Smart Object
Select the photo layer and go to more layer options… Convert to Smart Object.
You should see this icon in the layer thumbnail.
Filters
Dry Brush
Make sure your photo layer is active…
Then go to Filter > Filter Gallery.
Under Artistic, choose Dry Brush: (10, 10, 1)
You will see the smart filter in the layer.
Watercolor
Go to Filter Gallery again, under Artistic, choose Watercolor (14, 0 , 1)
You will see the smart filter in the layer.
Smart Blur
Go to Filter > Blur > Smart Blur … (5, 100, high quality)
Double-click on the slider for the smart filter…
Change the blend mode to Screen and reduce opacity to 50%.
This is the result…
Find Edges
Go to Filter > Stylize > Find Edges.
Double-click on the slider for the smart filter…
Change the blend mode to Multiply
This is the result…
Paper Texture
Expand Canvas
Select the Crop Tool.
Pull out from the tops and sides (evenly), something like this…
[Enter] to apply the cropping.
Paper Photo
Click on the picture below and copy the full-size photo into your document.
Paste it in your document (CTRL+V).
Rename the layer to “paper”.
Resize
CTRL+T to resize it to cover the entire canvas; [Enter] to apply the transformation.
Blend Mode
Change the layer blend mode to Multiply.
Brushes
Photo Layer Mask
Add a layer mask to the photo layer.
Make sure your colors are the default (‘D‘) and switch so white is the foreground (‘X‘).
Fill the mask with black (CTRL+Backspace).
Wide
Select the Brush tool.
Then go to the top-right panel and go to the Brushes tab.
Then expand the Watercolor Painting folder.
Go into the Wide folder and select one of the brushes.
Then click once in the middle of the canvas.
Make sure the brush doesn’t touch the edge of the photo. If it does (get a straight edge), CTRL+Z to undo and try again.
Tall
Expand the Tall folder and choose one of the brushes.
Click on the canvas near the middle – try to make sure you don’t get any straight edges.
Edges
Select a few brushes from the Edges folder.
Click near the edges, but try not to get any straight lines.
Straight Lines?
If you see the straight edges from the photo, then you need to:
- Switch your color to black and paint on the layer mask with with a variety of smaller brushes on the edges of the photo to get a softer/nicer edge.
- Then switch color back to white (‘X‘) and paint in some nice jagged edges (so long as the edge of the photo isn’t showing).
Spray
Make sure your color is white.
Change the brushes and select 1-2 of the Grunge > Spray brushes…
Make sure the photo layer mask is active and click on the canvas in a few places…
Get your project checked so far…
Change Photo
Click on one of the photos below and copy the full-size image.
Double-click on the smart object icon on the photo layer…
This opens the linked PSB file.
Paste the picture (CTRL+V).
Save the file (CTRL+S), then go back to your main document.
You should now see the updated result.
Get your project checked so far…
Reset the Brush tool to the default…
