In this tutorial, we'll design an extreme wallpaper in a grunge style. We'll be using layer masks, custom brushes, and the cloning tool to create this particular effect. You'll learn some interesting techniques that you can apply in your own grunge style designs.
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
In this tutorial, we'll create an extreme grunge wallpaper with some pictures and only one Custom brush set. You will find these techniques useful when designing posters, covers, ads, web interfaces, and much more. Before starting you must download the "Splatter brushes set" by clicking here.
Let's get started by creating a new document 1024x768px RGB 72pixels/inch. Then create a new Fill layer color (#121212). Paste this image into a new layer at the bottom left corner of the document. Then name this layer "Camera."
Step 2
With the Lasso tool or Magic Wand tool select the white background of the camera and delete it.
Step 3
Create a new Layer named "Gradient" and select the Radial gradient tool to create a Gray to Black gradient (#595959 - #000000).
Step 4
Duplicate the "Camera" layer. Then put it above the "Gradient" layer. Select Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Then set the Radius to 15 pixels.
Step 5
Duplicate the "Camera" layer above the first copy. Then press CMD+F to apply the last blur effect. Also, set the Blending mode to Difference. Then set the Opacity at 50%.
Step 6
Adjust the Hue / Saturation of the "Camera copy 2" layer using the values below.
Step 7
Use the Dodge and Burn tools to lighten and darken the camera, use the values shown below.
Step 8
Select the "Camera" layer. Then add a layer mask by clicking Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All.
Step 9
Now paint black areas into the white layer mask using the Brush Tool. Use the "Splatter Brushes Set" downloaded at the beginning of this tutorial. You can use these nice shapes to add a grunge style to the Camera. The trick is set the brush Opacity and Flow below 100%. This way you will keep the shape of the camera. I set the Opacity and Flow at 50% and 80%. I used two different Splatter brushes. Click the layer mask to start painting.
Step 10
Create a new layer named "Red Splatters" below the "Camera" layer. Then use three different brushes to draw three or more dark red (#5F0000) splatters. Then set the layer's Blending mode to Pin Light and the Opacity at 80%.
Step 11
This is a quick technique to duplicate an object by using the Clone tool. You will use the same technique to create the 35mm film forward. Create a new layer named "Camera copies." Then select the Clone tool and ALT+Click to choose the clone source. Use a splatter brush. Set the brush Opacity and Flow to 30%.
Next select Window > Clone source. Then change the Width and Height to 80%. Check Show Overlay, and set Opacity to 25%. As you can see, there's a transparent preview of the camera. Select the "Camera Copies" layer and then start cloning the camera.
Clone another camera using the same brush and cloning source, but this time change the width and height to 50%. Finally, change the "Camera copies" blending mode to Multiply.
Step 12
Now it's time to add the 35mm film. First, download this image. Then select one of the filmstrips and paste it into a new layer named "Film." Then use the Magic Wand tool to delete all the white of the borders (don't worry about the frames and the little squares).
Step 13
As you can see, our film is too short; it needs to be longer. Once again, we'll use the Clone Tool. By now you must be an expert at using the Preview Cloning Source feature. This time it will be useful.
Next we (ALT + Click) the top left corner of the film. Then select a hard 100px brush. Change both Opacity and Flow to 100%. Then in the Cloning Source palette set the width and height to 100%. Finally, Start cloning the image.
Step 14
Adjust the Hue/Saturation of the layer, as shown below.
Step 15
Find a grunge paper image. Open it and paste it into a new layer. Then change its size to equal the size of a film frame. Then put the new layer below the "Film" layer. Name this new layer "FilmFrames".
Step 16
Change the "Film" layer's Blending mode to Multiply. Then using the clone tool and the same 100px brush, clone the old paper below the "Film" layer. Then CMD+Click the "Film" layer, and use CMD+I to invert the selection. Then delete all the extra texture of "FilmFrames."
Step 17
Merge both the "Film" and "FilmFrames" layers. Then name the resultant layer to just "Film". Place it at the middle. Then Warp the Film using Flag Warp. Put the "Film" layer below the "Camera Copy" layer (above the "Gradient" layer). Then set the Blending Mode to Difference.
Step 18
Put the "Film" layer some pixels up from the bottom. Then go to Layer mask > Reveal all. Use a Black to White Gradient. Be sure to hide the left side of the film. Also, use a Splatter Brush to add some splatters to the layer mask, and apply a darker brush on the film's right side. Finally, set the "Film" layer's Opacity to 50%.
Step 19
Select the "Red Splatters" layer and add some dark red splatters on the film.
Step 20
Now we'll use the paper image again. Paste it into a new layer, and name it "Paper." Then change the Saturation to -100, and place it below the "Gradient" Layer.
