- BLEND PHOTOS WITH VECTOR BACKGROUNDS
15. DEVELOP
ILLUSTRATIONS
IN PHOTOSHOP
Carolina Díaz (www.carolinadiaz.com.co) creates
fashion illustrations that use professional photography
and vector backgrounds for commercial advertising
designs. This is a great technique that you can use on
your own portraits to turn them into effective artwork:
“To blend the vectors with the backgrounds of the
photography, I use the Multiply blending mode. That
way, the vectors adjust to the shadows, colours, and
textures of the photograph. I also adjust the Opacity of
each layer. The darker layers are going to look closer,
while the lighter ones appear further away. To intensify
this effect, I add Inner or Outer Glows in the blending
options of each layer. Adding this is not only going to
create different levels, but give volume and depth to
each element. I separate the silhouette from the
photography by adding a vector mask to a duplicated
layer of the photography layer, and erasing the
Graphic and textile designer Carolina Díaz creates
her striking fashion artwork by importing vectors
and shapes individually into Photoshop: “I bring
each element in separately or in a small group of
elements with the purpose of each one being on
a different layer. This way, it is easier to treat each
vector. I add textures to the vectors and blend
them together with the Multiply blending mode. I
adjust the opacity depending on how saturated I
want the texture to look. I also add images into
the blank spaces created by the vectors, which
include geometrical or arabesque patterns. I add
other illustrations made in Photoshop, which are
mostly images mediated with the Brush tool.
Finally... I add Inner or Outer Glows [for] depth.”
background with the Brush tool. Working over the
vector mask, and with black as a foreground colour, I
can erase the background by painting over it, or use a
white foreground colour if I want to uncover
something. This is easier than using the regular eraser,
because you can cover or uncover the elements any
time you want, without permanently erasing them.”
- TREAT VECTORS WITH THE CHALK BRUSH
Vectors can sometimes look too crisp and clean for
your needs. Photoshop’s tools enable you to give a
more handmade look and feel. For Aldo Crusher, he
achieves this using the Brush tool: “I like to use the
Chalk and Ink brushes for a handmade, fun look
that’s full of textures. I start by re-tracing the vector
shapes [that I have made] with a Chalk brush. I like
the irregularity it gives to the edges. The vector
shapes work as a guide for me. I then use the
same brush with less Flow to achieve some
texture. I apply these textures into two new
layers: one in Multiply and the other in Screen or
Color Dodge. To finish the illustration I add a little
bit of noise with the Noise filter.”
Brand: PuroCorazón Handbags and AccessoriesCreative Direction: Carolina Restrepo
Graphic Design: Carolina DíazPhotography: Alejandra Devescovi and Leslie Spak
Makeup: Luis SalcedoStyling: Lía Lázaro
Model: Mapple Sam
© Aldo Crusher
Before
Brand: PuroCorazón Handbags and Accessories
Creative Direction: Carolina RestrepoGraphic Design: Carolina Díaz
Photography: Alejandra Devescovi and Leslie SpakMakeup: Luis Salcedo
Styling: Lía LázaroModel: Mapple Sam
