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We all love Photoshop and its effects, but sometimes it’s great to get your hands dirty when creating elements for your graphics. Ink drops can add a creative and energetic element to your designs. This tutorial demonstrates techniques to creatively work ink drops into your compositions.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Click the screenshot below to view the full-size image. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership.
Step 1
The first and probably most fun part of this tutorial is to photograph the ink drops. Get some Indian ink and any type of clear container (I used a food container). Fill the container with water, then drop in the ink and snap away.
Tips: Constantly take pictures while the ink drops, as the shapes will change considerably over time. Photograph the ink drops in front of a white background to produce clearer pictures. Experiment with dripping the ink using pipettes and any other device you can get your hands on.
If you don’t have access to ink and a camera then check out these images: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Feel free to experiment with the ink drop images, but do pay attention to the usage license.
Step 2
Open a new document, set the background to black, and import the main image you want to use. I used a self portrait that I photographed myself. Cut out the image you’d like to use in your composition. After removing the background, we’ll be able to focus on integrating the ink into the design.
Step 3
Adjust the levels and colors of the image using the Adjustment Layers (Layers > Create New Adjustment Layer). Using Adjustment Layers gives us greater freedom in case we need to undo something later on. Make sure all the Adjustment Layers are just above the "Man" layer. Then select them all, and create a Clipping Mask by right-clicking on them, and selecting it from the menu.
Use Levels to help create a darker, more subtle image. Also, use Hue & Saturation and Color Balance to subdue the colors and give the "Man" a tone with more yellow. Don’t worry if the image looks dark at this stage, just make sure the hands stand out.
Step 4
To give the image a more defined look, we are going to add highlights. Put the "Man" layer and its Adjustment Layers into a folder. Then duplicate it. Change the Levels on the new Adjustment Layer so that the edges of the man’s jacket are well defined.
Step 5
Add a Layer Mask to the layer of the "Man" by clicking on the Add Layer Mask Icon at the bottom of the Layers Window. Make sure the Layer Mask is black (which will make the layer disappear).
We are now going to bring out the highlights we want, which is mainly the prominent edges of the coat. Select the Layer Mask and draw over the parts you want to make brighter with a soft white brush.
Step 6
Its now time to select the ink drops we want to use inside the "Man." This can be as intricate as you want, however try to have a good idea of what you want the final piece to look like before you start. Once you have found an ink drop you want to use, copy and paste it into the current document.
Color doesn’t matter at this stage; just pick the ink drops that have the best shape. Press Ctrl+I to invert the image, as the ink drop image will be on a white background. Then in the Layers Menu, change the Blending Mode of the ink drop layer to "Lighten", and resize the layer as necessary.
Step 7
Once you’ve placed all your drops, make two folders called "Ink drop – Front" and "Ink drop – BG," as we want to give some simple depth to the ink drops. Carefully choose the ones you want in the foreground and the ones you in the background. Then put the layers in the corresponding folders. Now select the "Inkdrop – BG" folder, and set the Opacity to 60%.
Step 8
We are now going to color the ink drops we have introduced. Use the Pen Tool to draw around the inside of the "Man," not including his hands or his face. Set the color of this layer to black. Then set the Blending Mode of this newly made layer to "Color," which will desaturate the ink drops.
Step 9
Duplicate the previous layer, and double-click it to bring up the Layer Styles Dialogue. Click Gradient Overlay and change the style drop down to Radial. Make the left hand color #cf2727 and the right hand #652727. Set the Blending Mode of this layer to Multiply. This step will create the impression of a glowing center in the image.
Step 10
You may find that the ink drops look quite flat now, so we need to add a bit more texture. Select one of your more intricate ink drops, desaturate the whole picture (Image > Adjust > Desaturate). Import it into your main image. Then resize it to cover your red ink drops.
Step 11
Change the Blending Mode of the layer to Multiply and the Opacity to around 20%. Ctrl-click on the previously made Layer Mask on the Color Layers. Then click back onto your new texture layer. Click Add New Layer Mask at the bottom of the Layers Panel. This will create a Mask around the image just in case you went over the edges.
Step 12
Now that we have the inkdrop sorted, let’s start on the background. I used a stock image from Stock.xchng to give the background a bit of texture. You can download it here.
Desaturate the image and import it into Photoshop below the other layers. Change the Opacity of it to around 30%. Resize the photo so it touches the edges of the document. I also blurred the image slightly using Gaussian Blur (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur).
Step 13
We are now going to Add a tinge of blue to the background. Add another ‘Colour Balance’ adjustment layer (Layer > Create New Adjustment Layer) and and a hint of both blue and green.
Step 14
To help give the piece some mood, use a large soft black brush to draw a vignette around the outside of the image. Then use a soft white brush to add a glow behind and above the "Man." Make sure to be subtle at this stage, as you want it to look as natural possible.
Step 15
We are now going to produce the inkdrop background. First, draw a black triangle, as seen in the image below.
Step 16
Next, paste the ink drops in you want to use. Change the Blending Mode of the layers to Multiply, so we are left with just the black of the images. This again is about choosing the right drops for the best composition.
Step 17
We are finally going to add the red inkdrop falling from the top. Choose the image you want to use. Then import it to the main document, using the same techniques as in Step 6.
Create a layer, and using the Rectangular Marquee tool drag a rectangle that covers the single inkdrop. Draw a rectangle over the inkdrop you just chose. Fill the rectangle with the color #912020. Then change the Blend Mode of this layer to Overlay.
