In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a vintage photo effect using brushes and adjustment layers in Adobe Photoshop.
I created a Vintage Photo Press with different vintage effects using the same method for my GraphicRiver portfolio.
Tutorial Assets
You will need the following in order to complete this tutorial:
- Any photo you want to use for this manipulation. You can find some free photos on Unsplash and Pixabay or buy high-quality photos on PhotoDune. I chose this photo from Unsplash.
- A free brush created by me specifically for this tutorial.
1. How to Prepare the Document
Step 1
Go to File > New and create a new file to work with. Use the following settings: Width: 2000 px; Height: 1500 px; 300 dpi.
Step 2
Go to File > Place and put your image inside the document.
Step 3
Right-Click on the layer, and then click Convert to Smart Object.
Step 4
Select your background layer and then go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color and chose #ebebeb color.
Step 5
Now we need to delete the background layer by clicking on the Delete Layer icon.
Step 6
Create a new layer above the image using the Shift-Control-N shortcut.
Step 7
Select the image and the texture layers while holding Shift, and then click on the Create a New Group icon.
2. How to Create the Texture
Step 1
Select the smart object and then go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Use the following settings: Amount: 5%; Distribution: Uniform; Monochromatic: On.
Step 2
Now let’s create a texture with our free brush. Select the texture layer and then click B to activate the Brush Tool and draw the texture you want to use for this manipulation.
Step 3
Change the Fill of the texture to 0%.
Step 4
Double Click on the texture layer and use the following settings: Knockout: Shallow.
Now the color of the texture depends on the first fill layer. If you change the color of the fill layer, your texture will also change color.
Step 5
Change the Opacity of the texture to 35%.
3. How to Create a Vintage Color Correction
Step 1
Now let’s create color correction layers. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map and create a black and white gradient.
Step 2
Change the Blending Mode of the gradient map to Soft Light and the Opacity of the layer to 25%.
Step 3
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast and create a new layer with the following settings: Brightness: -5; Contrast: -15.
Step 4
Create another gradient map as we did before, and use the following colors: #564e63 and #8c96a2.
Step 5
Change the Blending Mode of the layer to Hard Light.
Step 6
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Exposure and create a new layer with the following settings: Offset: +0,0500.
Step 7
Now let’s go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation and create a new layer with the following settings: Saturation: -25.
Step 8
After that, we need to create the last adjustment layer. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter and use the following settings: Color: #e49d16.
Step 9
Change the Blending Mode of the layer to Color and the Opacity to 70%.
Step 10
Now we can add a vignette using the gradient fill layer. Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient and create a black and white gradient with the following settings: Style: Radial; Scale: 100%; Reverse: On.
Step 11
Change the Blending Mode of the layer to Soft Light and the Opacity to 20%.
Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!
In this way, we can create a vintage photo manipulation with a fade effect and a texture overlay using Adobe Photoshop.
If you would like to create similar effects in a few simple clicks, then check out my Vintage Photo Press item in my GraphicRiver portfolio.
{excerpt}
Read More