Tutorial Details
- Program: Adobe Photoshop CS3
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Estimated Completion Time: 4 - 5 Hours
Download Source Files
Final Product What You'll Be Creating
In college, my instructors often give me projects where I reproduce the works of classic artists like Da Vinci and Goya. Trying to recreate classic works of art is a fantastic way to improve your skills, discover new ways of applying effects, and expand your artistic knowledge. However, when deriving influence from contemporary illustrators for professional work, it’s something to be careful about. Ultimately, working toward developing your own style should be your goal.
Today’s tutorial was inspirited by digital artist Rob Shields who graciously granted permission for us to use his work as inspiration. I chose his work titled “Keep me in the dark.” In this illustration it is essential that you use a tablet; especially for the doodles and the white strokes that will give the portrait a more detailed effect. Let’s get started!
Resources
- I used a picture of myself and a texture that I found on DeviantArt.
Step 1
Start off with the creation of your document and, in this case 1200×1600. If you want to print this you might want to work in CMYK mode, a higher resolution and also 300DPI. You need to make the image black and white pressing Command + Option + Shift + B (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B on Windows) and make the background dark. Play with the settings and make it darker then the normal settings makes it.
Step 2
Duplicate the background image and darken it a bit more. Then you will apply a mask and use the Linear Gradient (G) to mask the upper part of the second background you have created. Make the lower end darker.
Step 3
Next import your portrait image into the document.
Step 4
Flip the image facing in the direction you desire or leave it as it is if you are happy with the result. You must work carefully at this point and chose your elements and positioning wisely because now you are actually creating your composition. Now make it black and white by using the same shortcut keys Command + Option + Shift + B (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B on Windows).
Step 5
Next you need to create a mask for this layer by using the Pen Tool (P) to remove the background of the image and the Brush Tool (B) to clean up the hair. Use a soft brush on the back of the head to make a soft mask for the hair. You will not be able to make a perfect mask using this technique but for this tutorial you will actually recreate the hair and give it a much more interesting and detailed effect later.
Step 6
Duplicate the image just to make sure you have another copy if you do something wrong. Now use the Burn and Dodge tools (O) to apply some shadows and lights over the portrait.
Step 7
Duplicate the layer again and darken it some more using the levels settings or black & white settings. Then use the Burn Tool (O) some more and darken the portrait. This way you will make the illustration look more dramatic.
Step 8
Now that the stage is set you need to start using the Brush Tool (B) and the Digital Tablet if you own one and start creating the details. In this case you will start with the beard. Create a new layer the chose a 1 or 2 px brush with the color white. You will also alternate with black from time to time. As you can see in the image below, the strokes have been used on the lips and on the beard and this actually makes the beard stand out more. To create those strokes simply use the tablet and create soft, small strokes as you would naturally do with a pencil.
If the strokes seem too bright just lower the opacity of the brush while creating them.
Step 9
Continue to add white strokes all over the face. Mostly on the edges of the face like the ears, cheeks beard, nose, glasses, edge of forehead, t-shirt, etc. As you do this you will notice how everything seems to look clearer, the image will actually start looking like a drawing.
Step 10
Next continue creating strokes but this time create them on a new layer because this will be the hair. Creating these strokes will also make the transition of the hair and background look better and more realistic.
Step 11
Create a new layer and on this layer you will start to create the colored doodles. These are just some colored strokes that will fly around the portrait that you have used. They will give an extra point of focus for the illustration. For the color use #ddad2f. To create them you need to use the Brush Tool (B) and the Digital Tablet. Or they can also be created with the Pen Tool (P) but the result will not be the same.
Step 12
Create an empty circle using the same color code. You can also use the Burn Tool (O) over the circle to create some nice color transitions. Also use the tablet to create some more doodles and scratches around the circle. To create the circle you can use the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M).
Step 13
Create a new layer above the portrait layers and use the Marquee Tool (M) to create two shapes using the same color code over the glasses lenses. Then set the layer to Soft Light.
Step 14
Now using the same color code #ddad2f you need to create some shapes using the Pen Tool (P) then fill the shapes with the color and play with the Opacity of these layers. So start creating the shapes as you like (look at the image below for reference) and then play with the Opacity of each shape. Do not forget to create each shape in a different layer. The Opacity used in the tutorial are between 25% – 40%.
Step 15
Next you will start creating the doodles. Doodles are actually some sketches so you are free here to play around and create whatever you like using the white, 1 px Brush Tool (B). The images below will show you a few ideas of what you can create. Imagine this is a playground and do not worry if you do something wrong.
Step 16
The final image should look like below. To make it more interesting go to File > Sharp > Sharpen and you will notice the details are getting more visible.
Conclusion
This is the result with the Sharpen effect applied. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.
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By Constantin Potorac
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Nice tut thanks
Nice to transform it into a tutorial Ctin !
Congrats
Looks pretty cool :)
really cool! it’s always great to pick up new Photoshop tips from great tutorials such as this.. thanks! :D
Sharpening the image definitely make the piece cohesive–as it better relates to the background textures now..