Step 21
Now set the "Gradient" layer's Blending Mode to Multiply and Opacity to 90%. Also, change the background's Opacity to 20%.
Step 22
Create a new layer above the "Gradient" layer. Name it "Light". Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool, draw an oval. Then select CMD+ALT+D to set the Feather radius to 50px. Finally, fill the oval using the Paint bucket tool with the color (#6a6a6a).
Step 23
Create two text layers. I used the Georgia font and these colors: dark red (#250101) and light grey (#9c9c9c). Then select one of the text layers, and go to Layer Mask > Reveal All. Use a Black splatter brush to paint some areas of the layer mask to hide a bit of the text shape. Do this in both text layers. Finally, add a Drop shadow effect to both layers using the values below.
Step 24
Finally, add a new Adjustment Layer called "Photo Filter." This time I used a yellow Warming Filter (81) with a Density of 50%.
Conclusion
Now you have an extreme grunge design. Have fun making your own!
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Marie June 11th
Nice tutorial. I’ve been looking for something like this!
( )Jack Watling June 11th
Really good. Some nice basic effects, and great for beginners!
Jack.
PS FIRST POST!!!
( )D. Carreira June 11th
Another FANTASTIC tutorial!
Thanks,
David Carreira
( )D. Carreira June 11th
Wow, I’ll write the first comment?
David Carreira
( )Joe June 11th
Wow “extreme grunge”…
( )Mark June 11th
Nice effect, especially on the film reel
( )omarterrones June 11th
yeah!! great!!!!
( )Shane June 11th
Nice tutorial – thanks for posting.
lol@Jack and David. Never assume you’re the first to post
( )Jeff Lewis June 11th
I really love when we have the chance to make something such as a wallpaper. Wallpapers, to me, seem to be a nice, safe place to try out skills and techniques in Photoshop. In conjunction, placing your finished piece as your desktop background gives one more of a chance to analyze one’s work on a constant basis, allowing for improvements, corrections, or maybe even a little gloating to a passerby. This tutorial is very nice and explains the correct steps quite well. While many people have their own way of doing things, I’m not ashamed to say I like doing it the PSDTUTS way and then expanding from there. I’ve enjoyed your tutorials since I added your RSS feed to my Google reader, and I look forward to many more. I have learned a lot.
Thanks.
Jeff Lewis
( )Germán June 11th
Great tutorial… but I think this “extreme” is not REALLY extreme… just my opinion
( )Thank you!
Brent Nelson June 11th
Kind of gross. Red paint splatters that is… Maybe use ‘caution’ orange.
( )giackop June 11th
This is great!!
( )Andre June 11th
Cool, not into grunge, but def. cool
( )Andrew Pryde June 11th
Now this I like!
Thanks
Andrew
( )Wouter June 11th
Easy trick, nice outcome.
( )Kyle Wegner June 11th
I was surprised how easily these effects could be done. I think this piece looks absolutely amazing, and the best part is that even a complete beginner can get similar results.
Thanks for putting a piece like this up. I think this is one of the best I’ve seen in a while. Many others may not agree, but this puts a lot into perspective for me so it gets bonus points
( )D. Carreira June 11th
@ Shane:
Yeap
Maybe another day…
David Carreira
( )Lamin Barrow June 11th
Awesome. I have always overlooked the photo filter effects but thanks for the enlightenment.
( )Woofer June 11th
Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good tut, very good site for tut.
( )Ruben June 11th
Some nice effects over there. The outcome is amazing!
( )Braden Keith June 11th
Cool tutorial. I think I can find a lot of use for this as I do a lot of grunge looks.
I had 1st yesterday, and just a little tuts for you guys that posted first, you post your comment first, then refresh the page to make sure you were first. Then you post a brag post. Hahaha.
( )Pravin Potdar June 11th
It’s really great!!!!!!
( )Hidideliho June 11th
OMG…the first step is not a radial gradient. How did you managa that? Just awesome!
( )Sean C. June 11th
By adding a layer mask over the text you have given yourself room to make changes with only one step. Keeping text editable is always desirable, but not always attainable. Good tutorial!!
( )Eric June 11th
Beautiful effect! I love grunge!
( )PannonDesigner June 11th
cool.
( )Ben Griffiths June 11th
Brilliant tutorial, thanks
( )Austin June 11th
I’m a sucker for detail, so I’m saying this for anyone who wants to duplicate this particular effect without potentially suffering ridicule, but frames from movie film are not oriented horizontally side by side like they appear in regular 35mm still camera film. The frames are actually rotated 90 degrees, which would make them side by side vertically. And then if you realllllly want to get into accuracy, there are different types of audio tracks printed around the film perforations.
