Photos used in this tutorial:
Woman in orange shirt:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-in-orange-long-sleeve-shirt-7793237/
Woman with yellow background:
https://unsplash.com/photos/CGKYNN3uuVo
Girl on phone:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/light-black-and-white-fashion-man-16249331/
Preset linked below!
Download the CC Time Blend FX preset from Cycore FX here:
http://cycorefx.com/dloads_ccfxhd.php
(It’s the second-to-last download on the page)
Fonts used in this tutorial:
DK Blackminster
Classic
Download the Pixelate PNG file at the bottom of this page or skip “the build” and pick up a supercharged version of the project as an easy-to-use template:
TipSquirrel Movie Poster Credits Block Template:
https://www.tipsquirrel.com/movie-poster-credit-template-for-photoshop/
Fonts used in this tutorial:
https://www.dafont.com/rodfat.font
https://www.dafont.com/sf-movie-poster.font
Moon Image:
https://moon.nasa.gov/resources/127/lunar-near-side/?category=images
Galaxy Image:
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2021/hubble-watches-an-intergalactic-dance
Dragon Image:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/wyvern-or-dragon-fantasy-creature-flying-with-mouth-open-to-breath-fire-3d-illustration-isolated-on-white/416541152?prev_url=detail
Roman Warrior:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/male-athlete-in-the-armor-of-an-ancient-warrior/243869080?prev_url=detail
Masked Hero:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/shot-of-isolated-on-grey-black-woman-warrior-holding-axe-and-shield-dressed-in-ancient-armor/512256549?prev_url=detail
Helmet Warrior:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/epic-warrior-man-in-white-background-side-view/373016977?prev_url=detail
Pyramid:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/pyramids-of-giza-in-egypt/375305942?prev_url=detail
PROJECT SETUP
1920×1080, 24fps, 6 Seconds
PROJECT MAP
Layers and effects are arranged as they appear in the project. I recommend building the project starting at the bottom and building to the top.
"FIRE" (Main Comp):
IF "SOURCE" LAYER IS A TEXT LAYER
1) "SOURCE DISPLACE" (Black Solid)
Calculations Effect –
Second Layer: "SOURCE" / Effects & Masks,
Second Layer Opacity: 100,
Blending Mode: Copy
Gaussian Blur Effect –
Blurriness: 20
Fractal Noise Effect –
Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 0
Levels Effect –
Output White: 127
IF "SOURCE" LAYER IS NOT A TEXT LAYER
1) "SOURCE DISPLACE": Duplicate of LAYER 6 (your SOURCE) with Displacement Map and Compound Blur Effects
Gaussian Blur Effect –
Blurriness: 20
Fractal Noise Effect –
Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 0
Levels Effect –
Output White: 127
2) "COLORIZE" (Adjustment Layer)
Levels Effect –
Gamma: .8
Colorama Effect –
Output Cycle: Fire Preset,
Blend With Original: 30%
Glow Effect –
Glow Radius: 300,
Glow Intensity: 2,
Glow colors: A&B Colors,
Color A: FF6500, Color B: A91200
Unsharp Mask Effect –
Amount: 100
3) "OVERLAY" (Black Solid) Overlay Blending Mode
Gradient Ramp Effect –
Start and End Points adjusted to match subject
Fractal Noise Effect –
Fractal Type: Dynamic,
Invert: On,
Contrast: 150,
Scale: 200,
Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -1250,
Blending Mode: Multiply
Fractal Noise Effect –
Contrast: 50,
Brightness: -48,
Scale: 9,
Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -540,
Evolution: KEYFRAME 0 to 5.00,
Blending Mode: Add
Turbulent Displace Effect –
Size: 30,
Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -50
4) "FRACTAL FLAMES" (Instance of Precomp) Overlay Blending Mode
Displacement Map Effect –
Displacement Map Layer: "SOURCE DISPLACE" / Effects and Masks,
Max Horiz: 100,
Max Vert: 100
5) "INVERSION" (Adjustment Layer) Exclusion Blending Mode
Gaussian Blur Effect –
Blurriness: 50
CC Vector Blur Effect –
Type: Direction Fading,
Amount: 140,
Angle Offset: 180,
Vector Map: "BACKGROUND"
Displacement Map Effect –
Displacement Map Layer: "FRACTAL FLAMES",
Max Horiz: 15,
Max Vert: 75
Solid Composite Effect –
Color: Black
Fractal Noise Effect –
Contrast: 75,
Brightness: 40,
Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 100,
Blending Mode: Color Burn
Turbulent Displace Effect –
Displacement: Twist Smoother,
Amount: 20,
Offset Turbulence: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -250,
Complexity: 7
Turbulent Displace Effect –
Amount: 20,
Evolution: KEYFRAME from 0 to 2.00
Offset Effect –
Shift Center To: 960 560
6) "SOURCE" (Text layer or any white shape with transparent background)
Displacement Map Effect –
Displacement Map Layer: "FRACTAL FLAMES",
Max Horiz: 6,
Max Vert: 6
Compound Blur Effect –
Blur Layer: "FRACTAL FLAMES",
Max Blur: 4
7) "BACKGROUND" (Black Solid)
"FRACTAL FLAMES" (Precomp)
1) "Fractal Flames" (Black Solid)
Fractal Noise Effect –
Fractal Type: Dynamic,
Invert: On,
Sub Scaling: 60,
Sub Offset: KEYFRAME from 960 540 to 960 -570,
Evolution: KEYFRAME from 0 to 3.00
To download textures, scroll to the bottom!
