In this tutorial I will show you how to draw a cute dolphin step by step, from the silhouette and the details of the head to the fins. You will learn how to plan the drawing of an animal body, how to make it look 3D with some basic rules of perspective, and how to shade in a basic way. You can use any tools you want!
Before You Start
It’s important to draw what we see, not what we think we see. So let’s take a look at real dolphins to prepare for the task:
Find the middle of this curve. Don’t use any special tools—just estimate it.
Step 3
Divide each half of the curve into halves. This will help us with proportions.
Step 4
Draw a circle in the first quarter of the curve. It doesn’t need to be a perfect circle!
Step 5
Draw an oval across another two quarters. Make it rotated, so that the curve is going right through it.
Step 6
Draw a row of circles, like beads on a string, until you reach the end of the curve. Make each gradually smaller than the previous one.
Step 7
Let’s add some perspective to the body to make it more realistic. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt! Draw an oval on the front of the head, creating a flat „face”.
Step 8
Cross the face in the middle to see this flatness better.
Step 9
Can you see the form of the body? Draw a line along its side. Remember it’s you who decides where the side is!
Step 10
Draw a line going through the bottom of the body. It must follow the rhythm defined by the side line.
Step 11
Outline the whole form of the body, following this rhythm.
Step 12
You can add more form-creating lines along the body. They make it easier to see the depth of the drawing.
2. How to Draw a Dolphin’s Head
Step 1
Draw an oval on the front of the face.
Step 2
Draw a small circle attached to that oval.
Step 3
Find the position of the eye with a curve ending with an oval.
Step 4
Place the eye inside the oval. It should be shaped like an oval as well.
Step 5
Time for the smile! Cross the small circle on the tip of the mouth with a curve.
Step 6
From here, draw a curve towards the eye, and turn down right before it.
Step 7
You now have enough guide lines to outline the details of the head.
3. How to Draw Dolphin Fins
Step 1
Draw a curve ending with a tiny circle on the back of the dolphin. It should start roughly in the middle of the body.
Step 2
Draw a curve between the circle and the body.
Step 3
Attach an upside-down „T” to the tail.
Step 4
Draw an upside-down heart in this area.
Step 5
Draw two tiny circles under the „T”.
Step 6
Outline the shape suggested by the guide lines.
Step 7
Again, use a curve ended with an oval to find a perfect spot for the pectoral fin.
Step 8
Another curve with a circle will create a part of the outline for the fin.
Step 9
The fin is slightly wider than its base. Define this width with a flat curve.
Step 10
Now you can outline the whole fin.
Step 11
Use the same method to draw the other fin.
4. How to Finish the Drawing of a Dolphin
Step 1
Now you have all the guide lines, so we just need to put the final lines over them. You can take a clean sheet of paper and put it over the sketch if you’re drawing traditionally. You can also try to erase most of the guide lines and darken the ones you want to keep with a darker tool.
Outline the basic lines of the dolphin body.
Step 2
Fill the oval of the eye with dark shade, leaving a dot of shine.
Step 3
Use gentler, lighter strokes to show some less prominent features, like wrinkles of the skin.
Step 4
Gently accentuate the lines of perspective to keep the body 3D.
Step 5
Let’s shade the dolphin now. Imagine the light source over its body and fill the shadowed area with strokes of one direction.
Step 6
To create more levels of shade, change the direction of the strokes.
Step 7
The perspective guide lines can be turned into rough details on the skin to keep their depth-defining function.
Step 8
Finally, outline the silhouette with dark strokes to make it pop.
Good Job!
You have drawn a cute dolphin! If you want to learn more about these beautiful animals, as well as their relatives, check out this tutorial as well:
Unleash your creativity with a fun photo manipulation. Great for beginners, these tutorials will help you brush up on your Adobe Photoshop skills while learning new and exciting techniques.
Master your favorite photo manipulation techniques with these step-by-step tutorials. From surreal photo manipulations to abstract and even fan art themes, we’ve got a selection you don’t want to miss out on! Get fantastic, easy-to-follow lessons from our Photoshop professionals.
How to Create a Flying Owl Photo Manipulation for Beginners With Photoshop
Not sure where to begin? Try this beginner photo manipulation tutorial using just three stock photos. Learn how to build a serene forest with this quick tutorial.
How to Create a Dark Gothic Portrait Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Gothic photo manipulations are always hugely popular! In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a dark gothic portrait by importing your images while doing some light retouching. Finish by blending them together for a wicked result!
How to Create a Frankenstein’s Monster Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Create this classic character! Inspired by the 1931 movie, this tutorial shows you how to transform a simple photo into Frankenstein’s famous monster. Learn important techniques for manipulating expressions, as well as how to tackle eerie colors in this fun tutorial.
