Ideas on how to make the image below

f5chaser · 09-11-2009

I want to learn how to make something like this below. I have stock footage of the race cars and I know how to use fluid mask to isolate the race car to lay on the background but I do not know how to add or make all of the other stuff except for the lettering at the top.

**unleash** · 09-11-2009

Here is a little sum up from all the components. If you want to get more info, ask a more specific question. For example: you read below " patterns" and you have no clue on how to make them, ask for it

Quote:

The background (the blue) is a pattern... on a background layer that is.

Than on top of that you have the photograph of the crowd (below-left). which has been partially masked or erased not sure which one...

Than over that layer there is a layer with the white bark like stuff... this is the same as the previous layer.

Than you have the stars which are on at least two layers so that some are behind the car photo, and others are in front. These stars are made with the standard photoshop brushes (I have seen them since CS2 but they could be in earlier versions as well).

Than you have the jagged edge of the photo, which is made with the path tool (a lot of work). and than duplicated and made smaller to use as mask.

Finally you have all the bevels and gradients, but that is something you have to figure out for yourself.
To open the bevel menu, left-click on a layer > layer style > bevel
To open the gradients menu, left-click on a layer > layer style > gradients

What I stated above is all done with photoshop... There probably are other ways with other programs, but I am not aware of those...

I hope it helps!

f5chaser · 09-11-2009

Okay thank you that gets me headed in the right direction but one more question.

Excluding the picture of the car....is it possible to make a "template" (not sure if this is the right PS term) and save the template for future use or another way..save it and put different pictures of cars in place of the original?

**Tamlin** · 09-11-2009

Just make sure that your car image is on its own layer and then save the PSD file. To create another image: reopen the PSD, replace the image on the car layer with a different one and then Save As a new name.

f5chaser · 09-11-2009

Awesome. I will try that..but first I have to learn how to do all those other steps so I need to do some searching here.

**Tamlin** · 09-11-2009

Well, if you get stuck don't forget you can always ask questions here. We like to help.

f5chaser · 09-11-2009

Is this process possible with PS Elements or will I have to use full blown PS? I know one is a watered down version of the other but seems to be a bit easier to use.

**Tamlin** · 09-11-2009

I'm not very familiar with Elements, but as far as I know all the basic features you'll need to use (layers, styles etc.) are incorporated in Elements as well as the full version of Photoshop. The only feature you might miss is Layer Masks.

This page discusses the main differences between PS CS4 and Elements 7:

Photoshop Elements 7 or Photoshop CS4?

f5chaser · 09-11-2009

I am trying to fumble through this...does anyone have a quick explaination on the difference between a layer and a channel.

To me a layer would be an exact copy of the original that you can work with to make whatever changes you need to within PS while your original stays intact.

A channel is....???????

MoodsR4Cattle · 09-11-2009

There is pretty good explanation of layers here:

Photoshop Layers explained

**Tamlin** · 09-11-2009

These two links will help to explain Channels:

Photoshopgurus Photoshop Tutorials - Photoshop Channels Tutorial

Understanding Channels in Photoshop - Part One

**Kenneth** · 09-11-2009

Hi!
I think you can try to see layers as a bit of plastic put over your image. You can copy the whole image and work on that, or just create a new layer and do the adjustments there.
The original image will be intact as a background layer.
The channels shows how every colour (RGB) works on your image (Dont think you should worry to much about that, yet)
Have a look at the layer palette! just create a new layers and do whatever you want.
You can then, lower opacity, try different blending ...
Then save as JPG and of course PSD, for further work.

**unleash** · 09-12-2009

or just go with Tiff... :P the format that stores layers, get insanely big in a short time and has high-end quality!

Ah well just kiddin,

I think Kenneth explained it quite good... and if you cant find the channels use the build in help function. There is a lot of hidden info stored in there! And ask it here

We have a lot of hidden but easily accessible info as well

f5chaser · 09-15-2009

Okay another question...I found the stars brush in PS BUT I want to make them more of a chrome color. How do you make chrome?

**Tamlin** · 09-15-2009

The easiest and quickest way (if you have applied your star brush strokes to a separate layer) is to use a custom Layer Style.
There are some you can download right here at BioRUST:

BioRUST.com :: Downloads >> Oxidized Chromes

Or do a search for "photoshop chrome layer styles" or something similar. There are lots out there. Here's just one example:

Free Photoshop Styles Download: 28 new free styles of chrome metals for Photoshop

If you want to try making your own chrome effect, there's a tutorial here:

Chrome in Photoshop

That focuses on chrome text but you can easily adapt it to apply to brush strokes.