How to Create a Conceptual Vintage Illustration with Photoshop

Today we will create a vintage scenario using only a few stocks and a wee bit of imagination.
This is both fun and educational, so get comfortable and let’s begin!

Following this tutorial you will learn how to:
- remove objects from backgrounds
- retouch photos using blending modes
- combine adjustment layers for cool effects
- add shadows and lighting
- blend images to fit the same scenario
- use patterns
- use layer masks
- sharpen the image for a cleaner look
- add textures
- enhance the quality of images via easy techniques
- tips and tricks for a smoother work flow

Resources:

- snail from sxc.hu
- damask pattern  from patternsshop.com
- chair from Yukkabelle
- floor from Chulii-stock
- skull from Designious.com

Difficulty: Beginner
Completion time: 20-30 minutes
Tools: Photoshop CS3, Illustrator CS3 (optional)

Conceptual Vintage Illustration Final Image Preview

STEP 1

Open Photoshop and go to File > New… to create a blank document. Set it to 1680 x 1050 px in RGB color mode at 72 dpi.

STEP 2

Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid color. Select pure black (#000000) and hit OK.

STEP 3

Open the “floor” image. Select all (CTRL+A), copy it (CTRL+C), go back to our document (CTRL+Tab) and paste it (CTRL+V). Hit CTRL+T to enter Free Transform mode, hold SHIFT and click-drag one of the corners. Release SHIFT and click-drag the top middle anchor point.

STEP 4

Go to the Layers palette (F7) and click the “Add Vector Mask” button. Then grab the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and make a selection like below. Grab the Brush Tool (B) and paint the entire selected area.

STEP 5

Go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (CTRL+SHIFT+U). Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer (CTRL+D) twice and set Blending modes to Multiply.

STEP 6

Grab the Rectangle Tool (U) and draw a rectangle like below. This will be our base for the wall. Use a dark brown color (#2c231c).

STEP 7

Open the “wall texture” picture, select all (CTRL+A), copy it (CTRL+C), go back to our document (CTRL+Tab) and paste it (CTRL+V). Hit CTRL+T to enter Free Transform mode and resize it like below and rotate it. Hold SHIFT to make an orthogonal rotation.

STEP 8

In the Layers palette (F7), ALT+click between the layers. Click when your cursor looks like an eclipse. This will make the top layer use the layer below it as a clipping mask.

STEP 9

Go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (CTRL+SHIFT+U). Then open the “chair” picture. Grab the Path Tool (P), set it on Paths and trace the contour of the chair. Close the path and right-click > Make Selection, hit OK in the popup window. Copy it (CTRL+C).

STEP 10

Go back to our document (CTRL+Tab) and paste it (CTRL+V). Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast, Color Balance and Black & White. Make sure you check the “Use previous layer to create clipping mask” is checked. For Black & White, set Fill to 70%.

STEP 11

Open the “snail” picture and cut him out of the picture, like you did with the chair. Then copy it, paste it and resize it to look like below. Also rotate it a bit.

STEP 12

Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer (CTRL+J), desaturate it (CTRL+SHIFT+U) and set Blending mode to Soft Light.

STEP 13

Select the original layer and go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast, Color Balance and Black & White. This combination of adjustment layers controls well the tones and the saturation of your image. Keep in mind that it’s not the only one, you can experiment with others as well.

STEP 14

Create a new layer (CTRL+SHIFT+N or Layer > New > Layer), ALT+click between it and the layer below and set Blending mode to Multiply.

STEP 15

Grab the Brush Tool (B), set Hardness to 0%, hit D to set foreground color to pure black and paint shadows in the area below, marked with green.

STEP 16

Select the layer with the snail, set its Opacity to 40% and click the “Add Vector Mask” button. Grab the Path Tool (P), make sure it’s still on Paths and trace the area shown below. Right-click > Make Selection.

STEP 17

Grab the Brush Tool (make sure the layer mask is still selected) and paint the entire selected area with black. The actual color will not show, but it will hide the area, making the snail fit nicely onto the chair.

STEP 18

Open the “damask pattern” vector. When prompted to input the file size, type in 2000 px in the Width value. For prints, use higher resolutions. Go to Select > Color Range, click the background, hit OK, then Delete.

STEP 19

Grab the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), select a pattern, copy it (CTRL+C), go back to our document (CTRL+Tab) and paste it (CTRL+V). Go to View > Snap To > Layers and Document Bounds.

STEP 20

Grab the Selection Tool (V), hold ALT and click-drag the pattern shape. Hold SHIFT while dragging to make an orthogonal move. Place the copy near the original, it will automatically snap to its edges.

STEP 21

Repeat previous step to create a large pattern. Then select all these layers (click the first original layer’s thumb, hold SHIFT and click the last copy) and go to Layer > Merge Layers (CTRL+E).

STEP 22

Click the “fx” button and select “Blending Options”. Check “Color Overlay”, click it and set the color to a midtone brown, like below. Hit OK, then go to Layer > Duplicate Layer (CTRL+J).

STEP 23

Double-click the “fx” button”, select “Color Overlay” again, select the color and make it darker, then press the “Down” arrow once. Hit OK.

STEP 24

Select both layers and go to Layer > Merge Layers (CTRL+E). ALT+click between it and the layer below.

STEP 25

ALT+click between this layer and the one below it.

STEP 26

Grab the Rectangle Tool (U), set it on Shapes and draw a rectangle like below.

STEP 27

Click the “fx” button and select Blending Options. Check the “Gradient Overlay”,click it, select the gradient and set it like below. Hit OK.

STEP 28

Open the “Skull” vector file. Grab the Magic Wand Tool (W), click the white background and hit Delete. Grab the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), select the skull, copy it (CTRL+C), go back to our document (CTRL+Tab).

STEP 29

In the Layers palette (F7), click the “fx” button and select “Blending Options”. Use the settings below. Also add a layer mask to it to hide the extra areas. Select the snail layer mask and paint over the shell.

STEP 30

Select the layer with the chair and create a new layer (CTRL+SHIFT+N). Set Blending mode to Multiply. Grab the Brush Tool (B), hit D and draw a shape like below.

STEP 31

Grab the Eraser Tool (E), grab a soft brush, set its Opacity (not the layer opacity!) to 20% (hit the “2” key) and gradually erase the area shown below.
NOTE: the keys from 1 to 0 set the brush’s opacity from 10 to 100%.

STEP 32

Repeat previous step for the shadow on the floor.

STEP 33

Create a new layer (CTRL+SHIFT+N) and place it above all other layers (CTRL+SHIFT+]). Set Blending mode to Soft Light and Opacity to 46%. Grab the Brush Tool (B), hit D, then X (D sets Foreground and Background colors to default and X switches them) and paint the area shown below.
Use the Eraser Tool (E) to clean up the extra areas.

STEP 34

Create a new layer (CTRL+SHIFT+N). Set Blending mode to Overlay, grab the Brush Tool (B) and paint the area shown below.

STEP 35

Create a new layer and set Blending mode to Multiply. Grab the Brush Tool (B) again, hit D and paint the edges of the image. This will create a nice vignette effect. Feel free to adjust the layer’s Opacity.

STEP 36

Select all artwork (CTRL+A) and copy merged (CTRL+SHIFT+C) and paste (CTRL+V). Then go to Layer > Duplicate Layer (CTRL+J).

STEP 37

Go to Filter > Other > High Pass. Use 1.5 px and hit OK. Set Blending mode to Overlay.

STEP 38

Grab the Crop Area Tool (C) and crop the area shown below.

Done!