How to Create a Cute Baby Dragon Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
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How to Create a Queen of Hearts Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
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How to Create a Dark Surreal Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
One of the best styles of art out there is surreal photo manipulation. And in this tutorial, you’ll get to learn how to compose a dark abstract manipulation. Create a powerful scene that features a man with a tree head in an open, stormy field.
How to Create Realistic Feet-Inspired Hiking Boots in Adobe Photoshop
Before shoes were ever invented, humans relied on their bare feet to get around. In this tutorial, learn how to create a wacky pair of boots from actual foot images.
How to Create an Abstract, Psychedelic Portrait Photo Manipulation in Photoshop
Step out of the box with this psychedelic tutorial. With this photo manipulation, you’ll learn how to create flowy effects using the Liquify Tool in Adobe Photoshop. Explore a unique composition while learning the importance of details.
How to Create a Howling Werewolf Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Based on the 80s classic, An American Werewolf in London, this tutorial takes you along the journey of creating a custom werewolf design. Create a ferocious effect with simple images in this fun tutorial.
How to Create a Fantasy, Sci-Fi Portrait Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
This tutorial is a fabulous mix of fantasy and sci-fi! You’ll learn amazing techniques for achieving a galactic fantasy portrait. Create an exceptional result that blends a model’s photo into a colorful space background.
How to Create an Apocalypse-Inspired Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Are you a huge fan of the X-Men movies? In this tutorial, learn how to create the infamous Apocalypse character from the comic. Use a mixture of photo manipulation and digital painting techniques for one awesome super-villain.
How to Create a Dragon Landscape Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Dive into a fantasy world full of beautiful dragons with this fun photo manipulation. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a misty mountainous landscape with a flying dragon in the background.
Create a Devastating Twister With Photo Manipulation Techniques
Mother Nature is known for wreaking havoc upon the earth. And you can illustrate this easily with this simple twister photo manipulation. Create a devastating effect that combines several photos for an intense look.
How to Create a Winter Landscape Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Stay warm as you tackle this wintry landscape. In this tutorial, you’ll be able to build a cohesive landscape scene by combining several winter photos. Use Adjustment Layers, Masks, and more to complete this winter wonderland.
How to Create an Endless Picture Within a Picture Illusion in Adobe Photoshop
Test out your Photoshop skills with an exciting optical illusion! Create a mind-boggling experience with this endless photo illusion that uses a simple picture frame to achieve the effect.
How to Create a Surreal Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
The possibilities are endless with creative photo manipulations. And in this tutorial, you’ll learn how to combine several sky photos to create a surreal background perfect for a realistic light portal.
How to Create a Glamorous Calavera Portrait in Adobe Photoshop
Calaveras are gorgeous skull portraits used to celebrate the Mexican holiday, the „Day of the Dead.” And you can create a glamorous portrait of your own with this easy-to-follow Photoshop tutorial.
Learn how to turn your vacation photos into stunning mermaid portraits! This fun tutorial shows you how to create a realistic mermaid effect using just two stock photos!
How to Create an Emotional, Molten, Shattered Statue in Photoshop
Or give our most popular photo manipulation tutorial a try! In this tutorial, learn how to take a regular stock photo and transform it into a statue. Then combine amazing molten effects for an explosive, emotional scene.
How to Create Origami Birds Using One Dollar Bills in Adobe Photoshop
Origami takes impeccable skill. It’s a cool paper folding technique that has been around for many years. And in this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create an origami bird using stocks of any currency.
How to Create a Floral Portrait Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Add lovely flowers to your favorite selfies! In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use the Liquify Tool as well as basic photo manipulation techniques to create an extraordinary portrait.
How to Create a Fantasy Landscape Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Take the afternoon to build a fantasy landscape in Adobe Photoshop. In this tutorial, you’ll learn advanced blending techniques in order to create inspiring compositions, color tones, and so much more!
Create an Abstract Portrait Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Enhance your Photoshop knowledge with this abstract photo manipulation. This tutorial shows you how to take abstract elements and combine them with several stock images. Learn how to use Adjustment Layers, Masks, and Brushes to create an epic effect.
You can’t prevent age from happening. And in this tutorial, we explore how to add aging to the face with incredible photo manipulation techniques. Add age spots, wrinkles, and more with a few simple tools in Photoshop.
Create a Relaxing, Vibrant, Fantasy Lake Scene With Adobe Photoshop
Explore your zen side with this relaxing photo manipulation. This tutorial shows you how to create a vibrant fantasy lake scene using Adjustment Layers and the Displacement Map settings in Adobe Photoshop.
How to Create a Beautiful Abstract Portrait in Photoshop
Create an artistic portrait that is sure to impress! In this Photoshop tutorial, you’ll learn how to apply brilliant ornamental images to a glamorous photo.
