5/28/2015 Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

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This post is part of a series called Photoshop Tutorials for Beginners.

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Some time ago I wrote an article on my blog listing some fashionstyle illustrationsfrom really amazing designers such as Bruno Fujii, Margot Mace, Raphaël of MyDead Pony, Stina Person, and others. The coolest thing in their design work is theiruse of watercolor effects. So in this tutorial I will show a quick way to simulate thateffect using only Photoshop and some brushes.

Final Image PreviewBefore we get started, let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. Click thescreenshot below to view the fullsize image. As always, the full layered Photoshopfile is available via our Psdtuts+ Plus membership.

EFFECTS

Create Cool Watercolor Effects inPhotoshopby Fabio Sasso 27 May 2008 175 Comments

11 1 34

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Step 1Create a new document and a new layer. Rename the layer to "texture" and fill itwith white. Make sure that the foreground is white and the background is black.Then go to Filter>Texture>Texturizer, and use Canvas for the Texture, 80% Scaling,and 2 for the Relief.

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5/28/2015 Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

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Step 2Place an image in your document. The one used in this tutorial can be downloadedat this link. Then delete the background. You can use the Path Tool (P) or thePolygonal Lasso Tool (L). Tip: It doesn't need to be perfect because we will applysome filters in the next step.

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5/28/2015 Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

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Step 3Select the layer of the girl and go to Image>Adjustments>Levels. We want toincrease the whites here. Then go to Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation, andchange the Saturation to 65.

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Step 4Now go to Filter>Artistic>Watercolor. Use the following settings: Brush Detail 9,Shadow Intensity 0, and Texture 1.

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Step 5With the girl's layer selected, go to Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal All. Then select theBrush Tool (B), with black for the color, and mask the body of the girl.

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Step 6We need the Bittbox Watercolor Brushes 2 that you can download at this link.

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Next we create a new layer. Then with the Brush Tool (B) selected, choose theseventh brush from the BB Watercolor Brushes. Use black for the color. Then reduceits size to fit the document. After that, rotate and resize the layer. The idea is tocreate watercolorstyle hair for the girl using the brush.

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Step 7Now go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Change the Fill Opacity to 0. Thenselect the Color Overlay option. Use red for the color and Multiply for the blendmode. For the Opacity use 70%. Then select the Satin option. Use Hard Light for theblend mode, purple (#5d085c) for the color, 20º for the Angle, Distance 4px, andSize 12px.

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Step 8Create a new layer. Then select another brush with the Brush Tool(B). I used the17th Bittbox Brush. The concept we're using is to design different creativelookinghairstyles. So let's continue with that. On a new layer, paint some brush strokes inthe middle of the screen. Then resize and rotate them until they look good. Youshould achieve a stylized hair look, as in the image below.

Step 9Go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Set the Fill Options to 0. Then add aColor Overlay. Use Overlay for the blend mode, Blue (#002cec) for the color, and setit to 50% Opacity. Then select Satin. Then use the following settings: a slightly

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darker blue (#065795) color, a Linear Burn for the blend mode, a 100% Opacity, a19º Angle, an 11px Distance, and a 14px Size.

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Step 10Let's brush in some more hair. This time we'll use green. Create a new layer, andselect the Brush Tool(B). Then select another brush from the watercolor set. Selectthe last one, reduce its size, and paint more hair. Use just one click when brushing.After that you can resize and rotate it.

Now go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Again set the Fill Options to 0. Thenadd a Color Overlay, use Multiply for the blend mode, Green (#18ff00) for the color,and 100% for the Opacity. Then select Satin. Use the following settings: darkergreen (#0b9600), Darken for the blend mode, 100% Opacity, 19º Angle, 4pxDistance, and 7px Size.

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5/28/2015 Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

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Step 11Next we repeat the process one more time. Create a new layer. Then select theBrush Tool(B). Select another brush, reduce its size, and paint more hair. Adjust it byresizing and rotating it until it looks good.

Again, go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Change the Fill Options to 0.Then add a Color Overlay, use Hard Light for the blend mode, yellow (#ffe400) forthe color, and 100% for the Opacity. Then select Satin. Use the following settings:darker yellow (#a2a406), Color Burn for the blend mode, 100% Opacity, 19º Angle,17px Distance, and 73px Size.

