60 Best Photoshop tutorials from 2014

• November 24th, 2014
• Featured

Our annual tradition continues where we finish up the year by rounding up the very best Photoshop tutorials from the year. This is always one of my favourite end of year posts. This compilation feature a great mixture of a variety of various Photoshop tutorials from text effects to photo manipulation. If you want to pick up some new Photoshop techniques look no further this is the perfect blog post, in order to learn some new Photoshop tricks.

Is there a great Photoshop tutorial missing from post ? please do share in the comments below would be much appreciated.

1. Speedy 1980s text effects

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to create flashy type-based art quickly by making cunning use of Photoshop’s layer styles. You’ll be using the same image on multiple layers, modifying each version with its own layer style – this can help you achieve dramatic effects that seem far more complicated to create than this. It’s a handy little cheat that can save you plenty of time – while also creating a glowing, shiny result.

2. Mixing 3D Elements and Photography to Create a Vibrant and Playful Photomontage

This tutorial is all about mixing process of 3D elements and digital photography to create a vibrant and playful photomontage in Adobe Photoshop CS5. Layered PSD file included.

3. Learn How to Illustrate a Realistic Rocketship in Photoshop

In this tutorial, you will create a retro styled rocket in Photoshop. We will explore the importance of details in creating a complex illustration, as well as how to create realistic surfaces.

4. Create an Hourglass in Photoshop

Learn how to create a realistic hourglass with Photoshop only. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create your own hourglass, add realistic shadows and lighting, then complete it with custom sand and wood texture. Throughout the tutorial, you’ll learn techniques that will help you create more realistic artworks in Photoshop.

5. Create a Digital Painting of a Zombie From Scratch in Adobe Photoshop

To make a very funky-looking cartoon zombie I will be covering my process of taking a brief through to completion, with tips and tricks along the way including the wonder that is clipping masks. I’ll also show the importance of thumbnailing, taking a rough sketch to a final creepy conclusion, line art tricks, and a smattering of colour theory.

6. Create a sci-fi robot cyborg in Photoshop

In this tutorial, Fabio Sasso shows you some techniques for creating a cyborg from photographic sources in Photoshop, tapping into the movie heritage of the cyborg, but mixing it with the glossy ‘Bleach-Bypass’ look of modern sci-fi TV shows such as V and The Event. You will use some stock photos and lots of adjustment layers, in order to achieve a convincing result.

7. How to Turn your Image into a Color Mixture Photo in Adobe Photoshop CS5

In this tutorial It will walk you through the steps needed to turning your image into a color mixtures photo, complete with overlay effects, colour treatments and elements that you can easily create in Adobe Photoshop CS5.Layered PSD file included.

8. Chrome Effect in Photoshop

So, in this tutorial I will show you how to create a chrome effect in Photoshop using just layer styles. The whole process is very simple but it might require some tweaking and a little bit of time.

9. How To Create a Double Exposure Effect in Photoshop

Traditionally the double exposure effect is produced by photographers using nothing but their camera to combine two separate photographs to create an abstract and surreal image. However, we can also mimic the effect in Photoshop, which actually gives us more control over the final output with the ability to adjust and preview the effect as we go. Follow this step by step tutorial to create a double exposure effect yourself, we’ll blend two existing photographs together with the help of some simple clipping and masking techniques.

10. How To Create a Realistic Painted Effect in Photoshop

Traditionally the double exposure effect is produced by photographers using nothing but their camera to combine two separate photographs to create an abstract and surreal image. However, we can also mimic the effect in Photoshop, which actually gives us more control over the final output with the ability to adjust and preview the effect as we go. Follow this step by step tutorial to create a double exposure effect yourself, we’ll blend two existing photographs together with the help of some simple clipping and masking techniques.

11. 3D Layered text effects

This tutorial will show you how to play around with Photoshop’s Shape and 3D options and settings, to create a simple clean 3D text effect pretty easily and quickly.

12. Create the Abstract Photo Manipulation “Imperfection”

In this Photoshop tutorial I’ll show you how to create an emotional, abstract photo manipulation. You’ll learn how to combine abstract elements, work with groups, create depth of field and more.

