Photoshop tutorial
How to Make This Mixed Media Poster in Photoshop
Build a torn, taped, photocopied poster from a single portrait. PrintMachine does the print and scan pass, then masking tape PNGs, clipped cutouts and a few layer styles turn the flat image into a physical looking collage.
Setup
Document
Photoshop document: 16 in x 20 in, 300 dpi, 16-bit.
Settings
- Size 16 in x 20 in
- Resolution 300 dpi
- Bit depth 16-bit
Step 1
Paper and Print Textures
Add paper and print textures to your image. I used the textures from PrintMachine.
Layers
- PM_02 Mode: Screen, Opacity: 100%
- PM_07 Mode: Soft Light, Opacity: 50%
- PM_08 Mode: Overlay, Opacity: 100%
- robert Base image layer
Step 2
PrintMachine Print and Scan
Merge everything into a single layer. Select this layer, and use PrintMachine to get the print and scanned look. Important: Rename the 'DIGITAL PRINT' and your original layer when you are done.
CMYK Settings
- Black Ink Level 65%
- White Threshold 5%
- Use Photoshop ICC Profile Off
Print Settings
- Print Scale 50%
- Dot Gain 15%
Step 3
Ink Bleed
Select your renamed original, and click Print to re-apply the effect. Then enable ink bleed and use these settings.
Important: Rename the 'INK FADE', 'PRINT BLEED', 'DIGITAL PRINT', and your original layer.
Merge the 'INK FADE', 'PRINT BLEED', and 'DIGITAL PRINT' layers.
Ink Bleed
- Enable Ink Bleed On
- Target Layer DIGITAL PRINT
- Bleed Texture Ink Bleed 2
- Intensity 2
- Ink Fade 24%
Step 4
Masking Tape
Place masking tape PNGs (I found these on Google) and merge the tape into a single layer. Clip your ink bleed to the masking tape layer. Then duplicated the masking tape, move it on top of the ink bleed, and change blend mode and opacity. Group these layers and apply this layer style.
Layers
- Group tape bleed (Effects: Drop Shadow)
- tape copy 2 Screen, Opacity: 66%
- main INK BLEED copy Clipped to the layer below
- tape copy Merged masking tape
Drop Shadow
- Blend Mode Normal (black)
- Opacity 29%
- Angle 62
- Use Global Light On
- Distance 3 px
- Spread 0%
- Size 5 px
- Contour Linear
- Anti-aliased Off
- Noise 0%
- Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow Off
Step 5
Cutouts on White
Place your cutout images on a new layer with a white background. Use PrintMachine to apply the same print look, with the same settings as before.
Step 6
Cutout Layer Styles
Mask out your cutouts and apply these Layer Styles.
Bevel & Emboss
- Style Inner Bevel
- Technique Smooth
- Depth 1000%
- Direction Up
- Size 3 px
- Soften 3 px
- Angle 131
- Use Global Light Off
- Altitude 26
- Gloss Contour Linear
- Anti-aliased Off
- Highlight Mode Screen (white)
- Highlight Opacity 100%
- Shadow Mode Multiply (black)
- Shadow Opacity 11%
Drop Shadow
- Blend Mode Normal (black)
- Opacity 29%
- Angle 62
- Use Global Light On
- Distance 6 px
- Spread 0%
- Size 5 px
Step 7
Marquee Selection
Use the Rectangular Marquee tool to make a selection on your main print image, use Ctrl (cmd) + J to create a new layer with the selection.
Step 8
Warp the Cutout
Use Edit > Transform > Warp to add some curvature to the cutout. Then apply these Layer Styles.
Bevel & Emboss
- Style Inner Bevel
- Technique Smooth
- Depth 1000%
- Direction Up
- Size 3 px
- Soften 3 px
- Angle 131
- Use Global Light Off
- Altitude 26
- Gloss Contour Linear
- Anti-aliased Off
- Highlight Mode Screen (white)
- Highlight Opacity 100%
- Shadow Mode Multiply (black)
- Shadow Opacity 11%
Drop Shadow (cutout)
- Blend Mode Normal (black)
- Opacity 29%
- Angle 62
- Use Global Light On
- Distance 3 px
- Spread 0%
- Size 5 px
Drop Shadow (tape)
- Blend Mode Normal (black)
- Opacity 29%
- Angle -20
- Use Global Light Off
- Distance 3 px
- Spread 0%
- Size 5 px
Step 9
Levels
Add a Levels Adjustment to bring back the black values.
Levels
- Input black point 74
- Gamma 1.00
- Input white point 255
- Output range 0 — 255
Finish
Result
Done. Get the PrintMachine Photoshop plugin to build the same mixed media poster.
Get the plugin used in this tutorial
-
PrintMachine
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