QUICK INSTRUCTIONS (for advanced users)
Mask the subject and convert to Smart Object.
Shadows/Highlights with Shadows at 100%.
Camera Raw Filter – Noise Reduction 100, Detail 0.
Camera Raw Filter – Noise Reduction 100, Detail 0, Saturation -100.
Oil Paint – All the way up (lighting turned off).
Threshold – find darkest Shadows (about 90).
Make 2 copies – call top layer “Lines”, middle “Grey”, bottom “Black”.
“Grey” layer:
Adjust Threshold toward mid-tones (about 120).
Place Grungy Halftone texture on top set to Screen, create clipping mask.
Set “Grey” layer to Multiply.
“Lines” layer:
Trash the Oil Paint filter.
High Pass filter underneath Threshold filter set to 2 or 3.
Adjust threshold to pick up line-work (about 125).
New Group Folder on top, “Color”, set to Multiply.
Mask the Color Folder to match subject.
Solid Color layers inside the folder – invert mask, then paint in where you want color.
Drag and drop vector elements in background, grunge in foreground, etc!
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS (for beginners)
1) Create a simple mask for your subject by tracing it with the Polygonal Lasso Tool (click and hold the lasso tool in the Tools panel to find the Polygonal Lasso Tool).
2) Use the “Create Mask” button at the bottom of the Layers panel.
3) Right click your layer in the Layers Panel and convert it to a Smart Object.
4) Use Image>Adjustments>Shadows/Highlights. Use default values, with the Shadows at 100%.
5) Use Filter>Camera RawFilter. In the Detail section, turn Noise Reduction to 100, and Detail to 0.
6) Use Filter>Camera RawFilter again. In the Detail section, turn Noise Reduction to 100, and Detail to 0. Also, in the Basic section, bring Saturation to -100.
7) Use Filter>Stylize>Oil Paint with Stylization at 10, Cleanliness at 10, and Lighting turned off.
8) Use Image>Adjustments>Threshold. Find a value that leaves only the darkest shadows (about 90).
9) Make two duplicates of the layer. Double click the layer name in the Layers panel and rename the top one to “Lines”, the middle one to “Grey”, and the bottom one to “Black”.
10) Turn off the “Lines” layer for now.
11) On the “Grey” layer, double click the Threshold filter in the Layers panel, and move the value toward the middle (about 120).
12) Drag in the Grungy Halftone Texture, which you can download below, and scale it to fit over the entire image.
13) Move the Grungy Halftone layer to be directly above the “Grey” layer in the Layers panel, then Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac) between the two layers to create a Clipping Mask.
14) In the Layers panel, set the Grungy Halftone layer to Screen mode. Set the “Grey” layer to Multiply mode.
15) Turn on the “Lines” layer by clicking the eyeball next to it in the Layers panel. In the Layers panel, turn off the Threshold filter for now. Drag the Oil Paint filter into the trash.
16) Use Filter>Other>High Pass with a Radius of 2 (for thicker lines, use a radius of 3 or 4).
17) Drag the High Pass filer underneath the Threshold in the Layers panel.
