In this tutorial, you will work with a few images you chose and you will create a nice looking illustration. The idea behind this illustration was to create a war between reality and line art. I tried to make this one simple, but at the same time to make it look good. I hope you enjoy the tutorial and try it with your own tools and stock.
Create a Sleek Illustration that Fades from Line Art to Color
Nov 18th in Designing, Photo Effects by Constantin Potorac
Final Image Preview
This style is reminiscent of the art of Jurryt Visser. It blends line art and photography into a seamless whole.
Below is the image you will create in this tutorial. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join PSDTUTS PLUS for just $9/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 series of video tutorials to compliment this text + image tutorial.
Step 1
First create a new document that is 1100 pixels wide by 1500 pixels high at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch. For this project I will use a texture that I like very much. I would like to thank the author of this texture Princess-of-Shadows for putting this together. Now, move the texture into your document.
Step 2
Next you need to select the images you will use for this design. I bought three nice images that you might be familiar with 1, 2, 3.
Let's start with image 1, and using the Pen Tool (P) you need to create a path around the dancer.
Step 3
Now that you finished creating the path you need to set your brush size to 1px and Hardness at 100%. Next create a new layer and name it "contour1." Next, using the Pen Tool (P) right-click then select Stroke Path, select the brush and make sure the Simulate Pressure is not selected. Also, you need to make the stroke black.
Step 4
Now that you have created the stroke do not delete the path. Next you need to press Command + Enter to transform the path into a selection and then you need to press the Add Layer Mask button. This will hide the background around the dancer. In the end move the dancer and stroke layers into your document.
Step 5
Select the "countour1" layer and using the Pen tool (P) you will need to draw paths all over the dancer. You will need to draw these paths along the shadows or follow the lines of the cloths and then stroke the paths with a 1px black brush. The result is called line art.
Step 6
Create a new layer below the "countour1" layer and name it "color1." Command-click on the "Dancer1" layer to make a selection, then you need to fill the "color1" layer with this the color #f7eedd. Also, you need to link these to layers so if you move one the other one will follow.
Step 7
You need to repeat the line art for each image and place them onto the document. Don't just throw them in there, you need to maybe do a sketch first and position each image right.
Step 8
If you followed the instructions so far you should have the layers in this order.
Step 9
Now that you have the line art behind the dancers you will need to mask some parts to make some kind of transformation. Select the Layer Mask of a dancer and simply use the Brush Tool (B) set to black, and draw over the part you want to hide.
Step 10
Next, duplicate the dancers, scale them and move them as you wish, but keep in mind that you need to arrange them in a nice composition. In my case, you can see that I have placed six more dancers. Also, I have masked the original dancer images and left only the line art visible. I did this because in the next step we will bring some parts of the dancers back over the line art.
Step 11
First thing to do before you start to give the line art some life is to make a selection over the part you want to mask.
Step 12
Next, use a splatter brush. You can find some very useful brushes here: DeviantArt or PSDTUTS User Feed Link. Use a black color for the brush and start drawing over the mask and reveal some parts of the dancer. Also, to achieve a really nice effect, decrease the Opacity of the brush to 20%. This way you will build the effect gradually and it will look more interesting.
Step 13
Repeat Step 11 and 12 for each dancer you created. Also, control your composition and if you do something that does not look right, don't be scared to erase and do the effect again and again until you're satisfied with the final result.
Step 14
So far you should have something close to what I have done, which has some movement and a balanced composition.
Step 15
Next we'll add just a few crows to the image to fill it a bit more. I used these two images: 1 and 2.
Now that you have the two images, apply the same steps as you did with the other images. This means you will need to cut them, create the line art for both images, duplicate them as many times you think it is necessary, and make the faded effect using the splash brush.
Step 16
Now that you are finished with the birds and dancers you can put them in separate folders just to keep everything clean.
Next use another stock image sxc. Cut and duplicate this feather as many times as you think it is necessary because you will use this to add some more graphic elements. As you can see, I did not put too many, just a few are enough to give the illustration an extra feeling of movement.
Step 17
Next, create a new folder on top of all the layers and name it "circles." Also, create a new layer into this folder and use my settings for the Brush Tool (B) and the same color you used for the line art #f8efde.
Now that you have set your brush, start drawing a few circles around the working space. Be careful not to overdue them.
Step 18
Create a new layer over the circles you just created, then Command-click on the circles layer to make a selection. Next, you need to be over the new layer you created, use the Lasso Tool (L) and Right-click, then select Stroke. Set the Radius to 1px and color to black, also make sure you set it to Center.
You can repeat this step and make more transparent circles. It is up to you.
Step 19
Next, we'll create a new layer and again draw some circles, but this time use different settings and a different color #8bb687.
Step 20
Repeat Step 19, but this time use a different color and make the circles in the opposite direction #99a3b4.
Step 21
Finally, set both layers from Step 18 and Step 19 to Color Burn.
