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In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to mix vector elements and watercolor effects with text to create a stunning design. It’s a quick process that depends heavily on good choices of images and colors.
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership. You can view the final image preview below or view a larger version here. Fabio has another great watercolor effects in photoshop tutorial on the site as well you may want to review as well.
Step 1
The first step here is actually the first step in all my projects. I look for references images based on my sketch. This research and planning process is intertwined. It allows me to look through various elements and plan the direction to follow. Of course, I can change the direction during the creation as this process is fluid. So I found multiple images with effects I really liked and wanted to apply to a design (images: 1, 2, 4, and 5). Then I put some ideas on paper (image 3), added my own direction, and developed my concept.
Step 2
Create a new document in Photoshop, I used a wallpaper size of 1920 pixels by 1200 pixels.
Step 3
Download the Bleeding Dragon Oldpapers textures, and place the Paper 2.jpg in your document.
Step 4
Now let’s use some brushes, in this case the fantastic Bitbox set of watercolor brushes. Go ahead and download these watercolor brushes. Bitbox has some other amazing watercolor brushes as well, so feel free to test different ones as well.
So, let’s select the Brush Tool (B) and blue for the color. Create a new layer, then with just one click paint place some paint on the layer.
Step 5
Create a new layer, select a different brush and use red for the color. Once again paint the layer. Also you can try different Blend Modes, in this case I used Normal but you can try Multiply as well.
Step 6
Create more layers and paint each layer with different colors. Use yellows and greens and different blend modes as well. Try to reproduce the image below.
Step 7
Group all the layers with watercolor brushes and duplicate the group. You can hide one. With the other layer go to Layer > Merge Group. Rescale the layer and make it bigger, as in the image below. Then go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, and use 250 for the value. Now change the Blend Mode to Multiply.
Step 8
Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Select a big round brush and change the hardness to 0%. Choose white for the color and paint over the layer mask to hide some areas of the layer. Mainly in the center.
Step 9
Write the text you want, for the typeface I used a P22 font called Constructivist. You can use the one you like the most. Just make sure that it’s really bold. Also, I placed some birds I got from the GoMedia’s Arsenal (Set 5). The pack is called Flock of Birds, but I’m sure there are brushes with birds like that you can search on the web for.
The main idea here is make the birds coming from the text. That’s why I placed them over the S and a bit on the T.
Step 10
Again, let’s use that group of layers painted with the watercolor brushes we hid on the Step 6. First, use a big version, as in the image below. Rename the group to "Watercolor Big" and change the Blend Mode to Multiply.
Step 11
Duplicate the group several times. Change the Blend Mode to Multiply for each copy. Then select all new copies and merge them in one unique layer. Just go to Layer > Merge Layers. After that change the Blend Mode to Soft Light, rename the layer to "Watercolor Small," then group it with the "Watercolor Big" group. Rename this new group to "Watercolor."
Step 12
Here let’s add more elements to our design. Use some brushes and paint over some letters (1-6). I used some Brushes from Brusheezy: 1, 2, 3, 4. Make sure you paint in black and with small brushes.
Step 13
Merge the layers with the text, the birds and the brushes with the splatters and other details. Go to the Layer palette, then hold down the Command Key and click on the thumbnail of the layer you have just merged. That will create a marquee selection, as in the image below. Now select the "Watercolor" group and go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.
Step 14
Duplicate the group we have just used on the previous step and go to Layer > Merge Group. This layer has to be beneath the "Watercolor" group. After that go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options. Change the Fill Opacity to 0%. Select Inner Shadow and change the Blend Mode to Multiply. Use 75% for the Opacity, 5 pixels for the Distance and Size, 130º for the Angle, and Choke set to 0.
Step 15
Here I used one image of a linear floral design from iStockphoto. Place it in your design and change the Blend Mode to Multiply. This layer has to go beneath the watercolor layers. Duplicate the layer twice. Rotate and place them behind the D,, P, and S. Use the image below as a reference.
Step 16
Let’s add more vector elements, I used another image from iStockphoto, this time of floral elements. Place the new image in your design and repeat the same thing as the previous step. This time let’s use just two copies.
Conclusion
Now you can add your logo or some text to finish the design. The idea of this tutorial is to show how to create a design from multiple reference images, a simple sketch, and your own ingenuity. Using vectors and images from stock sites allows you to create quick and attractive results with relatively simple steps. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.
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Legal Fabio!
im stuck on step 8 – using the layer mask to hide some colour on the center…
i could mot done it.. help me please!!
thnx for the beautiful tut………i m gonna try it now ………
Wow!!!
it took 2 hours but it looks so good!1
perfect tut
thanks!!!!!
