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o w t o M a k e a D a r k , P o s t -

p o c a l y p t i c C i t y I l l u s t r a t i o n

Mikolaj Dobruckion Jul 7th 2009 with 192 Comments

o w n l o a d S o u r c e F i l e s

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n this tutorial, well change a full of sunshine, ordinary photograph into a gloomy image ofhe world after destruction of mankind. Using simple tools, well turn lively streets intobandoned ruins overgrown with weeds. A number of stock images and a few little tricks

will let us optimize our work and make this job more interesting and spectacular. So letso!

i n a l I m a g e P r e v i e w

ake a look at the image well be creating. Want access to the full PSD files andownloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plusfor just $19/month.

You can view the final image preview below. You can view the final image preview belowr view a larger version here.

http://tutsplus.com/amember/signup.phphttp://tutsplus.com/amember/signup.phphttp://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/how-to-make-a-dark-post-apocalyptic-city-illustration/http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/how-to-make-a-dark-post-apocalyptic-city-illustration/http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/how-to-make-a-dark-post-apocalyptic-city-illustration/http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/how-to-make-a-dark-post-apocalyptic-city-illustration/http://cdn.tutsplus.com/psd/uploads/legacy/273_Apocalyptic_City/final_large.jpghttp://tutsplus.compsd-premium/http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-make-a-dark-post-apocalyptic-city-illustration--psd-3617http://tutsplus.com/amember/signup.phphttp://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/how-to-make-a-dark-post-apocalyptic-city-illustration/#disqus_threadhttp://psd.tutsplus.com/author/mikolaj-dobrucki/http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/how-to-make-a-dark-post-apocalyptic-city-illustration/

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r e p a r a t i o n

All the photos Ive used are taken from the stock.xchngsite. Lets take a look on them,efore we start: the city, the flag, the texture 1, the texture 2, the texture 3, the grass texture,he can, the can 2, thebanana skin, the old newspaper, the grass, thebushes, thebushes 2,

heplantsand the clouds. Also Ive used one set of brushes, found on DeviantArt: Birdsrushes.

t e p 1

http://esmeralda-stock.deviantart.com/art/Birds-Brushes-75477231http://www.deviantart.com/http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1137802http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1152644http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1151103http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1143468http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1144727http://www.sxc.hu/photo/822353http://www.sxc.hu/photo/909702http://www.sxc.hu/photo/967434http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1021864http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1160550http://www.sxc.hu/photo/532512http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1145765http://www.sxc.hu/photo/995830http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1138014http://www.sxc.hu/photo/883785http://www.sxc.hu/http://cdn.tutsplus.com/psd/uploads/legacy/273_Apocalyptic_City/final_large.jpg

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Open the cityimage, which you intend to use, and save it under a different name. The firsthing to do in order to achieve the appearance of the deserted, empty city, is to remove allgns of life, like people and lights. Use the Clone Stamp Tool and Brush Tool, which welle useful for finishing the details. Both tools should be soft-edged and have a size of 5 to 10ixels.

t e p 2

Now, in order to create the appearance of destruction, several actions need to be taken.irst, change the appearance of the dark, blue banner (center-left of the image). Use therush Tool to erase most of the gold letters, and use the Clone Stamp Tool to remove the

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/883785

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ower part of the banner.

t e p 3

Open the flagimage, and separate the flag from the background. Go to Select > Color Range

o select all the blue pixels and press Delete. Use the parameters as in the image below.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1138014

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elect the Eraser Tool (large size and hardness set at 0%) and remove the side part of theag.

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inally, make the image monochromatic (Image > Adjustments > Black & White).

t e p 4

lace the flag onto the surface of the main image. Use the Move Tool to move the layer intohe appropriate position and the Eraser Tool to remove the unnecessary pixels.

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hen go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and set up as shown below.

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t e p 5

Use the following tools to finish the work here: Clone Stamp Tool, Eraser Tool, Brushool, Burn Tool, and Dodge Tool.

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Also select the Brush Tool and treat all other banners and flags in a similar way.

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t e p 6

ransform the windows now. Use the Brush Tool to remove some of the glass and alter theetails. Apply some transformations with the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) and Move Tool ifou want to.

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t e p 7

eview the whole main image looking for areas where changes need to be made. When

ansforming the details, first mark them using the Polygonal Lasso tool, and subsequentlyut out, paste in as new layers and transform them with the Move Tool. Use the Brush Tooluring the process, if necessary.