18) Turn Threshold back on. Double click the filter and adjust the value to pick up the lines, without getting too much noise (usually about 125).
19) If the image has eyes in it, create a new layer (plus button in the Layers panel) and drag it underneath the “Lines” layer. Using the Brush Tool with the color set to white, paint in where the whites of the eyes should be. Paint black dots to fit in the irises of the eyes.
20) Shift-select all the layers in the Layers panel and drag them into a Group Folder.
21) Apply the Stroke Effect to the folder (fx at the bottom of layers panel). Set the Stroke to black, with a Size of about 4px, and the Position at Center.
22) Also apply the Drop Shadow Effect to the folder. Set the Blending Mode to Normal, color to white, Opacity to 100%, Distance to about 6, and Size to 0.
23) Create a new, separate Folder called “Color”. Set the folder to Multiply mode.
24) Ctrl-click (Windows) or Cmd-click (Mac) the “Lines” layer thumbnail in the Layers panel to make a selection in the shape of the layer.
25) With the “Color” folder selected, use the Create Mask button (bottom of Layers panel) to add a mask to the folder.
26) Inside the “Color” folder, create a new Solid Color layer (bottom of Layers panel) with a color of your choosing.
27) Select the mask of the Solid Color layer and invert it (Image>Adjustments>Invert).
28) Using the Brush tool, paint white into the mask of the Solid Color layer to reveal color where you want it.
29) Create additional Solid Color layers with masks to add more colors.
30) Introduce any background elements – solid colors, vector elements, shape layers, gradient layers, etc.
31) Drag the additional grunge textures into the document, scale them to fit, and set them to Screen mode.
32) Adjust and refine – double click the threshold Filters on the “Black” and “Grey” layers to dial in your shadows.
Done!
Fonts used in this tutorial: Arquitec.
To “activate” CC Time Blend Effects, download the preset from Cycore FX here.
ADJUSTMENT LAYER SETUP
(Effects and layers are listed as they appear in the project)
1) HILIGHT Adjustment Layer
Fill- Color: Black
Bevel Alpha- Edge Thickness 15, Light Angle 50, Light Intensity 1
Simple Choker: Choke Matte 7
Solid Composite: Color Black
Fractal Noise: Complexity 3, Blending Mode Overlay
Fast Box Blur: Radius 2
Threshold: Level 110
Median: Radius 3
Fast Box Blur: Radius 1
Brightness & Contrast: Contrast 80, Use Legacy On
Set Matte: Default Settings
2) SMOOTH ALPHA Adjustment Layer
Turbulent Displace: Displacement Bulge, Amount 3, Size 40, Complexity 4, Evolution Expression “time*400”
Fast Box Blur: Radius 5
CC Threshold: Threshold 110, Channel Alpha
Roughen Edges: Fractal Influence 0
Support Texturelabs on Patreon for 16 extra halftone pattern sets!
PHOTOSHOP 16 Bit Document (Layers are listed as they appear in the document, "➔" indicates layer in Clipping Mask)
1) Curves Adjustment Layer for extra contrast
2) Texturelabs_LensFX_155: Screen mode, Opacity 50%
3) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
4) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
➔ 5) Texturelabs_Grunge_122: Overlay mode, 40% Opacity
➔ 6) Texturelabs_Sky132: Blend-if underlying layer white sliders at 16 and 84, Hue/Saturation with Saturation at -50
➔ 7) Gradient Map Adjustment Layer: Grungy Chrome preset
➔ 8) Texturelabs_Grunge_155: Overlay mode, 10% Opacity
➔ 9) Layer with Black to White Gradient: Overlay mode, 60% Opacity
10) GROUP FOLDER
10a) Text Layer: 50% Grey text, Bevel and Emboss with Depth 200% Size 10px Global Light Angle 80, Inner Shadow Effect with Opacity 50% Distance 0px Size 35px
11) Black Background Layer
AFTER EFFECTS (Layers are listed as they appear in the composition)
1) Overall Adjustment Layer: Noise Effect 7%, Gaussian Blur Effect 2, Unsharp Mask Effect Amount 100, Curves Effect for extra contrast
2) Glow Adjustment Layer: Screen mode, Levels Effect with Input Black 18500 and Input White 31500, Fast Box Blur 30, Solid Composite set to black
3) Texturelabs_LensFX_155: Screen mode, Opacity 50%
4) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
5) Texturelabs_LensFX_139: Screen mode, Hue/Saturation with Hue at -180
6) KNOCKOUT Solid Color Layer: Stencil Alpha Blending Mode, Set Matte Effect with Take Matte From TEXT LAYER
7) Texturelabs_Grunge_122: Overlay mode, 40% Opacity
8) SkyBlend Photoshop Layer: Exported from Photoshop with Blend-if settings listed in Photoshop instructions above, or download the PSD using the Texturelabs link above
9) Adjustment Layer: Apply Color LUT Effect with GrungyChrome LUT (download link above)
10) Texturelabs_Grunge_155: Overlay mode, 10% Opacity
11) GRADIENT Solid Color Layer: Gradient Ramp Effect with swap colors and start/end points matching top and bottom of underlying text, Turbulent Displace Effect with Amount 100 Size 50 and Evolution keyframes from 0 to 360 degrees over a few seconds
12) TEXT LAYER: 50% Grey text, Bevel and Emboss with Depth 200% Size 10px Global Light Angle keyed from 80 degrees to 40 degrees over a few seconds, Inner Shadow Effect with Opacity 50% Distance 0px Size 35px
Quick steps to get the action up and running:
1) Double click on the zip file, then move the SprayMap.psd file to your desired location.
2) Drag the Texturelabs_SprayAnything.atn file into Photoshop.
3) Create a temp throwaway layer.
4) In your Actions Panel, open the details of the Spray Anything action.
5) Double click on the first item – “Open”.
6) Point Photoshop to the SprayMap.psd file.
7) Close the SprayMap.psd file.
8) In the action details, scroll down about halfway to the Displace step of the action.
9) Double click on each instance of Displace – used six times.
10) Leave all values as they appear, click OK, then point Photoshop to the SprayMap.psd file.
11) Optional – double click on the Action and assign a keyboard shortcut.
12) All set! Apply the action to any layer.
Need the After Effects file created in this tutorial? Help support the Texturelabs project by becoming and Expert supporter on Patreon. Return to this page, then link up your Patreon account with the Texturelabs site by clicking the orange lock at the top of the page!
PROJECT SETUP
1920×1080 24fps 16bit
PROJECT MAP (Layers are arranged as they would be in the project)
BURN OBJECTS (Precomp):
1) Adjustment Layer
Fractal Noise Effect – Contrast 10, Brightness 30, Scale 3
2) White Text Layer
TRANSITION MATTE (Precomp):
1) Adjustment Layer
Brightness & Contrast Effect – Contrast 99%, Use Legacy On
2) BURN OBJECTS PRECOMP – Overlay Blending Mode
Gaussian Blur Effect – Blurriness 40, Hue Saturation – Saturation -100
3)Solid – Overlay Blending Mode, 25% Opacity
Fractal Noise Effect with scale 200
4) White Solid – Scale 200%
CC Burn Film Effect – Burn keyed from 0 at frame 30 to 100 at frame 130
Solid Composite Effect set to black
MAIN COMP:
1) Adjustment Layer
Transform Effect – Scale keyed from 110% at frame 0 to 100% at frame 120
CC Vignette Effect – Amount 250
Noise Effect – Amount of Noise 5%
Gaussian Blur – Blurriness 2
Unsharp Mask – Amount 100, Radius 1.5
2) Adjustment Layer – Screen Blending Mode, Opacity 15%
Gaussian Blur – Blurriness 200
3) Black Solid – Opacity 100% at frame 0 to 0% at frame 40
4) Adjustment Layer
Displacement Map – Displacement Map Layer DISPLACEMENT REFERENCE, Effects & Masks, Horizontal 20, Vertical 10
5) DISPLACEMENT MAP REFERENCE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) – Visibility turned off
Fast Box Blur Effect – Blur Radius 25
Invert
Shift Channels Effect – Take Alpha from Luminance
Fractal Noise Effect – Complexity 4
6) EMBERS (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) – Screen Blending Mode
CC Wide Time Effect – Forward Steps 0, Backward Steps 60
Solid Composite – Black
Fractal Noise – Contrast 220, Brightness -90, Scale 40%, Opacity 50%, Multiply Blending Mode
Brightness & Contrast Effect – Contrast 100%, Use Legacy On
Fractal Noise Effect – Contrast 200, Scale 10%, Blending Mode Multiply
Turbulent Displace Effect – Size 50, Offset Turbulence – expression “[time*65,540]”, Evolution – expression “time*200”
