WHAT WE’RE CREATING:
Ahoy Design Cutters!
This is Captain Fallon navigating you through your latest bundle of design resources :).
As there’s such an awesome variety available here, we’ll be using lots of different resources and demonstrating how the different elements work great on their own, as well as some cool effects you can achieve by combining the resources together.
Quick note: In this tutorial, the term “clipping” or “clipped layer” is used a few times. This means that the layer is only visible/applies to the layer directly below it. You can very quickly do this by holding ‘Alt’ down on your keyboard and clicking between the two layers. Here’s a quick demonstration.
Ok, let’s get started!
Follow along with this tutorial: Download the freebies
As always, we have another great freebie for you to enjoy. The good folk at Make Media Co. have kindly donated a selection of their gorgeous Nautical Vector Pack for the Design Cuts community! These images are absolutely perfect for a sea-themed creation, and we’re sure they’ll add the perfect nautical touch to your work.
Remember, this freebie is just a tiny sample taken from this mega bundle: The All Inclusive Design Bundle at just $29 (97% Off). This is our biggest and most varied bundle yet, based directly on the feedback provided by you, our community members.
Enter your email below to download the freebie, so you can follow along with this tutorial easily.
Step 1:
As there’s a lot of resources to demonstrate in this bundle, we’ll stick with a limited colour palette so that things don’t get overwhelmingly busy.
There’s so much going on already in this bundle that can really create impact in an image, adding a gazillion colours to it would likely leave the end result making us feel more seasick than inspired!
Before we start then, let’s decide on our colours. For a bit of inspiration, head over to Colour Lovers.
I used the term ‘nautical’ and picked out the following palletes: Terra? and Sailboat.
We’ll be using the colours from ‘Terra?’ plus the nice coral-red from ‘Sailboat’ as an accent.
Now we’ve decided on our colours, open up a new (A4) 3508px height x 2480px width document in Photoshop.
Let’s set up our colours in the swatches so they’re all ready to go when we need:
Navy: #033649
Teal: #036563
Sand: #CDB380
Beige: #E8DDCB
Coral: #E25858
From the main menu, go to View > New Guide and set up a new vertical guide at 50%:
This’ll help us check our center alignment when positioning elements.
Right, that’s the setup complete – now let’s get creating!
Step 2
Usually, this is where we go searching for some free stock photos to download and use. This time though, we’ve got you covered ;)
This bundle includes a great range of photos ready to go, and we’ll be using the following 8RFC-stock-photos > lakeshore-waves.jpg:
Open the photo up in a new document. We’re going to apply a grain effect by opening all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Supergrain > SuperGrain Landscape > supergrain-landscape.psd.
Once you’ve got the SuperGrain document open, double-click the smart object layer as instructed to open a new window, where we can place our photo:
You can then delete the Vector Smart Object Layer, and copy and paste (or drag and drop) the lakeshore-waves.jpg image on to the document. You’ll need to scale the image down about 65% to fit the canvas:
When you’ve resized the image to fit, hit save and go back to the original document to see the effect:
Save the document to your desktop (or anywhere you can access easily) as a jpeg and close the document widows leaving just our working canvas.
Then, paste in the jpeg we’ve just saved on to your canvas, scaling and positioning so it fits the height and we’re framing the right-hand side of the photo:
This gives us a softer image to build our background on, which we’ll continue with in the next step.
Step 3
We’re using another completely different, but equally useful resource from the bundle now – paper textures! To grab the one used in this tutorial, go toall-inclusive-design-bundle-the-shop > The ultimate brown paper texture pack volume 03 – SBH > the-ultimate-brown-paper-texture-pack-volume-03-sbh-002.jpg:
Place it on your canvas, scaling to fit. Then change the blend mode to Overlay and drop the Opacity to 50%:
Next, we’ll use some of the included photoshop actions to adjust the colour. If you’ve not done so already, navigate to Classic Matte Actions > 2 Lil Owls Classic Matte Actions.atn to install the actions set.
