How to Create a Richly Ornate Typographic Illustration
Tutorial Details
- Program: Photoshop
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Completion Time: 2-3 hours
Download Source Files
Final Product What You'll Be Creating
When looking for top quality content, you’re usually forced to pay for your resources. They’re generally better and easier to work with, and offer a wider range of use. Sometimes though, you can find the same level of quality at zero cost, and it’s exactly what we’re going to do today. We’re going to create a detailed illustration with free gifts and self made goodies.
Video Tutorial
Our video editor Gavin Steele has created this video tutorial to compliment this text + image tutorial.
Introduction
I love doing type treatments. Out of all the designs I’ve created so far, it’s typographic illustrations that have always taught me a lot, mainly because I’ve usually tried to make the most of Photoshop and Illustrator’s tools. You are practically forced to create most of it from scratch, so how much you polish your design determines how good it will be.
In this tutorial, I went for a decorative look, by firstly choosing a typeface: Ayosmonika. I’ve used it before, and this time I wanted to go for a more flat look. The font seems very organic to me, so I sought and found a good online resource, the ornate pattern freebie. It’s got lots of rich detail, so it’s enough for what we want.
My initial colors were violet and yellow, but they seemed out of place. I later decided to go with a wood texture, and bronze shades (new and aged) for the decorative elements. These colors would give me an old-world look, so even though it’s not how it began, it is how it ended.
Step 1
The first thing we’ll do is create a very large wooden texture. Getting the same result may be difficult, so just try to obtain something that looks like a wood texture. Start up Photoshop and create a new document. Make it big; somewhere around 6000 px by 6000 px (300 ppi).
Select a dark brown (#48403a) as the foreground color and a lighter version (#ac9f92) as the background color. Fill the document’s background with the foreground color (#48403a) and go to Filter > Render > Fibers. Change the settings (Variance of 12.0 and Strength of 34.0) and randomize it until you get something similar. Playing around with the settings can help.
OR: If you’re a Graphic River user, you can download a similar texture from my Wood Texture Pack.
Step 2
We’ll now give the fibers more depth and a darker color. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map. Once you created it, change its layer Blending Mode to Overlay and Opacity to 50%.
Step 3
Now create a new blank layer and fill it with the color #633a1c. Set the layer’s Blending Mode to Multiply.
Step 4
And finally, select the Gradient Tool (G). Choose white as the foreground color, and create a white to transparent white gradient from top to bottom. Change the layer Opacity to somewhere around 10%. Select the entire canvas (Command + A) and copy the merged file (Command + Shift + C).
Step 5
Create a new Photoshop document using a landscape A4 canvas (29,7 x 21 cm at 300 ppi). I created mine in CMYK format, so if you want the colors to make any sense, make sure you select CMYK, not RGB.
Now add the type to this new document. Download this free font and type in each letter on a separate layer. The color doesn’t matter, as it will be replaced by a texture. I chose different shades of green just to show the layer order.
Step 6
Now double-click on the letter “T” layer and add these effects. Here are the color codes for each of them: Drop Shadow set to #000000; Outer Glow set to #476454; Bevel and Emboss Highlight set to #f09629 and Shadow set to #45293c, and Stroke set to #466454.
Altogether, your effects should look like the image below.
Step 7
Copy the layer style (right-click on layer and go to Copy Layer Style) and paste it over the rest. Also, create a large ampersand behind all the letters.
Step 8
Create a new blank layer above the letter “T” and make it a clipping mask. Place the wooden texture inside.
Step 9
Create another blank layer as a clipping mask above the texture. Make a selection of the “T” layer (Command + Click on the layer icon) and contract it by seven pixels (Select > Modify > Contract).
Step 10
Fill it with white and blur it slightly (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur).
Step 11
Change the Layer’s opacity to 40% and select the eraser tool (E). Make it about 80% soft and erase the bottom part.
Step 12
Get this and this screw. Cut them out with the pen tool and desaturate them (Command + Shift + U). We’ll use the first one for large screws and the second for smaller ones. Place one of the large ones in the middle of the “T” and apply the effects shown below.
It will now look like it’s holding the “T” in place.
Step 13
Do the same to create the smaller one and place these screws on all the letters.
Step 14
Now you’ll need this free ornate pattern. Open it in Illustrator and double-click on the flourish detail (not the pattern). Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select a white part of the detail. Change its color to #486554, Copy it (Command + C) and paste it (Command + V) into the Photoshop file as a Smart Object.
Step 15
Now add this layer style shown below.
It looks odd now, but it will be better once we add the second color.