Set Matte Effect – Take Matte from Layer BURN OBJECTS
Set Matte Effect – Take Matte from Layer DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE, Luminance, Invert Matte On
Tritone Effect – Hilights FFDD83, Midtones 8D3F18
Glow – Radius 50, Intensity 3
7) SMOKE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) – Screen Blending Mode, Opacity 20%
CC Wide Time Effect – Forward Steps 0, Backward Steps 10
Set Matte Effect – Take Matte from Layer BURN OBJECTS
Set Matte Effect – Take Matte from Layer DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE, Luminance, Invert Matte On
Fast Box Blur Effect – Blur Radius 10
Solid Composite Effect – Black
Fractal Noise Effect – Fractal Type Dynamic, Scale 300%, Complexity 10, Sub Influence 90%, Sub Scaling 65, Sub Rotation 100, Evolution – expression “time*200”, Blending Mode Multiply
Turbulent Displace Effect – Displacement Twist, Amount 40, Size 50
8) FIRE EDGE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) – Add Blending Mode
Invert Effect
Turbulent Displace Effect – Size 20
CC Composite Effect – Composite Original Multiply
Fractal Noise Effect – Contrast 200, Brightness -25, Sub Influence 200%. Blending Mode Multiply
Set Matte Effect – Take Matte from Layer BURN OBJECTS
Tritone Effect – Hilights FFDD83, Midtones 8D3F18
Glow – Radius 50, Intensity 3
9) DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE (TRANSITION MATTE PRECOMP) – Linear Burn Blending Mode
Fast Box Blur Effect – Blur Radius 30, Repeat Edge Pixels On
Levels Effect – Gamma .6
Hue Saturation Effect – Colorize On, Hue 30, Saturation 15, Lightness 15
10) BURN OBJECTS (BURN OBJECTS PRECOMP)
Set Matte Effect – Take Matte from Layer DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE, Use for Matte Luminance
11) Black Solid (Background)
*Optional: If you want to use a background other thank black, here are a few settings:
DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE LAYER: After the other effects, use Set Matte Effect – Take Matte from Layer BURN OBJECTS, Effects & Masks, Alpha Channel
DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE LAYER: After the other effects, use Levels – Alpha Gamma at 2.00
Turn off all Adjustment Layers and Black Solid Layer, but copy the Displacement Map Effect with the same settings to the BURN OBJECTS layer and the FIRE EDGE layer
*To make the graphic fully keyable (transparent background)Use the additional settings listed above, plus:
DARKEN BURN / TRANSITION MATTE: Turn on Preserve Underlying Transparency checkbox (in between Blending Mode and Track Matte in timeline panel)
FIRE EDGE: Turn on Preserve Underlying Transparency checkbox
SMOKE: After the other effects, use Set Channels – Red Green and Blue Source set to Full, Alpha Source set to Luminance
EMBERS: Immediately before the Tritone Effect, use Linear Color Key with Key Color set to black
Font used in this tutorial: Castle Press No. 2.
More light leaks and photo borders.
In the second half of the video, we’ll take a look at some custom settings to bring additional color or transparency into the image.
Photo by: Alex Iby.
Bonus tip: If you’re interested in creating your own brushes using images of brush strokes or pen marks, I suggest using a levels or curves adjustment to lift the mid tones. Sampled brushes are surprisingly opaque, so even very light mid tones will be reflected in your brush!
Fonts used in this tutorial: Mustardo.
Fonts used in this tutorial: Prince Valiant.
BONUS: to create the Sun Rays at 01:05:
1) Create a new image, 2000px by 2000px, with a white background.
2) Use Filter Gallery→Halftone Pattern, with size set to 12, contrast set to 50, and pattern type set to Line.
3) Rotate the layer 90 degrees.
4) Use Filter – Distort→Polar Coordinates set to “Rectangular to Polar”.
Check out the work of Han Hsu-Tung here.
Fonts used in this tutorial: Neon 80’s, Rollingtime.
Fonts used in this tutorial: American Captain, Copperplate Bold.
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