Create a Feathered Crow Illustration
Download Source Files
In this tutorial, you’ll be taken through the process of creating this crow illustration. The tools and resources you will be using are just a few so this will be great practice for you to achieve real nice results while using a limited number of resources. Let’s get to it!
Final Image Preview
Before we get started, let’s take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full Psd files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $19/month. You can view the final image preview below or view a larger version here.
Video Tutorial
Our video editor Gavin Steele has created this video tutorial to compliment this text + image tutorial.
Preparation
I have used a few images from stock.xchng and also used some brushes and images from DeviantArt. Take a look at the images you will be using before you start: feathers1, feathers2, feather3, crow, texture1, texture2, brush1, brush2, you can also find a lot more feather brushes on DeviantArt. And let’s not forget the most important feather feather4.
Step 1
First of all, open up a new document. I have made my document very big and also used 300dpi so I can print it later. Now import paper texture1.
Step 2
Next desaturate the texture and then double-click the layer to enter the Blending Options Panel. Here you need to set the Mode to Overlay, Opacity 80%, Gradient as White to Black and Scale it to 129%.
Step 3
Import the second texture and from that texture extract only the crack. Desaturate the layer, then using the Eraser Tool (E) erase the excess.
Step 4
Cut out the crow from the image and import it to your document. Next, examine your stock image and decide what will be changed and what you need to keep from this original image. For the moment, make the image look better by darkening it. To do so first duplicate the “crow” layer, desaturate it and then set the layer to Multiply and lower the Opacity down a bit.
Step 5
Duplicate the layer again. Set it to Multiply again and set it to 40% Opacity. Also, you need to add some more shadows and light to the image using the Burn and Dodge tools (O).
Step 6
For the moment we are done with the first step of editing the crow. Now, group all the layers with the crow. Next create another group on top of that because another series of edits will be applied here.
The crow is taking shape but we need to make it look better. Darken the crow some more by duplicating the last layer you created in Step 5. Now let’s bring the blue eyes back. Do this by creating a mask on the “crow” layer you just duplicated and brush over with some black to reveal the eye color. You could also make a selection and use some color settings to make them pop out as well.
Step 7
Now that we have the crow almost ready we need to start adding some brushes around it. Create a new group below the crow. In this group make a layer for each brush group. You do this so you can move each group in different places if you notice something is off. Look at the images below for reference.
Step 8
In this step, continue to add feathers, but this time you need to extract the feathers from the images provided. Open the image you want to extract the feather from and go to Select > Color Range. Select the color you want with the Eye Picker Tool. Sometimes the result can be a total mess, but you must try and get the most of your feather. Inverse the selection, copy it, then duplicate it. As you can see in the image below, I have used this piece two times and covered a good chunk with them.
Step 9
Continue adding more feather brushes behind the crow and also over the crow this time.
Step 10
Continue and add more feathers around the crow till you cover all the empty parts. Also, add another crow but this one will be smaller and reversed.
Step 11
At this point you have finished with the brushes. Next, use the same extraction technique for the feather images and get each one out of its background. This is the most difficult part of this tutorial as extracting feathers can be difficult. Below is an example of the extraction process for one of the feather images:
- Erase part of the image that has a close color to the feather.
- Use the levels and make the feather whiter. Use Select > Color Range and copy the feather.
- Transform the image to Black & White and inverse it (Command + I), then duplicate it and set the duplicate to Multiply.
Step 12
Now that I have extracted that feather I will use it on the crow’s head and add some more brushes next to it.
Step 13
Next use the same stock feather image and create a punk hairstyle (punk feather style).
Step 14
Now we’ll add more feathers falling from the crow. Again, extract these feathers out of the background using the same technique as before, then place each feather into place.
Conclusion
In the end, add a few shadows for some of these feathers just to add a little more depth to the illustration. You can also play a little with the colors and curves, then you’re done! I Hope you liked the tutorial and had a great time working on this. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.