13. How to Write in the Sand in Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop’s Layer Styles are one of the quickest, yet most effective ways of achieving many different effects. This tutorial will show you how to combine the power of Layer Styles along with a couple of textures, brushes, and selection options to create a realistic-looking sand writing text effect.

14. Create Rocky Face Manipulation with Abstract Lighting Effect in Photoshop

In this tutorial, It will show you the process of creating this Rocky Face Manipulation with Abstract Lighting Effect in Photoshop. You will learn some interesting methods of creating nice-looking abstract line effects and some fancy colouring technique with adjustment layers. Have a try!

15. Create a Simple, Elegant Textured Metal Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

Using textures often adds nice detailing to effects, and gives depth to flat designs. This tutorial will show you how to create a simple metal text effect using layer styles. Then, it will show you how to make that text look more interesting by adding a simple texture overlay to it.

16. Create the Dragan photo effect in Photoshop

In 2003 Polish physicist Andrzej Dragan picked up a camera and started creating some fascinating portraits that expressed the depth of the person and their character by enhancing facial features usually hidden away in modern photography.

17. Create a skull out of type

You’ll get pretty friendly with the Distort tool, and will see the Multiply blending mode at its most brilliantly effective.

18. Create a Retro Gold Leather Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

Creating 3D text effect does not always require using the 3D tools. This tutorial will show you a simple way of using the shape attributes in Adobe Photoshop CC, along with a couple of layer styles, to create a retro, leather-like, 3D text effect pretty easily and quickly.

19. Create a Simple Pencil Icon in Adobe Photoshop

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple pencil icon in Adobe Photoshop.

20. Create Delicious Donut Text That Will Make You Hungry

In this tutorial, It will walk you through the process of making a yummy sweet text in Photoshop. We will use the basic tools and effects along to achieve the final outcome in short time.

21. How to Create a Map Icon Using Adobe Photoshop

You don’t have to use 3D software just to create a simple three-dimensional icon. Photoshop can do that too using some simple tricks with gradient color, highlight, and shadow. Here, we are going to use these tricks to draw a map icon.

22. Dispersion Effect with Photoshop CS6/CC

The dispersion effect is relatively straight forward in Photoshop CC but can be tricky to get right. The basic idea is to separate the subject from the background and then create a copy of the subject layer. One of the subject layers is then morphed using the Liquify tool to nearly fill the entire frame.

23. How To Create a Washed Out Vintage Matte Photo Effect

Washed out matte effects seem to be really popular in the Photography scene at the moment. These effects look particular cool when combined with warm vintage tones to add a classic nostalgic feeling to your images. Follow this step by step tutorial to process and transform your shots in Photoshop to create a warm washed out vintage matte effect using non-destructive editing.

24. Create a children’s picture book illustration

In this brilliant tutorial, Photoshop wizard Fabio Sasso puts layer masks and Photoshop’s built-in filters to good use to create a beautiful, enchanting image that wouldn’t be out of place in a children’s book.

25. Low Poly Illustrations in Photoshop by Breno Bitencourt

We have seen quite a few illustrations with the low poly style, it looks like a very difficult technique but Breno Bitencourt put together a very complete Photoshop tutorial showing the process, including a video. I will really give it a try and now you have the chance to try to, check it out.

26. How to Create a Vintage Style Poster in Photoshop

This tutorial demonstrates techniques to create a vintage style poster in Photoshop. We will also be using Illustrator for some simple operations. This is a fairly straight forward tutorial utilizing Photoshop’s drawing tools and composition techniques.

27. Combine photos and vectors into a 1980s look

Recreating colourful, 1980s-style graphics isn’t hard – the tricky bit is updating them for the 21st century. In this tutorial, Karan Singh shows how to add a 1980s twist to stock or specially taken model shots, to jazz up your photos.

28. Forgotten Halloween – Dark photo manipulation tutorial

In this tutorial I”ll show you how to create a dark photo manipulation called “Forgotten Halloween”. You’ll learn how to combine different stocks, create a dark and eerie atmosphere and work with lighting effect.

29. Create Leafy Text Effect in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps used to create this leafy text effect in Photoshop. We will explore the use of tree bark texture to form the basis of the text, then applying leaf texture over the text. We will utilise the chalk brush, various selection tools, image adjustments and basic dodge/burn effect.

