Photoshop Indiana Jones Poster Tutorial

By Rick Davidson
2008-03-18


The Background

We'll start with a gradient of warm color.  Bring up the gradient editor and add color points as shown, then apply.

Drop in and clearcut the skull, then use the EDIT>TRANSFORM>WARP tool to distort the image to a suitably scary state.  DESATURATE to lose the color.  I applied a PLASTIC WRAP filter to give it some sheen.

SKULL COLOUR - We'll place the skull large at the top, and add a layer style by double clicking the skull layer in the layers tab.  We'll give it a COLOR OVERLAY  (we'll use a lot of these) setting the color to a bright orange and using a vivid light blend mode.  

SKULL SHADOW - Duplicate the skull layer and erase all but the areas you want deep shadow.  The eye sockets in this case. Then adjust the layer style to a deep brown with a COLOR BURN blend mode

SKULL HIGHLIGHT - Duplicate the original skull layer again, remove the layer styles and crank the contrast right up to get a few strong whites for highlights.  Set the layer blend mode to SCREEN.  This will give the teeth some punch.

Now we'll flatten the image and apply a little DRY BRUSH filter and some NOISE to give it a painterly gritty effect.

Ok that's the background.  Now a backdrop to frame our 'hero'.  Drop in some background rock or tree life, and DESATURATE.  Apply plenty of contrast for deep highlights.  Now apply another COLOR OVERLAY layer style using a deep brown color and linear light mode.  Set the layer mode to SCREEN.

Now DUPLICATE the layer, remove the styles and set the layer mode to HARD LIGHT.  A little DRY BRUSH can't hurt either. Erase the edges a little to blend with the background.

Now let’s add some steps for our hero to stand on - another greyscale image with a COLOR OVERLAY layer style.  This time set to SOFT LIGHT mode and a light brown color.  We set the layer mode to LUMINOSITY on this one.  As you might be starting to guess, there is experimentation here.  Play. Learn. Enjoy.

Now we pick up speed.  We take our Aztec carving, color it rich blue using the HUE/SATURATION tool, hollow it out using the eraser tool and place it at the base.  Then we create a new layer and paint over it with black (with some opacity) so it's subtle.

Tutorial Pages:
» Photoshop Indiana Jones tutorial
» The Background
» The hero
» Just text to go

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