Photoshop Tutorial - Graffiti Art Effect

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to transform a regular photo into a vibrant graffiti street art effect using Adobe Photoshop. We will focus on non-destructive editing techniques with Smart Objects, allowing you to experiment freely without losing your original image quality.

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

• Open Adobe Photoshop on your computer.
• Ensure you have the following resources ready:
  • Your chosen photo.
  • Graffiti texture (download from textures4photoshop.com).
  • Brick wall image (download from cr8gr8-designs.deviantart.com).

Step 2: Import Your Photo

• Go to File > Open and select the photo you want to edit.
• Once opened, convert your photo into a Smart Object:
  • Right-click on the layer in the Layers panel and select Convert to Smart Object.

Step 3: Add the Brick Wall Background

• Open the brick wall image in Photoshop.
• Use the Move Tool (V) to drag the brick wall onto your photo canvas.
• Resize the brick wall layer to cover the entire image using Ctrl + T (Transform).

Step 4: Blend the Brick Wall

• Change the blending mode of the brick wall layer:
  • In the Layers panel, set the blending mode to Multiply.
• Adjust the opacity if needed to ensure the wall texture complements the photo.

Step 5: Apply Graffiti Texture

• Open the graffiti texture file and drag it onto your photo canvas.
• Resize and position the graffiti texture to fit as desired.
• Change the blending mode of the graffiti layer to Screen to allow the underlying image to show through.

Step 6: Mask and Refine

• Add a layer mask to the graffiti texture layer:
  • Click on the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel.
• Use a soft brush with black color to paint on the mask, removing areas where you want the photo to show through.

Step 7: Color Adjustments

• Select the photo layer and go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.
• Play with the sliders to enhance the colors, making them pop against the graffiti background.

Step 8: Final Touches

• Consider adding a Curves adjustment layer for contrast:
  • Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves.
• Adjust the curve to enhance the brightness and contrast of your image.

Conclusion

You have successfully created a graffiti art effect on your photo using Adobe Photoshop. Remember to save your work as a PSD file to keep all layers intact for future edits. For further experimentation, try different graffiti textures or color adjustments to create unique effects. Happy editing!