Learn How to Create a Super Creative Collage Effect

Learn how to create a super creative collage effect, using a range of photo manipulation, blending and compositional techniques in this Adobe Photoshop tutorial. Youll learn how to correctly extract your images, layer up various effects to create a sense of depth and detail, and create a cool sketchy hand-drawn effect for your photos.

Final Image

Step 1
Create a new file with a width of 650px and a height of 1040 px at 72 dpi (Dots per Inch). Background Contents should be White.

Step 2
To start off well use various textures to create a subtle distressed background. First, add a group folder called Texture, then open 1.jpg from these colored grunge textures . Place this within the folder, then hit Command/Ctrl + T and resize to cover the canvas. Name the layer Texture 1.

The result should be similar to this:

Reduce opacity to 30%

Now add 8.jpg as a new layer within the same folder, then hit Command/Ctrl + T and resize to cover the canvas and name it Texture 2.

Change the Blend Mode to Overlay and lower its Opacity to 50%.

Place 2.jpg from the source folder as a new layer within the same folder. Resize and label it Texture 3.

Step 3
Change the layer mode to soft light and reduce opacity to 45%:

Now Create a new Color balance adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette .

When the Color balance box opens, input the following:

Now create a new Levels adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette . When the Levels box opens, input the following: :

The result should be similar to this:

First off, lets open the girl stock Red 3-Mihaela-VStock in Photoshop. We will be using the girl from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

press p to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the girl and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas

The result should be similar to this: .

Now create a new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layers (girl layer and Curves) to make a mask. When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Now create a new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layers (sky layer and Curves) to make a mask. When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Step 4
Press Alt+left click in between 2 layers (Girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.

Now create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layers (girl layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask. When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following:

Now create a new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layers (girl layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

Now create a new Levels adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layers (girl and Levels) to make a mask. When the Levels box opens, input the following: :

The result should be similar to this:

s Now,lets open the WaterColor2 in Photoshop. We will be using the texture from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 5
Change the layer mode to overlay and reduce opecity to 79%. Now add vector mask from the bottom of the layers palette . Now activate the Brush tool (B) with these settings :

Brush size: 400px Hardness: 0% Opacity: 40% Flow: 100% Color: #000000 Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:.

Now activate the Brush tool (B) with these settings : Brush size: 400px Hardness: 0% Opacity: 40%

Flow: 100% Color: #3057e4 Now paint over the highlighted area.:

Now, change the layer mode to soft light

Repeat the same process using #dc2d30 as foreground color :

Now, lets open the Drawing Flower Pattern in Photoshop. We will be using the vectors from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

change the layer mode to multiply and reduce opacity to 65%.

Step 6
Now,lets make a new layer and name it Shape 1 activate Pen tool and draw a shape. See as below :

Now fill it with #1a29a0 color .

Repeat the same process and add more shapes .

The result should be similar to this:

Now, lets open the Flower 1 in Photoshop. We will be using the vectors from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas and name it Flower 1 .

The result should be similar to this:

Step 7
Now create a new Levels adjustment layer from the bottom of the layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layers (flower1 and Levels) to make a mask. When the Levels box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now add more flowers to our canvas.

Now, lets open the Flower 7 in Photoshop. We will be using the vectors from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas and name it Tattoo.

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the Tattoo layer is selected resize it as shown below:

Step 8
now change the layer mode to multiply

Now add a vector mask from the bottom of layers palette . Now activate the Brush tool (B) with these settings : Brush size: 400px Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 40% Flow: 100% Color: #000000 Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Now, lets open the Blue blotch in Photoshop. We will be using the texture from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the Snail layer is selected resize it as shown below:

now change the layer mode to multiply and reduce opacity to 60%

Repeat the same process and add the same effect to the second eye .

And Were Done!