How to Make a Dark, Post-Apocalyptic City Illustration
Download Source Files
In this tutorial, we’ll change a full of sunshine, ordinary photograph into a gloomy image of the world after destruction of mankind. Using simple tools, we’ll turn lively streets into abandoned ruins overgrown with weeds. A number of stock images and a few little tricks will let us optimize our work and make this job more interesting and spectacular. So let’s go!
Final Image Preview
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. You can view the final image preview below or view a larger version here.
Preparation
All the photos I’ve used are taken from the stock.xchng site. Let’s take a look on them, before we start: the city, the flag, the texture 1, the texture 2, the texture 3, the grass texture, the can, the can 2, the banana skin, the old newspaper, the grass, the bushes, the bushes 2, the plants and the clouds. Also I’ve used one set of brushes, found on DeviantArt: Birds Brushes.
Step 1
Open the city image, which you intend to use, and save it under a different name. The first thing to do in order to achieve the appearance of the deserted, empty city, is to remove all signs of life, like people and lights. Use the Clone Stamp Tool and Brush Tool, which we’ll be useful for finishing the details. Both tools should be soft-edged and have a size of 5 to 10 pixels.
Step 2
Now, in order to create the appearance of destruction, several actions need to be taken. First, change the appearance of the dark, blue banner (center-left of the image). Use the Brush Tool to erase most of the gold letters, and use the Clone Stamp Tool to remove the lower part of the banner.
Step 3
Open the flag image, and separate the flag from the background. Go to Select > Color Range to select all the blue pixels and press Delete. Use the parameters as in the image below.
Select the Eraser Tool (large size and hardness set at 0%) and remove the side part of the flag.
Finally, make the image monochromatic (Image > Adjustments > Black & White).
Step 4
Place the flag onto the surface of the main image. Use the Move Tool to move the layer into the appropriate position and the Eraser Tool to remove the unnecessary pixels.
Then go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and set up as shown below.
Step 5
Use the following tools to finish the work here: Clone Stamp Tool, Eraser Tool, Brush Tool, Burn Tool, and Dodge Tool.
Also select the Brush Tool and treat all other banners and flags in a similar way.
Step 6
Transform the windows now. Use the Brush Tool to remove some of the glass and alter the details. Apply some transformations with the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) and Move Tool if you want to.
Step 7
Review the whole main image looking for areas where changes need to be made. When transforming the details, first mark them using the Polygonal Lasso tool, and subsequently cut out, paste in as new layers and transform them with the Move Tool. Use the Brush Tool during the process, if necessary.
Step 8
The last stage of creating an impression of destruction is removing flowers from the street. Paint all the flowers over with black, using the Brush Tool. Make up the missing parts of the flower pots with the Clone Stamp Tool, and add the shadows using the Burn Tool.
Step 9
Now we need to work on the textures. Create a new layer and go to Filter > Vanishing Point to apply the texture 1 onto the surface of asphalt. If you don’t know how to use this filter, I recommend you read Alvaro’s tutorial Getting to Grips with the Vanishing Point Filter before starting this step.
Step 10
Change the Blending Mode of the layer to Multiply. Select the Eraser Tool and remove the unnecessary parts of the texture.
Finally place texture 2 onto the sidewalks in the same way.
Step 11
Overlay texture 3 over the buildings, in the way similar to the sidewalks and street, but do not use the Vanishing Point filter.
Step 12
The last texture to be overlaid on the street surface is the grass texture. Contrary to the previous ones, in this case set the Blending Mode to Overlay.
Step 13
Now we will use a large number of stock photos. They will help make our image more detailed and interesting. Place the images of the can, the can 2, the banana skin, the old newspaper, the grass, the bushes, the bushes 2 and the plants in the document, resize them and erase the backgrounds.
Select the Burn Tool and apply some shadows.
Next select the Brush Tool, change its Blending Mode to Color. Alter and adjust the new elements so that they coexist better with the texture and color of the main image.