Step 16
Create a new blank layer as a clipping mask and paint (#74cdd8) with a soft brush the tips of the flourish detail.
Step 17
Group the layers (Command + G) and duplicate the group, then position it accordingly.
Step 18
Place a large one on the bottom.
Step 19
Add a few smaller ones that appear to come out of the large one underneath. Try to keep an orientation that feels natural and organic.
Step 20
Add the final ones too.
Step 21
As usual, we’ll adjust the colors and contrast of the document with good ol’ Adjustment Layers. Add the first one by going to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map.
Step 22
Now add a Selective Color Adjustment Layer and use the Colors drop down menu to get to Blacks.
Step 23
I thought the composition needed a touch of another color, so let’s add some orange. Duplicate one of the floral patterns and make it smaller. Delete the bright cyan and paint with this color instead: #f7db58.
Step 24
Add a few more.
Step 25
Now, make a selection of each letter and paint with the same color.
Step 26
Go back to the Go Media Illustrator file and double-click the ornate pattern this time. Select the white part, and make it black. Copy it and go to Photoshop. Create a new document and keep the Clipboard size. Paste the pattern into the new document that should be an exact fit. Make the Background layer invisible and go to Edit > Define Pattern.
Step 27
Create a new blank layer above the wood texture background in our illustration. Select the Bucket Tool, and click on the drop down menu to paint a pattern. Select the newly created one and create one in the blank layer. Add the layer styles shown below.
This is what you should see at 100%.
Step 28
Create a new layer, make it a clipping mask and paint with a very large, soft shadow a few white glows near the center. Keep the Opacity low so that they don’t become too obvious.
Step 29
Use the same orange to paint a few subtle glows in a few places, just like in the previous layer.
Conclusion
Finding the right resources can be a great way to eventually create your own typographic illustrations. It’s like learning from others before you do everything by yourself. In time, you’ll be able to create details that are not only of the same or even better quality, but also something that reflects your style. And hopefully, I’ll be able to write a tutorial about that some day! You can view the final image below. Be sure to view the larger format, as there are details you miss at small sizes.
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 Alex Beltechi
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
hello there, thank you very much for an amazing tutorial. I’ve a question, after 17:40 in the video or screen print step 9 = I’m completely lost. Please help.
WOW! awesome tutorial. i have an old version of PS and i dont have Illustrator, so mine kinda looks crappy… but the tutorial was awesome. everyone’s outcomes look AMAZING!
here’s my attempt: http://i28.tinypic.com/jim2ht.jpg
Love this – almost better than the original!
Really lovely effect over the background. nice work.
Alex, you rock, dude… awesome tutorial!
I took your tute, along with a GIMP translation (by sglider12) and made a similar related image in GIMP, although far from the quality of either tutorial. It was fun and will certainly help me improve my own graphics. Thanks, Alex!
thx a lot. Keep it coming :D
The most amazing tut EVER
This is stunning. thank you for al your effort in this — i’m crazy for typography but haven’t worked on anything lately. this has given me huge inspiration. thanks again.
As always, this tutorial is awesome! If you guys never shared, I wouldn’t be able to learn anything! keep it rolling out, tuts!
what an awesome tut … and very easy to follow. thx for using the free font and patterns – makes it a lot more fun!!
my outcome =)
http://twitpic.com/hmp09
This is hands down my favorite of the Photoshop tuts I’ve seen. Kudos to you for originality and execution. Awesome stuff.
Awesome! I’ll try someday =p
Haha! I love it :D
great tut! but i’ve a problem with step 11, i can’t get the same color when i use the Erase tool :(
thanks people, I spend a day creating something using your tutorial as a rough guideline, and it was very pleasant!
Thanks again and keep up the good work!!!
Fantastic tut, easily modified to your own unique style too, I learned many techniques from this as I’m relatively new to photoshop but learn quickly as I have used similar progs. Thanks a bunch!
i can’t download the font
someone can help me??
this tuts need an artist not some body working on photoshop
i am so thankful for the inspiration not for the tut.
Very impressive tut… but I’ve problems with step 16, I can’t apply the lighting color in the waves pattern… can you explain me, how do you use the brush tool please?… Thanks!
Hi!
Actually I am facing a problem at 14, I changed the color and did (command + c) in Iluustrator but I can’t paste the ojbject to the Photoshop.
Please help me out.
I will really appreciate
Thank you.
The best tutorial.
Create a new Photoshop document using a landscape A4 canvas (29,7 x 21 cm at 300 ppi). I created mine in CMYK format, so if you want the colors to make any sense, make sure you select CMYK, not RGB.