How to Create an Energetic Paint Splashing Effect in Adobe Photoshop
Splash around with this energetic tutorial. Inspired by trendy sneaker ads, this tutorial shows you how to apply several acrylic paint splashes to a colorful shoe. Learn how to blend them together using Layer Blend Modes and so much more!
Create a City Destruction Scene Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Cause destruction with this extensive Photoshop tutorial. This tutorial shows you how to destroy a city with broken and damaged elements. You’ll also learn simple tips to make your city look more grunge for a realistic effect.
How to Turn a Landscape Photograph Into an Isometric Icon in Adobe Photoshop
Create custom isometric icons with just a few simple steps! This tutorial shows you how to create a 3D isometric map using only basic landscape photos. No 3D software is required.
How to Create an Abstract Vietnamese Woman Portrait in Adobe Photoshop
Learn about traditional Vietnamese culture in this Photoshop tutorial. Build a background first using various textures before importing the model and bamboo elements. Create a fantastic design today!
Make a Trendy Double Exposure Effect in Adobe Photoshop
The double exposure photo effect is one of the hottest trends going around today. And you can achieve an amazing result of your own with the help of this Photoshop tutorial.
Create a Hot Air Balloon Scene From The Wizard of Oz in Adobe Photoshop
Inspired by the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, this tutorial teaches you how to create an iconic hot air balloon scene. Work with Photoshop’s 3D tools to create a dream-like photo manipulation.
Create a Fantasy Landscape Matte Painting in Adobe Photoshop
Ever wanted to create a matte painting? Learn how in this awesome tutorial. Start with the initial concept and sketch before diving into the details to create a fantasy landscape we’re sure you’ll love!
How to Create a Sci-Fi Outer Space Scene With Adobe Photoshop
Blast into space with this Photoshop tutorial! In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a space background from scratch as well as how to make a simple planet.
How to Create a Fantasy Flaming Deer With Adobe Photoshop
Create an impressive flaming deer using basic photo manipulation techniques. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to work with fire to create this fiery effect.
How to Create a Dory-Inspired Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Finding Nemo is a family favorite everyone loves! And in this tutorial, you can create that same fantastic charm by creating the character Dory from the movie. Learn how to make your fictional character look real by incorporating actual fish images.
Create an Elephant Sundae Using Photo Manipulation Techniques
Elephants are known for their wisdom and exceptional contorting skills! In this wacky tutorial, learn how to stuff an elephant into a giant sundae cup using basic photo manipulation techniques.
How to Create a Gothic Crow Lady Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Command a flock of crows with this powerful photo manipulation. Build the scene from the floor up with a custom surreal background, elegant wardrobe, and so much more!
How to Create a Fantasy Fairy Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Fairies are a popular subject for many fantasy manipulations. And with this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a colorful flowery background, incredible lighting effects, and enhanced depth of field.
How to Create an Apocalypse Angel Photo Manipulation Scene With Adobe Photoshop
Photo manipulations are a great way to shape your own original characters. In this tutorial, learn how to create a post-apocalyptic scene with an angel warrior in Photoshop.
How to Create a Fun Underwater Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Go for a swim with this fun underwater manipulation. This Photoshop tutorial features a creative look at a surrealistic underwater scene. Learn cool tricks like painting bubbles and more!
Photoshop in 60 Seconds: Create a Pearl Necklace With the Mixer Brush in Photoshop
Add your favorite types of jewelry to your own images in seconds! In this quick video, learn how to create a string of pearls using Adobe Photoshop’s Mixer Brush Tool.
How to Create a Fantasy Snail Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Snails need homes too! Create a tiny fantasy scene of a snail carrying a house in Adobe Photoshop. Blend several nature stocks together for a dreamy effect!
How to Create a Desolate Wasteland in Adobe Photoshop
Or give this desolate wasteland tutorial a shot! In this tutorial, learn how to build the environment, add cracks to the road, and add the rest of the broken-down elements for a realistic wasteland scene.
How to Create an Easy Rippled Reflection in Adobe Photoshop
Add more drama to your photos with an easy ripple effect! This tutorial shows you the step-by-step process to achieve this effect with fiber textures and filters.
How to Create a Fantasy Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Voyage into a new world with this fantasy photo manipulation. Create a unique pathway scene using simple assets. Then treat your images with new lights and colors for a cohesive result.
How to Create a Moonlight Scene Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
This photo manipulation tutorial is what romance novels are made of. Create a romantic moonlit scene with an elegantly dressed woman and vibrant flowers.
How to Create a Dark Lady Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Conjure up a spell with this photo manipulation. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to compose a dark and eerie atmosphere perfect for any Halloween poster or graphic.
How to Create a Floral Sugar Skull Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with style. Try this beginner photo manipulation to dress up a sacred skull with flowers, colorful decorations, and makeup.
How to Create a Dark Batman Photo Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
Or call on a superhero to help you with your Photoshop needs. In this fun tutorial, try out this epic fan art photo manipulation featuring the one and only Batman.
