Design a Movie Poster In Photoshop

1. To create this scary movie poster we will be using a selection of copyright free images, as seen below. First open these files in Photoshop by going to File-> Open and navigating through your files and selecting the relevant images. 

 

2. For the poster, we will be using an A3 canvas, to create an A3 canvas go to File-> New and in the options window choose International Paper as the Preset and A3 as the size.

3. Next open the house image in Photoshop, unlock the layer by double clicking the lock icon on it and selecting ok, and then use the quick selection tool (or other selection tools if using older versions of Photoshop) to select the background, press backspace or delete to remove  it.

4. The use the move tool to drag and drop the house into the A3 canvas and resize and position it as shown below, using Edit-> Transform-> Scale.

5. Next open the sky image in Photoshop and drag it onto the canvas with the move tool. Put the sky on a layer beneath the house and resize and reposition it until you are happy or it resembles the image below. 

6. Next open the road image in Photoshop and crop it down as shown below.

7. Next use the quick selection tool to select and delete all areas of the image apart from the road itself, as seen in the image below.

8. Now resize the image to fit into the canvas as shown below, to do this go to Edit-> Transform-> Scale. Ensure the road is on a layer below the house and above the sky layers.

9. Select the house layer and use the clone stamp tool to clone the existing grass into the empty space between the existing grass areas and the road. To use the clone stamp tool, Alt + Click to define a source point from which to copy then click over the area you want to 'brush' it into. Be aware the source point follows you around so you will have to repeatedly redefine new source point. Don't get too particular about it though as there will be multiple layers overlaid on top of the grass very soon, so just aim to achieve a basic coverage of the empty space.

10. Now open the man image into Photoshop and as with the other image, unlock the layer, remove the background using the quick selection tool, move it into the A3 canvas and move and resize it using Edit-> Transform-> Scale.

11. Now open the fire, paper, wood and eyes images in Photoshop. We will first drag and drop the fire and paper images onto the main canvas and stretch them to fit the full canvas. Next select each layer individually and select Layer-> Layer Styles-> Blending Options. In the pop up window choose the overlay blending option for the fire and drop the opacity below 50%. For the paper choose multiply.

11. The wood image requires editing before it is blended. First it will need to be removed from its background, cropped down, moved onto the canvas and stretched to fit half the canvas. Next go to Layer-> Duplicate Layer to create a copy, go to Edit-> Transform-> Flip Horizontally and then Flip Vertically. Now position the two wood layers so they fill the entire canvas as shown below.

12. To blend the wood into the image go to Layer-> Layer Styles-> Blending Options. In the pop up window choose the overlay blending option.

13. The final image to be blended in is the eyes. As before drag and drop it onto the canvas, resize it to a size you are happy with and blend it using the multiply blending option.

14. Now we will use the paper layer to create a rough, black border around the edge of the poster. Select the paper layer and use the magic wand tool to select the white area around the paper (you may need to use the ‘add to selection’ option to get all the area selected at once. While retaining the selection move from layer to layer hitting delete or backspace to remove the content within the selection until all layers, except the background later, are completed. Then deselect (Ctrl+D shortcut) and select the background layer and use the paint bucket tool to fill it in black.

15. The final part of the image is the text. The font I have chosen is called Calame and is available for free download HERE. The title I have chosen is Abandoned but you can choose any title you like. The image below shows the Layer styles used on the text. A basic drop shadow was added and then an inner shadow was added to increase the scratched looked of the text.

16. Next additional text was added to represent the actors in the movie and quotes from reviews of the movie. I have chosen to use the same font style as the heading (Calame) but again the choice is yours. As a final touch I duplicated the paper layer and placed it above the text as the very top layer, as shown below.

17. And that it, your poster should look like the one below...

If you enjoyed this check out our new video tutorial on how to create a Sci-fi movie poster.

Design a Magazine Cover In Adobe Photoshop

1. For this magazine cover we will be using just 2 images. The magazine is going to be a generic business magazine simply titled 'Business' for the purpose of this tutorial. The images are below and are both copyright free and can be downloaded from www.sxc.hu. These images, especially the building will create linear perspective, which can be used as an attention grabbing technique drawing the viewer into the image.



You may also be interested in our tutorials on how to create a horror movie poster or how to create a sci fi movie poster.

