maurizio Pagnozzi. Pagnozzi’s own brand, One Design, has been given the full studio treatment – see the case study here: www.behance.net/gallery/10963073/One-Design. Building your personal brand is a good way to practise your Photoshop skills as well. It can help you to ensure best practice in your logo designs and file handling; learn the right colour profiles and image sizes; and apply…

HOW CAN I GIVE MY PICTURES TORN EDGES? Adding torn edges to your pictures is a great effect, whether you’re creating something vintage-looking or you just want to give the impression that your picture’s printed on torn paper. To create the effect, find the ‘torn.jpg’ image in the resources and paste it as a new layer over your image. Hit the Mask icon on your main image layer and then flick back to the torn paper layer. Grab the Brush (B) and select black as your colour. Cmd/Ctrl+click the layer preview of the torn paper layer to select all the pixels on that layer, and then click back on the mask of the main image. With your black brush, paint along the edges of the image to erase them, leaving…

José Augusto Hykavy is a perfectionist and clearly very ambitious. “Currently, my focus is graphic design, but I like motion graphics,” he tells us. “This is something I’d like to explore more.” In two years, José has amassed more than 35,000 Behance views, and is looking to work with even more clients in the future. We caught up with him to ask about his relationship with Photoshop. When was it that you started to use Photoshop? From an early age I was influenced by art through my father, who is a professor of arts. He used to do college work at home and I was always watching and helping. I always liked to draw and paint at school, and I was quite good at it. I first used Photoshop in…

We challenged you with these In issue 142, we challenged you to get creative with these four images. You were allowed to use any or all of the pictures, and whatever other resources you chose. Here’s what you created. Challenge entries The best entries and overall challenge winner 1 Trevor Budd Surreal Beach Cave Only the four images supplied for the challenge were used to make this surreal cave scene. Combining these images was a real challenge using cutouts, blends, distortion and then manually adding all the lighting. 2 Alex Coleman Globe This image uses all four images required. The snowglobe was made out of the tennis ball image and the beach is the background; the deer is placed in the snowglobe. 3 Bill Bonaros Inside the Forest This is…

1. Think, and think again “Always, always make drafts in Photoshop, as the software allows you to find great ideas by overlaying layers and multiply them to each other. The more options you save, the more possibilities you have!” Andrew Aden 2. Details, details, details “Play with colours, contrast and sharpness at the end of your process – you can always find that little bit of extra magic. Also, always use grids while you’re working on web-design projects. Knowing exactly how your image measures up will give you so much more control.” Andrew Aden 3. Perfect people “When you have to cut out someone from a foreground, and there are a lot of flyaway hairs floating around, the best way to get rid of them is to use Photoshop with…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn How to use layers, masks, the Pen and more to create a realistic image Time taken 5hours Expert Rodrigo Marinelli “Since I was a kid, I always loved VW Beetles. I had one as my first car, so to use Photoshop to create a scene with one is great fun. There is a saying that everything fits in a Beetle; this image is the proof that this is right. “I’m an art director and have 11 years of experience in advertising agencies. I learned and am still learning to use Photoshop through following many tutorials.” Photoshop makes it possible to create literally anything. All you have to do is experiment with the tools and give life to your imagination. Before you start a fun…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn Mask your images and add creative effects with layers and filters Time taken 3hours Expert Daniel Sinoca “One thing that impresses me the most with Photoshop is the ability to create accurate selections using intuitive tools. I can easily create a selection around an image, mask it and make an entirely new scene. “I started to get involved in the digital world more than 10 years ago and have been working as a freelance artist ever since, creating all kinds of multimedia projects and tutorial guides.” In this step-by-step guide we’re going to create a stunning floating-island composition using a variety of photos. You’ll start with a blank canvas, then use the Gradient tool to create the background and other effects. You’ll learn how…

“A logo will be used at different sizes. For that reason, the logo should be vector based, allowing the artwork to be scaled when needed without any loss of quality. “As a logo needs to be versatile, it’s worth designing different versions for situations across web and print. For example, you may design a full-colour version of the logo with gradient effects and textures applied, which can be saved in CMYK colour mode and exported as TIFF files for print use. Resized versions can then be saved for web usage as JPEG and/or PNG files in RGB colour mode. A separate white version can be created with the effects removed for situations where the logo should be used on a dark background.”…

Price £22.99 / $29.99 US Web www.pixelmator.com The specs Company Pixelmator Additional specs OS X 10.9.5 or later iOS 9 or later TOOLBAR Many of the main tools for selecting, brushing, retouching and even adding shapes, are located from here. BLENDING/OPACITY Blending and opacity is between the Layers palette and Effects Browser, making it easy to alter both layers and effects as they’re applied. LAYERS The Layers palette, just as in Photoshop, is located on the right-hand side of the screen. Masks can be added using the cog icon. There are all kinds of cheaper alternatives to Photoshop on the market. Some offer more of a focus towards compositions, others towards photo editing or digital art, but few can match up to the sophistication or even the stylishness of Adobe’s…