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5/28/2015 Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

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Step 12Now select the layer with the girl's face. Change the blend mode to Screen. Thenmake some adjustments, like fixing the neck using a regular brush with a white color.

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5/28/2015 Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

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Step 13Type the text you want; I typed Psdtuts+. Then go to Layer>Layer Style>GradientOverlay. Create a gradient using Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. Use 180º for theangle and Normal for the blend mode.

Create another layer, and make sure that the text is on top of this new layer. Thenwith the Rectangular Marquee Tool, create a rectangle selection and fill it with white.Next we merge these two layers (the text with the white rectangle). This is necessaryto add some text effects; otherwise the filters wouldn't work well.

5/28/2015 Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Tutorial

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Step 14Now we apply some filters to the text. First go to Filter>Brush Strokes>SprayedStrokes. Use Stroke Length 17, Spray Radius 0, and Stroke Direction Vertical. Afterthat go to Filter>Artistic>Watercolor. Use the following settings: Brush Detail 11,Shadow Intensity 0, and texture 1. That will create a nice text effect, or you could

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experiment with different filters until you achieve optimal results.

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ConclusionThis tutorial presents a quick and easy way to create a nice design. We achievedthis by mixing a photo with watercolor effects. We used some watercolor brushesand played with blend modes. Keep in mind though, if you can paint it for real, youwill be able to create very original artwork, like the designers I mentioned before.

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Difficulty:Intermediate

Categories:

Effects Adobe Photoshop

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About Fabio Sasso

I am a Brazilian designer living in Porto Alegre (south of Brazil). In 2003, I founded a web design studiocalled ZEE, with Fabiano Meneghetti, an architect and friend of mine. It's a small studio now, with 4 peopleworking basically with web.

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175 Comments Psdtuts+ Login1

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• Reply •

alice • 4 years ago

I can't get pass step 3... i can't get get hue/saturation to work... please help me!

thank you 10

• Reply •

Dorian • 2 years ago

how do i get the watercolor filter in CS6? 5

• Reply •

Taylor • 3 years ago

Wow ! Great ! Thank you so much ! 3

• Reply •

Dorian • 2 years ago

Cant find the Texture option on my CS6, please help. 2

• Reply •

Lauren • 2 years ago

Thanks! But on step three I think you meant saturation as '65' not '65' 2

• Reply •

jmarreros • 6 years ago

very interesting, specially the text effect looks really nice. Thanks for sharing the tut 1

mk • 2 years ago

yay! this is great :)

Recommend 4

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• Reply •

yay! this is great :)

• Reply •

Kellie • 2 years ago

Brush download link is broken

• Reply •

Dorian • 2 years ago> Kellie

It was not for me, were you able to download it by now?

• Reply •

ginner jared zapata • 2 years ago

thank u man! i've learned a lot with this!

• Reply •

arslion • 2 years ago

WOW, awesome !!

• Reply •

Wolf4ayms • 2 years ago

Thank you very much for it, excellent!

• Reply •

Shakeem • 3 years ago

does the bittbox Watercolor Brushes 2 work on Adobe photoshop cs6????

• Reply •

Jotrem • 3 years ago> Shakeem

Yes!

• Reply •

Pkzip • 3 years ago

during last steps, is the blending mode changed?Since the white rectangle stands out from textured background, it does feel a little sketchy.Great tutorial otherwise.

Thank you very much!

• Reply •

Karolis Ramanauskas • 3 years ago

Thank you for great tutorial, I really enjoyed it :)

prajesh • 3 years ago

wat are the brush settings??? i don get the same effect wit my brush settings... :(

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• Reply •

wat are the brush settings??? i don get the same effect wit my brush settings... :(

• Reply •

Cosmos Pham • 3 years ago

Do not drag mouse while using brush, so you'll have result like in this tut ^^

• Reply •

Cosmos Pham • 3 years ago> Cosmos Pham

Choose the size of the brushes big for best result. 2

• Reply •

karen • 3 years ago

Awesome~ thank youuuu!! <3

• Reply •

Omar • 4 years ago

Hey Fabio, I have serious trouble in step 6. Every time i apply the brush around the face, thebrush colors the face too, not like your tutorial is showing, which the brush stroke is around ofthe face. I don't know how to get through it, and would much appreciate if you helped me withdetails please ? sorry I'm a newbie. thank you very much !

