In this tutorial, we will design the poster using layer masks, clipping masks, and tool Liquify (Plastic) – all this will help us create a truly original poster!
1. How to use layer masks and prepare an image
Step 1
Open the image of a skateboarder in Photoshop. We need to remove the clouds before using the photo in our poster. To do this, on the layers panel, duplicate the background layer by pressing Command-J, and then hide the appearance of the original background layer.
Step 2
After selecting the layer-copy of the background layer in the layers panel, click on the vector mask button to add a layer-mask to the copy.
Step 3
I recommend using the tool Brush (Brush) (B). With it, and black, selected as the main toolbar, you can hide parts of the image. If you choose white as the main color, you will, on the contrary, return the hidden parts of the image. I prefer this method to the tool. Eraser (Eraser), because in this case I have the opportunity to hide parts of the image and return them back, correcting errors.
Right-click to change the brush size to 200 pixels, and Hardness (hardness) – 100% and start hiding parts of the photo. I prefer to hide the large parts first, in order to zoom in later and concentrate on the fine details around the body.
Step 4
Let’s zoom in on the image to work on the details. In the process, I constantly change the size of the brush, because sometimes I need to get to the corners, but I start with a size of 30 pixels and 100% stiffness. The key (\) will help a lot here – it highlights the background in red and helps to understand what places you still need to work on.
2. How to set up the document and guides
Step 1
In Photoshop, click File> New (File> New). Name the document SkateboardCulture (Skateboard Culture) and install Width (Width) by 1275 pixels, and Height (Height) by 1650 pixels BackgroundContents (Background content) – white. I do not plan to print a poster, so leave a resolution of 72 or 150 dpi. Click OK to create the document.
Step 2
Create guides in our document to make sure everything is aligned as we want it. My ruler units are inches; you can change them by clicking Photoshop> Preferences> Unitsand Rulers (Photoshop> Settings> Units & Rulers). We can go to View> New Guide (View> New Guide), where a new window will pop up. We want our guides to be 0.75 inches from each edge. Select horizontal orientation and in the graph Position (Position) enter 0.75 inches. Click OK.
Do the same to create a vertical guide. To add guides to the top and right of the document, we just need to subtract 0.75 inches from the length and width of the page. To show and hide guides, press Command- ;.
3. How to duplicate layers and add color to the background.
Step 1
Let’s duplicate the layer copy with the skateboarder to our new SkateboardCulture (Skateboard Culture) file. To do this, right-click on the layer thumbnail and select DuplicateLayers (Create duplicate layer). Under As: (How 
rename the layer to Skateboarder (Skateboarder), and under Destination (Assignment) select Document > SkateboardCulture (Document> Skateboard Culture). Click OK to continue.
Step 2
We now turn to our document. SkateboardCulture (Skateboard Culture). To make the poster even more unusual, let’s make the background black. Use the tool PaintBucket (Fill) (G), select the background layer and click on the canvas to fill the background with a color.
4. How to use the Liquify tool (Plastic)
Step 1
After selecting the background layer, let’s create a new one to add colored shapes. Press Shift-Command-N and name our new layer according to the color we will use – in this case, Pink (Pink). Check to see in the graph Color (Color) has been selected None (Do not show).
Step 2
Let’s choose a color – you need to click on Set Foreground Color (Select the primary color) and enter the color code # ff0cf0. With the tool Brush (Brush) (B), 125 pixels in size and 100% hard, create a few random strokes.
Step 3
Click Filter> Liquify (Filter> Plastic) or Shift-Command-X, and a new window will open in which you will see the selected layer. In the left pane, select Clock twirl clockwise (Twist clockwise) (C) and set the following parameters: Brush size (Size): 300, Brush Density (Density): 100, and Brush pressure (Push): 100. Apply this brush to the brush strokes in this new window. Our goal is to create smears of irregular shape, as if frozen in motion, which can serve as a background on our poster. There is no right or wrong way to do this, so you can experiment!
You can also use the tools. Forward warp (Deformation) (W), Pluck tool (Wrinkling) (s), and Bloat (Bloating) (B).
When done, click OK.
Step 4
Repeat the process with new layers with strokes of yellow (# 0fffe10) and green (# 0cffd1) colors.