Conclusion
In the end you can add some more spots if you want to, also add your logo and you are done. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )vanderlei bastelli filho November 18th
Thanks for this tutorial, it was very usefull for me.
( )Daniel Roeven November 18th
Nice Outcome!
( )Cristian November 18th
exelente efecto.
( )Buena composicÃon
A November 18th
The guy on the very right’s hand is in a kinda awkward position. But I really like the techniques and end result of this tut.
( )Daniel November 18th
I’ve learned some new tricks from this tutorial. Cool!
( )Max November 18th
Very cool love the style and it can be applied to so many different things, great complimentry video as well
( )CMoore November 18th
Really diggin’ the style! Nice tut!
( )MK Owens November 18th
One of the best tutorials recently.
Great video to accompany it, Gavin.
( )Dan November 18th
I agree, great tut.
( )Alexander November 18th
this is more like
( )Brow November 18th
Excellent! I am working on an ad concept for a client and he is looking for that drawn, made-by-hand look.
Thanks for the tips!
( )Faidy November 18th
cool effecttt,,,thxx for sharingg
( )Dominik Porada November 18th
This is great!
( )Germansn November 18th
muy buen tutorial jejej…voy a tratar d hacerlo… aunque me tengo q poner a buscar otras fotos porque no tengo subscripcion en istockphoto
saludos
( )Aaron Miller November 18th
Nice tut, I think you should have used the splatter brushes for those circles at the end though, or scan in some paint splatters?
( )Anonymous November 18th
Trendy, not original.
( )Alvaro November 18th
Great tutorial !!!
@Germansn, @Cristian: al fin comentarios en español !!!
( )godonholiday November 18th
Yeah this was a great tutorial to follow. I learnt a lot. The video is there to support the main tutorial and just explain the main parts of the tutorial.
Unfortunately I do not have a subscription for the stock site so I had to buy just the one image. There are some other alternatives here if you want to try this technique:
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/950734
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/950733
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/950732
Gavin
( )Kim Dolleris November 18th
Inspirational! Thanks alot for sharing!
( )Josh November 18th
pretty neat, love the final effect and very clearly written =]
( )John November 18th
Best tut on this site!
( )kamel November 18th
Thanks psdtuts for a REAL tutorial!
Constantine is a reall skilled designer
i wished he could upload his works to flickr so we could check out!
( )Glitch November 18th
Will have to try this one….Great tutorial
( )Hugo November 18th
Muy buen efecto… (si, convirtamos a psdtuts en un blog con ñ !!!!)
( )Constantin Potorac November 18th
the video looks amazing. Great accompany Gavin
( )godonholiday November 18th
Thanks constantin, it was a great tutorial to follow
( )EdpeppeRs November 18th
omg! i love it! perfect job, man! amazing! amazing work!
congratulations!
i’ll try it for sure!
thx a lot!
( )Daniel November 18th
Nice tut… a complex work…but the final image is awesome…thanks PSDTUTS
Ah, y saludos… al parecer habemos varios lectores latinos… que buena cosa.
( )Digital Revolutions November 18th
Really nice end result…
( )smartass November 18th
Pleas, Please God, when will it stop with this one stock image of this guy?!?!? This image has been flogged like a dead horse. I’m not hating on the technique, but DAYUM!, give us something original.
( )Shivangi November 18th
Nice tutorial! I’ll have to try it out… :]
( )Brandon November 18th
If i see this freakin stock of the hooded dancing guy one more time i’m gonna jump off a bridge. LAME
( )BlastBalastik November 18th
Amazing…
( )Ashley_Virginia91 November 18th
Love the effect and the tutorial seems very clear. I’ll have to try this when I get some time.
( )Mabuc November 18th
I like the result very interesting I should give some time to practise this stuff. Thank you for sharing.
( )Joefrey Mahusay November 18th
This is awesome tutorial!
( )Nick November 18th
Isn’t that guy the same image from Nik Ainley’s “Fluid” piece, seen at http://shinybinary.com?
( )WoW-Sky November 18th
Yeah very creative and amazing ^_^
( )Skellie November 18th
@ Nick: It’s just a stock photo.
( )Ariful Alam Khan November 18th
Nice!
( )Rijalul Fikri November 18th
Nice, love the outcome. It needs lots of time to trace the contour though
( )Mat November 18th
So, the tutorial is, essentially, trace these lines and use this brush?
( )insic November 18th
Cool indeed. Nice result and very useful.
( )kamel November 18th
yo i just noticed that the dude in the right(Final Pic) the dude in the right has his hands in ass of the other dude!…
damn thats nasty!
constantine got to fix that!
( )Honour Chick November 18th
wonderful tutorial
( )Ewout November 18th
Looks a lot (even same stock photo) like a piece of work made by jurryt visser; which was first? http://jurgt.nl/portfolio.php (second piece of work)
( )mobdick November 18th
WoW, great!
( )puppu November 18th
wow! excellent.. looking forward for more of these.
