Julian McMahon Tutorial

I don't know what pictures I'll use but I'm going to use this source. It has really good high quality images.

Please choose your own images and don't use mine, otherwise you're just copying. Experimenting with your own images will give you a sense of confidence and ownership of the blend. Make sure the images you choose are high quality and good to work with. Feel free to use the source I mentioned above to find some pictures. They could be of men or women, it doesn't really matter.

*Added 8/16/200* I don't know most of the resources I've used in this tutorial except for the ones I've already listed. However, if you do see something of yours here feel free to tell me so that I can add you. I don't know why people have to really keep pestering me about this, as it is obvious that if you see something of yours and it's not credited you will probably tell me.....anywaysss....on with the tutorial...

But there is a huge list of my sources here, which you're welcome to take a look at ^_^

1. Open a new canvas about 720 (width) X 384 (height) in pixels. File > New

2. Take this texture and put it on your canvas. Duplicate that layer 2 more types, so you have 3 identical textures laying on top. Set the second and third copy on multiply.

3. Then make a new layer (Layer > New > Layer) or SHIFT+ CTRL + N. Add the color #353535 to the layer. Set that layer on Multiply and set the opacity on 81%. Merge all these layers down OR flatten them (Layer > Flatten Image).

4. Take this background and put it in your canvas (on top of the background you've just made). Make sure you resize the texture I just gave you to a smaller size. Then set it on Lighten. Sharpen it a little by going to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. I sharpened it twice. This is what mine looks like.

5. Take the pictures you're using and resize them to fit on the background layer. If you're images are in color set, hit CTRL + SHIFT + U to make them black and white.

6. For your image make sure you do this. Duplicate the image. Set the second layer on soft light. Then select the first layer with your mouse (by clicking on it) then go to Filter > Blur > Surface Blur. Radius: 8 pixels, Threshold: 8 pixels. Then select the second copy of your image and go to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. Sharpen it at least 2-3 times. We want it to be sharp and not blurry.

7. Here's a trick; if the background of the person you're using is black, set the image on Lighten. If the image of the person you're using is white or light gray, set it on Darken. I don't like using the marquee tool to cut out images because, quite frankly, I'm not very patient. Also, when you use this method it really does work perfectly. If you get a little gray on the outside of image appearing, feel free to use the brush tool and erase a little of that. I'm using this image of Jessica Biel in this step.

8.
This is what I have so far. I'm going to add more images though. At most 2 more. Usually if you add less images it's best. If you look at my graphics, you'll never see more than 4 images. Usually, 3 at most. It's really distracting for the viewer when you add a lot of images, it makes the graphic too hectic and too many images take away from th beauty of the artistic piece.

9. Add a second image if you haven't already. I added this one. This is what mine looks like right now.

10. Now we're going to add some grunge. Take this texture, hit SHIFT + CTRL + U to make it black and white. Sharpen it 3 times. Set it on Lighten. Move the texture and put it underneath the second image or the image that is closest to the left. This is mine. As long as the texture is not overlapping over the face and it's blending in with the rest of the images and background, you're good to go.

11. Take this texture and set it on Lighten. Then Sharpen it one time. Feel free to duplicate this texture and use in other places. Mine.

13. I also used this texture, made it black and white, sharpened it and set it on lighten.

14. I think we need more color in there so take this (</a></b></a>solacia) set it on Lighten and put in empty places that look like need color. Don't use all the circles and just set it on lighten. Put it on a spot you want and then erase all the other. Do that for other places as well. Like this.

15. Take this flower and set it on Darken or Lighten, which ever you prefer. I set mine on Darken because I wanted some of the colored circles to appear and I wanted the flower to blend it with the blend rather than pop out. But if you want it to pop out, that would look fine too. I just didn't want it pop-out with this one, doesn't feel right. Mine.

16. We're going to add a little bit more style to it by using the pencil tool. Whatever color you used in the background click on that color with you're eye dropper and use it. I used pink (#da7289) just because it felt right. Mine.. If you're pencil brush isn't already set on 1 pixel, just edit it and set it on 1.

17. Font time! This is going to be a bit elegant and glowing yet grungy. Use the font LainieDaySH to type out the first letter of your subject's name in lowercase size 72 px. Then make another new text layer and type out the rest of the first name in Times New Roman size 18 px. When you type out the rest of the name (Mine being "essica") that you set the space between the letters at 200 pixels. That is found in the character window (Window > Character). Character image.

18. Then using the rectangle tool make a triangle behind the text that you used typed out. Merge the first letter (j) with the rest of the letters (essica) with the black rectangle. Then Sharpen one to two times. Mine.

20. If you want ,you can just have that ^ but I'm going to add another layer of text. This time, I'm going to capitalize the J and use the same 'essica' as the previous text layer. However, I will add a Outer Glow with the color pink and orange. Now this is a little tricky so pay attention. Make the text. Merge it (the 'j' with the 'essica' then add a glowouter glow. Make a new layer beneath this text and merge down. To merge down either hit CTRL + E or Layer > Merge Down.


21. After you did the above, add another outer glow. Except this time add it in another color and set it on Screen rather than Normal. Make another new layer beneath the second outer glow you just added and merge again. Then merge the first Jessica layer with the second Jessica text layer, or whomever else you're using. Mine.

22. Mine so far.

23. Now we're going to Flatten the image by going to Layer > Flatten Image. Then Go to Edit > Select All, Edit > Copy , Edit > Paste. Or Just copy and paste using your keyboard. (CTRL + A, CTRL + C, CTRL + P).

24. We're going to add a border so increase your width and height of the canvas. Go to Image > Canvas Size . Increase the width and height by 20 pixels each. So mine is going to go from 720x384 to 740x404 (pixels).

25. Add an Outer Stroke . Click for image. Choose whatever color border you want, I usually go with dark borders or I stick with colors from white to black, anything between those two colors work. However, on this I just used a true black (000000) because I wanted the inside to pop out.

26. Mine.

Feel free to ask questions for clarification and what not.

Light textures from Plutonium- thanks Kate for telling me ^_^