30. ABDZ Constellation in Photoshop

So in this little tutorial or case study, It will walk you through my process from Illustrator to Photoshop. I won’t provide a lot of details because I think it’s better for you to try and not follow instruction, but I think you can have a good idea of how the end result was achieved.

31. Create 3D type in 10 simple steps

Make your type stand out: Alex Gill reveals how to quickly create 3D type using Photoshop and Illustrator.

32. Curled Ribbon Text Effect

This tutorial will show you how to create a curled ribbon text effect, then decorate it with thin stripes of glitter. The curl will be created using simple shapes and gradient overlays, and then, it will be placed all over the text using some techniques and tips and tricks. After that, the glitter stripes will be created and styled, and finally, you’ll learn how to change the color of the final result as you like.

33. Create a 3D Sports Graphics Illustration

In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a 3D sports graphics illustration using Adobe Illustrator to create and export basic paths, Cinema 4D to build the 3D, and Photoshop for the post-production. Let’s get started!

34. Create an Emotional Autumn Scene Photo Manipulation

In this Photoshop tutorial I’ll show you how to create an emotional autumn scene. You’ll learn how to blend all stocks together to make a cohesive scene as well as retouch the model, create rain, work with groups and more.

35. How to Create Abstract Vector Background with Colorful Bubbles in Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial I will give you some tips on how to create abstract background with colorful bubbles in Adobe Photoshop CS5. You will learn how to add a Layer Style, draw bubbles, apply brushes etc. Layered PSD file included.

36. Offset Path Effect

So in this tutorial I will show you how to create a simple wallpaper mixing vectors and photos. We will play with Offset Path, Live Corners and some other effects in Illustrator and Photoshop.

37. Create Colourful Fiery Portrait in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to create this awesome fiery portrait in Photoshop.This is a beginner-intermediate level tutorial aiming to give some practices on layer blending, selection and coloring techniques in Photoshop. Some steps can be a little tricky, but why not have a try!

38. How to Create a Magical Photo Manipulation: Post-Production

Artists often work with a team of individuals to complete a project. This team could include a client, a creative director, an art director, a photographer, a retoucher, and a graphic designer. In this two-part tutorial, I teamed up with photographer Natalie Fobes to create a magical photo illustration that depicts a child interacting with toys that have come to life. In the process, we will show you how to not only shoot the photos that you need, but also, how to retouch them and combine them with stock photos to create artwork that closely resembles a sketch.

39. Create an Easy Realistic Gold Text Effect in Photoshop

Photoshop layer styles are very versatile in nature. They are also a great time saver and offer a lot of flexibility during editing and reuse. Popular layer styles like glass, chrome and gold are very much in demand in every day Photoshop work. In this tutorial we will explore an easy, but realistic Gold Text Effect in Photoshop.

40. How to Create a Chalk Logo Effect in Photoshop

Creating a realistic chalk effect in Photoshop can be a bit challenging. While there are certainly some filters, plug-ins, and other completely digital techniques to help you achieve the effect you want, you can often achieve a more realistic effect using real-life pencil and paper. In this tutorial, I will show you how to apply a chalk effect to an illustration in Photoshop. This technique can be used on anything from a typographic illustration to a logo.

41. Photo Manipulate a Surreal Underground Scene with a Sleeping, Frozen Beauty

You’ll learn how to create a lovely surreal image that’s sure to impressive your friends. It’s time to get icy and take your photo manip skills up a notch!

42. Get started with type art

In this tutorial, lettering guru Pomme Chan talks you step-by-step through how she created this incredible image.

43. Create a Fantasy Fiery Portrait Photo-Manipulation

In this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a fantasy fiery portrait of a woman. You’ll learn how to use textures, add fire and create lighting effect.

44. How to Add Realistic Falling Snow to a Photo in Photoshop

Falling snowflakes are a great way to make your winter photography much more interesting. Sometimes, the weather doesn’t cooperate however, and you have to turn to Photoshop to get the job done. In this tutorial, we will explain how to create a realistic falling snow effect in Photoshop and show you how to apply it to your images.