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t e p 8

he last stage of creating an impression of destruction is removing flowers from the street.aint all the flowers over with black, using the Brush Tool. Make up the missing parts of the

ower pots with the Clone Stamp Tool, and add the shadows using the Burn Tool.

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t e p 9

Now we need to work on the textures. Create a new layer and go to Filter > Vanishing Pointo apply the texture 1onto the surface of asphalt. If you dont know how to use this filter, Iecommend you read Alvaros tutorial Getting to Grips with the Vanishing Point Filterefore starting this step.

t e p 1 0

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/getting-to-grips-with-the-vanishing-point-filter/http://www.sxc.hu/photo/995830

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hange the Blending Mode of the layer to Multiply. Select the Eraser Tool and remove thennecessary parts of the texture.

inally place texture 2onto the sidewalks in the same way.

t e p 1 1

Overlay texture 3over the buildings, in the way similar to the sidewalks and street, but doot use the Vanishing Point filter.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/532512http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1145765

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t e p 1 2

he last texture to be overlaid on the street surface is the grass texture. Contrary to therevious ones, in this case set the Blending Mode to Overlay.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1160550

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t e p 1 3

Now we will use a large number of stock photos. They will help make our image moreetailed and interesting. Place the images of the can, the can 2, thebanana skin, the oldewspaper, the grass, thebushes, thebushes 2and theplantsin the document, resize them

nd erase the backgrounds.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1152644http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1151103http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1143468http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1144727http://www.sxc.hu/photo/822353http://www.sxc.hu/photo/909702http://www.sxc.hu/photo/967434http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1021864

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elect the Burn Tool and apply some shadows.

Next select the Brush Tool, change its Blending Mode to Color. Alter and adjust the new

lements so that they coexist better with the texture and color of the main image.

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t e p 1 4

With a Brush Tool already selected, change its Blending Mode back to Normal and add theettings in the Brushes Panel as shown below.

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aint some blades of grass, trying to make this as realistic as possible.

Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation using the settings below.

t e p 1 5

At the end, use the Brush Tool, Burn Tool and Blur Tool in order to add more flora, andmake the image more appealing and consistent.

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t e p 1 6

elect the Burn Tool and add some hard shadows on all the walls.

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Use the Brush Tool with the Blending Mode set to Color to add somereen smudges.

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t e p 1 7

hange the Blending Mode of the Brush Tool back to Normal once again, and add theettings in the Brushes Panel, as shown below.

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Using a green color for the brush, add some flora on all the buildings.

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Use the Burn Tool and Dodge Tools to make highlights and shadows. This will enhance theffect of three-dimensionality.

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t e p 1 8

Add some green and flora on cars, boards and flower pots using the same methods. Look athe third image to see all the successive small steps of working on the white road sign.

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t e p 1 9

mport the photo of the cloudsinto the document and place it in the bottom part of the image.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1137802

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Next add a Mask to the Layer. Use the Pen Tool or the Magic Wand Tool to make aelection on the sky, next go Select > Inverse and Fill the selected area (of a mask, not anmage) with black (using the Paint Bucket Tool).

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t e p 2 0

Go to Image > Adjustments > Black & White and use the default settings.

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Use the Burn Tool and the Dodge Tool to change the contrast of the clouds, if you want to.inally, select Brush Tool to paint the clouds with a new hue. First set the brush to a bigze (about 150 pixels), hardness set to 35%, and Blending Mode set to Color, and use someastel shades.

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t e p 2 1

Without changing any of the brush settings, add some warm colors to the buildings andreets. At this point, your image should look like the one below.

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t e p 2 2

Download the Birds Brushesset and open them in Photoshop. Add a few birds in the skysing a proper size.

http://esmeralda-stock.deviantart.com/art/Birds-Brushes-75477231

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t e p 2 3

Now its time to add final effects to your image. At this moment you must have only oneayer. Simply save your work as a JPG or go to Layer > Flatten Image to do that. Next go tomage > Adjustments > Levels and add the settings represented in the image below.

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t e p 2 4

ast but not least go to Filter > Render > Lighting Effects and set up as shown.

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o n c l u s i o n

Well done! Youve now seen the whole process of turning an image of a lively city into aate of decaying ruins. Let us hope this will never happen in reality. You can view the final

mage below or view a larger version here.

http://cdn.tutsplus.com/psd/uploads/legacy/273_Apocalyptic_City/final_large.jpg

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