BEAUTIFUL
While I like some of the ideas… the whole thing that bugs me is the amount of short-cuts and use of outside resources that aren’t yours. Sure, the result is nice, and the stock you’re using gives you permission to use them in such a way… but the over-reliance on quality stock brushes makes your technique very lack-luster and unimpressive. I do appreciate the tutorial, but this over reliance on other people’s resources can be quite frustrating and it makes me wonder what your work might look like if you were only given the default fonts/brushes and Photoshop without stock. That takes a more skilled artist, IMO.
This is so cool!
Super nice tut. This is my result.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa268/FakexBarbie/Metlisawuahahhaha.jpg
Gorgeous! Thanks..
This is my result!
http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt176/nirmanapro/ynmflowery.jpg
luv the art work
mmm…i like this.. ^^
Here’s my version: http://purplefoam.deviantart.com/art/Like-heaven-122099263
Thank you, this has helped me with a current assignment (A level).
Very thorough, first time I’ve been able to follow a tutorial so
smoothly – at my novice level haha
A sincere thank you!
Best wishes.
so good“
very nice tut.
looks easier than it is with the watercolor brushes…
played around a litte bit and made a wallpaper for my
girlfriend (i’m a psd noob xD)
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/4562/christina.png
Wow, this is a great tutorial! I definitely did it and it came out with great results. See it here http://tahti-bunny.deviantart.com/art/Hello-123928091
Very nice !!!
(steps 4-6)
hi, does anyone know why the paint strokes on this looks so smooth and realistic with identifiable brush strokes, whereas mines show up as a blotchy piece of mess when i drag is all about? Help would be much appreciated. i’m still a rookie at the moment…
if u mean the first step, all u have to do to get those strokes is to click once with the brush. the brush itself is made to look “smooth, natural and realistic” brush strokes =)
tried it and its awsome! learned alot doing this tutorial =D
I’ve trişed this tutorial but there are some informations missing, could you please recheck it? thank you so much
very nice thanks
you are the best !:)
Gorgeous! Thanks..
thaaaaaaaaank u so mush
i realy enjoy in ur tutorials
iam very hapy coze i do it
I need so help….. this is about step 14…. which layer do you duplicate? I duplicate the “watercolor” group, merge it and put under the original layer…. then I got to do the layer styles and can’t get the inner shadow to show up???? Am I duplicating the correct layer? I don’t know I’m really confused …. I using this tutorial for part of my design to get a job ….. have to have it done by sometime tomorrow! I would really appreciate some help ….. nice TUT by the way.
i normally post commments to help where i got stuck and figured it out look on step 14 where you duplicate a group you get the watercolor group get the watercolor layer and put it in a group by it’s self and duplicate it and when you duplicate it grab the duplicated group or select whatever you want to call it and you right click it and select and click merge group you should only have your text and the icons you put on it or brushes and the watercolor in the text and brushes then you go to inner shadow and the other crap and put the shadow i put 9 on the distance so it looks like its in side something i dont know thats how i liked it
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I recognized this tutorial being used down to the very same bird graphic on a giant billboard near my house a few days ago. The ad was for Hillside Christian Church and I didn’t know if they should’ve alerted you that they were using it or not. In any case it’s a wonderful tutorial and very interesting how it’s traveled even to my podunk little town. I’ll link to a picture of the ad if I ever get around to taking one.
The out come is sic but im kinda disappointed that like 75% of the stuff used you didnt create originally
I am having problems at step 8— my white isnt showing up on my layer mask…HELP pleeeeease!
step 11 is confusing..can somebody help me? how do you use the group of watercolors….? it covers up my typeface when i use it
Fantástico tutorial, vou fazer um anúncio usando ele. Não vai ser um anúncio oficial, vai ser apenas pro meu porfólio. Muito obrigado, vou colocar seu nome nos créditos do meu anúncio pelo tutorial =)
Great tutorial. I am def. gonna try this
thanks
having a problem with step 13 and further! when I select all the text + birds etc. and i reveal the selection, I only see black and not the colours. I did try to hide that text layer but then later with adding the stuff at step 15, I can’t get my picture fully behind the text!
hIIIIIIIIIII …CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLZZZZZZZZZ
(
i can’t do the step number 13….i can’t create a marquee selection
can anyone help me plz:(
very very nice..
i love it..
this tutorial are fantastic..
thank you abduzeedo.. it is great to have tutorials like you make, continue to help was!!
this tutorial are fantastic..
you are the best
http://www.s7rny.com/vb
cool tutorial…! keep it up bro..
i have a problem with step 13. i work in windows wersion of PS and there is no a “command key”. so i dont know how to make this one step.
I’m completely lost at number 13. I don’t know what to do after that. Please help me with the visual details on how to do it on Photoshop. Thank you so much. Midterm is due in 2 weeks, and I would like to use this in my midterm.