Step 18
Now it’s time to do a few finishing touches to the image. Add a few final white ink drops to the main background using the same techniques as before. However, make sure that the layers are desaturated, faded, and the Blend Mode set to Color Dodge.
Step 19
Decide whether you need to darken or colorize any parts of your main image. Then create layers accordingly. I decided I wanted the man’s hands to glow from the red ink, so I drew over the hands with a soft red brush. Then set the Blend Mode to Multiply. Also, I added a few shadows and blue hues.
Step 20
Finally, adjust the brightness and color of the overall image by using an Adjustment Layer at the top of the document (Layer > New Adjustment Layer). Then I added a Brightness/Contrast to lighten the image, as shown below.
Final Image
The final composition is below.
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By Josh Smith
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@joe:
although no one but high school kids who shop exclusively at hot topic would want to make images like this the techniques are what is of value. when you learn how to mask things properly you can do anything.
i do agree with you about the quality of writing and tutorial explaining skills here on psdtuts; they are lacking in the coherent and logical explanation of process.
Love it, good job.
I’m definitely going to start making my own textures/images when I get a camera.
I still think it’s a cool effect even though most are bashing it.
Is it the most mind blowing tutorial we’ve seen on PSDTuts? No..but it’s still a cool effect none the less.
this tutorial blows. i tried it and the tutorial was vague, as most of these tutorials are.
[omg, what's wrong with these people? anyway..]
I liked this tutorial, I don’t really give a thing about this specific effect and I’ll probably never use it, still I liked it ’cause it shows the hardest way of doing it and I learnt something I didn’t know – that will SURELY prove useful. What’s the point in seeing something and doing/copying it ? Even a monkey can do that ! I personally find very annoying those tutorials treating the readers like they’re all dumb.. thumbs up for creativity, personality and twisting a possibly easy thing into something that belongs to you only. thumbs down for monkeys
lol
Jason you’re right but let me tell you something, those kitschy kids also want to be graphic designers, and one of the best ways to do this is by watching these tutorials I myself want to be a graphic designer, I’m starting college very soon but I already know one thing or two and my way around photoshop, sure I’m not the best one at it but I’ve learnt a lot from tutorials, shading, lighting, and a lot more, mostly tutorials teach technique then you can use that your own way. sure there are some who just don’t have potential and all of their works is well fake, but artists also get ideas from looking at other pieces of art
Hi.
It is very nice and usful site. I enjoy. Parden . my english is not good. I want to writes very sentenses about your goode site. but I can t.
Be succful in your life.
Iran . Qazvin
Super cool, any chance you guys will come up with t-shirt designs that look like this?
It is a good tutorial, and yes I would have done a couple of things different. But my point of making this comment, is to those who said it would be easier just to use a brush instead of a camera, yeah it is easier and faster, but 100% not as creative, instead use the camera and get the pictures and if you want learn to turn things into brushes (if you dont already know how) and then you will have custom brushes and a art piece and design project that is totally your and no credit is need to be given to anyone else. And yes i have brushes and they are useful I wont lie but I have my own as well. This tutorial is just a photo effects and blending techniques so let it be just that. Learn and then apply the techniques to something of your own. And stop being jerks and at least their trying to help the beginners.
I’m not hating, just saying…
Think this tutorial itself is good for introducing inexperienced people to some photoshop basics, and also to a good workflow of starting with organic, self made, original elements and THEN going into PS. That said, not thrilled with the final composition, but whatever. The real reason I wanted to post is to recommend that everyone check out what else Josh did with his inkdrops…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshtrix/2566035472/in/photostream/
LOVE this one, great work Josh!!!!!
SWEET, I am always using your tutorials on my adverts the studio thinks i’m a golden boy of photoshop, little do they know I have a genius in my bookmarks
Good Tutorial! It was chosen for the main page of http://www.tutorialsroom.com
Please submit all of your future quality tutorials in there.
your instructions were not clear, it is very complicated….
We Done
yes we done to u to
Yummy inky
you directions werent written for beginners, its as if you expect us to know how to do everthing its not well written out. its a kool concept if everyone was able to follow it. next time try and make ur instructions simplier and easier to follow
Simplier pleez!
excellent,,,!!
this site is so cool , keep up the good work
OMG , this is an awesome article ! I edited a pic of mine this way
wow…Thumbs Up !
Wow. Very good. Nice effect. Thank you verym much
Very Nice… Thanks for your sharing… Good Luck…
Really nice effect, and easy to make! Guys, thanks for sharing!
aww superbbbb
I know this comment is a little late, but after finishing a tutorial, I always feel the need to thank the author, so thanks!
As for those criticizing the tutorial, a few of the points are valid, but I cant help but feel frustrated. Do you realize the effort and time it takes just to work out these tutorials? Not to mention completely free for you to learn from. Thanks for your effort and the tutorial Josh, I learned a few new techniques.
Awesome
this tutorial is very nice, thank for your share.
whowww love picture and effect
excelent … But can you please help me to design the ink flow effect in photoshop ..
there are some boastful people here. share your own, and lets see wat u can show!!!!
Awesome Tutorial I learned from it so that’s great thanks very much
Nice work
I’m stuck on the step 8 am i supposed to create another layer mask in order to make the inkdrops esaturate and where are these other folders coming from that I see on your layers tab.
Its actually Awsome i tried it but with my own style background……
;D
thanxx alott
I like it alot’s
it’s realy great
Good.
nice work buddy…..
this is thank you..
very good..
this very thank you..
your web site very good..
bastard
very good!
Hermoso
prithee video put tutorial