Step 14
With a Brush Tool already selected, change its Blending Mode back to Normal and add the settings in the Brushes Panel as shown below.
Paint some blades of grass, trying to make this as realistic as possible.
Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation using the settings below.
Step 15
At the end, use the Brush Tool, Burn Tool and Blur Tool in order to add more flora, and make the image more appealing and consistent.
Step 16
Select the Burn Tool and add some hard shadows on all the walls.
Use the Brush Tool with the Blending Mode set to Color to add some
green smudges.
Step 17
Change the Blending Mode of the Brush Tool back to Normal once again, and add the settings in the Brushes Panel, as shown below.
Using a green color for the brush, add some flora on all the buildings.
Use the Burn Tool and Dodge Tools to make highlights and shadows. This will enhance the effect of three-dimensionality.
Step 18
Add some green and flora on cars, boards and flower pots using the same methods. Look at the third image to see all the successive small steps of working on the white road sign.
Step 19
Import the photo of the clouds into the document and place it in the bottom part of the image.
Next add a Mask to the Layer. Use the Pen Tool or the Magic Wand Tool to make a selection on the sky, next go Select > Inverse and Fill the selected area (of a mask, not an image) with black (using the Paint Bucket Tool).
Step 20
Go to Image > Adjustments > Black & White and use the default settings.
Use the Burn Tool and the Dodge Tool to change the contrast of the clouds, if you want to. Finally, select Brush Tool to paint the clouds with a new hue. First set the brush to a big size (about 150 pixels), hardness set to 35%, and Blending Mode set to Color, and use some pastel shades.
Step 21
Without changing any of the brush settings, add some warm colors to the buildings and streets. At this point, your image should look like the one below.
Step 22
Download the Birds Brushes set and open them in Photoshop. Add a few birds in the sky using a proper size.
Step 23
Now it’s time to add final effects to your image. At this moment you must have only one layer. Simply save your work as a JPG or go to Layer > Flatten Image to do that. Next go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and add the settings represented in the image below.
Step 24
Last but not least go to Filter > Render > Lighting Effects and set up as shown.
Conclusion
Well done! You’ve now seen the whole process of turning an image of a lively city into a state of decaying ruins. Let us hope this will never happen in reality. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.
Subscribe to the Psdtuts+ RSS Feed for the best Photoshop tuts and articles on the web.
Enjoyed this Post?
Subscribe to our RSS Feed, Follow us on Twitter or simply recommend us to friends and colleagues!
By Mikolaj Dobrucki
Join our newsletter!
Create a Tutorial, Get Paid!
Have something to teach the world? Want to earn money doing it? Tutorials, screencasts, and articles published here on Psdtuts+ are largely contributed by readers just like you! We'll pay you great money for good content. Find Out More
This is fully look like an impressionist painting, I like it, great effects and very clear tut, thx for sharing!
Awsome and good explanation!
I will give it a try :)
My work ppl…
http://indu111.deviantart.com/art/Apocalyptic-city-131210818
comment back on deviant if u liked !!
Magnificent.
I was thinking “I am Legend” before even reading the comments. The final outcome is fantastic and really believable.
Not only should I say well done on the final piece but congratulations on documenting and relaying the process to us coherently.
Thank you.
Nice, very nice.
Thanks for sharing and look forward to seeing more from you.
Here mines what y’all think?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2430/3768978500_568e15c70a_b.jpg
Cool tutorial! I made a website a while back which was based on a “post-apocalyptic” theme, which was a huge Photoshop job. I used some different techniques than you (wish I’d known about Vanishing Point though!) but it’s still relevant, I guess.
There’s some good tricks in this article though, that I’ll certainly make use of next time around!
Check it out: http://www.thesilverband.com
Great work!… good tutorial!.. thx
Nobody can send me a good link for that texture please :
grass texture , banana skin
Please I want so much try this .
