We have another Psd Plus tutorial exclusively available to Plus members today. If you want to take your photo manipulation and digital illustrative skills to the next level, then we have an exciting tutorial for you. Learn how to create a gritty, action poster from grunge elements, various images, and using multiple Photoshop techniques. Learn more at the jump!
Combine Grunge Elements and Gangster Images into an Exciting Action Poster
In this tutorial, I'll walk you through the process of creating a visually striking design using a limited color palette. First, you'll assemble a collage from various source files, then use some grungy, real-world ink stains and brushes for added grit. Next, you'll work in tandem with Illustrator – using a combination of Live Trace and Pathfinder commands to create the distressed movie title.
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 finishing up in this tutorial.
Precise and Detailed Instructions Inside
Plus members can Log in and Download! Otherwise, Join Now! Below are some sample images from the tutorial.





PSD Plus Membership
As you know, we run a premium membership system here called 'Plus' that costs $9 a month (or $22 for 3 months!) which gives members access to the Source files for tutorials as well as periodic extra tutorials, like this one! You'll also get access to Net Plus and Vector Plus, too. If you're a Plus member, you can log in and download the tutorial. If you're not a member, you can of course join today!
Also, don't forget to subscribe to the Psdtuts+ RSS Feed to stay up to date with the latest Photoshop tutorials and articles.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Corey July 22nd
Very cool! Thanks
( )Vruj Patel July 22nd
Wow, nice.
( )massafakka July 22nd
nice nice nice NEIS!!!
( )thats hot…
Brolando July 22nd
Waauw extreme cool!! Going to try this
( )Dullface July 22nd
Yeaaah SWEET!
( )Diego SA July 22nd
Middle guy reminds me Hitman.
( )The truth is I’m tired of seeing these kind of movie poster with every character occupying every corner. I like when there’s a simple but excellent idea taking every poster’s space.
I mean, I’m not saying these all-characters posters are horrible, I appreciate their layout, but I prefer the simplest and more creative.
And plus sucks! Really, this one should be freely open for everyone.
matthew booth July 22nd
Oh hey Diego, look forward to seeing some of your tutorials in the Plus section.
( )Ramon July 23rd
Middle guy is ugly
( )John Deere July 22nd
I like it, it’s aesthetically appealing, but don’t you guys think we are seeing too much grunge styles and grit lately? It still in, but it’s quickly becoming cliche.
In my opinion, fantasy, grunge, and low key works are getting old.
( )Taylor July 22nd
Wow that’s a lot of anchor points.
( )lawrence77 July 22nd
nice tutorial mate….
congratulation for your 10th tutorial….
but 9 is PLUS one
Anyway after I become PLUS i seen that…
( )Mark Mayers July 22nd
Hi lawrence77,
Wow, I have’nt been counting! Also one over at Vectortuts:
http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/news/how-to-design-print-and-apply-a-surfboard-decal-vector-plus-tutorial/
Cheers
( )Mark
mateo85 July 22nd
hmmm not bad
( )but girl and car looks little cheap for me // but rest looks nice
GJ
Skellie July 22nd
This one is awesome!
( )Mark Mayers July 22nd
Thanks Skellie,
I had fun making this one.
( )Anonymous July 23rd
Its nice, i guess it should not be plus, maybe few ’steps’ are special but that doesn’t make it special.
( )Johannes Leuchovius July 23rd
Really great!
( )Phenotype July 23rd
The people complaining about this tutorial being PLUS crack me up. Let’s face it, this site has a LOT of free content and if you can’t afford $9/month then there is something seriously wrong with you. $9! Every single person on this site should be able to afford $9/month, I mean seriously, eat out one less day a month or something.
( )Simon Vansintjan July 23rd
Honestly, I think the average person accessing this site aren’t professionals who can afford to go out eating often. It’s more likely to be students (like me) who have student loans, or live off their parents money, or etc. etc. I don’t think you can assume that they have money to throw at an internet tutorial website. While it’s only $9 dollars, it’s often not their money to spend.
At the same time, it’s only $9 dollars, and you might as well sign up for it if you really want to know how to make the poster. It’s definitely a lot cheaper than a lot of university classes.
( )spidermonkey July 23rd
You have a very valid point Simon. For anyone without credit cards, purchasing online subscriptions is pretty much impossible. And also, if you don’t get paid very much, $9 can be put towards much more important things like food, paying off bills etc. If you have the spare money then thats great, but often people forget that those who aren’t as fortunate as them, can’t allow for spending even a measly $9 on anything but the basics of life.
Dan July 24th
Well when you pay rent, car insurance, cell phone bill, even buy your own food and cook it, buy necessary items needed to live, $9 a month adds up. Loans and books for classes cost a bundle of cash. I am not even getting any $$$ from my parents. I don’t eat out – maybe 10% of my time and that is usually a burrito at Taco Bell. I would sign up if it was $4 a month. That is more reasonable.
( )Phenotype July 24th
I disagree. I was *very* poor for a number of years and if there was a valuable tool like this website I certainly could have set aside $9 a month for it. $9 a week might be a lot to a student or anyone struggling to get by but $9 a month? Come on. Do you have digital cable TV? Do you have a cell phone and a land line? Do you go out to the bars on the weekend with your friends? Maybe it’s time to take a step back and see if there are unnecessary things in your life you’re paying for that you could live without. Also you guys are missing the point, this site isn’t burritos at Taco Bell, it’s a RESOURCE that will help you and thus it carries more weight and importance over certain other things. I mean, even picking up ONE extra hour at work a month would pay for it. Sorry, but $9 a month is so insanely low I just can’t imagine that anyone who owns their own computer, has internet access, and is studying to be a designer can’t afford it.
Joshua July 23rd
Always loved the gritty and dark effects. I’m not sure why, because it seems to be trendy, and I typically don’t like trendy…but it’s stuck around for quite some time, now.
Maybe this is one of those rare circumstances where trendy becomes timeless? I hope so.
Great tutorial, though. Keep up the quality.
( )josh July 23rd
good ref for the current contest.
( )i1100a July 24th
Man, I have to get me PSD Tuts, this one looks badass!. It seems like there’s all kind of different techniques in it…
( )underdog July 24th
nice…i will got a Plus..and got this tuts.ahhhh
( )Steven Couper July 25th
Great Tut, Your the best Website for all tuts, pleeeese keep it up
Stevie
( )Josh - Louisiana Web Designer July 29th
very sweet!
( )brainzero July 31st
tht’s cool
( )Robby. October 15th
BEWARE of Tuts+ – I signed up $9/mth which I thought is fair enough but have NEVER been able to access my account with the log in and pass.
( )There is no way to retrieve or reset as it says Im not on the database and there is no real support – just one of those ‘ticket systems’.