With the brown paper layer active, go to your actions panel and locate the 2 Lil Owls set you just installed. Select ‘Creative – Bacall’ and we’ll get a nicely lightened effect:
We’ll use one more action from this set. With the ‘Bacall’ group that’s just been created in your layers panel active, select the ‘Softlights morning light’ action, which is near the bottom of the set:
This gives us a nicely sun-bleached effect whilst still retaining some warmth thanks to the red hues.
To complete our background, create a new layer and fill with our Navy blue colour (#033649) which you should have ready to go in your swatches. Set the blend mode to Linear Burn and you should end up with something like this:
That’s four completely different resources we’ve utilised so far, and we’ve only done the background! Group the layers together in to a folder called ‘Background’ for easy navigation, and we’ll try out some more :)
Step 4
We’re going to start adding some textural elements now, including a rather cool ink splash. You can find these at all-inclusive-design-bundle-vintage-design-co > Inkwell by Ian Barnard > 6-Ink Splats by RuleByArt > Splatter_05.png
Paste on to your canvas in the lower left corner, and rotate clockwise so that the larger ‘splats’ sit in the corner.
We’ll add a clipped hue/saturation layer so it’s easier to see (both for this example and on the actual document):
Hue/Saturation Settings:
Colourize: On
Hue: 42
Saturation: 26
Lightness: +82
Once the hue/saturation’s been adjusted, reduce the layer Opacity to 30% for subtler effect:
For some extra texture before adding the key decorative elements to this piece, we’re going to use one of the halftones from all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Standard-Issue-Vector-Textures > Standard Issue Vector Textures > standard-issue-halftone-textures.ai
We’re using the default, ‘halftone #1’ which is the one visible when we open the document (the rest can be found by opening up the layers panel).
Copy and paste this on to your Photoshop document, scaling to fit. Then, we’ll change the blend mode to Screen for a subtle scuffed effect:
Step 5
In this step we’ll set up our border so we can make sure the elements we’ll be adding later all sit in correct relation to the frame.
We’ll set up some guides to define a 1cm border, which we’ll use to help draw our frame. Go to View > New Guide and set up the following guides:
Vertical: 1cm, 20cm
Horizontal: 1cm, 28.7 cm
Create a new layer, then use the Rectangular Marquee tool to trace a rectangle over the guides. With the selection still active, from the menu bar go to Edit > Stroke:
Set the width to 7px, and colour to #E8DDCB then hit ‘OK’:
Dipping back in to our mega bundle, find your way to all-inclusive-design-bundle-make-media-co > Borders Corners Bursts & Frames Super Kit > AI > CreativeMarket_HDDesignSuperkit_Corners&Bursts.ai and locate the following vector:
You can change its colour to the light beige (#E8DDCB) we’re using in Illustrator before copying and pasting it on to our Photoshop canvas if you like:
Alternatively, you can rasterize the image once in Photoshop, zooming in and using the Paint Bucket tool to fill in the new colour.
Duplicate the layer and flip the image horizontally (Edit > Transform). You can then position the vector in the opposite corner:
Repeat a couple more times so all four corners have been completed:
Step 6
We’ll roughen up the border slightly by creating a layer mask using the same halftone texture as we did on the background.
Combine the border and four corner layers we just created in to a group folder, then duplicate that group. Hide the visibility on the original group and merge the new group in to a single layer so we can apply the layer mask.
To do this, we’ll need to open up a new A4 Photoshop document. Go back to all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Standard-Issue-Vector-Textures > Standard Issue Vector Textures > standard-issue-halftone-textures.ai and select the ‘halftone #1’ vector as before and copy and paste in to our empty photoshop document, scaling to fit:
Select the entire image and copy it, then go back to our original working document.
