Getting Started
Start with a PS document size 1400 x 700px.
Select the Text tool. Click to add text (2 letters).
Click off to set the text. You should see what you’ve typed as the layer name.
Then select the layer again, CTRL+T and make it bigger, filling the canvas more.
Double-click on the “T” for the text layer, then go to the Options Bar and change the font type to something thick that you like.
Then resize again (CTRL+T) to fill the canvas as much as possible like this. Unlock the transform tool so you can stretch/squish the letters…
Double-click on the “T” layer thumbnail and change the font color to red (so it’s easy to see as you go if you are missing pieces when masking).
- Select the Background layer
- Add an adjustment layer Solid Color … set it to any light color for now.
- Delete the Background layer.
Lines
Select the Line tool and set it to the same light color as the background; set the thickness to 10px. Draw from outside the edge to outside the other edge a bit.
Repeat to get something like this…
Select the line layers (SHIFT-click) and group them (CTRL+G). Rename the folder “lines”.
CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E to create a merged copy. Rename the layer.
Move it so it’s above the text layer, below the folder like this…
Photos
Text Mask
Made the outline merged layer active, then click on the folder icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a folder/group above it. Rename the folder “photos”.
CTRL+click on the “T” for the text layer to select the text area…
Then select the photos folder and add a layer mask…
First Photo
Select the photos folder, then paste a photo into it; rename it to something appropriate.
With the photo layer active, CTRL+T to resize/move it so it’s in one of the sections. Relock the transform tool so the photos stay proportional.
Select the Wand Tool.
Make the outline merged layer active and click on the area you want to have that photo showing…
Make the photo layer active and add layer mask.
If you want to change the position of the photo within the area, unlink the photo & mask …
…then make the photo part of the layer active, CTRL+T and move/resize it as you want.
Next Photo
Add another photo. Rename the layer.
CTRL+T and move it into a section area.
Then select the outline merged layer, click in the area with the Magic Wand tool.
Select the photo layer again and add a layer mask.
If you want to change the size or reposition the photo to better fit the area:
- first unlink the mask
- select the photo part of the layer
- then CTRL+T to move/position it in that area
More Photos
Repeat these steps for more photos:
- Paste in a pictures – rename the layer
- CTRL+T to resize/position
- Make the outline merged layer active.
- Select the area with the Wand Tool.
- Select the photo layer and add layer mask.
When you’re done, collapse the folder…
Finishing Touches
Hide the outline merged layer.
Change the text layer’s Fill to 0% (so now none of the red text should show anymore).
CTRL+click on the “T” for the text layer…
Select the lines folder and add a layer mask.
Drop Shadow
Make the text layer active again and add layer style Drop Shadow.
Texture
Click on the paper photo below and copy the full-size image. Then CTRL+T to resize it to fill the canvas.
Change the layer blend mode to Multiply, reduce opacity to 50%.
Change Color
Double-click on the Color Fill adjustment layer and choose a color from one of the photos or another light color.
Duplicate (CTRL+J). Then move the layer above the lines folder and make it a clipping mask.