How to Create a Mysterious Forest Scene With Adobe Photoshop
Last but not least, create a mysterious forest with the help of a few photos. Build an incredible atmosphere using Adjustment Layers, Layer Blend Modes, and more!
I hope this list has inspired you to take on a new photo manipulation challenge today! Find incredible Premium Stocks for all your photo manipulation needs only on Envato Market.
Want to be featured? Then share your results with us! After you complete one of these tutorials, don’t forget to post it into the comments section for the chance to be featured in our monthly Community Challenge right here on Envato Tuts+.
Let us know your favorites in the comments and tell us which tutorials you would like to see next!
Stand out in any market with professional branding mockups. Enjoy this fantastic collection of professional mockup templates designed to highlight your work in its best light.
25+ Logo and Branding Mockups
Images rule the internet. They satisfy our short attention spans by filling our minds with satisfying visuals. And you can win over any client by harnessing this important marketing angle with a product mockup.
A
product mockup is a template created with professional images to display your logo, brand, or design. And you can easily insert your work into editable smart
objects to preview your designs on any product.
Today we present you with
over 25 incredible branding and logo mockups curated from GraphicRiver and Envato Elements.
Need a custom mockup for your business? Enlist the help of a professional from Envato Studio for all your branding needs. And let us know your favorites in the comments below!
Let’s kick things off with this super luxurious branding bundle. Included in this download are 25 high-quality items you can easily change for an effective marketing campaign. With eight premade scenes, separated object layers, and advanced lighting, this powerful bundle will blow any client away.
A brilliantly designed sign will make anyone notice you. So take advantage of these gorgeous designs with this pack of 50 professional sign mockups. It includes a wide variety of signs to choose from, with high-quality surroundings and elegant buildings.
Sell your premium logo services to loyal customers with this wicked mockup bundle. Inspired by several real-life brand scenarios, this download includes eight Photoshop templates that allow for fast editing. And with a detailed user guide on hand, you’re bound for success with this amazing template.
Need a cool way to display your professional logo work? Then check out this awesome mockup set. This set features six realistic logo mockups with interesting backgrounds to choose from. An additional help file is available if you need more instruction.
Complement a beautiful craft beer with a gorgeous brand label. This product mockup features ten original Photoshop files with eight branding mockups and three different bottles. Utilize the six background textures included, or switch it out for a custom solid color.
Take advantage of a professional mockup template to display your brand on several objects. This template, for example, features a delightful cafe theme with 14 Photoshop files. Explore the different angles available and easily customize the scene even further in Photoshop.
With over 1,700 sales, it’s no wonder why this identity mockup is a top seller! A sleek design that features a clean color palette, this template includes 12 presentations conveniently laid out in their own Photoshop files. Download today to present your work in an elegant way!
Bring
the refreshing warmth of a morning cup of joe to your business. This
product mockup features 12 professional photography scenes with a clean
coffee theme. Each scene is ready to use, and you can easily transfer
your brand images with flexible smart objects.
Rock your next presentation with an impressive interior mockup. Designed specifically to present your work within a welcoming office interior, this template features nine premade scenes for an outstanding composition. Also included is an awesome logo simulator to make your logos 3D!
Dinner, anyone? Show off your creativity for unique package design with this beautiful food box mockup. Created with real photography, this template features eight realistic scenes with an Asian takeout theme. Just paste your design onto the marked layer to enjoy your work in seconds!
It’s the subtle details that inspire clients to hire you as their designer. And this corporate mockup creates a clear vision with the logo as the centerpiece. Create an exciting elevator detail with five premade mockup files at high resolutions. Incorporate unique lighting effects and more for one cohesive presentation.
Help your clients visualize their business with a beautiful 3D sign. This wonderful template turns their logo into a glorious 3D sign that’s highly detailed. Enjoy ten Photoshop files complete with organized layers, high-resolution images, and more!
Professional car decals are an exciting way to elevate your current marketing strategy. And in this set you get access to five high-quality van and delivery cars that are printable on a standard A4 sheet. Change the background to one you prefer or keep the original for a seamless design.
Establish an instant sense of professionalism with this divine corporate identity mockup. Included in this download are 19 Photoshop files with everything you need to impress your clients. Enjoy fabulous letterheads, company signs, and more, for an incredible professional package.
Got a sweet tooth? Explore your love of cupcakeries with this super cute cupcake mockup. Ideal for any bakery owner, this template includes high-quality photography with business cards, cupcake toppers, and even a carton box. Peruse the 11 realistic mockups to find one that fits your brand.
One quick way to boost a restaurant or bar business is to add a signature logo to your glassware. And with this mockup template you can do just that! With this high-quality Photoshop file that allows you to control the shadows, you can easily preview your designs on a refreshing casual beverage.
