Tips on how to Make Combined Media Collage Artwork

Tips on how to Make Combined Media Collage Artwork
Tips on how to Make Combined Media Collage Artwork


Collage artwork has lengthy been used to create a brand new which means or talk a brand new perspective utilizing analog and digital supplies. On this tutorial, we’ll create a Virgo-themed collage. Everyone knows Virgos for being tremendous organized, detail-oriented, sensible, tidy, and clear. We’ll use analog instruments, like magazines and scissors, to seek out objects which are associated to this superior zodiac signal.

We’ll additionally search for collage art materials from Envato to collect up images that we are able to’t discover in magazines. And final, the largest benefit, we’ll use digital instruments like Adobe Photoshop. Utilizing digital instruments helps us use photographs as many instances as we wish, we are able to create multiple compositions, resize images, and change colors. Let’s get began!

What you’ll be taught

On this tutorial, you’ll learn to make a collage by mixing conventional collage components and digital collage belongings. On this tutorial, you’ll be taught to:

  • Use the Layer Masks device to scrub up photographs
  • Use the Brush device to good clear background photographs
  • Use the Adjustment Layer masks to edit a single or a number of layers
  • Use totally different layer kinds to attain a see-through look

What you’ll want

For this tutorial, the collage artwork supplies you’ll want are outdated magazines to chop out totally different components. I used a mixture of paper cutouts and digital collage artwork belongings from Envato:

Collage artwork supplies assortment

For this tutorial, we’ll create a Virgo-themed collage, so we’ll gather belongings which are consultant of this super-organized and detail-oriented zodiac signal. 

To be able to make a collage, particularly conventional collage, we have to collect up a number of tangible magazines for collage artwork. Previous magazines, newspapers, scraps of paper—something works right here. Use an excellent pair of scissors or another chopping device like an X-acto knife. Since this tutorial is about mixing conventional and digital collage artwork, we received’t want any glue to compose the belongings we create. As a substitute, you’ll want a scanner to scan the photographs.

We’ll additionally use a number of belongings from Envato. That is the large benefit of constructing a combined media collage: when you can’t discover one thing in {a magazine}, you possibly can all the time browse the Envato library and discover specific images or graphic assets.

Keep in mind that if you wish to comply with this tutorial together with the precise belongings, you possibly can obtain them under:

Collage assetsCollage assetsCollage assets

1. Cleansing up journal collage artwork

To ensure that our photographs to be usable, we have to clean them up earlier than making an attempt to compose the art work. On this case, I’ll seize the scanned picture recordsdata and pop them into Photoshop

Step 1

To cut out an image, I’ll begin with the rubber glove. Head over to the Instruments panel and choose the Object Choice Device (W). Choose the rubber gloves; the software program will robotically detect the black define on the gloves and choose it.

Head over to the Layers panel and click on on the lock of the background layer to unlock it. 

Use the selection tool to select the rubber glove image. Unlock the background layer on the Layers panel. Use the selection tool to select the rubber glove image. Unlock the background layer on the Layers panel. Use the selection tool to select the rubber glove image. Unlock the background layer on the Layers panel.

Step 2

Click on on the Masks button. This step is helpful to make it possible for we’re solely choosing the a part of the picture that we’d like. If it’s essential to scrub up the picture, select the Mixer Brush Device (B) and use black because the foreground coloration to begin cleansing up the areas you don’t want. 

Use the Mixer Brush Tool to perfect areas of the transparent image.Use the Mixer Brush Tool to perfect areas of the transparent image.Use the Mixer Brush Tool to perfect areas of the transparent image.

Step 3

As soon as the world is cleaned up, head over to the Layers panel. Proper-click on the Layer Masks and choose Apply Layer Masks

We will repeat the identical steps beforehand talked about to scrub up all the photographs which are immediately scanned from {a magazine}. 

Apply the Layer Mask on the image. Apply the Layer Mask on the image. Apply the Layer Mask on the image.

Step 4

Go to File > Save As and save the picture as a TIFF file so we are able to apply it to the primary collage file. Click on Save

Save the transparent image as a TIFF file.Save the transparent image as a TIFF file.Save the transparent image as a TIFF file.

2. Create a Photoshop file

I wish to create a collage that may be displayed on social media. So let’s create this file with Instagram put up dimensions. 

Step 1

Open Photoshop and go to File > New. Set the Width to 1080 and the Top to 1350. Choose Pixels from the dropdown menu subsequent to the Width

Uncheck Artboards if it’s checked. Click on Create.

Create a Photoshop FileCreate a Photoshop FileCreate a Photoshop File

Step 1  

Now, we’ll begin our digital collage art. Place the grid background picture into the Photoshop file we created within the earlier step. 

Be at liberty to place the grid as you want, however ideally attempt to match the entire web page. 

Place the grid background image on the mixed media collage art file.Place the grid background image on the mixed media collage art file.Place the grid background image on the mixed media collage art file.

Step 2

Convey within the cleaned-up Compass picture file and place it within the middle of the canvas. 

Place the Compass image on the mixed collage art file. Place the Compass image on the mixed collage art file. Place the Compass image on the mixed collage art file.

Step 3

We’re additionally utilizing a few photographs from Envato. Utilizing digital belongings for combined media collage artwork is nice as typically there are particular photographs that may’t be present in magazines, and it could take endlessly to return throughout them. 

On this case, choose the Citrus Unshiu image and place it into the collage file. We received’t fear in regards to the dimension but, however place this picture within the high left quadrant. 

Place the Envato Elements asset Citrus Unshiu into the collage file.Place the Envato Elements asset Citrus Unshiu into the collage file.Place the Envato Elements asset Citrus Unshiu into the collage file.