Create a layer mask on the corners/border layer we just merged, then whilst holding ‘alt’ on your keyboard, click the mask layer to access the mask canvas on its own. On there, paste the halftone texture we just copied, and click back on the layers panel to return to our working document:
Great stuff! We want to keep this layer at the top for now, so we’ll lock the layer and create a new one below ready for the next step. Before moving on though, remember to take a quick screen-break, grab a glass of water and stretch your legs for a bit to recharge :)
Step 7
We’ll can now start work on the main elements of our image! First up is our Ship’s Wheel, which is located in all-inclusive-design-bundle-make-media-co > Seaworthy Typeface & Nautical Vector Pack > Nautical Vector Pack > TheNauticalPack.ai
Change the colour to #CDB380 (our sand shade) whilst still in Illustrator, or use the Paint Bucket tool once pasted in to Photoshop:
Use the guides to make sure it’s positioned centrally at the top, then change the blend mode to Screen for a slightly more textured effect:
Step 8
Now it’s time to add our quote. There’s a great range of fonts and catchwords available in this bundle, and we’ll be using a small selection of these.
The quote we’re using is “A Smooth Sea Never Made A Skilled Sailor”, and we’ll be ‘borrowing’ part of a catchword to get us started.
To get to our catchwords, go through Decorative-Designers-Toolkit > psds > Catchwords.psd and locate the following “And”:
Use the Paint Bucket tool to change the colour to #E8DDCB, then copy and paste on to your working canvas. Scale and position so that it’s similar to the image below. We want the ‘A’ to be central:
This particular catchword has a really nice “A”, but we obviously don’t want to use the entire word, as our quote wouldn’t make sense. To isolate the part of the catchword we want, use a layer mask to hide the “nd”:
Step 9
From your bundle, navigate to back to all-inclusive-design-bundle-make-media-co > Seaworthy Typeface & Nautical Vector Pack > Nautical Vector Pack > TheNauticalPack.ai and locate the following banner:
Copy and paste on to your Photoshop canvas so that it’s positioned and scaled similarly to below:
Rasterize the image, then use to Paint Bucket tool to fill the main body of the banner with our beige tone (#E8DDCB) and the shadows with the sand colour (#CDB380):
We’ll tone this down a bit by adding a halftone layer mask. This uses exactly the same technique as we did for the border, only this time we’re using “halftone #7” from all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Standard-Issue-Vector-Textures > Standard Issue Vector Textures > standard-issue-halftone-textures.ai You can locate this in the Layers panel by turning on the visibility:
Copy and paste in to Photoshop and follow the same steps as we did for the border:
It’ll be worth keeping the halftone window open, as we’ll be using it again later on in the tutorial.
Step 10
We’ll add some text over the banner, using one of the fonts included in the bundle. You can find it at all-inclusive-design-bundle-rodrigo-type > Children-One to install:
Font Settings:
Font: Children One
Size: 50pt
Justification: Center
Colour: #033649 (Navy)
So that the text follows the shape of the banner, we’ll use the Create Warped Text tool to make some tweaks. Make sure your text is selected, click the Warp Text tool icon and use the following settings:
Warp Text Settings:
Style: Arc
Horizontal
Bend: +13%
Once your text is warped, you may need to nudge it up or down slightly to get it sitting centrally in the banner:
Step 11
For the next part of the quote “Never Made A”, I’ve used Ostrich Sans Medium because it’s tall, narrow shape reflects the other fonts we’re using, as well as it being nice and simple for the connecting part of the quote.
The font size is 43pt and colour #E8DDCB. Type and position so that it sits just below the banner:
Next, we’ll be using all-inclusive-design-bundle-make-media-co > Seaworthy Typeface & Nautical Vector Pack > Seaworthy Font (OTF) to write “Skilled Sailor”:
The font’s great, but the effect is a little too flat and clean for this image. We’ll be using another action to add an apt ink-wash effect.
From your bundle, open up all-inclusive-design-bundle-vintage-design-co > Inkwell by Ian Barnard > 3-PSD > Inkwell-Landscape.psd
As we did with the ‘SuperGrain’ effect we used in the background, double click the editable layer as instructed to access the editing window. On a new layer, type “Skilled Sailor” using the ‘Seaworthy’ font, then scale so that it fills the width of the canvas:
Save the image, then go back to the original Inkwell document. You can alter the colour to #E8DDCB in the layers panel, using either the colour picker or hue/saturation adjustment layer depending on your version of photoshop:
Hide the ‘Paper’ layer, then save the image as a transparent PNG on your desktop (or anywhere you can access quickly). Paste the PNG you just saved on to our main image, positioning and scaling as below:
As it is, it’s a little fainter than we’d like. Let’s easily solve this by duplicating the layer:
That’s better! We’ll clean the decks a bit by placing the layers we’ve just created in to a group labeled “Quote” for easy location.