Or give this delicious burger mockup a shot! Created to showcase your branding on generic fast food packaging, this template features nine amazing scenes with a variety of paper textures. It works perfectly at multiple angles and looks great in both isometric and top view perspectives.
Coffee baristas are super skilled with some espresso and milk. And you can achieve that famous coffee art effect with this delightful logo mockup. This template features four Photoshop files with four distinct angles to choose from.
Wax seals remind us of that romantic time in history when everything was written by hand. And you can emulate the look of a wax seal for your business with this awesome logo mockup. Included in this template is one Photoshop file you can quickly modify. Change the colors easily by experimenting with the Hue slider for more options.
3D effects have a way of making your logos look more stylish and professional. And with this logo mockup, you get to enjoy five amazing styles that are all well organized with fully editable layers. Simply double-click a smart object layer to insert your logo before saving! It’s really that simple!
The secret to selling your work as a graphic designer is to enlist the help of a stationery mockup. This particular template includes 14 incredible presentations all in one convenient Photoshop file. Easily edit the layers to fit your project for an amazing photo-realistic finish.
Bring your designs to life with exciting store mockups. This template features five Photoshop files that will automatically correct the angle of your logo to fit the side of the building. Create a winning combination that is sure to get you tons of referrals!
Create a brand package you don’t have to spend too much time on! This wonderful package features two packaging types with 18 professional presentations to choose from. Experiment with the reflection and shadows for more realism, or change the background to one you prefer.
Display the behind-the-scenes details of your business with this glorious label mockup. This template places your branding on a rustic label design and features seven high-quality presentations with more angles. Available for Photoshop CS4 and after, this template also includes a help file for more instruction.
Create
a stunning logo that glistens in all its 3D glory. This premium mockup
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a fabulously unique way. It’s great for beginners to design, and you can enjoy a
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And before you go, check out this brilliant bundle of logo mockups! Shot at different angles, this template includes 11 Photoshop files that are super easy to edit. Simple drag and drop your logo into the appropriate smart object and presto! You’ve got a beautiful logo display in no time!
Conclusion
This list is jam-packed with exciting resources for the avid designer
familiar with Photoshop and more. If you need additional
help creating custom branding mockups, enlist the skills of a talented
professional by choosing one of the amazing designers from Envato Studio.
And with thousands of logo and branding mockups to choose from, chances are we’ve missed a few to add to your personal collection. Be sure to browse Envato Market and Envato Elements for more resources, and let us know your favorites in the comments below!
Made by Dyslexia, a new not-for-profit launched this month by dyslexic entrepreneur Richard Branson, is changing the world’s perception of dyslexia through the Dyslexic Sperm Bank in central London. No one left with a dyslexic baby, but everyone left with a new perception of dyslexia. Hidden cameras captured the public’s reactions. In 3 days, the stunt reached 77 million and changed the world’s perception of dyslexia. Research in the UK shows that 80% of the population think dyslexia is a disability. One in ten people are dyslexic, accounting for more than 6.5 million people in the United Kingdom yet only 3% of people think it is a positive trait (YouGov research 2017). Posters in the store and online at madebydyslexia.org feature famous dyslexic men (where are the women?) who rose to greatness. From Albert Einstein to Henry Ford, Steve Jobs to Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington to Leonardo da Vinci and The Wright Brothers, dyslexics have made the modern world. The Made by Dyslexia logo is a matrix of nine coloured dots. The organisation’s “Connecting the Dots” report highlights key facts about dyslexia, combining a summary of what we already know, with new research into dyslexic thinking skills.
Richard Branson explains the thinking behind the Dyslexic Sperm Bank:
“And why the Sperm Bank? Well, some sperm banks haven’t let dyslexics donate until very recently, and have even described dyslexia as a “neurological disease”. Now, some progress has been made. We have been working with The London Sperm Bank, which now does accept donations from people with dyslexia.”
Dyslexic Sperm Bank Credits
The Dyslexic Sperm Bank campaign was developed at Y&R London by executive creative director Jonathan Burley, creative director Psembi Kinstan, art director/copywriter George Robb, business director Claudia Newman, account director Lou De Keyzer, agency producers Megan O’Hagan and Adrienn Major, head of strategy Tamsin Djaba, and junior strategist Jenika Haipour.
Filming was shot by directors and art directors Ben Hanson and Simon Frost via Praxima with producers Sam Barlow and Zoe Barlow. Editors were Jude Moore and Ashley Joiner. Post production and sound was done at Hogarth by producers Robson Yeo and Fiona Winburn. Music was produced at Native by composer Joe Skinner and producer Dan Neale.
In this tutorial you will learn how to turn your photos into amazing, advanced sketches. I will try to 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 on the left is the one I will show you how to create here in this tutorial. If you would like to create the effect shown on the right, a sketch with a paint effect, and just using a single click, then check out my TechnicalArt Photoshop Action.