( )Photoshop Tutorials Blog November 18th
Thats a really well written and clear tutorial! Great work (as always) =)
( )Jurryt Visser November 18th
Dude… Copying my style?
( )http://www.jurgt.nl/
Lubes November 18th
Yes that dancing guy stock really is everywhere!
Really nice result. The composition is very good. I’m going to try this one using a more colourful and retro-ish background as opposed to the grunge.
( )Mr Kuzio November 18th
I love this Tutorial. Good job!
( )kiralık iskele November 19th
Lol. Very nice tutorial. a
( )vidya November 19th
wow ………… amazing idea…..
thanks for sharing
( )Wes D. November 19th
That’s pretty sweet…now i’m going to have to “jump” on the bandwagon and shoot some jump photos so i can try this (no pun intendedn)
Thanks for another great tut!
( )Ani November 19th
Nice tutorial. I totally hate the style tho but well done throwing together a decent modern tutorial. Hopefully more to come
( )wikid November 19th
Awsome!! Really liked this tutorial. It’s a great style and most of all you can use this style for diffrent things. Thanks allot top-tut
( )Christian Tobler November 19th
Best Ive seen in awhile, glad to see great tuts like this. Excellent!
( )Jon Williams November 19th
I really love this style. Thank you. Great post.
( )Jon Williams November 19th
OH yeah and I also downloaded that guys grunge backgrounds, Very nice.
( )jbcarey November 19th
this is a very clen tutorial, few steps accompaniying the images and probably not easy for starters, but GREAT for guys like me.
( )Alec November 20th
Brilliant!
( )ZaFaR November 20th
Thank you. Great post.
( )ZaFaR November 20th
amazing idea…..
thanks for sharing
( )q November 20th
Great tutorial. Some good techniques to be learned from this one. I agree with the others about using this dude, getting tired of seeing the same guy over and over. To the author, maybe next time use some stock photos that people don’t have to buy. I, myself have no problem with buying the image, its just sucks for the beginners who are trying to learn still. Props to godonholiday for the alternative stock image for those who can’t buy the ones used in this tutorial.
Also, gotta love all the ones complaining about copying “their work”. What are the chances of the author actually going to your site and “copying” your work? Seriously, think before you comment and make yourself look like a total ass. I’m willing to bet that there are many more people out there with the same style. The chances of you and someone else in the world coming up with the same style isn’t uncommon so quit your crying.
( )wannaruto November 21st
thanks. nice capture.
( )wifon November 22nd
I saw this guy in many collage
but nice tut…
( )Your Name November 22nd
@Jurryt Visser
Because you’re so original and no one has every done that before. Get over yourself. The man wrote a decent tut showing off A technique, not your original patented technique.
( )Takumi86 November 23rd
My friend who worked at art studios will love this tuts, thanks so much
( )Sergio November 23rd
It’s so interesting and It’s really worth coz of the videotut. You definetly took your time doing this thing.
congrats, and hope u post another one like this.
thank you!
( )Prodisplay November 26th
Wow! Really, really NICE!!
I´ll try to do it… i hope… jeje!
( )brazzmunkie November 28th
I love this image! But can you help me….
How is it when you click around the object the pen traces it? But when I use the pen it just creates color where I don’t want it. Shouldn’t I be using the magnetic tool? I’m a beginner so this is pretty frustrating for me.
( )Constantin Potorac November 28th
Hi brazzmunkie… in the pen tool setting you have 2 options to create a shape layer or a path. You need to activate the path layer.
( )Nino November 30th
:L I think we should have a list of the countless uses of that stock.
( )Great outcome, this should of really been a PLUS tutorial. Thank god it ins’t though.
Well done and the artist is a master.
Constantin Potorac December 4th
Thank you “blush”
( )mm December 5th
beauty! =)
( )Peter Schaefer December 12th
Great tutorial! Thank you. We use the same stock image for one of our projects!
Best,
( )Lautus Design
Guido December 14th
This tutorial is master! I will try it out!
( )G-g-g G-UidO!
Umer January 19th
awesome dude. amazing detailed tutorial. thanks for ur time.
( )j9 January 23rd
Kudos to you. Making the line art was very tedious.
( )chibone January 28th
this is really a fantastic tutorial
( )love the outcome
Krama February 4th
Excellent concept. I liked the way you showed us this technique. How much time did you spend doing this image?
( )Julieta February 13th
Neat!!
( )waqas February 20th
ITS A BIGGIE
( )Rafael March 7th
Well, do i need to buy the pics?
( )Joe March 9th
Can people PLEASE stop using this incredibly overused set of model shots for their work? Think outside of iStockphoto for your damn photo references.
( )DKNY March 27th
Awsome. i have just a technical like this tuts
( )charlotte April 3rd
what program do you need to do this?
( )Manuel April 4th
amazing loved tut
( )Teddy April 7th
so great, i love it and thanks
( )Yoga April 8th
Amazing Tutorial!
I wish I could do something like this, though.
( )itai June 5th
does anybody know where i can get this dancer images for free
( )