Want to be able to make a header in the same style as the one above? It is actually quite easy. Read on! Remember to click each thumbnail for a larger preview.
Step One
Basically we’re setting up now, selecting our background. The background I chose to use is this texture. You can choose your own, if you wish, and can tile the pattern in whichever way you’re most accustomed to (I turn the texture into a pattern and set that as a photoshop effect). My canvass was 700X500px.
Step Two
Basically we’re still setting up our base, but spicing it up a little. Take this texture and open it in a new document. Turn it greyscale (CTRL + SHIFT + U), and duplicate the layer, setting your duplicated layer to “multiply” in the layer blending options. Merge your layers and copy it to your new background from step one, set it to soft light. You may want to come back to this layer and change its opacity.
Step Three
Now to add your feature image. I selected this image, and brought it to a new doccument. From there I made the images closer together by duplicating the layer and setting the second one to lighten over the first, clearing unwanted parts. I also played with the colouring a little. After merging the layers, I transferred this altered image back to our original file, setting it in the bottom corner and again to “lighten”. Of course, you can chose your own image and its respective layer blending options, it is essentially up to you.
Step Four
This step has many different ways of approaching it, there are many tools and ways to do this. But I basically added in some lighting effects. I got a brush of around 670px, set to 0% harshness, and selecting #ebecec, placing one brush in the middle. Using this colour, I made a new layer and filled it, inverting the colour so it is now a dark grey-ish colour. Using a similar sized brush, but on eraser, I removed some of the center. I also changed opacities so you could see the background. I’m not sure how well that is explained, but if you understand the effect, you can use your own method (eg: Filter > Lighting Effects).
Step Five
Our header is still missing something, so lets add another texture, shall we? How about this texture. Place it as the highest layer, set to multiply. If the dust is too dark for you, instead of changing the opacity and loosing the black boarder, set the layer back to normal, duplicate it and set it to screen. Merge these layers and set it back to multiply.
Step Six
This is the last step and completely optional. Personally, what I did was created a new text layer, font face “Cooper” (downloadable at dafont.com), set to italic, and layer opacity of around 30%. I also duplicated our zombie friends and rotated them into the top left corner, turning them black and white. But naturally, you can choose whichever add-on’s you think your own banner needs. Take the variation I’ve added below, I added a new “rays” brush, and some colour (purple gradient set to “soft light”, opacity lowered). So really, its up to you.
So that’s it! For something that seems complicated, it is rather easy. Remember that these steps are only a guideline and you can change them however you wish. And if you want, e-mail me what you’ve made with this tutorial, I’d love to see your results!
