How to stylise model shoot using colourful shapes in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to stylise model shoot using colourful shapes in Photoshop CS5. We will use advanced compositing techniques, layer masking and custom brushes to get an eye-catching poster. Let’s get started!

Final Image Preview

Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop with the size 1280px by 1024px (RGBcolor mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill with black color the new background layer.

Create a new layer and use here the same Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill this layer with #4E2835 color.

Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and apply after that th next filter: Filter > Render > Clouds.

Create a new layer and select Soft Round brush of black color.

Use this brush to make darker the canvas edges.

Find a stock photo with a model represented on it, I used this photo from Shutterstock, or if you prefer, you can substitute similar image of your own.

Remove the background using your favorite tools like Pen Tool (P), Magic Wand Tool (W), Magnetic Lasso (L) or even a simple Filter>Extract and insert it on a new layer in our main document.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Drop Shadow for the model’s layer .

Apply Inner Shadow:

Add Outer Glow:

We’ve got the next result:

Create a new layer and use the Soft Round brush of different diameters to represent many small dots on the canvas.

The brushes’ color is #402F35. Place the layer with small dots under the model’s layer in Layers panel.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Hard Light.

Make a copy of the last made layer and use the same Soft Round brush to represent more dots of the same color. This layer will be situated under the layer with the model on it.

Make a copy of the last made layer and apply on the copy the next filter: Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur.

We’ve got the next result:

Next we have to use the Ellipse Tool (U) to draw four small circles which layers will be situated under the model’s layer.

Insert the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 40% in Options bar).

Now we have to insert on each circle’s layer the mask (by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of theLayers panel). Then select the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 20% in Options bar).

Use this brush to paint in the mask to hide the circles edges, representing this way the shadows.

This way we have to represent four more circles, having the same colors the previous have.

Let’s represent now above the model’s layer a new one (Create new layer) and hold CTRL button to select the new layer and the model’s one. Then press CTRL+E to Merge Down. Insert now the mask on the layer by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of the Layers panel and choose the Soft Round brush mentioned above. Use this brush to paint in the mask to change a little bit the opacity of the model’s layer as shown.

Represent a selection now, using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M).

Right-click inside the selection and choose Transform Selection, rotate and place the selection the same way as below.

Select Move Tool (M) and click to Apply Transformation.

Now you can use arrow keys buttons on a keyboard to displace this selection.

When you finish to displace just press Ctrl+D to deselect.

We have to repeat the operation three times to separate the model by layers of different thickness.

Create now a new layer and use on it the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill it with #B23E1Bcolor.

Set Fill to 45% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Multiply.

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click between layers in the Layers panel to create aclipping mask.

We’ve got the next result:

Create a new layer and choose the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill it with white color.

Set now the Foreground and Background color as shown in the Tools bar.

… and apply for the layer the next filter: Filter > Filter Gallery > Sketch > Halftone Pattern.

We’ve got the next result:

Set Fill to 24% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Soft Light.

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections.

We’ve got the next result:

Create a new layer again and take again the Soft Round brush.

Use this brush to paint on the canvas the same way demonstrated on the picture. The brush’s color is #DF882B.

Set Fill to 80% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Linear Dodge.

On the next new layer we’ll use the Soft Round brush of white color (Opacity – 15%) to draw a kind of highlight.

We’ve got the next result:

Click again Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Curves to adjust the curve shape as shown to make a little color corrections.

We’ve got the next result:

Next we have to represent a line of the color #FF9D56, using for the operation the Line Tool (U) (set Weight to1px in Options bar).

Set Fill to 80% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Color Dodge.

Make five copies of the layer containing the line and choose the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to place the copies as it is shown below:

Insert now the mask on each layer containing the line by choosing Add layer mask on the bottom part of theLayers panel and choose the Soft Mechanical brush of black color (set Opacity to 20% in Options bar).

Paint in the mask using this brush to hide the lines’ edges.

Now we have to combine in a group all the lines’ layers (press CTRL button to select the necessary layers and hold on the left mouse’s button while dragging the selected layers on Create a new group icon from bottom part of the Layers panel). Make a copy of the new got group which must be rasterized by selecting it and then pressCTRL+E to Merge Down.
Apply for the rasterzied layer the next filter: Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur.

We’ve got the next result:

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Linear Dodge.

Make a copy of the new layer we’ve got and set the Blending mode to Darker Color.

Finished!