We have another Psd Plus tutorial exclusively available to Plus members today. If you want to take your Photoshop and Illustrator integration skills to the next level, then we have an exciting poster design tutorial for you. Learn more at the jump!
Create a Big Air Event Poster with Photoshop and Illustrator – Psd Plus Tutorial
Sep 16th in News by Mark MayersThis Plus Tutorial is Filled with Creative Tips
I recently came across the work of illustrator Chrissie Abbott and I was immediately struck by her clever use of combining retro and modern imagery and her use of bold, vibrant colors. In this tutorial, I'll walk you through the creation of an extreme sport event poster using a similar style.
The poster theme is based on a vert skate competition, so all the imagery, such as space, mountains and flight are all relevant and have been sourced either from my own collection of vintage, copyright-free magazines or stock websites, as well as some freely available images courtesy of NASA. I'd also like to thank surf/skate photographer Paul Frost for kindly allowing me to use his skateboarder photo.
As far as techniques go you'll discover how to create precise bleed and crop marks in both Photoshop and Illustrator. You'll also master Illustrator's Pathfinder and Offset Path commands to create some cool ornate lettering. Finally, you'll bring all these elements together with Photoshop and assemble the final, print-ready artwork in Illustrator.
Plus members can Log in and Download! If you're not a member, you can of course join today! Below is the final image we'll be creating in this tutorial.
Precise and Detailed Instructions Inside
Plus members can Log in and Download! Otherwise, Join Now! Below are some sample images from this tutorial.





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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Modisana September 16th
Nice looking design
( )Saket September 16th
Hey thank you so much Mark!
( )i was looking for some tutorial like this and found this great tutorial
emmaneul September 16th
meeh not my style!
( )Margaret September 16th
looks very cool great use of colours and layout. I just wish that the event logo was a little more legible. (kinda reads as big gig to me…) But it looks like this will be a very helpful tut. Will have to run through it when I get the chance.
( )Matt September 16th
Yeah, I like the poster a lot, but I wish the event title was more readable. All I can tell it says is BIG.
( )justin yang September 16th
Sweet biq qiq is only 10 days away!
Sorry I had to.
( )Serghei September 16th
Yeees! Intersting style..
( )massafakka September 16th
yep. v nice looking design…
thx bb
( )Melody September 16th
I like the main font, though it took me forever to see that the bottom text is “air.”
If you were attempting Chrissie’s look then job well done..
( )Aevion September 16th
this looks like it could be something out of an MGMT music video. psychedelic dude!
( )Web 2.0 Tools September 16th
That was a great tutorial, thanks for the great work
( )Tungston September 16th
Nw the question is, What happens at September 25 really? O.o
( )spidermonkey September 16th
Not a big fan of fonts that require the viewer to try and decipher one letter at a time but I don’t mind the rest of the image. Looks to be an interesting tutorial
( )g3niuz September 16th
something new…
looks great – i like
( )underdog September 16th
nice…i like it….
( )David September 17th
What is that air balloon doing in space? lol
Otherwise, looks good.
( )Canpol September 17th
pls tell me the font name or the Site wehre dload it.
thx
and nice tut
( )loswl September 17th
Nice design, love the overall look, but it suffers from lack of readability, don’t get me wrong, I really, really love the headline font, but it is kinda hard to read. Great use of color and overlapping elements..Nice tut.
( )kyle September 17th
omg…what is going on here? Im having a hard time understanding.
( )Kraig Walker September 17th
Why is everything Psd plus these days? There’s not point in me looking here anymore
( )tck September 17th
@ @
( )__
zoulou54 September 19th
Hi,
( )Could you give us the iStock vector flourishes reference. I don’t find it on istockphoto.
TY
Vickie Hayward October 14th
I have just been shown this website and I have to say I am absolutely aghast by the content of this post. As an art director who commissions illustrators for exhibitions and commercial projects, I am inundated with submissions from young artists. Most of which get rejected as they are essentially poor derivatives of other peoples work.
I understand that it is important to help people learn new skills. But I think it is totally inappropriate that you actively encouraged people to copy established artists style. You are not doing any of the people reading this or the artist any favours.
I would strongly advise any aspiring illustrators or artists, who would like a successful and respected career, to completely disregard this website, go and make you’re own work in your own way.
( )Brandon October 29th
Thats just it though were just learning new skills, it’s not like someone can go around with a copy of this poster saying “Oh ya I made it totally from scratch, just bought a few stocks and threw it together” we look for the techniques and the styling.
( )fajr October 30th
i think this websites great. Im not copying their work its the techniques we learn and then use em how we want. BEcause of websites like these ive learnt half of what i wouldnt have, otherwise!
( )Juan Carlos Galvis October 30th
Esta muy bueno el sitio, gracias.
( )YAwn November 18th
Vickie Hayward – shut up. Chrissie Abbot’s style is all about computer process. Screw her for having no drawing talent.
( )Mark Mayers November 18th
It was never my intention to blatently copy someone’s style, or encorage people to – only to be inspired. And I think there is a big difference. I feel I’ve used enough of my own style, so the final image is unique.
@Vickie Hayward: I’ve been an illustrator for over 22 years and before computers, I used a style very similar to Chrissie’s by hand-colouring black and white photocopies and pasting them together, I then later applied the same ‘cut and paste’ technique using colour photocopies.
Some tutorials on this site get crititism for not mentioning their influences, I only mentioned Chrissie as a modern-day exponent of this style, so sorry If I’ve offended you or Chrissie.
Mark
( )Mark Mayers November 18th
I forgot to mention that I’ve also worked as an art director for a large advertising agency and I was responsible for buying a lot of work from illustration agencies. It was common practice that if my chosen illustrator was fully booked, they always had an alternative illustrator to hand who could replicate their style.
Graphic Design Student November 21st
This was extremely interesting! Thank you
( )