In this lesson, you will learn how to create a creative collage using the combination technique as well as the composition technique in Adobe Photoshop.
You will learn how to select images correctly, how to apply various effects to create a sense of depth and detail, as well as to create the effect of a hand-drawn picture.
Final result
Source materials:
Step 1
Create a new document. width (width) 650px, height (height) 1040 px, resolution 72 dpi (dots per inch). The background content should be white.
Step 2
Let’s start with textures to create a soft background. First, create a new group. Name this group “Texture”. Next, select the “1.jpg” texture from the set of colored grunge textures. Place this texture inside the created group, and then press Ctrl + T to apply scaling according to the size of our working document. Name this layer “Texture 1 ?.
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Reduce the opacity to 30%.
Next, add the “8.jpg” texture. Place this texture inside the created group, and then press Ctrl + T to apply scaling according to the size of our working document. Name this layer “Texture 2 ?.
Change the blending mode for the texture layer to Overlap (Overlay), reduce the layer opacity to 50%.
Place the following “2.jpg” texture inside the created group, and then press Ctrl + T to apply the scaling according to the size of our working document. Name this layer “Texture 3 ?.
Step 3
Change the blending mode for the texture layer to Soft light (soft light) and reduce the opacity to 45%.
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Color Balance (Color balance), this correction can be activated through the bottom toolbar.
When the adjustment layer window appears Color Balance (Color balance), apply the following values:
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Levels (Levels), this correction can be activated through the bottom toolbar.
When the adjustment layer window appears Levels (Levels), apply the following values:
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
First open the stock image of the model in Photoshop. We use this image in our composition, therefore, we need to move the model image to our working paper.
On the model image layer, press the P key to activate the tool. Pen 
(pen tool), using this tool, create a selection around the model image. Next, press the V key to activate the tool. Move 
(Move Tool) and, holding down the left mouse button, the selected image of the model, move it to our working document.
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Curves (curves), this correction can be activated through the bottom toolbar. Hold Alt + left-click between 2 layers (between the model layer and the Curves adjustment layer) to convert the adjustment layer into a clipping mask.
When the adjustment layer window appears Curves (curves), apply the following values
Step 4
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Hue / Saturation (Hue / saturation), this correction can be activated through the bottom toolbar. Hold Alt + click with the left mouse button between the adjustment layer. Curves (curves) and adjustment layer Hue / Saturation (Hue / saturation) to create a clipping mask.
When the adjustment layer window appears Hue / Saturation (Hue / saturation), apply the following value:
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Curves (curves), this correction can be activated through the bottom toolbar. Hold down the Alt + key and left-click between 2 layers (the Hue / Saturation adjustment layer and the Curves adjustment layer) to convert the adjustment layer into a clipping mask.
When the adjustment layer window appears Curves (curves), apply the following values:
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Levels (Levels), this correction can be activated through the bottom toolbar. Hold the Alt + key and left-click between 2 layers (the Curves adjustment layer and the Curves adjustment layer) to convert the adjustment layer into a clipping mask.
When the adjustment layer window appears Levels (Levels), apply the following values:
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Step 5
So, open the watercolor texture in Photoshop. We use this texture in our composition, therefore, we need to move the texture to our working paper.
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Change the blending mode for the texture layer to Overlap (overlay) and reduce the layer opacity to 79%.
To the texture layer, add a vector mask through the bottom toolbar.
Select the brush tool and then apply the following values to the brush:
The size brushes(Brush size): 400px
Rigidity(Hardness): 0%
Opacity(Opacity): 40%
Pressure(Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 000000
So, paint over the specified area.
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Select the brush tool and then apply the following values to the brush:
Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 3057e4
So, paint over the specified area.
Next, change the blending mode for this layer to Soft light (soft light).
Repeat the same lip correction process, using the color shade # dc2d30 as the foreground shade.
Next, let’s open the Patterns of drawn colors in Photoshop. We use vector drawing in our composition, therefore, we need to move the pattern of drawn flowers to our working paper.
Next, change the blending mode for the color pattern layer to Multiplication (multiply) and reduce the opacity to 65%.
Step 6
Next, let’s create a new layer. Name this layer “Figure 1 ?. Choose a tool Pen (Pen tool) and using this tool, draw a shape as shown in the screenshot below.
Fill the shape created with the color shade # 1a29a0.
Repeat the same process, creating additional shapes.
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Next, open the vector drawing Flower 1 in Photoshop. We use vector drawing in our composition, therefore, we need to move this flower drawing to our working paper. Name this layer “Flower 1”.
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Step 7
Next, create a new adjustment layer. Levels (Levels), this correction can be activated through the bottom toolbar. Hold Alt + left-click between 2 layers (between the layer with colors and the Levels adjustment layer) to convert the adjustment layer into a clipping mask.
When the adjustment layer window appears Levels (Levels), apply the following values:
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Add more colors to our image.
Next, open the vector drawing Flower 7 in Photoshop. We use vector drawing in our composition, therefore, we need to move this flower drawing to our working paper. Name this layer “Tattoo”.
Next, select the tool Transformation (Transform tool (Ctrl + T) and, being on the “Tatu” layer, apply scaling to the flower pattern, as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 8
Change the mode for the “Tatu” layer to Multiplication (multiply).
To the “Tattoo” layer, add a vector mask through the bottom toolbar.
Select the brush tool and then apply the following values to the brush:
Brush size (Brush size): 400px
Rigidity (Hardness): 0%
Opacity (Opacity): 40%
Pressure (Flow): 100%
Colour (Color): # 000000
So, paint over the specified area.
The result should be as in the screenshot below:
Next, let’s open the Blue Blob watercolor texture in Photoshop. We use this watercolor texture in our composition, therefore, we need to move this texture to our working paper.
Next, select the tool Transformation (Transform tool (Ctrl + T), using the transformation, apply the scaling and expand the blot, as shown in the screenshot below.
Change the blending mode for the blot layer to Multiplication (multiply) and reduce the layer opacity to 60%.
Repeat the same process, add the same effect to the second eye of the model.
Final result
