How to Make This Grunge Merch Graphic in Photoshop

In a 16in x 20in document at 300 dpi, create your merch design composition.

The font I used here is called "build Bold." I added a drop shadow and placed the blink-182 logo beneath the text for some visual layering and depth.

Next, we need to add texture and grain to the image. I used 3 textures for this: concrete, grain, and fabric.

I made the grain by applying the grain effect in Camera Raw Filter to a 50% gray solid.

Add these adjustment layers above the texture and grain.

These help to blow out the midtones while preserving the highlights and shadows of the image.

These settings may need to be adjusted depending on your image.

"Levels 5" was used to add shadows back in certain areas, mainly in the skin and hair.

The layer stack from top to bottom is Levels 5, Color Balance 1, Levels 3, Black & White 1, Selective Color 1, Curves 1, Levels 1.

Add grunge to your image. I did this by creating a group with 3 solid colors and a threshold adjustment.

This group goes below the image adjustment layers and above the image of the band.

The white solid acts as the background. The two black solids are where I add the grunge.

I used the High Fidelity Grunge Brush Pack to paint in the layer mask of the black solids where I wanted the grunge.

I removed the white values of the group using Blend If to reveal the band image that is below this group.

I used the GRUNGE50 brush for the main vertical lines, with a variety of other brushes used throughout.

Add a Threshold adjustment above the adjustment layers. Set the blending mode of the Threshold to Darken.

Here is how my layers are set up.

Add a Gaussian blur to the text and logo, set the blur amount to 5 px.

Put a black solid behind the title.

Place some grunge or grain above the title. Set these to overlay.

Add a Threshold adjustment at the top.

Put all of the layers into a new group.

Duplicate the title, add a horizontal motion blur with Filter>Blur>Motion Blur. Move this layer underneath the title and shift it to the left.

Add a drop shadow to the main title.

I used more grunge brushes from the High Fidelity Grunge Brush Pack in the layer mask of the title.

Merge the group and delete the black pixels with the magic wand.

Add a pure white Inner Shadow Layer effect to the title with these settings. Set the color overlay to #d9d9d9

Add paper textures and grain.