I have always been a fan of Japanese art, so I decided to merge two styles together: Afrofuturistic and Japanese. I hope you will enjoy this.
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to use Adobe Photoshop to create a colorful, wavy, tribal collage featuring a beautiful woman. I will also teach you how to retouch the artwork in Adobe Lightroom.
First, we'll isolate the model from the background. After that, we'll add our background, patterns, and waves. Later, we will cut out the model’s eyes, create some faux sunglasses, and add some stars to create that dreamy, futuristic mood. Then, we will additional elements such as the crow, the UFO, the face accessories, and some tribal marks. Finally, we will retouch the artwork in Adobe Lightroom. Let's get started!
Tutorial Assets
The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:
1. How to Isolate the Model and Prepare the Base Background
Step 1
Create a new 20" by 30” document in Photoshop with the given settings:
Step 2
Open the model image. Cut out the image using the Pen Tool (P). Find a spot on the main image to start drawing the outline. As we're drawing, we want to zoom in closer to the subject. Press Control-(+) or Control-(–) to zoom in and out.
Step 3
We need to isolate the model to be able to work easily in the future. Click on the Marquee Tool (M), choose Make Selection, and then press Delete.
2. How to Bring the Image Into Your Main Canvas
Drag the image onto the main canvas using the Move Tool (V). Then, press Control-T to resize the image. Hold Shift while resizing. Next, use the Move Tool (V) to center the image.
3. How to Create an Accordion Effect on the Model
Step 1
Use the Rectangle Marquee Tool (M) and draw a vertical rectangle on the left side of the model.
Step 2
Then, Right-Click and select Layer via cut to separate the selected slice. Then, duplicate the layer nine times and align them as shown below. Use the Move Tool (V) to move each slice.
Step 3
Next, select all layers, Right-Click and merge layers, and rename the layer "Main image''. Then, activate the Move Tool (V) and move the image to the left of the canvas.
4. How Create the Colorful Background
Step 1
Hit Control-Shift-N to make a new layer. Name the layer “Background”. Set this layer under the model’s one.
Step 2
Activate the Brush Tool (B) and select #009e7d and paint over the background.
5. How to Turn the Model Black and White
Select the Model layer in the Layers panel and turn it black and white. Click on Image > Adjustments > Black and white, and then click OK or Alt-Shift-Control-B.
6. How to Add the UFO and the Crow
Step 1
Drag the UFO picture into Photoshop. We need to remove the background. Cut out the image using the Pen Tool (P). Find a spot on the main image, and click on a point to start drawing the outline. To finish, we have to click from the last point to the first one we did. Press Control-(+) to zoom in and Control-(-) to zoom out during the process.
Step 2
Now we want to import the UFO into the main file. Select the UFO layer, use the Move Tool (V), and drag the image into the main canvas. Then resize it to make it fit on the model’s head. To resize, press Control-T, holding the Shift key while resizing the UFO image.
Step 3
Now we need to add the crow. Drag the image into Photoshop, and use the Pen Tool (P) to draw the crow’s outline. Then, click on the Marquee Tool (M), Right-click, and Select inverse if the background is not selected. Otherwise, Right-click, Make Selection, and then press Delete.
Step 4
Drag the crow image into the main file. Resize the image. Press Control-T, holding the Shift key while resizing. Use the Move Tool (V) and bring the crow onto the model’s left shoulder. Then we want to adjust the contrast and brightness.
Step 5
Next, we want to adjust the brightness of the UFO. Select Brightness / Contrast in the adjustment palette, and then bring down the Brightness to -110. Next, to apply the adjustment on the UFO only, press Alt on the adjustment layer and click on the layer thumbnail (the white square on the layer) to apply the settings.
Step 6
Now, we want to adjust the contrast and brightness on the model as well as on the other elements. First, group all layers except the background together. Then, select Brightness/Contrast and boost the Contrast to +81. Place the adjustment layer above the group layer, and then press Alt on the adjustment layer and click to apply the settings to the model only, not the background.
7. How to Add the Waves
Drag the wave picture into the main canvas. Place the layer under the model's layer. Then, duplicate the waves layer by pressing Control-J and place that layer above the model's layer. Use the Move Tool (V) to place the images as shown below.
8. How to Add the Yellow Circle and the Patterns
Step 1
Select the Ellipse Tool (U), change the fill color to #ffff01, and draw a medium circle. Then place the layer under the model's layer. Use the Move Tool (V) to center the image.
Step 2
Drag the pattern image into the main canvas and bring the layer under the model's and the wave layer.
Step 3
Then, lower the Opacity to 16%. Resize the patterns by pressing Control-T. Hold Shift while resizing.
9. How to Add Tribal Marks, Faux Sunglasses, and Stars
Step 1
We want to add some tribal marks. Activate your Ellipse Tool (U). Make sure the fill color is white, draw a small circle, and duplicate the layer four times by pressing Control-J. Redistribute the circles on the cheeks, forehead, and chin.
Then activate your Ellipse Tool (U) again, and duplicate the layer four times by pressing Control-J. Use the Move Tool (V) to align the circles vertically and group the layers. Now duplicate the group layer twice and redistribute them on the two corners and on the model's chest as shown.
Step 2
Now we want to create our faux sunglasses. Use the Pen Tool (P) and draw the sunglasses outline as shown below.
Step 3
Next, we want to remove the part we outlined. Right-Click, select Make Selection, and then hit Delete.
Step 4
Bring the stars picture into the main canvas. Place the layer under the Main Image layer. Activate the Pen Tool (P) and draw around the sunglasses shape, and then Right-Click, select Make Selection, Select Inverse, and hit Delete.
10. How to Retouch in Adobe Lightroom
Step 1
We want to add more contrast to our artwork. Bring the Exposure to +0.24, the Clarity to +21, and the Vibrance to +62. Then go to the Hue palette and boost the Orange Hue to +100.
Step 2
Next, boost the Grain level to +54 and the Dehaze amountto +10.
11. How to Export the Final Artwork From Adobe Lightroom
Now that we are finished, we want to export our artwork as a JPEG. Click File, then Export. Select in which folder we want to save the image. Then click Export.
Awesome Work, You're Done!
I hope that you've enjoyed the tutorial and learned something new for your own projects. Feel free to share your results or leave comments in the box below. Keep creating!