If anyone is going to make fun of me about this, go for it. I won’t check to see if anyone’s responded to my comment, bahaha
( )gamsish June 11th
its a okay tut
( )Deddy June 11th
Doesn’t seem to stand up to PSDTuts quality.
Sorry. Not to be mean.
( )Ralph June 11th
Freaking awesome!!!! I luv it i’ll try the techniques that you wrote excellent work.
One of my “photoshop-dreams” LOL is dominate the grunge effect thanks for post it!!!!
Visit my blog!!!
http://www.fatytrova.wordpress.com
( )Joefrey Mahusay June 11th
This is nice tutorial. thanks for sharing
( )Constantin Potorac June 11th
wow…this one looks really nice. Congrats.
( )Snorri3D June 11th
i lIkE iT!
( )Danny June 11th
looks cool!
( )Erika June 11th
I really appreciate the detail on the camera. Nice touch.
( )Andrew June 11th
Nice Grunge effect. Thanks!
( )Ariful Alam Khan June 11th
Nice Effect. Thanks for the tutorial.
( )crazyhunk June 11th
i think the effect is awesome….
thanx for the wonderful tutorial…
( )ZaFaR June 11th
Really looks good enough, good in detail tutorial.
( )ZaFaR June 11th
cool brillant!
( )Daniel June 11th
very nice tutorial! thanks !
( )Marcelo Kanzaki June 11th
I agree with Deddy.
There is a lot of tutorials with cool techniques involved but what really matter is when you can put them together with a good end result.
( )Osynovskyy June 11th
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Anamorphic-digital_sound.jpg
this is not true 35 mm film for cinema, you use a photo film
look at the picture, that i add to post
( )Robo June 11th
I don’t really like the outcome, especially the same brush repeated so many times and the way the sign PSD TUTS looks in final version.
( )Mac Tyler June 11th
I do like the tutorial, I learned a few cool things. Not really sure if I liked the final result that much. The colors seemed a bit off.
( )Graphic Design June 11th
Great!
( )kamel June 11th
cheap tutarial
( )KaiGuy June 12th
Good tutorial, nice outcome. Not what i expected from PSD, but in the end, it’s good.
( )Dan Volkens June 12th
Pretty alright. I always like seeing the buildup process for grungy stuffs. I agree with Robo, the brushes are a bit overdone. I would like to see more randomness, but great job overall with it.
( )MONSTER June 12th
You have really nice tips.
( )Jay June 12th
Dang that looks nice…. I gotta do one of these with some really old car…
Thanks, great tutorial, and even I can understand it!
( )MD June 12th
Super Cool!
( )Rijalul Fikri June 12th
Nice grunge effect
( )Htoo Tay Zar June 13th
Love the grunge. thanks for grunge tutorial and I hope more grunge tutorials on psdtuts =)
( )Laura June 13th
Fantastic! Amazing grunge!
( )goldenthunder June 13th
Not bad – I would like to use more brushes/effects rather than just paint looking ones, but I like your process.
( )FrankCrank June 16th
Thanks
But as a grunge lover I would say there was room for improvement. Use of finer grunge brushes in the corners and rims etc. would have given a better look.
Anyways tutorials are only meant to get the idea get through.
just my 2 cents
( )BogDinamita June 16th
not my kind of genre
( )Arcturus June 24th
Hey, good tutorial. I learned a few things.
I uploaded mine here: http://arcturusbtw.googlepages.com/Wallpaper111.jpg/Wallpaper111-full;init:.jpg
it’s a little different, I used a pair of headphones and a casio keyboard. I’m not sure I like the text I put at the top though, it seems a little extreme for my personality.
( )Alvaro Guzmán June 25th
@Arcturus
Looks nice, you should upload it to the flickr group too.
( )Joe July 3rd
its iff and cool nice twist in grunge effect
( )Hakan July 4th
very nice tutorial! thanks !
( )DDeni. July 6th
COOL COOL!!! 10 of 10
( )Jayjay402 July 18th
Didn’t really want to make what you made, but some nice tips in there which I can use, thanx! =]
( )Christina August 14th
Normally i’m not into grunge, at all, but i had to try this one out, and I’m very impressed with the didge/burn tool – I’ve never paid attention to those tools before.
( )And suddenly I see possibilities with the clone tool!
And the outcome is excellent!
Rahtz February 20th
AWESOME
( )AMMA March 12th
i dont know but . YOU ARE GREAT MULTI thaaaaaaaaaaanks
( )CgBaran Tuts April 22nd
great tutorial
( )Delme August 15th
Great tutorial, Thanks for sharing.
Delme
( )