WILD WATERCOLORS IN PHOTOSHOP

Wild Watercolors with Photoshop

Step 1

Open Photoshop! Choose FILE > NEW. Choose INCHES and set the width, hight and resolution as shown below.

Click OK. You should have something like looks like this!

Step 2

Find a Black and White picture of anyone you like on Google, or use a picture of yourself. I picked David Bowie. Copy (EDIT > COPY) and paste it (EDIT > PASTE) onto your document.

If it doesn't fit, use COMMAND + T, hold the shift key, and adjust it (from the corner) to fit the page.

Step 3

Choose IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST. Set Brightness to 71 and Contrast to 23. (See below).

Click OK. Now DUPLICATE the LAYER by hitting COMMAND + J.

Step 4

Make sure the duplicated layer is selected.

Go to Filter > Filter Gallery.

Choose ARTISTIC and then click the Water Color Filter. Set the numbers to what I have shown. Click OK.

Rename this Layer Water Color Filter by double clicking the name and retyping it.

Choose the original layer and rename it Threshold Effect. Go to IMAGES > ADJUSTMENTS > THRESHOLD and change the number to 152. Click OK.

Step 5

Re-click on the Water Color Layer. Using Blending Modes, choose MULTIPLY. (See below).

Hold the SHIFT KEY and click the Threshold Effect Layer, so both layers are selected. (See below).

Then click the button shown below and choose MERGE LAYERS.

Rename this new layer. Call it Merged Layer.

Step 6

CLICK HERE to open a page with paint sample images you will need to use next. Find a color swatch you like. CONTROL + CLICK then COPY IMAGE. Go back to Photoshop, and EDIT > PASTE.

Don't forget to choose MULTIPLY in Blending Modes.

Now go to Blending Modes and choose MULTIPLY.

And your new color layer should look something like this:

Then use the MOVE TOOL to move it where you like.

Put many different layers of color on your picture. If you can find other color splash images on Google, you can do the same thing, as long as they have a white background.

BIG GIANT HINT 1:
PUT MOST OF YOUR COLORS ON THE BLACK PARTS of the picture, because the colors on the white will eventually disappear (hair, eyes, mouth, etc).

BIG GIANT HINT 2:
The more colors you put on the picture, the better it will come out in the end. Pay attention to the edges of the face, too.

BIG GIANT HINT 3:
USE DARKER COLORS, LIKE PURPLE, BLUES, REDS, etc. Also, Transform the shapes to cover the darker areas better. 
Make sure you cover the face areas, like the eyes, mouth, nose, etc. with colors.

Step 7

Merge all the layers with colors together. Click the top layer, hold SHIFT, and click the bottom layer of color, above the face.

Then click the button shown below and choose MERGE LAYERS.

Make sure your Blending Mode says MULTIPLY.

Step 8

This next part is a little complicated, so make sure your do everything in order.

First, Click the Layer Called "Merged Layer". Hit COMMAND + A to Select All. Hit COMMAND + C to Copy.
Click the Colors Layer. Click the Button Shown Below to add a Layer Mask.

You should now have a layer that looks like this:

Hold down the OPTION KEY and CLICK IN THE NEW LAYER MASK (See Below). Your picture will turn white. It's ok!

Now hit COMMAND + V (Paste). Then hit COMMAND + I (Invert Colors). If you don't see something like the picture below, let me know!

Now click in the layer window (See below):

Turn off the picture layer (Click the Eye!)