45. JWT Brazil – Made Of What You Are

Background Info: this illustration was an A0 billboard produced for JWT Brazil’s Troller car campaign. The original brief came attached with a rough concept sketch and some loose directions for what the client wanted to see in the image. The final image was created using 3D objects, stock photos and digital painting. Most of the lighting manipulation used in this image was done with photoshop layer adjustments and painting via a tablet. All 3D objects were created with the software Cinema 4D. Due to scheduling conflicts with the Cannes festival, the deadline for this image was six days.

46. Create a Seamless, 3D, Geometric Pattern in Photoshop

Seamless patterns are a fun and easy way to add some interest to your graphic designs. Patterns, however, can be a bit intimidating to some artists, as it is often challenging to figure out exactly where the pattern repeats. In this tutorial, I will show you how to quickly create a seamless, three-dimensional, geometric pattern in Photoshop.

47. Create low-poly art portraits

You’ll see how to create this cool, grainy work with a low-poly (a polygon mesh of a small number of polygons) twist. First we’ll create some vector portraits, then get texturing in Photoshop with self-made brushes.

48. Draw a Realistic Retro Radio using Photoshop and Illustrator from Scratch

You’ll see how to create this cool, grainy work with a low-poly (a polygon mesh of a small number of polygons) twist. First we’ll create some vector portraits, then get texturing in Photoshop with self-made brushes.

49. How to create B & W high fashion photo

In today’s Photoshop tutorial we’re going to play around with various image adjustments to recreate the emotive style of high fashion black and white photography. Typically these photographs feature many of the characteristics of old school 35mm film, such as heavy film grain and low contrast. Follow this step by step guide to quickly transform your own photos into artistic black and white pieces of art.

50. Striped fuzzy text effect

If you’re a fan of the fuzzy/fluffy stuff, you’ll like this text effect. It is a really simple one, created using Photoshop’s Layer Styles, brushes, and Filters. You can use any color you like for the stripes, and even create them in different sizes. The techniques are pretty easy, but they give a nice, almost realistic, result.

51. The Ultimate Guide to Adjustment Layers – Color Balance and Selective Color

In this tutorial, we are going to have a look at the Color Balance and Selective Color adjustment layers in Photoshop. They work by balancing the percentage of primary and secondary colors in your images and can be used to fine-tune your colors. Although Color Balance and Selective Color are not used as often as the Hue/Saturation adjustment, for instance, they are still very useful once you know how and when to use them.

52. Create a Geometric Maze Design in Photoshop

You’ll learn all kinds of techniques, such as working with perspective, applying texture and lighting and much more.

53. Adobe Illustrator tutorial: Add stylish ornaments to type

Learn the basics of adding ornaments to type using Illustrator techniques such as Live Trace and the Pathfinder panel.

54. Beautiful Valentine’s Day Manipulation in Photoshop

This is a manipulation tutorial by PSDBox that will show you how to create a romantic scenario combining a few stock images. You will also learn how to create beautiful color effects and how to give a nice soft and dreamy effect to your works.

55. How To Create a Colorful Fluoro Duotone Photo Effect

In today’s Photoshop tutorial we’re heading straight back to the 80s to play with vibrant fluoro colours. It has become a popular trend to convert the colours of modern day photographs into oversaturated fluorescent style hues to create intense sensual images. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to quickly recreate this duotone effect, then we’ll take the design to the next level with some additional tweaks to give it a modern pop art twist.

56. Create a Mobile Shopping App Design in Photoshop

In this tutorial, It will show you the techniques used to create a modern and flat user interface (UI) design for an iPad app.

57. Typographic Logo in Illustrator and Photoshop

For this tutorial It will show you how to use simple Illustrator tools to create a very trendy logo. The process is quite simple and can be applied to all sorts of logos and illustrations for your future projects.

58. Create “Cold Winter Night” Text Effect in Photoshop

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to create this interesting cold winter night text effect in Photoshop. We will go through some texturing techniques, as well as an interesting method of creating break-apart effect. We will also use image adjustment layers to fine-tune the final effect.

59. Embossed Metal Tag Text Effect

This tutorial is a quick easy one, that will show you how you can use shapes and layered Layer Styles to create a simple embossed metal tag-inspired text effect.

60. Advanced hair retouching

In this Photoshop tutorial by FX-RAY you will learn how to perform an advanced hair retouching from a model photo by removing stray hairs and cross hairs.
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