Abstract Coloring - Photoshop Tutorial

Our 21th tutorial on AREA 1, creating an abstract photo manipulation!

Here’s what can you achieve by following this tutorial:
Abstract Coloring

Final Result - Tutorial 21

Let’s get it started!

First, create a new document (800×600 px).

Take this image, import it to Adobe Photoshop, scale it down and cut the kid using the Lasso Tool or Quick Selection Tool.

Duplicate the layer and change the blending mode of the top layer to Overlay.

Take this image, import in to Adobe Photoshop and flip it vertical. Put this layer behind the other two layers.

Now create a new layer (), put it above the grunge wall layer & set the blending mode to Overlay, change the foreground color to #FFB2B2 and using the Rising Sun Brushes make something like this.

Select the newly created layer and the grunge wall layer and merge them by pressing CTRL + E.

Create a new layer, select the 9th brush from Galactic Brushes. Right click on the layer and go to Gradient Overlay. Use: Blend mode: Normal / Opacity: 60% / Gradient: Rainbow / Style: Radial / Angle: 112 / Scale: 100.

Create, again, a new layer, select the 686 sized brush from Life Brushes. Make it look like I did in the screenshot.

Repeat the process above 2 times more using different colors. I’ve used #E7B241 and #C34FC4.

Now select the first layer created using the Life Brushes, duplicate it, change the Blending mode of the top layer to Overlay and after select the original layer and go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set it to 1.
Do this 2 more times for the other colored layers.

Now, above this layers, create 3 new layers and using the 3 colors we used above draw some butterflies. One color & one butterfly on each layer. Repeat the process with overlaying & bluring for each layer.

Create a new layer and click 3 times using the 1st brush from Abstract Fractals Brushes.

Now create a new layer, chane the Blending mode to Color and put it above the layer created in the process above. Select the soft brush, 200px sized and using different colors draw some colored spots.

Create a new layer, the final one, and use the 382 sized brush from Genisis Brushes. Rotate it 180 and after apply the rainbow color gradient on it.

That’s it! Hope you’ll like the result!

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Written by: Mihai Opariuc | Visit Website

My name is Opariuc Mihai, I'm a graphic/web designer from Ploiesti, Romania and I'm the owner of AREA 1. I hope we can share a lot of information, tips&tricks and ideas through this website. Follow me on Twitter or add me as a friend on Facebook.