Smart Object
Rename the photo layer.
Then go to more layer options and Convert to Smart Object.
Unlock the Background layer.
Delete it.
Add an adjustment layer …
…choose Solid Color (choose white).
Draw First Rectangle
Select the Rectangle tool.
Drag out a small rectangle on the canvas. Then go to the Options bar and set the fill color to black, no stroke, and set the width to 150 px and the height to 500 px.
Select the Move tool.
Move it so it near the left edge with some space and in the middle vertically…
Layer Styles
With the rectangle layer active, go to the bottom of the Layers panel and add layer style …
Choose Drop Shadow…
- bring opacity up to about 60%
- change the angle to top-left, about 120
- distance and size to 10.
With the layer styles window still open…
- click on Stroke (this will check the box and show the options on the right)
- Set the size to 5
- Set the color to white
- Click on OK to close the dialog box.
The rectangle on the canvas should look like this…
Your rectangle layer will show the styles…
Collapse the layer styles…
More Rectangles
Duplicate the rectangle layer (CTRL+J) so you have 4 more copies…
With the top rectangle still active, and using the Move tool …
… drag the last/top rectangle over to the right.
Hold SHIFT and click on the bottom rectangle layer to select all the rectangles…
Go to the Options bar and Distribute Horizontally…
Photos: Moved & Clipped
Select the photo layer and duplicate it (CTRL+J) so you have 4 copies.
Select the original photo layer and drag it up above the Rectangle 1 layer.
Turn the photo into a clipping mask. There are 2 ways to do this:
- Hold ALT and hover between the layers. When your cursor looks like a downward-facing arrow, click (don’t click & drag!).
- Select the photo and go to more layer options and choose Create Clipping Mask
When you’ve done that, you should see the photo showing in the first rectangle…
- Move the “photo copy” layer above “Rectangle 1 copy” layer
- Turn it into a clipping mask.
You should now see the photo in the 2nd rectangle.
Repeat for the other photos.
You should see the photo in each rectangle like this…
Transform Rectangles
Select the first/left Rectangle layer…
- CTRL+T to transform it.
- Then move it down a bit
- Change the angle: hover near the top corner, click and drag on the arrow.
- [Enter] or click on the next rectangle to apply the transformation
Repeat for the other rectangles:
- Select the next Rectangle layer
- CTRL+T
- move it up/down & rotate it
- Click off to apply
Your result should be alternating panels like this…
Change Photo
To change the photo, double-click on the smart object icon for any photo layer.
This will open the original photo in a new Photoshop tab.
Find your own photo on the internet (just make sure it’s big enough, at least as big as our photo which is 800×600). Paste it into new tab (CTRL+V).
Resize (CTRL+T) if needed so it covers the other photo.
[Enter] to apply the transformation. Then save (CTRL+S).
Go back to the working tab to see everything updated with the new photo.