Thanks a lot
ONE word “AWESOME” , gotta try at my downtown (OTTAWA), I’m sure it will be great.
simpli AMAZING Prototype and I AM LEGEND
Nobody can send me a good link for that texture please :
grass texture , banana skin
Please I want so much try this .
Thanks a lot
(Sorry i forgot the mail)
Hey guys, just thought of helping u out….for all those who find the grass texture missing from sxc.hu, do take them from my deviant art link and complete this awesome tut !! cheers appreciated !!!!!! :)
ooops…here is the link
http://indu111.deviantart.com/art/Grass-Texture-Apocalyptic-city-132328370
Thanks a lot , now i can finish this awesome tuts !
Thank you. I cna not too, finish the photo
muy bueno
GooD Job Baddy
Uhh, maybe I’m missing something but I’ve spent the last hour just trying to remove two people from the original city picture. I know I’m new to photoshop but if it takes this long to remove everyone properly I’m not going to get done with step 1 for weeks! Any help would be greatly appreciate, thanks!
one of the best tutorials I’ve ever seen
Very nice tutorial. But the grass photo is no longer avaible. can u fix it or send me this texture?
scroll up indu111 has a link to it.
Someone got the picture without all the humans and lights from the city?
cba to erase them, please give a link
thanks ;)
Tienes que pintar y clonar las partes que salen los humanos
Great tutorial… but there is a problem. The image banana skin is no longer avaible. Can you send me this texture?
So very nice !
so Wonderful guyssss,,,,,
i’ll Be wait The next your Job?
Yeah, if someone has the city picture with all of the peolpe taken out, that would be VERY helpful. I think I’ve worked on it for about 45 minutes and I was able to get done is like half of that bottom right corner…
I’d really like to do this tut, but with school coming up, I don’t think I’ll have the time to spend hours upon hours erasing all of the people.
Also, can someone re upload the banana peel?
Great Tutorial. One of the best i ever seen. 5 Stars
Thanks for the tutorial. It was insightful and detailed. This is what I did with your tutorial. I took it another step. Thanks.
http://mangoprojects.blogspot.com/2009/09/city-of-relaxation.html
that looks really awesome. me like it!
awesome,,,
great tutorial
Great tutorial! I’m really pleased with how mine turned out.
I must try this tutorial later, I think it had a fantastic outcome.
Really great, thats the tutorial i have been looking for a long time.
awesome work, I love this style, do you have any additional info on digital painting. Adrian
Nice work, I REALLY LOVE U!!!!!!!!
Awesome tut! I finished this and it looks awesome! Everyone is impressed!
Nice job !!
How big work~ Thanks a lot, very useful !
I got so freaking confused it wasnt funny!
Some of the links to sxc do not work anymore, could you fix this? Or could anyone upload missing images somewhere or give some alternatives? :)
Really impressive tutorial there, A+ .
great tutorial :D
really detailed, which is brilliant.
here is my attempt…
http://stuffidostuffilike.tumblr.com/post/566164140/a-desolate-new-york-tutorial-courtesy-of
I have a huge problem with cloning away all the humans. lookes horrible.
Anyone can tell me how he did it so perfect?
use photoshop cs5 is easier and be patient
Just zoom in as far as you can… it will take a long time took me four hours.
sir this very super. it is very useful for my students
Awesome posting ! thanks.
Nice I will try, but will probs fail lol.
Thats a Really Awesome Photo effort wouldn’t mind trying that out myself
That is one amazing tutorial there is a tv show on this subject actually. Its about what happens after people are gone and this reminds me of it. Great work.
I have now all Sources.. so i will try my Luck!
Schrimschrim
Impressive! Thats a really great work in Photoshop!
Impressive! Thats a really great work in Photoshop!
THIS IS AWESOME! :) GREAT GREAT WORK!
very good work smart concept please delete birds from apocalyptic picture
Very nice work, :)