What You’ll Need
To recreate the design above, you will need the following photo:
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:
Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.
For best results, your photo size should be between 1500–4000 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.
Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.
To make some auto-corrections to your photo tone, contrast, and color, go to Image > Auto Tone, Image > Auto Contrast and then Image > Auto Color.
2. How to Create the Background
For the background we are going to use a solid color fill. Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create a new solid color fill layer, name it ’Background Color’ and enter the settings below:
3. How to Create the Base Sketch
Step 1
Now we are going to create the base sketch. Select Background layer and go to Layer > New > Layer Via Copy to duplicate the Background layer and then drag that new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel. Press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches and go to Filter >Filter Gallery>Sketch >Photocopy and choose the settings below:
Step 2
Name this layer Base Sketch and change its blending mode to Multiply.
4. How to Create a Draft Sketch
Step 1
Now we are going to create a draft sketch. Go to Layer>New>Layer Via Copy to duplicate the Base Sketch layer. Pick the Lasso Tool (L), click anywhere inside the canvas, choose Free Transform, and increase the width and height to 105% as shown below:
Step 2
Name this layer Large Draft Sketch and set its Opacity to 14%.
Step 3
Select the Base Sketch layer and go to Layer >New> Layer Via Copy to duplicate the Base Sketch layer again. Pick the Lasso Tool (L), click anywhere inside the canvas, choose Free Transform, and decrease the width and height to 95% as shown below:
Step 4
Name this layer Small Draft Sketch and set its opacity to 14%.
5. How to Create a Rough Sketch
Step 1
Now we are going to create a rough sketch. Select the Background layer and go to Layer>New>Layer Via Copy to duplicate the Background layer, and then drag that new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel. Go to Filter> Filter Gallery>Artistic >Cutout and choose the settings below:
Step 2
Go to Filter > Stylize > Find Edges and then go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.
Step 3
Name this layer RS_1, change its blending mode to Color Burn, and drop its Opacity to 30%.
Step 4
Now we are going tocreate more rough sketch layers using the same method. So repeat Step 1and Step 2 in this section, but in Step 1 instead of using the settings we used the previous time, use the new settings below:
Step 5
Name this layer RS_2, change its blending mode to Color Burn, drop its Opacity to 25%, and drag it under the RS_1 layer to keep the proper layer order.
Step 6
Repeat again Step 1and Step 2 in this chapter, but in Step 1 instead of using the settings we used previously, use the new settings below:
Step 7
Name this layer RS_3, change its blending mode to Color Burn, drop its Opacity to 20%, and drag it under the RS_2 layer to keep the proper layer order.
Step 8
Repeat again Step 1and Step 2in this chapter, but in Step 1 instead of using the settings we used previously, use the new settings below:
Step 9
Name this layer RS_4, change its blending mode to Color Burn, drop its Opacity to 20%, and drag it under the RS_3 layer to keep the proper layer order.
Step 10
Repeat again Step 1and Step 2 in this chapter, but in Step 1 instead of using the settings we used previously, use the new settings below:
Step 11
Name this layer RS_5, change its blending mode to Color Burn, drop its Opacity to 18%, and drag it under the RS_4 layer to keep the proper layer order.
Step 12
Repeat again for the last time Step 1 and Step 2 in this chapter, but in Step 1 instead of using the settings we used previously, use the new settings below:
Step 13
Name this layer RS_6, change its blending mode to Color Burn, drop its Opacity to 7%, and drag it under the RS_54 layer to keep the proper layer order.
Step 14
Now we are going to group all these rough sketch layers. While the layer RS_6 is selected, Shift-click on the RS_1 layer to select these two layers and all other layers between them. Then go to Layer > New > Group from Layers to create a new group from the selected layers and name it Rough Sketch.
6. How to Create Shading
Step 1
Now we are going to create some subtle shading. Select the Background layer and go to Layer > New > Layer Via Copy to duplicate the Background layer, and then drag that new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel. Go to Filter > Stylize > Find Edges and then go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.
Step 2
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Brush Strokes > Angled Strokes and select the settings below:
Step 3
Name this layer Shading_1, change its blending mode to Multiply, and drop its Opacity to 12%.
Step 4
Now repeat Step 1in this chapter, and then go to Filter > Brush Strokes > Crosshatch and enter the settings below:
Step 5
Name this layer Shading_2, change its blending mode to Multiply, drop its Opacity to 5%, and drag it under the Shading_1 layer to keep the proper layer order.
7. How to Add Noise
Step 1
In this step we are going to add some noise to our sketch. Select the Shading_1 layer and go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it Noise.
Step 2
Now press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches, go to Edit > Fill and enter the settings below:
Step 3
Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise and choose the settings below:
Step 4
Now change this layer blending mode to Screen and drop its Opacity to 64%.
8. How to Create the Color Look
Step 1
Now we are going to add a nice color look to our sketch. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves to create a new curves adjustment layer and name it Color Look.
Step 2
Double click on this layer thumbnail and enter the following settings:
9. How to Make the Final Adjustments
Step 1
Now we are going to make final adjustments to our sketch. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter to create a new photo filter adjustment layer and name it Photo Tint.
Step 2
Double click on this layer thumbnail and select the following settings:
Step 3
Now we are going to add contrast. Press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Overall Contrast.
Step 4
Change this layer blending mode to Soft Light and drop the Opacity to 18%.
Step 5
Now we are going to add vibrance and saturation. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance to create a new vibrance adjustment layer and name it Overall Vibrance/Saturation.
Step 6
Double click on this layer thumbnail and choose the following settings:
Step 7
Now we are going to boost the highlights slightly. Go to Layer > New > Levels to create a new levels adjustment layer and name it Overall Brightness.
Step 8
Double click on this layer thumbnail and choose the following settings:
Step 9
Now we are going to add sharpening. Press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a snapshot. Go to Filter > Other > High Pass and enter the settings below:
Step 10
Name this layer Overall Sharpening, change its blending mode to Hard Light, and drop the Opacity to 76%.
You Made It!
Congratulations, you have succeeded! Here is our final result:
Customize Your Results
You can now customize the final effect. I will give you a few tips:
Select the Background Color layer, double-click on its thumbnail, and inside the Color Picker panel choose some other color. Click OK.
Select some of the sketch layers and play with their opacities to create different sketch effects.
Select the Color Look layer, double-click on its thumbnail, and inside the Properties panel change the settings for a different color look.
Select the Photo Tint layer, double-click on its thumbnail, and inside the Properties panel change the settings for a different color look.
Select the layer Overall Contrast and change its opacity to adjust the contrast.
Select the layer Overall Vibrance/Saturation, double-click on its thumbnail, and inside the Properties panel play with the Vibrance and Saturation values to create different results.
Select the layer Overall Brightness, double-click on its thumbnail, and change the settings to adjust the brightness.
Select the layer Overall Sharpening, and change its opacity to adjust the amount of sharpening.
Here is what I got:
Awesome Work!
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The action works so that you just brush over the areas that you want to remain in paint, play the
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It started with seeing a recent Pen of Mandy Michael’s text effects demos. I’m a very visual creature, so the first thing I noticed was the effect, not the title (which clearly states how the effect was achieved). Instantly, my mind went „blend modes!”, which turned out to be wrong.
The demo actually uses clip-path. First of all, the text is duplicated. We have black text below as the actual text content of the element and the white text above as the value of the content property (taken from a data attribute which gets updated via JS). These two are stacked one on top of each other (they completely overlap). Then the pseudo-element with the white text above gets clipped to the shape of the black dress.
However, this means we need to change the clipping path if we change the image and, at this point, it’s anything but easy to figure out polygonal clipping paths with a lot of points via dev tools (which is why having something like Benett Feely’s Clippy with two-way editing directly in dev tools would be immensely useful). So I decided to give my initial idea – blend modes – a try.
Let’s say we have a heading in a contentEditable1 container with a black and white image (well, grayscale) background. The HTML structure is as follows:
We set the background-image on the header container, we give the h2 white text and set its mix-blend-mode to difference or exclusion. The relevant CSS is below:
I can’t really understand blend modes or normally see a difference between difference and exclusion, but according to MDN, they’re pretty much the same, with exclusion having less contrast. What I can understand in this situation is that having white text over the image gives us a result that’s the image inverted where the text overlaps it. For simple black and white images, black in the original image becomes white where we have white text above it and white in the original image becomes black where we have white text above it.
Mission accomplished! Both the text and the image can be changed and the effect is preserved without the need for any JavaScript or for any changes to the CSS.
But I instantly found that there was another itch to scratch: what happens if the image isn’t just black and white? Well, let’s try that! Turns out the result actually looks pretty good:
However, the text isn’t grayscale anymore and setting filter: grayscale(1) doesn’t change anything. Does any filter value work? Well, tried drop-shadow() next to try to find an answer to this question. And the answer is that, yes, drop-shadow() works, but the way it works – the shadow being blended with the header background2 – provides a clue about why grayscale() didn’t change a thing: filters are applied before blending, our text is white and the output of grayscale() in this case is identical to its input (white in, white out). And, since nothing changes before the blending, its result is the same.
This probably shouldn’t have been a surprise. I’ve ran into issues caused by the order in which properties are applied before.
