Grungy Header Tutorial - Advanced (sort of)
I got a couple of requests for a tutorial to show how this header was made. So I'm reposting it here as well, in case if someone is interested.
Program(s)+version: Photoshop CS3
Involves: vector mask, coloring, selective layers, levels, curves, fill color layers, clipping mask, hue/saturation
Translatable: I think, no (only for the earlier versions of Photoshop (CS, CS2))
Steps: 7
Difficulty: advanced
This is going to be a very detailed and long tutorial, also this requires some advanced Photoshop knowledge. If you are a beginner I don't think this tutorial is for you, however could give you some ideas for the future. - Click on the sample headers to see them in full size.
Base Pictures: |1. |2.
|01. I always start with opening the images in Photoshop, then creating a New canvas (CTRL+N) and paint the background black (Shift+F5 and choose black).
Simply go to both image and Drag and Drop them into the New canvas as it shows here:
I always resize the pictures on the canvas I am working on, this way I can move and experiment with them more, than resizing them and not being able to adjust it later. For resizing either press (CTRL+T) or Go to Edit/Free Transform. Little trick: if you hold the SHIFT key still, while you move the corner of the image, you will be able to keep the ratio. (Always keep the ratio or edit to be right, because squeezed pictures are NOT pretty.)
|02. After we resized the pictures, I usually switch off those layers I will use later. So I'm switching Layer 2 off and I turn my attention to Ruby all alone. Position the picture where you want it to be then click on the Layer and add a Vector Mask to it (Layer/Vector Mask/Reveal ALL - This is an advanced tutorial, if you don't know how to use vector masks this is not your place to learn it now, sorry.) Click on the Vector mask and start to erase some part from left side and a little bit from the right.
|03. Coloring, now that we have the picture we want, Ruby all mysterious with a little background, we can start and add colors. I always color the picture first and then add the Hue/Saturation Layer later, so this way the basic image will be more optimized and I can adjust the contrast later.
» Add Level Layer: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Levels
Then I added a color layer to make it a bit darker, more vivid.
» Add Color Layer: Layer/New Fill Layer/Solid Color
There is not enough contrast so I added the next color editing layer.
» Add Curves: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Curves
Too red-ish, so I added a Selective Coloring Layer.
» Add Selective Colors: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Selective Color
Now we can simply apply the Hue/Sat Layer. I always add as a Layer so I can edit it if I want to rather have a splash of colors or something.
» Add Hue/Saturation Layer: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Hue/Saturation
Now we have a Desaturated image, just the contrasts are not good, so I add another Level layer to correct it.
» Add Level Layer: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Levels
|04. Once we are done with the coloring I loaded a texture from
kekoah and placed over her face, set the style to Lighten. Afterward, I reduced the opacity to 43% and added a Vector mask to that texture layer. Then I went to the Erase tool (E) and started to erase from the mask with a grungy brush, found at MissPrintedtype. You can find other nice grungy brushes here.
Once we have a nice interesting paper texture over her face I felt we should do something more, so I simply duplicated the texture layer, set to Normal, and Opacity 100% and started to delete more from the mask, so we would end up a little bit more like solid paper right before her forehead.
|05. Next step is to resize our already loaded second base picture and place where we actually wanna use it. Over Ruby's eyes.
Then add a Vector Mask to the picture as well and start to mask out with one of the grungy brushes the parts we don't wanna see. I wanted to be part of the image so I used the same brushes and the same effects as I did on the paper.
|06. Usually here we should either repeat the steps you see in |02. Coloring the base picture, or just simply highlight your first Levels Layer, Solid color fill layer,Curves layer and Selective color layer and duplicate them, and put on the top of the second base picture. Now here is an interesting thing. These layers apply on the whole image and we just want them to be cooperated with the second picture, so just highlight all those color layers you just copied, right click and select Create Clipping Mask. This way those layers will be only visible on the picture and not on the whole image. This could be made easily by simply Merging those layers together, but I like to keep everything editable so I can change and experiment with it later. And who knows if you will need the original picture again, and this way just switching off all the non desired layers would get you to the original.
Next step is to make the picture part of the big image because right now it just looks like I plastered there. So I take the very first texture layer and duplicate it. Set it to Multiply and put on the top of the pile, where your second picture is, and create a clipping mask as well. This way this will be applied only on the top of the second picture. Feels more like it would be part of the paper, right?
|07. Now only the final touch left, like adding a text. I felt like using a common font which would look good on it. I broke the text in 3 parts:
I moved them a bit slightly and used those figures to make it more part of the image and the paper. Now we are really done and ready. Lay back and see the result.
Final Layer order
Resources:
texture:kekoah texture
brushes: DeviantArt brushes, MissPrintedType Brushes and Goodies
caps: fromoxoniensis and 
leggyslove
In case if something is not clear or you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask. :) Have FUN!
Program(s)+version: Photoshop CS3
Involves: vector mask, coloring, selective layers, levels, curves, fill color layers, clipping mask, hue/saturation
Translatable: I think, no (only for the earlier versions of Photoshop (CS, CS2))
Steps: 7
Difficulty: advanced
This is going to be a very detailed and long tutorial, also this requires some advanced Photoshop knowledge. If you are a beginner I don't think this tutorial is for you, however could give you some ideas for the future. - Click on the sample headers to see them in full size.
