Today, I’m going to show you how use custom brushes and some cool post editing techniques in Photoshop CS5 to create a beautiful abstract artwork. Layered PSD file included. Let’s get started!
You can also use custom brushes and post editing techniques to your print designs such as flyer printing, brochure printing, poster printing, etc. Enjoy this tutorial and let’s get started!
Final Image Preview
Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop CS5 with the size 1280px by 1024px (RGB color mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill with black color the new background layer.
On the next new layer we’ll select the Soft Round brush from Brush Tool (B).
Use this brush to paint the background as it is demonstrated next picture. (The brush colors and brush Opacity are indicated.
Create a new layer and apply the Soft Round brush mentioned above to continue painting the background.
Find a stock photo with a model represented on it, I used this photo from deviantart. I would like to thank the author of this photo, or if you prefer, you can substitute similar image of your own.
Remove the background using your favorite tools like Pen Tool (P), Magic Wand Tool (W), Magnetic Lasso (L) or even a simple Filter>Extract and insert it on a new layer in our main document.
Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Inner Shadow.
We’ve got the next result:
Next create a new layer and use again the Soft Round brush to paint the background around the model. This layer needs to be placed under the model’s layer.
Set the Blending mode for this layer to Saturation.
Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush.
Use this brush to insert several light spots on the background. The layer will be placed under the model’s layer.
On the next new layer we’ll select again the Soft Round brush.
Use this brush to paint the background as shown. Place the layer under the model’s one.
Next step we’ll download sets of brushes for Adobe Photoshop, named: rebelFive_Linear_Brush_Set_1 .
Copy the brushes file to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop X\Presets\Brushes folder (Adobe Photoshop X been your version of Photoshop).
Create a new layer and load the downloaded brushes, select the next brush from the downloaded set.
Use this brushes to add the next abstract lines. The brush will have white color and the layer will be situated under the model’s one.
Set Fill to 67% for this layer and set the Blending mode to Overlay.
Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 15% in Options bar).
Paint in the mask using this brush to hide the lines coming out on the left model’s side.
Next we have to create a new layer and select the next brush from the rebelFive_Linear_Brush_Set_1 set of brushes.
Use this brush to add the next abstract lines, having white color. Place the layer under the model’s one.
Set Fill to 59% for this layer and set the Blending mode to Overlay.
Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 15% in Options bar).
Paint in the mask using this brush to hide some zones on the layer with abstract lines.
Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Levels to adjust tonal range.
Adjusting black and white points with Levels Input sliders. Input slider must be in the next position (34 and 232).
Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click between the adjustment layer and the model’s layer in the Layers panel to create a clipping mask.
We’ve got the next result:
Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Hue/Saturation.
Drag the slider to the right to increase the Hue of the color range. Drag the slider to the left to decrease the Saturation and Lightness.
Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click between layers in the Layers panel to create a clipping mask.
We’ve got the next result:
