Watercolor Portrait

Photo

Start with a new PS document canvas size 800 x 800 px.

Add 3 folders/groups…

Rename the folders as shown below…

Add Photo

Find your own photo of whoever you like, just make sure it’s big enough to start (first number should be at least 800).

• Try to use a photo with most of the face showing, hair pulled back or off the face. You can also choose an artistic/cartoon type of photo.
• It’s a good idea to get a light/bright photo, can search for “artistic” when you search for the person.

Select the “photo” folder, then paste (CTRL+V). This should put the photo into that folder.

It should be at least this size (size it down to this if it’s bigger using CTRL+T).

• If it’s too big, size it down a bit using CTRL+T.
• If it’s too small, find a better picture.

Filter

Right-click or go to more layer options, and Convert to Smart Object…

You should see the icon.

Then go to the Filter Gallery > Artistic > Watercolor…

• increase Brush Detail to 12
• reduce Shadow Intensity down to 0

Masking

Add a layer mask to the photo layer.

Make sure you’re on the default colors.

Select the Brush tool and set the softness to 50% and size to 100px.

Paint around the head to keep the face/hair/neck…

Rotate?

Select the photo part of the layer and CTLR+T to rotate it if needed.

When you [Enter] to apply the transformation, you should see the filter again.

Levels

Add an adjustment layer… Levels

Go to the Properties tab:

1. Move the black slider to ~70
2. Move the white slider a bit to the left
3. At the bottom, click on the clipping mask button.

Your layer should look like this…

Brushes

Start by collapsing the photo folder, and add a new layer to the brushes folder.

Add more layers and rename them 1-4.

Select the Brush Tool.

Go to the Brushes panel on the right, and expand the Watercolor Portrait folder and select one of the brushes.

Choose a color.

Make the first layer active and click (do not click & drag) near the head.

Change the color and the type of watercolor brush. Make layer 2 active and click near the head.

Change the color and the type of watercolor brush. Make layer 3 active and click near the head.

Change the color and the type of watercolor brush. Make layer 4 active and click near the head.

Collapse the brushes folder and make it active.

Then add a layer mask.

Use this brush to click a few times on the face area to make it clear again.

Text

Select the text folder.

Select the Text tool and choose a thick font type (BD Cartoon Shoutout or another thick font type), about size 60.

Click in the middle-bottom of the canvas.

Replace the sample text by typing in the person’s name. Click off in an empty part ofr the Layers panel to set the text.

CTRL+T the layer to adjust the size and position of the text. Make sure it’s not locked so you can make it taller.

[Enter] to apply the transformation.

Watercolor Letters

Insert a blank new layer above the text.

Hide the text layer; make sure the blank layer is still active.

Hold CTRL and click on the “T” for the text layer to select the text outline.

Select a light color and select the biggest watercolor brush.

Click over the outlined area.

CTRL+D to deselect and see the result.

If you don’t like it, you can backtrack and try a different color/brush.

Background

Close the text folder and make sure it’s active.

Then add a Pattern adjustment layer above the folder.

Choose the first Canvas type.

Set the Scale to 50%.

Your canvas will look like this at 100% view.

Change the layer blend mode to Multiply.

You should now see the canvas texture with the photo and brushes.

Your layers are like this collapsed…

Expand the folders by holding CTRL and clicking on any of the folder arrows.

Reset the Brush Tool back to the default so it’s easier for the next projects you work on.