Base Pictures: |1. |2.
|01. I always start with opening the images in Photoshop, then creating a New canvas (CTRL+N) and paint the background black (Shift+F5 and choose black).
Simply go to both image and Drag and Drop them into the New canvas as it shows here:
I always resize the pictures on the canvas I am working on, this way I can move and experiment with them more, than resizing them and not being able to adjust it later. For resizing either press (CTRL+T) or Go to Edit/Free Transform. Little trick: if you hold the SHIFT key still, while you move the corner of the image, you will be able to keep the ratio. (Always keep the ratio or edit to be right, because squeezed pictures are NOT pretty.)
|02. After we resized the pictures, I usually switch off those layers I will use later. So I'm switching Layer 2 off and I turn my attention to Ruby all alone. Position the picture where you want it to be then click on the Layer and add a Vector Mask to it (Layer/Vector Mask/Reveal ALL - This is an advanced tutorial, if you don't know how to use vector masks this is not your place to learn it now, sorry.) Click on the Vector mask and start to erase some part from left side and a little bit from the right.
|03. Coloring, now that we have the picture we want, Ruby all mysterious with a little background, we can start and add colors. I always color the picture first and then add the Hue/Saturation Layer later, so this way the basic image will be more optimized and I can adjust the contrast later.
» Add Level Layer: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Levels
Codes: 18 ; 1,4 ; 163
Then I added a color layer to make it a bit darker, more vivid.
» Add Color Layer: Layer/New Fill Layer/Solid Color
Color: #f2f6cd - set to Multiply
There is not enough contrast so I added the next color editing layer.
» Add Curves: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Curves
RGB: 1st : 220,203 2nd: 48,55
RED: 1st: 229,214 2nd: 75,80
GREEN: 1st: 61,68 2nd: 225,216
BLUE: 1st: 227,216 2nd: 182,194 3rd: 66,65
Too red-ish, so I added a Selective Coloring Layer.
» Add Selective Colors: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Selective Color
RED: C-64 ; Y+70
YELLOW: C-61 ; Y+69
NEUTRALS: C100 ; M+36 ; Y-5 ; B-5
C=Cyan, M=Magenta, Y=Yellow, B=Black
Now we can simply apply the Hue/Sat Layer. I always add as a Layer so I can edit it if I want to rather have a splash of colors or something.
» Add Hue/Saturation Layer: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Hue/Saturation
Saturation: -100
Now we have a Desaturated image, just the contrasts are not good, so I add another Level layer to correct it.
» Add Level Layer: Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Levels
Codes: 19 ; 1,56 ; 163
|04. Once we are done with the coloring I loaded a texture from
kekoah and placed over her face, set the style to Lighten. Afterward, I reduced the opacity to 43% and added a Vector mask to that texture layer. Then I went to the Erase tool (E) and started to erase from the mask with a grungy brush, found at MissPrintedtype. You can find other nice grungy brushes here. 
Once we have a nice interesting paper texture over her face I felt we should do something more, so I simply duplicated the texture layer, set to Normal, and Opacity 100% and started to delete more from the mask, so we would end up a little bit more like solid paper right before her forehead.
|05. Next step is to resize our already loaded second base picture and place where we actually wanna use it. Over Ruby's eyes.
Then add a Vector Mask to the picture as well and start to mask out with one of the grungy brushes the parts we don't wanna see. I wanted to be part of the image so I used the same brushes and the same effects as I did on the paper.
|06. Usually here we should either repeat the steps you see in |02. Coloring the base picture, or just simply highlight your first Levels Layer, Solid color fill layer,Curves layer and Selective color layer and duplicate them, and put on the top of the second base picture. Now here is an interesting thing. These layers apply on the whole image and we just want them to be cooperated with the second picture, so just highlight all those color layers you just copied, right click and select Create Clipping Mask. This way those layers will be only visible on the picture and not on the whole image. This could be made easily by simply Merging those layers together, but I like to keep everything editable so I can change and experiment with it later. And who knows if you will need the original picture again, and this way just switching off all the non desired layers would get you to the original.
Next step is to make the picture part of the big image because right now it just looks like I plastered there. So I take the very first texture layer and duplicate it. Set it to Multiply and put on the top of the pile, where your second picture is, and create a clipping mask as well. This way this will be applied only on the top of the second picture. Feels more like it would be part of the paper, right?
|07. Now only the final touch left, like adding a text. I felt like using a common font which would look good on it. I broke the text in 3 parts:
we all have souls (courier ; 11pt ; Layer: normal ; opacity: 100)
even if we think (courier ; 11pt ; Layer: screen ; opacity: 67)
we lost it (courier ; 11pt ; Layer: soft light ; opacity: 100)
I moved them a bit slightly and used those figures to make it more part of the image and the paper. Now we are really done and ready. Lay back and see the result.
Final Layer order
Resources:
texture:
kekoah texturebrushes: DeviantArt brushes, MissPrintedType Brushes and Goodies
caps: from
oxoniensis and leggysloveIn case if something is not clear or you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask. :) Have FUN!