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By Constantin Potorac
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great tutorial
OH MY GOD..i’m secondly~~~haha
better luck next time friend
thank you man!
Nice tutorial! I like the selection.
Looks ok, but nothing special
Interesting! I love the outcome!
this picture too slow…slow~~
i can see it now…it’s amazing…i will do that….thank you Constantin Potorac
nice one i will try it. do as same.
friend from step11 the images are very slow.
[ iam using 2mpbs broadband connention]
Just wondering, why are you holding a Swastika symbol, at least it looks like it!
as I guess by his name he is from India, in India the swastika symbol is a holy religious symbol, unlike what the other countries know it to be.
btw great tut
in the Indian context, the swastika stands for universal welfare. “Swasti” means well-being of one and all, “ka” means symbol. Vedic literature is full of such prayers.
^^ yeppers these guys are right. and great tut man!
Beautiful
Whoah. That is an awesome concept.
Im gonna do one with gold eagles!
Great! Simple and creative! Nice artwork!
Thank you :)
cool)) I’m even scared)
Great tutorial, Constantin! The outcome is awesome.
:D thanks
final effect is awesome !
The result looks a lot like the PLUS manequin one, just not nearly as advanced. It does look cool though, and I guess that just proves how diverse PS is.
you are my hero cause you make amazing artwork
wow! awesome, man! thx a lot!
Creepy buy cool.
Simple, yet creative and beautiful. It’s the best tutorial for at least a month.
Great tutorial!!
Thanks a bunch!
Wow, this tut is definitely one of the better!
This is one of the funniest tutorials I’ve tried on this site. Thanks
no photoshop tuts yet? oh man!
where do i find the extract tool?
another way of extracting.
Constantin Potorac you are once again proved that you are genius in photo Effects!
Keep it up!
Great tutorial I love to do! ;)
:”> thank you so much
wow! You show this crow as beautiful!
If crows see this, they will come to praise u! ;)
Very good… but would just like to add thats a Jackdaw not a Crow
Nice tutorial man, going to try this right now ^^
That’s one good looking piece, I admit.
The most amazing thing about the piece I would say it is the personality of the crow… ;)
When I start a website that is about crows I may come back, otherwise pointless, cheers for the last missing 10 minutes of my life!
not bad
amazing work and good final result
thanx for your effort
another way of extracting? is there a need for a plug-in in order to get the extract function? please help I have done all the way to the point where I need to extract the feathers.
I am not sure about a plug-in but what I know is that this is the best solution for feathers. For a better result try to duplicate the feather layer and darken the feather using the curves then extract it. The techniques is actually quite simple.
Nice illustration!
For complex cut-outs like feathers or hair, try Fluid Mask:
http://www.vertustech.com/
Although you’ve done an excellent job using Color Range!
That is a great tutorial and teaches you quite a lot. Thanks
Nice illustration
Awesome :)
Thanks
Nice tutorial indeed.
But, the little crow in front of the bigger one looks unrealistic. The light comes from the opposite direction according to the bigger crow’s lightning,
Awesome !
That’s a great tutorial, thanks for sharing
super tutorial, thanks
AMAZING WOKR THANK YOU FOR TUTORIAL
What a great Tutorial the output photo is beautiful
Awesome :)
Thanks..
First, excuse my poor english. I like to know what tool you use in step 13. I don´t know that.
Very good tut.
Thanks
Hello Alberto, I had the same question you had and the solution is:
Ctrl + t while in the feathers layer, and then, in the upper menu, right to the middle, you’ll find the “switch between free transform and warp tools”, which looks like a vector mesh.. hope you find it!
I like the outcome a lot!
Featured here: http://www.presidiacreative.com/web-picks-18/
Fun stuff – thanks for the tutorial!:)
Very good idea! I like the selection by using color range. Keep it up!
Awesome tutorial, though I have the same question of Alberto, how do you use the tool in step 13, sorry for my ignorance :P.
Other than that, amazing tutorial, I learned a lot today, thanks!
Oh… nevermind, I just found it… again, Awesome tutorial!!