Best Photoshop Tutorials

Design a Horror Movie Dvd Cover in Photoshop

by Sebastiano on 06/07/09 at 2:53 pm

In this tutorial we will learn how to create an horror style dvd cover in photoshop. I love dvd design (I’m sure you too!) and to achieve the final result I have used textures, mask and layers blending mode. As always, you can download the psd file at the end of the tutorial. Lets start!

Final image result:

Step 1

Lets start downloading a free image of a forest. Create a new 600×800 document and paste in the forest image. Now use the Burn Tool to darker the edges of the image. You can follow the indications shown in the screenshot below:

Step 2

Now we need the image of a child. I think this image from stock.xchng is perfect for our purpose. Extract the child using the pen tool and paste him into the document.

Step 3

The aim of this step is to modify the face of the child. We want to hide eyes, nose and mouth. The simplest way is to zoom in and make a selection of an eye with the Patch Tool. Now drag this selection to the cheek. Simple! It is not important to have a perfect result, because later we will apply a grunge texture upon this image. Once you have hided eyes, nose and mouth, use a soft pink brush (hardness: 0%) to give to the face a more uniform color. OK! You should obtain something like this:

Step 4

Lets add a texture. You can download this grunge texture, paste it into the canvas and set the layer blend mode to Overlay with opacity 60%.

Step 5

I have accidentally found the image of a teddy bear by GiniMinig! We can paste it into the composition. We want to put the teddy under the hand of the child. So at first place the teddy image near the hand of our monster/kid. Ctrl+click on the layer of the child to select its pixels. Select the teddy layer and press alt+add layer mask button. The teddy is now completely under the child. With the layer mask selected, use a white brush and paint upon the teddy so that it will appears again, but don’t paint upon the fingers of the child. Done!

Step 6

I think shoes are too clean for a monster kid alone in the forest. So simply select a grunge brush and paint upon the shoes.

Step 7

I need the image of a screaming person that I want to place on the top of the composition. After have downloaded lots of images, I have found this little vampire. Paste him into the canvas, switch the layer blend mode to overlay and use a large soft brush to erase some parts of the image. We want to obtain a mysterious face  among the trees.

Step 8

It’s time for another texture. Download this metal grunge texture, paste it in and set the layer blend mode on Overlay.

Step 9

To complete the work, simply add some text with nice gradient effects. The font I’ve used are Concursoitalian and Delicious. Finished! Hope you enjoy it!

Download PSD File (1208)