Step 4

Place the book image into the collage artwork file and place it within the decrease left quadrant. I do know I need this component to be just a little smaller, so resize this picture till the compass is extra imposing than the e-book.

Place the book imag einto the collage art file. Place the book imag einto the collage art file. Place the book imag einto the collage art file.

Step 5

It’s time to carry the Chrysanthemum image into the collage art work file. I wish to create the phantasm that the citrus is rising from the flowers, so I’ll place this picture nearer to the citrus picture and resize it. 

Place the Chrysanthemum image into the collage artwork file. Place the Chrysanthemum image into the collage artwork file. Place the Chrysanthemum image into the collage artwork file.

Step 6

Place the pencil picture into the collage art work file. I’d prefer to create a collage composition, nearly like a bouquet with the flowers behind. Resize the pencil and rotate it so the tip of the pencil is pointing to the top-right nook of the combined media collage. 

Place the pencil image into the collage artwork file. Place the pencil image into the collage artwork file. Place the pencil image into the collage artwork file.

Step 7

I wish to do one thing related with the sunshine bulb. Place the light bulb image reverse the pencil. 

Place the light bulb opposite of the pencil. Place the light bulb opposite of the pencil. Place the light bulb opposite of the pencil.

Step 8

Since an actual mild bulb is see-through, this picture requires a bit of labor. Go to the Layers panel, choose the Pin Mild layer fashion, and set the Opacity to 70%

Go to the Layers panel and select the Pin Light layer style, set the Opacity to 70%.Go to the Layers panel and select the Pin Light layer style, set the Opacity to 70%.Go to the Layers panel and select the Pin Light layer style, set the Opacity to 70%.

Step 9

On the Layers panel, choose the light-bulb layer and duplicate it. This time, choose the Multiply layer fashion from the dropdown menu. This may add the definition we’d like on the perimeters, whereas having a see-through look.

Duplicate the light bulb image and set the Multiply layer style. Duplicate the light bulb image and set the Multiply layer style. Duplicate the light bulb image and set the Multiply layer style.

Step 10

Convey the rubber glove picture into the collage art work file. I wish to create the phantasm that the rubber glove is holding the bouquet created within the high half of the picture. Resize and rotate as wanted to attain that look.

Add the rubber glove image to the collage artwork file.Add the rubber glove image to the collage artwork file.Add the rubber glove image to the collage artwork file.

Step 11

I discover the rubber glove picture too vivid, so let’s change the color. The benefit of making combined media collage artwork is that we are able to alter various things digitally to make these photographs match the composition higher. 

Go to the Layers panel, and select Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation. Within the Properties panel, set the Hue to +29, Saturation to –36, and Lightness to -5

Create a New Fill or Adjustment Layer with the Hue/Saturation layer. On the Properties panel set the Hue to +29, Saturation to -36 and Lightness to -5.Create a New Fill or Adjustment Layer with the Hue/Saturation layer. On the Properties panel set the Hue to +29, Saturation to -36 and Lightness to -5.Create a New Fill or Adjustment Layer with the Hue/Saturation layer. On the Properties panel set the Hue to +29, Saturation to -36 and Lightness to -5.

Press Possibility, hover between this layer and the rubber glove picture, and click on. This ensures that the adjustment layer will solely be utilized to the layer under. 

Press the Option key and hover over between the two layers, proceed to click. This will apply the Adjustment layer only to the layer directly below it.Press the Option key and hover over between the two layers, proceed to click. This will apply the Adjustment layer only to the layer directly below it.Press the Option key and hover over between the two layers, proceed to click. This will apply the Adjustment layer only to the layer directly below it.

Step 12

Add the Morus Nigra image to the combined media collage artwork file. I need the plant to look as if it’s being held by the rubber gloves. Place it within the decrease half, proper on the middle of the grip. Rotate and resize the picture as you want. 

Add the Morus Nigra image to the mixed media collage art file. Resize and rotate to make it look like held by the rubber gloves.Add the Morus Nigra image to the mixed media collage art file. Resize and rotate to make it look like held by the rubber gloves.Add the Morus Nigra image to the mixed media collage art file. Resize and rotate to make it look like held by the rubber gloves.

Step 13

Collage artwork is all about modifying, resizing, altering colours, including, and taking components off to create a beautiful composition. On this case, we are able to make some changes within the case of the citrus plant behind the chrysanthemum. 

Resize or change colors to any of the elements you feel like need editing.Resize or change colors to any of the elements you feel like need editing.Resize or change colors to any of the elements you feel like need editing.

Head over to File > Export > Save for Net. Choose the file kind you wish to save the doc in—I am selecting JPEG—and set 100 for the High quality. Beneath Picture Measurement, you possibly can change the pixel dimension of the picture you probably have any dimension constraints. 

On the underside left-hand facet, you possibly can see a preview of the dimensions of the file. That is helpful when there are dimension constraints on a web site and it’s worthwhile to decrease the standard or dimension of the picture. 

Click on on Save… to decide on the situation within the new window, and click on on Save once more.

Save the mixed media collage art for social media. Save the mixed media collage art for social media. Save the mixed media collage art for social media.

Congratulations! You’ve completed this tutorial

I hope you discovered this tutorial useful. Combined media collage art work is enjoyable to make because it mixes totally different tangible supplies and digital assets. Wanting by magazines for photographs that may work in a composition will be enjoyable, and these compositions can grow to be tremendous inventive. Get pleasure from creating extra combined media collage artwork!

If you happen to preferred this tutorial and also you want extra collage artwork concepts, you may like:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *