Post pobrano z: How to Create Vexel Art in Adobe Photoshop With an Action

In this tutorial you will learn how to create an amazing vexel art effect. I will explain everything in so much detail that everyone can create it, even those who have just opened Photoshop for the first time.

The effect shown above is the one I will show you how to create in this tutorial. If you would like to create the even more advanced vexel art effect
shown below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then
check out my Vexel Photoshop Action.

What You’ll Need

To recreate the design above, you will need the following photo:

• Stock Image

1. Let’s Get Started

First, open the photo that you want to work with. To open your photo, go to File > Open, choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, just check a couple of things:

1. Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.
2. For best results, your photo size should be 1500–3500 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.
3. Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.

2. How to Create the Vexel Art Style

Step 1

In this section, we are going to create the vexel art style. Press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate the Background layer, go to Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights, and enter the settings below:

Step 2

Now go to Image > Adjustments > Shadows/Highlights again and enter the settings below:

Step 3

Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and set the Brightness to -20 as shown below:

Step 4

Now go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set the Amount to 500%, Radius to 5.0 px, and Threshold to 0 levels as shown below:

Step 5

Go to Filter > Stylize > Diffuse and set the Mode to Anisotropic as shown below:

Step 6

Now go to Filter > Noise > Reduce Noise and use the settings below:

Step 7

Go to Filter > Blur > Smart Blur, and set the Radius to 5.0, Threshold to 25, Quality to Low, and Mode to Normal.

Step 8

Now go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set the Amount to 500%, Radius to 1.0 px, and Threshold to 0 levels.

Step 9

Go to Filter > Stylize > Diffuse and set the Mode to Anisotropic.

Step 10

Now go to Filter > Stylize > Oil Paint, set the Stylization to 5.0 and Cleanliness to 2.0, and uncheck the Lighting.

Step 11

Go to Filter > Stylize > Oil Paint again, set the Stylization to 10.0 and Cleanliness to 10.0, and uncheck the Lighting.

Step 12

Now go to Filter > Blur > Surface Blur, and set the Radius to 5 px and Threshold to 15 levels as shown below:

Step 13

Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic > Cutout, and set the Number of Levels to 8, Edge Simplicity to 5 and Edge Fidelity to 3 as shown below:

Step 14

Now go to Image > Auto Tone and then Image > Auto Contrast to make some auto-corrections to the photo’s tone and contrast.

Step 15

Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and set the Contrast to 100 as shown below:

Step 16

Now go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set the Amount to 50%, Radius to 5.0 px, and Threshold to 0 levels as shown below:

Step 17

Now name this layer Vexel Art.

3. How to Make the Final Adjustments

Step 1

In this section, we are going to make some final adjustments to the design. Press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches. Then, go to Image > Adjustments > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Overall Contrast.

Step 2

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Luminosity and set the Opacity to 56%.

Step 3

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels to create a new levels adjustment layer and name it Overall Brightness.

Step 4

Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and in the Properties panel enter the settings below:

Step 5

Go to Layer > New > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Color Look.

Step 6

Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail, and then in the Properties panel, click on the gradient to open up the Gradient Editor panel and enter the settings below:

Step 7

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Color.

Step 8

Now go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance to create a new vibrance adjustment layer and name it Overall Vibrance/Saturation.

Step 9

Double-click on this layer thumbnail and in the Properties panel set the Vibrance to +43 and Saturation to +22 as shown below:

Step 10

Now press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a screenshot, and then press Control-Shift-U to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the Radius to 2 px.

Step 11

Name this layer Overall Sharpening and change the Blending Mode of this layer to Overlay.

You Made It!

Congratulations, you have succeeded! Here is our final result:

If you would like to create the even more advanced vexel art effect shown below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then check out my Vexel Photoshop Action.

The action works so you simply fill in your subject with a color and just play the action. The action will do everything for you,
giving you fully
layered and customizable results. The action also creates 20 preset color looks that you can choose from.

The action comes with a detailed video tutorial that demonstrates how to use the action and customize the results to get the most out of the effect.

Post pobrano z: How to Create a Mountain Rescue Unit Badge in Adobe Illustrator

In the following steps you will learn how to create a mountain rescue unit vector badge in Adobe Illustrator. For starters you will learn how to set up a simple grid and how to create the main badge shape. Using basis vector shape building techniques and some warp effects, you will learn how to create the rest of the shapes. Moving on, you will learn how to add some subtle shading and a flat background. Finally, you will learn how to add text and how to easily bend it.

For more inspiration on how to adjust or improve your final badge, you can find plenty of resources at GraphicRiver.

1. How to Create a New Document and Set Up Grid

Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 850 in the width and height boxes, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then Create Document.

Enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). You will need a grid every 5 px, so simply go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, and enter 5 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that grid—it will make your work easier, and keep in mind that you can easily enable or disable it using the Control-„ keyboard shortcut.

You can learn more about Illustrator’s grid system in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan: Understanding Adobe Illustrator’s Grid System.

You should also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don’t forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.

2. How to Create the Main Shape

Step 1

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and focus on your Toolbar. Remove the color from the stroke and then select the fill and set its color to R=87 G=158 B=214.

Move to your artboard and simply create a 310 x 70 px shape—the grid and the Snap to Grid should make it easier.

Step 2

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 310 x 255 px shape, and place it as shown in the first image. Make sure that it stays selected and go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the anchor point highlighted in the first image, and drag it 115 px down as shown in the second image.

Step 3

Select both shapes made so far, open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder), and click the Unite button.

Step 4

Make sure that your shape is still selected and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 25 px Radius, click OK, and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.

3. How to Create the Smaller Shapes

Step 1

Make sure that your blue shape is still selected and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 25 px Offset and click OK. Fill the resulting shape with red and don’t forget to send it to back with Shift-Control-[.

Reselect your blue shape and go again to Object > Path > Offset Path. This time, enter a -15 px Offset and click OK. Fill the resulting shape with yellow.

Step 2

Select your red and yellow shapes and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 3

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 200 x 100 px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Select this rectangle along with the red shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=246 G=40 B=17.

Step 4

Select your blue shape and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -15 px Offset, click OK, and fill the resulting shape with R=32 G=43 B=63.

Step 5

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 320 x 155 px shape and place it as shown in the first image. Select this new rectangle along with the darker blue shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel. Make sure that the resulting shape is filled with R=32 G=43 B=63.

Step 6

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 360 x 85 px shape. Fill it with R=246 G=40 B=17 and place it as shown in the following image.

4. How to Create the Mountains

Step 1

Using the Pen Tool (P), create a sharp mountain outline roughly as shown in the following image. Once you’re done, fill this shape with R=248 G=232 B=217.

Step 2

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 50 px circle and place it as shown in the first image. Select your mountain shape and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a 5 px Offset, click OK, and bring the resulting shape to front (Shift-Control-]).

Select both shapes made in this step and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel. Fill the resulting shape with R=248 G=232 B=217.

Step 3

Using the Pen Tool (P), create several sharp shapes as shown in the first image. Fill them all with R=153 G=196 B=230.

5. How to Create the Bent Shapes

Step 1

Select your red rectangle and go to Effect > Warp > Arch. Enter the attributes shown below, click OK, and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 2

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 360 x 85 px shape. Fill it with R=32 G=43 B=63, place it as shown in the first image, and then go to Effect > Warp > Arch. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK. Expand your selection (Object > Expand Appearance) and then send it to back (Shift-Control-[) .

6. How to Add Strokes, Shading, and a Background

Step 1

Select your blue shape and focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance). Select the stroke, set the color to R=248 G=232 B=217, and then open the Stroke fly-out panel. Increase the Weight to 15 px and check the Align Stroke to Inside button.

Step 2

Make sure that your blue shape is still selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a second stroke using the Add New Stroke button and select it. Set the color to R=32 G=43 B=63 and the Weight to 10 px.

Step 3

Select all the shapes made so far and add copies in front (Control-C > Control-F). Make sure that only these copies are selected and click the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.

Send the resulting shape to back (Shift-Control-[) and focus on the Appearance panel. Select the fill, set the color to R=32 G=43 B=63 and lower its Opacity to 15%, and then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -30 px Offset, click OK, and then go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below, click OK, and then go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 20 px Radius and click OK.

Step 4

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an 860 px square. Fill it with R=248 G=232 B=217, make sure that it covers your entire artboard, and don’t forget to send it to back (Shift-Control-[).

7. How to Add Text

Step 1

Pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). Select the Balatype font and set the size to 70 px.

Simply click on your artboard and add the „HIMALAYA” piece of text. Place it as shown in the following image and set the color to R=248 G=232 B=217.

Step 2

Make sure that your piece of text is still selected and go to Effect > Warp > Arch. Enter the attributes shown below and then click OK.

Step 3

Pick the Type Tool (T) and focus on the Character panel. Use the same font and set the size to 35 px.

Add the „RESCUE UNIT” text and set its color to R=248 G=232 B=217. Place this new piece of text as shown in the following image and go to Effect > Warp > Arch. Enter the attributes shown below and then click OK.

Step 4

Pick the Type Tool (T), add the „EVEREST” piece of text, and set its color to R=248 G=232 B=217. Place this new piece of text as shown in the following image and go to Effect > Warp > Arch. Enter the attributes shown below and then click OK.

Step 5

Pick the Type Tool (T) and focus on the Character panel. Use the same font and set the size to 100 px. Add a little „+„, set the color to R=248 G=232 B=217, and place it as shown in the first image.

Return to the Character panel and set the size to 30 px. Add the „19” and the „69” pieces of text and place them as shown in the last two images.

8. How to Add Some Fir Trees

Finally, download the attachment from this tutorial: How to Create a Wintry, Snow Background in Adobe Illustrator. Open that christmas tree.ai document and copy the shape inside your badge document.

Change the fill color to R=32 G=43 B=63 and then create about seven copies. Spread these copies roughly as shown in the first image and then send them behind that red shape.

Congratulations! You’re Done!

Here is how it should look. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects. Don’t hesitate to share your final result in the comments section.

Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at GraphicRiver, with interesting solutions to improve your design.

Post pobrano z: How to Create a Power Scene Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial I’ll show you how to use Adobe Photoshop to create a power scene using a variety of photo manipulation techniques. 

First, we’ll build the base environment using images of the sky and buildings. After that, we’ll add the flying rocks and lightning and blend them together using adjustment layers, masking, and brushes. Later, we’ll paint the light and particles. We’ll use several adjustment layers to complete the final effect.

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:

• Sky 
• Buildings 
• Rocks 
• Lightning 1 
• Lightning 2

1. How to Make the Base Environment

Step 1

Create a new 2000 x 1333 px document with the given settings:

Step 2

Open the sky image. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) to select the
sky only and add it to the white canvas using the Move Tool (V).

Step 3

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation and bring the Saturation value down to -100:

Step 4

Create a Curves adjustment layer to bring more light, especially the
top left of the sky where the main light will be located. On the layer
mask, activate the Brush Tool (B) to paint over the lower section to reduce the effect there.

Step 5

Cut out the buildings and add them to the main document.

Step 6

Use the Lasso Tool (L) to select the building on the top right and then
hit Control-J to paste the selected one into a new layer. Flip it
horizontally by choosing Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal. Move
it to the top left to fill in this corner and resize it to be a bit
smaller.

Step 7

Copy the building in the lower right of the canvas and add it to the
top left corner where we’ve added a small building in the previous step.

Step 8

The buildings look a bit darker than the sky. On each of the building
layers, create a new layer (set as Clipping Mask), change the mode to
Overlay 100%, and fill with 50% gray.

Use
the Dodge Tool (O) with Highlight Range and Exposure about 50-60% and the
Burn Tool with Midtones Range to bring more light and details to the
buildings. You can see how I did it with Normal mode and the result with
Overlay mode.