• Reply •

lolima • 3 years ago> Omar

you should put the face layer above all the hair layers.. 1

• Reply •

a hater • 4 years ago

i hate this. Next time let me know in the beginning that i have to download somethingbcuz im at school and we are cheap and dont have the permission to download stiuff

• Reply •

janosch • 4 years ago

hey,have a question:what type of text you use?

• Reply •

jessica • 4 years ago

i downloaded the brushes but they don't look smooth and like yours....what am i doing wrong? if i reduce the seperation, i lose the texture, if i seperate it, it looksreally gross

Cristian • 5 years ago

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• Reply •

Cristian • 5 years ago

Where can I download the brushes you used? =)

• Reply •

Shannon • 5 years ago

Hi,

I was trying to do this for myself, but I noticed that when I move the brush, even if I don't clickseveral times, all it does is make imprints of the actual brush like this:http://www.flickr.com/photos/g...

How do I make it fluid as you have?Thank you!

• Reply •

Geo • 5 years ago

Hello this is Geo.. I'm following your tutorial, I'm in set 6, i already picked the 7brush from BBwatercolor brushes but is too dark , i had played with the opacity and fill but didn't work .. canyou give me more details also i don't understand when it says (re size the layer) what layer, upto how big or small the size. Please send me an email, i would like to finish this tutorial. by theway I'm using adobe cs2

• Reply •

lowell franga • 5 years ago

Great tut! I am a novice trying to learn new techniques and found your tutorial to be veryinformative. Can you tell me where you come up with the color numbers; i.e. Purple 5d085c? Isthere a chart I can purchase which will have these different colors and reference numbers? Aresponse would be appreciated. Thank you for the tut!

Lowell

• Reply •

Tess • 5 years ago> lowell franga

When you are in the Blend Options, and you choose color there is a color box (thedefault is red), click on that box and it will pop up another window where you changecolors. If you look at the very bottom you will see a box that has a number (#) sign infront of it, that is where you put those number/letter codes. They are called Hex codes,you can google them to find a chart. It's basically for every color this is a hex code tocreate it, and that's happens to be the hex code for that color of purple.

I hope this helps.

tzveti • 5 years ago

i love it, thanks so much, so simple and classy, great idea

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• Reply •

• Reply •

UtahRugbyGuy • 5 years ago

Very creative. Nice, simple, bold, classy. Definitely thinking outside the box. ...nicely done :)

• Reply •

s0natagrl • 5 years ago

doesn't work in cs4. can't perform the texture ont he first step....

• Reply •

Rowman • 5 years ago

Hi I see this tutorial called Watercolor Effects in Photoshop, this designe is to cool and I wantto know how can I use this desinge for a company I want to start advertising. that way I canserve this tutorial to use it as a way to make my logo or if you can buy me this designe, pleasecontact me for this situation, thanks for all. my email is peroquehuev@live.com.mx

• Reply •

preety rathi • 5 years ago

this is very nice. we like so much and its so simplethank's this tutorial very help me to know the graphics desigens

• Reply •

azareth of philippines • 5 years ago

It's nice tutorial...Thank's for your simple idea...

• Reply •

sara mir • 5 years ago

yar alla vry vry nice :)

• Reply •

Samit • 5 years ago

Hey, Really Nice Work!!!!

• Reply •

Angelo • 5 years ago

Gracias, está bueno

• Reply •

Cit arsm • 5 years ago

thank you :) happy

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• Reply •

Pixel • 5 years ago

Súper! felicidades!

• Reply •

acuriouslad • 5 years ago

you guys have amazing tutorials thanks so much!

• Reply •

aya • 5 years ago

awwwwww!!! <3 itttt!!

• Reply •

hiba • 5 years ago

tried it in a pic of mine and u know wt not bad at all >.<

thx alot xxx

• Reply •

marco • 5 years ago

Interessante, grazie

• Reply •

maren • 6 years ago

cool :D

• Reply •

zhell • 6 years ago

nice tutorialgreat work!i learned a lot from this articlekeep on posting!

geez... :)

• Reply •

tom • 6 years ago

veryvery cool tuts...should try this one..!!

• Reply •

hudan • 6 years ago

man...tatappp...mantapppp

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• Reply •

Paulo • 6 years ago

Exelente obrigado pelo tutor ajudou muito!abraço

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