          

2. Firstly you will need to create the canvas in Photoshop, to do this go to File-> New and set the dimensions to 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches tall.

3. Next go to File-> Open and open the building and city images into Photoshop. First use the move tool to drag and drop the building image onto the canvas, go to Edit-> Transform-> Scale and resize the image to the full size of the canvas. Now drag and drop the city image onto the canvas on top of the building layer, use Edit-> Transform-> Scale to stretch it beyond the width of the canvas. Next use Edit-> Transform-> Perspective and narrow the image at the top to give it a similar perspective to the building image.

4. As the images are both in black and white, they can appear a bit dull so add some colour to the image by going to Image-> Adjustments-> Colour Balance. I added a value of -50 to achieve a cyan colour but you can try out different values, there is no right or wrong. To complete our work on the images, use the gradient tool to add a gradient overlay from black to empty on the city image going from the bottom up (see the image below).

5. To give the sense of a professional magazine cover, add a barcode and text with a price and an issue date.

6. Next we will add some semi-transparent rectangular tabs that will act as contrast backgrounds for our sub headings. To create these tabs use the rectangular shape tool. This will automatically put the tabs on separate layers, making it easier to move them around, change their colours and their layer opacity. Set up the tabs as shown in the image below, once again the choice of colours used is up to you. The positioning of the tabs creates an element of symmetry within the image as their ascending angle mirrors that of the building.

7. We will now begin to add the text. First the heading, create a text box the width of the canvas by clicking and dragging using the text tool, now type the title 'Business' in the font BankGothic Md BT, font size of 150pt. While still on the text layer, I have edited the text settings in the character window by setting a text height of 120% and a tracking value of -100. I have put the text in yellow but you can choose a different colour if you like. Now go to Layer-> Layer Style-> Drop shadow and add a drop shadow effect to the text as shown in the image below.

8. Finally, get creative and add your own subheading stories. For the subheadings I used the font Agency FB in font size 30pt for the first 3 stories and font size 36pt for the 'Weekly Special'. The fonts chosen for the text were selected as they are plain, clear and solid which is appropriate to the style of magazine. For different magazine types other fonts would be more appropriate, but always ensure the text is readable. For more information on fonts click HERE to go direct to our notes on fonts. Below two versions of the final magazine cover are displayed. And when your ready to create your own magazine cover design start off with our article on Magazine Cover Design Features.

     

Create a Sports Poster Using Adobe Photoshop

This tutorial will show you how to create an eye catching sports themed poster in just ten simple steps. To create this sports day poster you will use a selection of copyright free images along with some basic text and block shapes of colour. The poster will have a simple but eye catching design which should immediately identify itself as a sports themed poster to the viewer, this is important to reach your target audience. See the section on Attention Grabbing Techniques for more about that.

For the poster, we will be using an A3 canvas, to create an A3 canvas go to File-> New and in the options window choose International Paper as the Preset and A3 as the size. Next we will add the base colours of the poster. I will be using an orangey yellow, sky blue and white. You can use different colours of course; I would recommend using your club colours to identify the poster as being connected to the club.



1. Once you have chosen the colours you want use the gradient tool (located within the paint bucket tool) and create a linear gradient from top to bottom. Now use the rectangle shape tool to create a rectangular shape at the top of the page, use the colour picker on the shapes layer to change its colour. Right click on the layer and select blending options to open the layer styles window. Now select 'stroke' and set its colour to white and it's size to 10px (select a higher value or different colour if you want)

2. Now open your club logo into Photoshop and then use the move tool to drag and drop the logo from its window into the poster window and resize and position it as shown below, using Edit-> Transform-> Scale. Next use the text tool to create a text box and type in the club name followed by 'presents the ultimate...'. The font style I used is Agency FB but you can try out different fonts if you wish. Remember you must highlight text in order to edit it using the text settings that appear across the top once the text tool is selected.

3. For the main poster text I have also used Agency FB. The automatic font sizes in Photoshop only go up to 72 but you can type in larger values to achieve even larger text. My text is at font size 200. So once again use the text tool to create a text box then type the text 'Family Sports Day' and set it's size, font style and colour to settings you are happy with. I also added a stroke and an outer glow to the text using the layer style window as shown in the image below.

