In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a cool vintage image effect in Photoshop using adjustment layers & blending modes.
Tutorial Details
Program: Photoshop CS5
Estimated Completion Time: 15-20 Minutes
Tutorial Assets
The following assets were used in the creation of this tutorial.
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Step 1
Create a new document in Photoshop with 1000px width and 800px height.
Step 2
Open the image file, press Ctrl+ A to select it. Then press Ctrl+ C to copy the selection and come back to your document to paste the image here by pressing Ctrl+ V.
Step 3
Click on the icon of 'create new fill or adjustment layer' which is present at the bottom of the layers pallate and choose the option of 'solid color'. We are going to use this icon to create different adjustments layers for creating a cool vintage effect. Select # e7cc6f color for fill here. Change the blending mode of this layer to 'soft light'.
Step 4
Click on the 'create new fill or adjustment layer' icon and select 'curves' this time. Use the given settings for it.
Step 5
Now once again press 'create new fill or adjustment layer' icon and choose the option of 'color balance'. Use the given settings for shadows, midtones, highlights.
Step 6
This time select the option of 'gradient map' by pressing 'create new fill or adjustment layer' icon, and choose 'black to white' gradient.
Change the blending mode of this layer to 'soft light'.
Step 7
Create 'levels' adjustment layer now in the same way, and use the given settings for it.
Step 8
Create a new layer by going to Layer> New layer. Place it at the top of rest of the layers. Select the soft round brush, 350px size and pick # fc8961 color. Now gently apply the brush on this new layer at different spots as shown below.
Click on this brush spot layer and go to Layer> Layer style> Outer glow. Use the given values here.
Change the blending mode of this layer to 'hard light' and reduce its opacity to 65%.
Step 9
Duplicate the original image; place this duplicated image at the top of rest of the layers. Now we will desaturate the image by going to Image> Adjustments> Hue/Saturation. Use the following settings here.
Change the blending mode of this layer to 'Screen' and reduce its opacity to 70%.
Step 10
Duplicate the desaturated image copy created in step 9, but this time change the blending mode of this layer to 'soft light' and keep its opacity 100%.
That's it. Hope you enjoyed the creation of vintage effect on this Photo and learned something useful. We'll be waiting for your feedback.
Here are some awesome ready-made vintage photo effects that you can purchase and use to save time and effort to get fabulous vintage effects for your pictures!
Vintage Photo Effects is a photographic action pack that will add 8 vintage looks to your photos.