Step 9

Select all the building layers and Dodge/Burn ones and press Control-G
to create a group for them. Change this group’s mode to Normal 100% and
add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer within the group. Bring the Cyans
value down to -51:

Step 10

Create a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the buildings more. On
this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase some corners of the
buildings as they shouldn’t get much light on there.

Step 11

Make a Levels adjustment layer to decrease the dark contrast in the
corners of the buildings. Paint on the rest of the buildings so that they won’t
be affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 12

Create a new layer and use a soft white brush to paint on the top of
the building to brighten these areas more. Change this layer mode to
Soft Light 100%.

2. How to Add the Rocks

Step 1

Open the rock images pack. Browse the meteor10 folder and grab the one
you like and place it in the middle of the space between the buildings.
Use the Free Transform Tool (Control-T) to move the top of the rock towards the sky to fit the
angle of the buildings.

Duplicate
this layer and move the bright side of the rock towards the light. Use
Control-T with the Warp mode to bend it until you get a result like
the one below:

Step 2

Use a layer mask to blend this rock with the existing one.

Step 3

Add several rocks to both sides of the scene by duplicating this
layer or selecting others from the folders. Use the Warp Tool to tweak and
bend the rocks so they appear different.

Step 4

Add more rocks around the buildings and make them in different sizes using
Control-T with the Warp mode. Place some bigger ones on the edges of the
canvas. On each of these layers, go to Filter > Motion Blur and
apply similar settings to the ones below. Depending on the size, angle and
distance of the rock, you can change the settings to get
your desired result.

Step 5

Create a group for all the rock layers and add a Hue/Saturation adjustment
layer within the group. Bring the Saturation value down to the minimum.

Step 6

Use a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the rocks. On the layer mask,
use a soft black brush to erase the shadow side of the rocks so they
won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

3. How to Add the Lightning

Step 1

Open the lightning 1 image. Isolate the lightning using the Magic Wand
Tool (W) and add it to the bottom of the biggest rock (middle one) so it
looks as if it’s coming down from the rock. Use Control-T to change its
perspective and make the top much smaller and the bottom much bigger.

Step 2

Select two details of the original image and add them to the big fork of lightning.

Step 3

Create a group for the lightning layers and use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the effect’s color.

Step 4

Open the lightning 2 image. Use the Lasso Tool (L) to select the big fork and add it to the bottom of the middle rock. Use Control-T to make it connected to one of the falling rocks on
the right.

Change this layer mode to Screen 100% and use a layer mask to remove the edges around the fork.

Step 5

Add other forks of lightning from the original image and connect them to three rocks on the left and the top sides.

Step 6

Make a group for these layers and alter the group’s mode to Screen
100%. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and reduce the Saturation
value to -100:

Step 7

Create a Levels adjustment layer to remove the white edges completely.

4. How to Paint the Light and Particles

Step 1

Create a new layer on top of the layers and use a soft white brush to
spot on the area between the rock and the big fork of lightning to make a light hole.

Step 2

Make a new layer and change the mode to Overlay 100%. Use a soft white
brush with a lowered opacity (about 50%) to paint glow around the light hole and on the two forks below.

Step 3

Make a new layer and turn the foreground to black. Press F5 to change the setting of this brush. After that, use this brush to paint tiny particles around the rocks area.

5. How to Make the Final Adjustments

Step 1

Create a Curves adjustment layer on top of the layers and decrease the
lightness. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to paint on the
middle of the space between the buildings and the top of them to keep
their brightness.

Step 2

Make another Curves adjustment layer to bring more light to the space
between the buildings. Paint on the rest of the scene so it won’t be affected by this
adjustment layer.

Step 3

Use a Color Balance adjustment layer to complete the final effect.

Congratulations, You’re Done!

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the tutorial and learned something new for
your own projects. Feel free to share your results or leave comments in
the box below. Enjoy Photoshopping!