Club Flyer Design in Photoshop • Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

In this tutorial, I will show you how to create an abstract poster for a nightclub in Photoshop. You will learn how to create an interesting abstract atmosphere. You will also learn how to select objects, how to work with masks, how to perform color correction and create lighting effects, and much more.

Lesson description

In this tutorial we will create an abstract poster using several stock images. We use the technique of working with masks, brushes, using separate filters and color correction. To complete this tutorial, you will need Photoshop version CS3 or higher. I hope you enjoy this tutorial.

Final result

Download the source materials for the lesson

Step 1

Create a new document with a width of 1278 px, a height of 900 px, a resolution of 150 dpi (Dots per Inch / dots per inch). Fill the new document with black.

Step 2

OK. Create a new layer, name this layer “Brush Cosmos”. Using the Cosmos brush that you downloaded, draw a cosmic element / nebula, as shown in the screenshot below:

Reduce the opacity of this layer to 25%.

Add more nebulae to our scene.

Next, add a layer mask to the nebula layer through the bottom toolbar.

Now, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Apply the following settings for the brush:

Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
Colour(Color): # 000000

Next, paint over the selected area on the layer mask.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 3

OK. Now create a new layer, name this layer “Smoke”. Using the Smoke brush that you downloaded, draw smoke, as shown in the screenshot below:

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Add more smoke using separate layers.

Next, being on one of the layers with the effect of smoke, press the keys (CTRL + T), and then right-click inside the selected area and in the window that appears, select the option Deformation (warp), play with the shape of the smoke effect. See screenshot below:

Using the same technique, add more smoke effects.

OK. Now create another new layer, name this layer “Particles”. Using the Particle brush that you downloaded, add a particle effect to our scene, brush color # 92886f.

Next, activate the tool Transformation (Transform tool (Ctrl + T), while on the “Particles” layer, apply the transformation to the particles, as shown in the screenshot below:

Using the same technique, add more particles to our scene.

Step 4

Next, select one of the Cosmos brushes that you downloaded earlier, and then open the Stone texture. Create a new layer on top of the Stone texture layer. Paint over the new layer. Next, hold down (Ctrl) + click on the layer thumbnail to load the active selection, and then go to the Stone texture layer and press the keys (Ctrl + C) to copy the selected area that we painted. See screenshot below.

Now back to our working paper. Create a new layer, name this layer “Stones”. Press the keys (Ctrl + V) to paste the copied part of the Stone texture.

Next, add an adjustment layer. Levels (Levels) to the “Stones” layer as a clipping mask.

When the Levels Settings window appears, apply the following values:

Using the same technique, add stones to our scene. Do not forget to create stone fragments on separate layers.

Step 5

Next, increase the size of the Cosmos brush. This time, select a larger fragment of the Stone texture. Copy / paste the selected stone image onto our working paper.

Also add an adjustment layer. Levels (levels).

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Now select all the layers related to the stones, and then press the keys (Ctrl + E) to combine these layers.

Step 6

Next, add an adjustment layer. Curves (Curves). See screenshot below:

Switch to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Curves (Curves).

Now, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Apply the following settings for the brush:

Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 000000

Next, paint over the selected area with a brush.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 7

Open the stock image of the model. Separate the model image from the background with the tool Pen (pen tool).

Step 8

Next, open the stock image of the wolf.

Choose a tool Pen (pen tool (p). Create an arbitrary selection around the wolf image, and then duplicate the selected wolf image onto a new layer.

Go to bookmark Channels (Channels) in the layers palette, and then right-click on Red (Red) channel and in the window that appears, select the option Duplicate channel (Duplicate Channel):

Now, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Apply the following settings for the brush:

Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # ffffff

Next, paint over the selected area with a brush. (duplicate layer with red channel must be active).

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Next, hold down (Ctrl) + click on the thumbnail of the duplicate layer of the red channel to create an active selection around the wolf image.

Next, return to the bookmark. Layers (Layers) in the layers palette, while on a duplicate layer with a wolf, press the keys (Ctrl + J) to duplicate the image on a new layer.

On the duplicate layer, activate the tool. Refine edge (Refine Edge tool).

When the tool settings window appears Refine edge (Refine Edge tool), apply the following values:

Step 9

Next, move the selected wolf image to the document with the model image.

Now, add a layer mask through the bottom toolbar.

Now, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Apply the following settings for the brush:

Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 000000

Next, paint over the selected area with a brush.

Now go to the dancer layer.

To the dancer layer, add a layer mask through the bottom toolbar.

Now, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Apply the following settings for the brush:

Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 000000

Next, paint over the selected area with a brush.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 10

Next, we add fur elements to the wolf image.

So, first change the background color to any dark shade, so that we can easily see the fur that we draw.

Paint the fur using the Fur brush that you downloaded. See screenshot below.

Using tool Pipette (ink drop tool), take a color tone sample from wolf hair.

