Create a Sleek Illustration that Fades from Line Art to Color
Download Source Files
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.
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 $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 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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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.
I love this Tutorial. Good job!
Lol. Very nice tutorial. a
wow ………… amazing idea….. :) thanks for sharing
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!
Nice tutorial. I totally hate the style tho but well done throwing together a decent modern tutorial. Hopefully more to come
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
Best Ive seen in awhile, glad to see great tuts like this. Excellent!
I really love this style. Thank you. Great post.
OH yeah and I also downloaded that guys grunge backgrounds, Very nice.
this is a very clen tutorial, few steps accompaniying the images and probably not easy for starters, but GREAT for guys like me.
Brilliant!
Thank you. Great post.
amazing idea….. :) thanks for sharing
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.
thanks. nice capture.
I saw this guy in many collage :) but nice tut…
@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.
My friend who worked at art studios will love this tuts, thanks so much
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!
Wow! Really, really NICE!!
I´ll try to do it… i hope… jeje!
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.
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.
: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.
Thank you “blush”
beauty! =)
Great tutorial! Thank you. We use the same stock image for one of our projects!
Best,
Lautus Design
This tutorial is master! I will try it out!
G-g-g G-UidO!
awesome dude. amazing detailed tutorial. thanks for ur time.
Kudos to you. Making the line art was very tedious.
this is really a fantastic tutorial :D
love the outcome
Excellent concept. I liked the way you showed us this technique. How much time did you spend doing this image?
Neat!!
ITS A BIGGIE
Well, do i need to buy the pics?
Can people PLEASE stop using this incredibly overused set of model shots for their work? Think outside of iStockphoto for your damn photo references.
Awsome. i have just a technical like this tuts
what program do you need to do this?
lol. how the heck did you end up at psd.tutsplus
amazing loved tut
so great, i love it and thanks
Amazing Tutorial!
I wish I could do something like this, though.
does anybody know where i can get this dancer images for free
Thanks, I got some inspiration off this.
Although I do not really agree with how the pen tool is being used…
was realy thinking the same thing there is no need to use that many points
very very goooooooooood
Cool. Mega-Cool.
Great concept, really neat look, congratulations :)
Man, why only get good pics by buying them? :\
anyone knows where can i get the for free?( or good quality pics that can be used for the same purpose…)
my pics where lame and very poor on quality( because i tried to use 3 of the same person), but the effect is awesome
great tutorial by the way :p
i think you can get many good qualities pictures from sxc.hu or deviantart.com. With free image you just need to spend more time searching.
Great tutorial. Thanks
why only get good pics by buying them? :\
anyone knows where can i get the for free?( or good quality pics that can be used for the same purpose…)
Great techniques and style though that it would be refreshing to see some other photos.