4. Next on our agenda is the images. The poster will contain a series of sports action silhouettes of a selection of sports. You can find numerous silhouettes on the internet but I will also tell you how to create your own. First find an image you like and open it in Photoshop. Ensure the image is unlocked (check the layers window and double click on the layer to unlock it) and use one of the selection tools to select the part of the image you want to use. Then go to Select -> Select Inverse which will reverse your selection thus selecting all the unwanted areas.

5. Now simply press delete or backspace to remove the unwanted areas leaving you with just the part you want. Press Select -> Deselect (or Ctrl and D) to deselect the image. Use the eraser tool to tidy up any loose edges.

6. Lastly go to Image -> Adjustments -> Threshold and edit the settings until you get a white silhouette. If you can only get a black silhouette thats fine just go to Image -> Adjustments -> Invert to change it from black to white.

7. You can now repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for all the images you want and place them around the poster using the move tool. A nice touch is to place some image slightly overlapping the text from in front with others slightly behind the text. This will give the image more depth, to do it simply change the order of the images in the layers window.

8. To finish add any additional text that is required such as the time, date and venue of the sports day. Once again I have used Agency FB as the font style. You can use the Character window in Photoshop to change more text settings such as the distance between letters or lines of text. This can be useful to fit in all the information you want to without having to change the font size.

This same design could also be used for others sports related events, why not try it out yourself!

Create a Quiz Poster Using Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial we will be using mainly the text and shape tool to create a poster for a table quiz. The poster itself will portray a group of 4 people at a table with paper sheets in front of them, and thus simply representing a table quiz.

1.For the poster, we will be using an A3 canvas, to create an A3 canvas go to File-> New and in the options window choose International Paper as the Preset and A3 as the size.

2. Select Blue as the primary colour and white as the secondary colour in the colour picker boxes. Next select the gradient tool (within the paint bucket tool) and use it to drag and drop from the top to the bottom.

3. The next step is to create the header and footer sections of the poster. The easiest way to do this is to use the rectangular shape tool to create a rectangle at the top and bottom of the canvas. Rename the layers 'footer' and 'header' and change the colour of the rectangles using the colour picker box on the layer tab of each layer.

4. To set the header and footer apart from the content which is to come add a stroke to each rectangle using the layer style window. Go to Layer -> Layer Styles -> Blending Options and in the window which opens select stroke, change the colour to white and set the size to one you are happy with.

5. To create the table we will use the ellipse tool and drag out a shape similar to the one seen below. Colour the shape brown, using the colour picker box on the layer. Rename the layer 'table' and position it beneath the footer layer in the layers window.

6. Next to create the people: use the ellipse tool to create the bodies, naming/numbering the layers as you go. Once the four bodies are created open the blending options window through Layer-> Layer Style-> Blending Options and set the setting to those shown below.

7. Repeat the process for the heads adding the same layer style and line them up as shown below. Once the heads and bodies are complete link each pair together as a smart object; Layer-> Smart Objects -> Convert to Smart Object. This will keep the layers neater and easier to manage.

8. Now to create the sheets of paper. Select the pen tool and click to create anchor points that will form the shape of the paper. Set the colour of the 'pages' to white and add a black stroke using the blending options window as before. Unlike the bodies and head.

9. That completes the shapes for now so we will move onto the text. First off add the footer text. Type in whatever text you need. The image below shows the settings used to get a realistic date in Photoshop using the tools in the character window.

10. The headline text is next on the agenda. The font used here is called 'Agency FB' and is a standard font already available in Photoshop. You can choose any font you want but be sure to choose a font that is clear and easy to read. Be sure to make the word 'Quiz' the largest word as it will get the point of the poster across immediately. People pass by numerous posters and other visual material everyday so it is vital for the text to be as clear and easy to read as possible.

11. The final shape to be added to the poster will fill the remaining space on the left hand side of the poster and effectively frame the headline text. We wil try to create a shape in the style of draped, hanging material like a flag. To do this first use the Pen Tool to create the shape of the flag. Next use the blending options window to add a linear gradient on the shape. Use the settings below to get the effect of highlights on the curving, flapping material.

12. Finally add your club crest or business logo onto the flag. Add a warp effect to the logo using Edit-> Transform-> Warp. This will allow you to make it appear as if the logo or crest is on the flag.

If you have a strong existing logo you may decide to leave out the flag element and just add the logo by itself into the space on the left hand side, like in the two examples below.