Step 12
Exploring further the variety included in this bundle, go to all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Standard-Issue-Vector-Textures > Standard Issue Vector Textures > standard-issue-engravings.ai and select the ‘Hand & Heart’ layer:
Change the colour to #CDB380 in Illustrator, then copy and paste on to your photoshop canvas or bring it in to photoshop, rasterize the layer then use the Paint Bucket Tool to change the colour.
Once the colour’s been changed, scale and positon so that it sits to the right of the “Skilled Sailor” text:
Then, reduce the layer Opacity to 50%:
Duplicate the layer and flip the image horizontally to position on the opposite side:
We now have a nice pair of skilled sailor hands gracing our poster :)
Step 13
To give our proverbial sailor a challenge, we’ll add this octopus from the Nautical Vector pack:
We’ll apply another cool effect to it first, this time courtesy of all-inclusive-design-bundle-vintage-design-co > Dustys-Print-Shop-Part1 > 3-PSD > Dustys-Print-Shop-Portrait.psd
As with the SuperGrain and Inkwell documents, copy and paste the octopus vector in to the editing document and scale so that it fills the canvas:
Hit ‘save’ and go back to the main Dusty’s Print Shop document to see the result:
This looks pretty cool as it is, but for the purpose of our image, we need to make a few changes.
Using the same process as we did in the Inkwell document, change the main colour to the coral shade we’re using (#E25858) and the shadow to our light beige (#E8DDCB):
Then, hide the background texture and colour layers and save the image as a transparent PNG somewhere you can access easily:
Step 14
Paste the PNG you just saved on to our main Photoshop document so it’s scaled and positioned similarly to below, and set the blend mode to Linear Light:
Using the same approach as we did for the banner, apply a halftone Layer Mask to the octopus to help it blend in to our design a bit more:
Open up the Inkwell-Portrait document again, this time using our eight-armed friend as the subject. Run through the steps as before, changing the colour to the coral shade (#E25858) we’re using and hiding the background before saving as a transparent PNG:
Paste the PNG on to our main canvas, behind the octopus layer we already have, scaling so that it matches the size. Position it so that you just see the edges peeking out to the left, and reduce the opacity to 50%:
This gives us a nice, offset print effect.
Step 15
We’re going to add a few more challenges for our sailor, this time in the form a whale from the Nautical Vectors pack:
Copy and paste in to your photoshop document, scaling and positioning so that it fits in to the upper right corner:
Rasterize the smart object, then use the Paint Bucket tool to fill the whale with our teal colour (#036563) and the splashes with the light beige (#E8DDCB):
Duplicate the layer and flip the image horizontally to that it’s reflected in the opposite corner. Then, merge the layers together:
As we did for the banner and octopus earlier, apply a layer mask using the ‘halftone #7’ image:
Step 16
Finally from the Nautical Vectors pack, we’ll give our sailor a ship:
You can change the colour to the light beige (#E8DDCB) within Illustrator, or within Photoshop by rasterizing the smart object and using the Paint Bucket tool.