Be patient, try to pay as much attention as possible to this step, because This will help you improve your drawing skills.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 11

Next, merge the layer with the wolf and the dancer, and then move the merged layer to our working paper. Name this layer “Wolf Dancer”.

As you can see, I have additionally worked on the image of the wolf, having made a slight color correction, therefore, you can also experiment with the addition of color shades and the length of the wolf’s hair.

Next, to the “Wolf Dancer” layer, add a layer mask and with the help of the Grunge brush, hide separate parts of the wolf dancer image.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Duplicate the “Wolf Dancer” layer, and then change the blending mode to duplicate the layer on Multiplication (Multiply), and also reduce the layer opacity to 65%.

Step 12

Next, open the texture of Cosmos you downloaded.

Change the blending mode for the space texture layer to Lightening (Screen).

Duplicate the space texture layer by moving the duplicate layer to the right. See the screenshot below:

Step 13

Next, we will create an atmosphere or, in another way, we can say, we will create the mood of our scene.

Note that the adjustment layer must be on top of all other layers in the layers palette.

So create a new adjustment layer. Selective color correction (Selective color) by clicking Create a new adjustment or fill layer (Create New Fill / Adjustment) in the bottom toolbar:

When the adjustment layer settings window appears Selective color correction (Selective color), apply the following values:

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 14

Next, go to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Selective color correction (Selective color).

Now, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Apply the following settings for the brush:

Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 000000

Next, paint over the selected area with a brush.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 15

Next, create a new adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color balance) by clicking Create a new adjustment or fill layer (Create New Fill / Adjustment) in the bottom toolbar:

When the adjustment layer settings window appears Color Balance (Color balance), apply the following values:

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 16

Next, go to the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color balance).

Now, select the tool Brush (Brush tool (B). Apply the following settings for the brush:

Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 000000

Next, paint over the selected area with a brush.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 17

Next, create a new adjustment layer. Curves (Curves) by clicking Create a new adjustment or fill layer (Create New Fill / Adjustment) in the bottom toolbar:

When the adjustment layer settings window appears Curves (Curves), apply the following values:

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 18

Next, we will work on the text that is part of our lesson.

Create a new layer. Choose a tool Rectangular area (rectangular marquee tool). With this tool, create a rectangular selection, and then fill the selection area with # 070606. Reduce the layer opacity to 65%. Name this layer “Foundation for Text”.

Next, install the DevilBreezeDemi, DevilBreezeMedium, DevilBreezelight font on your computer, since we are going to use them.

So write the text over the base text.

Add more text, such as DJ names or other information.

Step 19

Now, type “DYNAMIC”.

Next, to the text “DYNAMIC”, add Layer styles (Layer style). Apply the following layer style options.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Repeat the whole process, adding more text.

Step 20

Next, create a new document with a width of 800 px and a height of 800 px.

Fill it with black.

Choose a tool Pen (pen tool), using this tool, draw a rectangle, and then fill it with a color shade # edef4b.

Translator’s Note: Do not forget to create a new layer to create light effects.

To a layer with a drawn rectangle, add a layer mask and using a soft black brush, process the rectangle as shown in the screenshot below.

Repeat the whole process, adding more strips.

Try different color shades.

Once you are satisfied with the result, merge all the layers with stripes, and then move the created light effect to our working paper.

Change the blending mode for the light effect layer to Linear dimmer (LINER BURN).

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 21

Create a new layer, name this layer “geometric shapes”. Choose a tool Pen (pen tool (p), draw a triangle. We fill the triangular area Radial gradient (radial gradient).

Choose a tool Gradient (Gradient Tool (G), set the gradient type Radial (Radial), at the end, reduce the opacity of the gradient layer to 5%. Also, do not forget to put a tick in the box Transparency (Transparency) in the tool settings. Now, let’s fill the triangular area with a gradient. You can apply a gradient several times, then the fill color will be richer.

Using the same technique, add more triangles, for example, of a different color, using other gradients. You can merge the created layers with triangles, and then duplicate the merged layer (Ctrl + J) and rotate the image (Ctrl + T) to get a more random result.

The result should be as in the screenshot below:

Step 22

Choose a tool Brush (Brush Tool (B), set the round brush, Rigidity(Hardness) brush 0%, Opacity(Opacity) 100%, Pressure(Flow) 5%, brush color # f8ff7c. Create a new layer on top of layers with triangles, name this layer “light highlights 1”. Change the blending mode for this layer to Overlap (Overlay). First, use a small-diameter brush, gradually increasing the size of the brush, creating the desired light glare, clicking the brush at one point. Switch the brush color to a white tint, and then repeat the whole process, but on a separate new layer (blending mode for this layer Overlap (Overlay).

You can add triangles and highlights to any part of our design, this will create a beautiful abstraction bar.

Thank you for being with me until the end of the lesson. Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.