I don`t see any A4 preset nor landscape setting in the new dialogue box. What size do you want the document ?
I love the tutorial and was inspired my own creation.
http://alovephantasy.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-first-thoughts.html
What do you guys think?
omg its so nice!
I LOVE THIS SOOOOO MUCH – You are a simply awesome designer.
hey can anyone help me on step 14 please im really stuck i copyed the image onto illustrator and when i double click the image nothing happens.
thanks :D
Thank you very very much for this fantastic work!
The tutorial is awesome.
wow this tutorial was great. very clear most of the time, although it lost me a few times and I had to figure out how to do some things on my own. mine didn’t turn out nearly as good looking as the tutorial’s, but I’m still pleased with it :) here it is: http://tinyurl.com/32g23nn it can be downloaded to view it large.,,
Wow. That looks awesome. I’ve been trying to design a logo somewhat like this for myself for a T-shirt and it did not come out as what I hope it would! I didn’t manage to get it looking right like yours did. Finally, I decided to use the professional services of an online logo design site instead (http://www.logodesignstation.com) and got the logo I wanted at an affordable price and fast too, within 24 hours. I did provide this link for reference and inspiration to my designer as I liked how yours look. I’m not going to design a logo without any professional help anytime soon although it’s fun. Thanks for posting this.
Hope, you still read this!
I have a question about st.12. How does it happend, that screws have a white shade near them? And then a dark around it?
Did I miss something?
Thank you very very much for this fantastic work!
The tutorial is awesome.
It’s a great tutorial. I like it!
http://taylor-sy.deviantart.com/art/Richly-Ornate-Text-171073179
i stuck also on step 16, really dont get it how you paint over with the blue brush i made everything like you in the video…when i paint over with the blue brush the whole floral pattern goes away and i see only blue color and no pattern flower more :( any help from someone would love to finish this great tutorial……
i think you may have missed making the layer a clipping mask by using (Alt+click) on the layers palette
This is really good – you have really assisted in helping me understand the use of type
Please do some more
thank you for sharing this
This tut helped me out a-lot and i did it in Photoshop. I think it looks nice considering how limited vectors are in Photoshop. I did it with my name and it turned out nice.
Excellent tutorial, but I’m also stuck on step 16…when I paint with the blue brush the pattern goes away, even when the clipping mask is on (alt+click between them, etc, etc)…still don’t get it, why does it disappear?
You think it has something to do with the version? In this computer we have Illustrator CS4, and Photoshop CS2..
That’s my deviantion. Nice tuto … with some missing step.
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9498/artv.jpg
I do not understand the step 14, you have to use the vectorisation in illustrator? If yes, what setup? If not, I do not how see getting back the image with Direct Selection Tool (A) :(
Mmmm… need some help, Step 1 im afraid! I’m using Jasc Paint Shop pro 8, and I don’t have “Filter” along the top. I’ve got File, Edit, View, Image, Effects, Adjust, Layers, Objects, Selections, Window and Help. Anybody got any ideas on where filter->render->fibres is? Or is there a plugin I need?
Here’s one I made using the sglider12′s GIMP tutorial, translated it into a steampunk theme:
http://pumpkin13.deviantart.com/#/d33un7l
I have a problem with step 28. I dont see any change in the background
The Ayosmonika font doesnt seem to be working for me. The letter T looks like TT, Y comes out AY smashed together, and the P is just a question mark. Any advice?
I think you have caps lock on
Nice tutorial, learned some new techniques – here is my try http://longhairedlv.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d3b3mh5
Thank you for this tutorial! It felt very… Texan. We used it to design a poster for the live Diggnation show in Austin. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mari1ee/5492466369/
Well this is my go! Bit different but all the same
http://amused-coconut.deviantart.com/#/d3bque6
i spent hours trying to add the Ornate background and make it look correct… for starters, i could not get the bevel to even show up, i turned the depth and size all the way just to see if it was even doing anything, and i saw no change. any ideas??
BEAST!
hi, your guides are quite easy for me to follow,esp, a beginner like me.
thk for your great work ^_^
This is an awesome tutorial and I love the result. Took me a while but I wanted to finish it. Thanks so much.
G’day Alex,
Fantastic tutorial and great outcome. Im nearly finished but have a question (if you’re still checking this tute) but im having problems with steps 27 & 28. Once I put on the effects on the floral pattern I can’t see any image at all. The ‘Fill Opacity’ makes it disappear completely and I cant brush in some detail with the clipping mask. My work is in cmyk format. Could there be another reason or something im missing to cause this?
Thanks
Matt
thank you, thank you, thank you… lubs it!