Copy and paste the image in to Photoshop, and once it’s the right colour, scale and position so it sits similarly to the image below:
Reduce the Opacity to 70%, then duplicate the layer and flip horizontally so that it’s reflected on the opposite side:
Merge the layers together, then apply a Layer Mask. This is so we can apply a bit of texture with a brush to soften the effect. I’ve gone for ‘Tree Rings 2’ at the default size from all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Standard Issue Subtle Brushes > Bonus #3 Dustin’s Picks
The mask itself looks like this:
And here’s how it appears on the design:
Step 17
We’re now going to add a few decorative touches to fill the space left at the bottom of the image. To do this, we’re going to use the resources from: all-inclusive-design-bundle-make-media-co > Borders Corners Bursts & Frames Super Kit > AI > CreativeMarket_HDDesignSuperkit_Dividers&Ornaments and the Nautical Vector pack:
Paste on to your Photoshop canvas as below, using the Paint Bucket tool to alter the colours to beige (#E8DDCB) and teal (#036563). You’ll also need to duplicate and horizontally flip the corner swirl to reflect it in the opposite corner:
Reduce the Opacity of all three swirls to 33% for a softer effect:
Step 18
For the final steps, we’re going to finish off by adding a bit of texture for a worn, faded effect. This is a good opportunity to experiment a bit – I’ve decided to use a variety of brushes from all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Standard Issue Subtle Brushes > A – 23 Standard Issue Subtle Brushes, trying out different opacities and colours to add faded patches to the image:
Set up a new layer and have a play yourself until you get an effect you’re happy with :)
Step 19
Finally, we’re going to add some scuffed edges using all-inclusive-design-bundle-retro-supply-co > Standard Issue Subtle Brushes > Bonus #1 7 Edge Brushes
Creating a new layer for each edge, select ‘Edge Brush #7’ and change the size to 3200px. Select our light beige (#E8DDCB) as the colour and apply it to the bottom edge of the image:
Duplicate the layer and rotate so that the top edge also has the same effect:
For the left and right edges, use ‘Edge Brush #1’ at 3500px allowing the brush to go off the edge of the canvas each side, so you’ll see the right half of the brush on the left edge, and vice versa.
To finish off, we’ll tone down the brush marks we’ve just created on the bottom left and upper right corners of the image. Create a layer mask and use one of the subtle brushes to gradually soften the colour so that it blends in with the rest of the edges:
And we’re done!
I hope you enjoyed doing this tutorial, and that you got plenty of ideas of how you can use the many different resources available in this bundle for your own work.
If you’ve got any comments or questions, do leave them below and I’ll keep an eye out. Also, feel free to get in touch @rockportraits
Remember to share your designs on the Facebook page as we’d love to see which resources you enjoyed using from the variety available!
Hopefully this tutorial showed you just some of the ways you can use the huge variety of design resources in our current bundle. With such a variety of brushes, vectors, actions, effects, fonts textures and photos included, we think there’s more than something for everyone in this bundle, which you can still get for a whopping 97% off this week. Grab it below, while you still can:
I loved this sentiment and the freebie download so I had to make a version of this. Here it is…http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn101/paschalsara/rough-seas-sara-paschal-web_zpsrmszmxb1.jpg
Thank you;)
Another good looking pack and tutorial, thanks. Just wondering if it would be possible to put at the top that it is a photoshop tutorial (and likewise when it’s an illustrator tutorial). On a previous tutorial I spent ages in Illustrator wondering why I couldn’t do something, then realising I should have been in ps!
Hey Matt,
Thank you for your comment and thank you kindly for your feedback. I am so sorry for any confusion caused with our tutorial titles and the required software for them. Rest assured, we have taken this on board and we now clearly state which software is used & required for our tutorials :)
Thank you again for your suggestion, Matt! If you have any other suggestions on how we can improve please do let me know, it would be great to hear from you :)
Hello there,
I started keenly but figguered out that I had´t any chance to purchased the bespoken bundel anymore.
I am disapointed!
Would have loved to try the tutorial all way through!
Hey Lilly,
Thanks for commenting!
Do you mean the bundle that this tutorial was linked to? If you can let me know where you got stuck i can hopefully help you out :)
What a great way to work through some of the amazing products in the bundle. Thanks!
I made a hiking themed poster: http://tinyurl.com/luvwoc4
Unfortunately, I couldn’t use the abr files because I’m using Photoshop CS5.1 and they weren’t compatible. Oh well, I made do with what I had.
That’s such a cool version of the nautical themed tutorial. I love it! The contracts between the green background and the orange rucksack is absolutely smashing!