However, deeming it as surrealism seems a little far fetched.
Wait. Seriously? Far fetched? What about this work seems “real” to you? lol. It maybe more of a collage, but I can see a surreal quality in it. Far from far fetched, my friend. (hmm…that wasn’t condescending enough. Must be losing my powers of condenscendtion(Yes. It’s a made up word, but if Shakespeare can invent bedroom, I can at least invent this one).
Oh, I don’t know… maybe the photorealism of the portrait itself? Since it is a photo and all.
Also, “condescension” is the word you’re looking for.
Love the new PSDTUTS design :D
Tuts look more interesting now.
Great tut
I like where this is going with the background, just feels a little weird with a face smacked in the center on it..will probably use this for something else, but some useful stuff. Thanks!
Hmm.. I had seen this work before, in Constantin’s portfolio. Was wondering how to do this ever since. Thanks for the tutorial :)
This looks like a lot of fun to try. I am always looking for new tutorials and skills from a variety of people. Thanks!
Fantastic as always Constantin! You have a small typo in step 12… it says use BURH instead of BURN I believe. I like how you created the details to pop out the hair and stuff, and even better, I love how you did the effects to the big orange stripe… the little brush strokes around it I mean. It reminds me of a past tutorial by Wojciech Pijecki, where everyone was asking how to create these cool looking effects, and he had just rendered them and skipped over it.
I have definitely learned a few things that I will be able to use in future work. Thank you!
Wow, that looks great. Nice tutorial!
This is a really good combination of great result and useful tutorial :) i really like the transformation and the mixture between black and white AND bright yellow tones! congrats
great looking outcome, going to have to take a few to read through this one. Thanks!
nice i like it
Nice tactic to pick up chicks.
Excellent outcome! Very versatile, too.
step by step, very nice work ..
This is awsome! Will try doing this soon :)
I really like the use of the highlights and the grudge background effect!
Love the feel of the piece – but you def need a tablet to easily come up with something that organic. And agreed, the grunge does well but doesn’t scream “GRUNGE” like so many other pieces seem to do. Good stuff and I’m looking forward to trying some of it.
I like black color.. so i like your image. Thanks for share :)
Amazing outcome, but could have blended more with the background. Yellow tones are amazing. Keep up good work..
Wao..it’s so awesome, Constantin!!
Thanks.. :)
Nice and simple tut with a great outcome! nice
I have one minor thing about that tip, if you want to print this that you might want to work in CMYK mode.
Unless one is designing other kind of print material, i think if you’re designing artwork you can just work in RGB. Also because in CMYK mode you can’t use a lot of filters. No filters are used here, but in general one may use several filters.
Most large format printers for canvas etc. nowadays have perfect technology to translate rgb to their cmyk or more ink color settings, and you can always change the final artwork to CMYK mode and spice colors up a bit.
If designing for litho, work in RGB with CMYK preview mode enabled (Command + Y will toggle between preview modes). This means you’ll have access to all of Photoshop’s filters and you won’t get any nasty surprises when the file is finally converted to CMYK for commercial printing.
Large format, or digital printing is different ball game, as you mention. Most large format inkjets work better with RGB files – but speak to your printer first is always my advice.
BTW. Nice tut Constantin!
Awesome, I have to try this out later :-)
Creative and easy to follow. Good work as usual!
You could also duplicate your “portrait” and put a high pass filter on OVERLAY, if you dont wanna spend alot of time enhancing details.
Thanks for the tutorial, I really like when you post tutorials more about technique than about a final outcome. Is completly useful for me!
Thanks!!!
Nice (nu-i rau deloc) :)
excelente tutorial, tried it out myself and looks great!! thanks!!
great tut =D
One of the most awsome tuts ever! :D
Very cool, will be interesting to see if my end product turns out this nice.
Good tutorial! Thanks!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
i’ve tried but failed
Hi.
I can’t see images.. Please fix that
Best Regards
can u post the psd file of this tut, it would be much appreciated
Not sure why people have trouble making this type of effect. It is actually not hard to do.
Well done!
Very well written tutorial and the final output is very nice!
that’s so interesting but i couldn’t make it on my own computer, explanation is weak
Thanks for the tutorial. I’m bookmarking it for future reference. But I think it helps to do a sketch on paper of the composition etc first before going on the computer.
That’s my new avatar :)
Very cool.
Wow superb, This Tutorial has Opened up new avenues for portrait image manipulation.
Thanks a million !
This is really nice tutorial. thank Q 4r sharing nice image editing tutorial mate :)
this is amazing!!
guys i’ve just started a studie where i need to practice with photoshop .. can anybody give me a few links with cool tutorials like this one but with a video. it would help a lot!! :( please help me guys
cool, i really want to try this out, but my photoshop crashed. would you be able to make one for me? :)
wowowow….
It’s great!!
Thanks for the tutorials..
I’ll try this,,, :D
Great Tut!!!!! where exactly did u find the background texture i love it……