Smart Object
Go to more layer options for the photo layer and choose Convert to Smart Object.
You should now see the smart object icon for the photo layer thumbnail.
Layer Masks
Add a layer mask to the photo layer.
Set your colors to the default (D) and then switch (X) so white is the foreground color.
Fill the mask with black (CTRL+Backspace).
CTRL+J to duplicate the photo layer until you have 3 copies.
Rename the layers as shown below:
Select the “faded” layer and set the opacity to 40%.
Select the “wide” layer and set the opacity to 60%.
Brush: Splash
Select the splash layer and make the mask active (you should see brackets around it).
Select the Brush Tool.
Go to the Options bar and go to the brush settings… expand the PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES folder. The brushes you will be using are in the Faded Edges folder.
Expand the Faded Edges folder, then select one of the brushes in the folder.
Click once in the middle of your canvas.
If you don’t like it, CTRL+Z and try clicking in a different spot, or try another brush.
You should see it show up in the layer mask like this…
Brush: Wide
Select the wide layer and make the layer mask active.
Choose a brush in the “wide” folder…
Click once in the middle of your canvas.
You should see it show up in the layer mask like this…
Brush: Faded
Select the fade layer and make the layer mask active.
Choose a brush in the “faded” folder and click once in the middle of your canvas.
You should have something like this in the layer mask now…
Brush: Spray
Make the spray layer mask active.
Select one of the spray brushes…
Click once in the middle of your canvas.
Your layer mask will look something like this…
Adjustment Layer: Pattern
Go to add an adjustment layer…
Choose Pattern…
Use the drop-down menu to go to PHOTOSHOP PATTERNS > Textures… and choose the first one…
Once you’ve chosen it, click in an empty area in the small pop-up window, then click to close it.
Change the layer blend mode to Overlay.
This is the result…
Make sure to update your file using CTRL+S before continuing.
Change Picture
Double-click on the smart object icon on the photo thumbnail for any layer…
This opens the linked PSB file.
Click on one of the pictures below and copy the full-size image.
Paste it in the PSB file (CTRL+V).
The PSB tab now has an * so you need to save it (CTRL+S).
Then go back to the main PSD document to see the changes.
Desktop Background
Go to File > Save a Copy… (or ALT+CTRL+S)
Then use the drop-down menu to change the file type to JPEG.
In the pop-up window, set the quality to 10-12.
Go to your folder and right-click on the JPG file and Set as desktop background.
Get your project checked off.
Reset brush
Reset the Brush tool to the default…
