Learn How to Create a Super Creative Collage Effect

Learn how to create a super creative collage effect, using a range of photo manipulation, blending and compositional techniques in this Adobe Photoshop tutorial.

You’ll learn how to correctly extract your images, layer up various effects to create a sense of depth and detail, and create a cool sketchy hand-drawn effect for your photos.


Final Image

Learn How to Create a Super Creative Collage Effect

Resources


Step 1

Create a new file with a width of 650px and a height of 1040 px at 72 dpi (Dots per Inch). Background Contents should be White.

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Step 2

To start off we’ll use various textures to create a subtle distressed background. First, add a group folder called “Texture”, then open “1.jpg” from these colored grunge textures . Place this within the folder, then hit Command/Ctrl + T and resize to cover the canvas. Name the layer “Texture 1”.

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The result should be similar to this:

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Reduce opacity to “30%”

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Now add “8.jpg” as a new layer within the same folder, then hit Command/Ctrl + T and resize to cover the canvas and name it “Texture 2”.

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Change the Blend Mode to Overlay and lower its Opacity to 50%.

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Place “2.jpg” from the “source” folder as a new layer within the same folder. Resize and label it “Texture 3”.

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Step 3

Change the layer mode to “soft light” and reduce opacity to “45%”:

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Now Create a new Color balance adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette .

When the Color balance box opens, input the following:

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Now create a new Levels adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette .

When the Levels box opens, input the following: :

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The result should be similar to this:

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First off, let’s open the girl stock Red 3-Mihaela-VStock in Photoshop. We will be using the girl from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

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press p to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the girl and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas

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The result should be similar to this: .

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Now create a new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

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Now create a new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (sky layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

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Step 4

Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (Girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.

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Now create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (girl layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following:

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Now create a new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

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Now create a new Levels adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (girl and Levels) to make a mask.

When the Levels box opens, input the following: :

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The result should be similar to this:

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Now,let’s open the WaterColor2 in Photoshop. We will be using the texture from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

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The result should be similar to this:

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Step 5

Change the layer mode to overlay and reduce opecity to 79%.

Now add vector mask from the bottom of the layers palette .

Now activate the Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 400px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

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The result should be similar to this:.

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Now activate the Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 400px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Color: #3057e4

Now paint over the highlighted area.:

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Now, change the layer mode to soft light

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Repeat the same process using #dc2d30 as foreground color :

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Now, let’s open the Drawing Flower Pattern in Photoshop. We will be using the vectors from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

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change the layer mode to multiply and reduce opacity to 65%.

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Step 6

Now,let’s make a new layer and name it “Shape 1” activate Pen tool and draw a shape. See as below :

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Now fill it with #1a29a0 color .

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Repeat the same process and add more shapes .

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The result should be similar to this:

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Now, let’s open the Flower 1 in Photoshop. We will be using the vectors from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas and name it “Flower 1”.

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The result should be similar to this:

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Step 7

Now create a new Levels adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer’s (flower1 and Levels) to make a mask.

When the Levels box opens, input the following:

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The result should be similar to this:

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Now add more flowers to our canvas.

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Now, let’s open the Flower 7 in Photoshop. We will be using the vectors from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas and name it “Tattoo”.

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Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Tattoo” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

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Step 8

now change the layer mode to multiply

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Now add a vector mask from the bottom of layers palette .

Now activate the Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 400px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100%

Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

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The result should be similar to this:

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Now, let’s open the Blue blotch in Photoshop. We will be using the texture from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

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Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the “Snail” layer is selected resize it as shown below:

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now change the layer mode to multiply and reduce opacity to 60%

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Repeat the same process and add the same effect to the second eye .


And We’re Done!

Learn How to Create a Super Creative Collage Effect