For example, filter is also applied beforeclip-path, so if we clip an element to a non-rectangular shape and we want to have a drop shadow on it, tough luck, setting the filter on the same element doesn’t give the expected result. This is because the rectangular element gets the filter applied, so we have a drop shadow around its rectangular box and only after that gets clipped to the shape specified via clip-path. This is always the order these two get applied in, regardless of the order you set them in the CSS.
Diagram of how browsers apply filter and clip-path when they’re set on the same element.
The way to solve the filter + clip-path problem is to set the filter on a parent element with nothing visible except the clipped child. The „nothing visible” part is important because, if the parent has some visible text or borders, they’ll get the drop shadow as well, while if it has a background, then the whole background area gets the shadow.
However, this solution doesn’t work for the filter + mix-blend-mode problem as well. Wrapping our h2 into a div and setting filter on that div breaks the blending effect.
What’s worse is that I can’t seem to think of anything I could do to get around this problem. There might be a way of doing it by duplicating the text and using a luminosity blend mode, but, as mentioned before, I don’t really understand blend modes and I haven’t been able to get that right.
But maybe we could try a different approach altogether, one that doesn’t use blending. All the playing with filters gave me the idea that we could apply the image to the text, then apply an invert() filter, to which we could chain grayscale(), contrast() and more.
With this method using background-clip: text, we also have the advantage of a cross-browser solution, since Firefox and Edge have now implemented this too.
The way we go about this is the following: we make sure the header and the h2 have identical backgrounds and that these backgrounds perfectly overlap. Then we set color: transparent on the h2 and clip its background to text. The final step is to set filter: invert(1) on the h2. The relevant CSS3 is as follows:
It looks like before, except it’s using a different method and now we can chain more functions to the filter property. For example, we can make the text grayscale and up its contrast:
Tweaking the filter value is also how we add a text shadow. While in the first case (using mix-blend-mode) we can simply set the text-shadow property (and the shadow also gets blended with the background), doing so in the second case breaks things:
The Pen below shows the two methods described in this article. On the left, we have the mix-blend-mode method and on the right, we have the background-clip and filter method (with the extra grayscale and contrast components). The text is editable and the thumbnails allow for changing the background-image:
So, if we pit these methods against each other, which is better?
When don’t go into aesthetics because it’s a subjective matter and it probably differs from case to case and even from mood to mood.
As far as basic support is concerned, the last method gets an advantage since it’s supported in Edge, while mix-blend-mode isn’t (but if you want it in Edge, please vote for it because your feedback does matter). Mandy’s original example uses clip-path, another very useful feature, which sadly doesn’t work in Edge either (you can vote for it here).
When it comes to selecting text, the mix-blend-mode method works perfectly and looks the best across the browsers it’s supported.
Selecting text when using the mix-blend-mode method
Using the clip-path method, the selection looks clean and the text remains readable, but it seemed to stumble in Firefox while I was over the pseudo-element text. Fortunately, this problem turned out to have an easy fix: setting pointer-events: none on the pseudo-element.
Selecting text in Firefox when using the clip-path method
As for the last method, the selection can look ugly and can make the text harder to read. Not to mention that the drop shadow ends up being applied to the whole selection rectangle in this case, not just to the actual text.
Selecting text when using the background-clip: text + filter method
Changing the text also gets awkward in Firefox with the last method, the screen getting „dirty” as I type new text.
Changing text in Firefox when using the background-clip: text + filter method
The clip-path method also had a problem with changing text in Firefox at first: trying to start editing from the middle of the pseudo-element text didn’t work. Fortunately, setting pointer-events: none on the pseudo-element fixes this as well.
Changing text in Firefox when using the clip-path method
As far as flexibility in terms of how we can alter the text goes, the last method fares best because chaining filter functions can take us a long way.
At the end of the day, which is better ends up depending on the particular use case. What browsers should be supported? Does the image change? Does the text change? How should the text be visually altered?
1contentEditable isn’t accessible in all browsers by default, so we need to provide semantics to fix that.
2 When experimenting with blend modes, be aware of the legibility issues they can produce, particularly regarding contrast. WCAG 2.0 states that, unless the text forms part of purely decorative imagery, it should pass a minimum contrast threshold. Tools like Color ContrastAnalyzer can help you meet that requirement.
3 Prefixes are omitted for brevity, but background-clip still needs the -webkit- prefix for WebKit browsers (Firefox and Edge have implemented it unprefixed, though they both support it with the -webkit- prefix as well, probably because it has already been used to death only with that prefix) and this prefix needs to be added manually/ via a preprocessor mixin, which is something that I normally don’t encourage, but, in this particular case, auto-prefixing via Autoprefixer or Prefixfree doesn’t happen (Prefixfree works via feature detection, which doesn’t catch properties such as background-clip, filter or clip-path and this is the Autoprefixer issue). As for filter, it’s now supported unprefixed in all current desktop browsers and Autoprefixer can prefix it anyway.