We can edit some of the figures using layer masks – the same method that we used to clear the original image of a skateboarder. You can create layer masks on each layer with color and with the tool. Brush (Brush) (B) hide or return some parts of the layer.
Step 5
Let’s turn off the visibility of the color layers and create a new one. On this new layer there will be strokes of all colors, and it will be placed behind the skateboarder. We do this to reshape with a tool. Liquify (Plastic) all three colors at once. I use a 250 pixel brush with a hardness of 100%.
Step 6
We will do the same thing as before with the tool. Liquify (Plastic), playing with forms and distortions, until we get a result that will satisfy us. You can change the brush size in a new window. Liquify (Plastic). Again, you can not do right or wrong!
When we have all three components, we can go back to the document and edit the layer mask mentioned earlier to balance the colors.
5. Using the Rectangle Tool (Rectangle) and Adding Text
Step 1
Using the guides we created at the beginning of the lesson, we will add a couple of hard lines to this trendy poster. Let’s select the layer on which the spots of all three colors are located, and activate our guides by pressing Command- ;.
On the toolbar, select Rectangle (Rectangle) (U). Go to the control panel at the top. Remove the shape fill, make the stroke white, and its thickness – 5 pt.
Create a rectangle based on the guides. We will come back to it, but now we will edit and add something else. Let’s hide our guides again by pressing Command- ;.
Step 2
With the tool Type (Text) (T) Enter SKATE-BOARD CULTURE (SKATE-BORD CULTURE) in three lines; we do this in order to take more space at the bottom of the poster. On the symbol panel, change the font to Universe 93 Black Extended, size – 75 pt, leading – 60 pt. If you decide to use alternative fonts, the result will look a little different, but it doesn’t matter! Center the text in the rectangle we just created.
6. How to use black and white layer masks
We want to create the illusion that a skateboarder jumps out of a poster, and we also want it not to mix with the loaded background.
Step 1
We will attach a black and white layer mask to the skateboarder layer. Let’s start by choosing a layer with it. Scroll to the bottom of the layers panel. Click Create new fill or adjustment layer (Create a new adjustment layer or fill layer) and, holding Alt, select Black White (Black and white). Pop up a new layer window. Name this layer Skateboarder bw (Skateboarder BW), tick the box Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask (Use the previous layer to create a clipping mask) and click OK. This will create a layer that changes only the color of the skateboarder layer to black and white.
Step 2
Now we want to adjust the contrast. Select the original skateboarder layer and click Image> Adjustments> Brightness and Contrast (Image> Correction> Brightness / Contrast). I decided to change Brightness Brightness) at 36, and Contrast (Contrast) at 68 so that the photo stands out. Click OK.
Step 3
Now we need to slightly change the size of the skateboarder. After selecting the same layer, press Command-T and, holding Shift, to keep the proportions, click and drag any of the corners, zoom in to about 120%, and change its position. We want the skateboarder to appear popping out of the rectangle we created earlier.
7. Add the final details.
Let’s add a date and place to this poster. Select a layer with a rectangle and create a new one with the tool Rectangle (Rectangle) (U), it should be vertical and located on the right side of the poster. We can adjust the layer Skateboard culture (Skateboard Culture) by pressing Command-T and holding Shift to keep the original aspect ratio.
Let’s add fictional text to this rectangle with a tool. Type (Text) (T). Add the date, time and site. When you enter the information, hold down the Command, and the text will turn into an object that we can rotate. Hold Command, go to one of the corners of the text, click on it and turn it. You can also hold down the Shift and rotate the text exactly 90 degrees.
Let’s add a third rectangle on top of the poster header to blend with the right edge of it. Your layers should be arranged as shown in the image below.
8. How to save a poster
Click File> Save (File> Save) to save the file in .PSD format in order to save the possibility of editing or in JPEG format if you want to share it on the Internet.
You Did It!
Congratulations on your successful work! We learned to collect promotional material for social networks. Today we learned how to:
- Clear image using layer masks
- Format the typography so that it interacts with the photo.
- Use an image to create an unusual poster.
- Use layer masks and clipping masks to edit color on only one layer.
- Use tool Liquify (Plastic)
