Learn to create this energetic and dynamic sport based wallpaper in Photoshop. You can learn how to put different elements like splatters, stains, particles, textures together and make it all look like one piece. Along the way it demonstrates non destructive image editing and manipulation techniques which are highly useful in day to day tasks.

Preview of Final Results

Resources

• Girl – SXC
• Tea Stain Texture – Frameofthoughts (Deviantart)
• Ball – SXC (Alternative}
• Plant – SXC
• Splatter 1 – SXC
• Splatter 2 – SXC
• Splatter 3 – SXC
• Galaxy – Pauline Moss Stock (Deviantart)
• Goalpost – SXC
• Ground – SXC
• Skyline – SXC
• Spray Paint Pack – Mediamilitia
• Water Color Texture Pack – Mediamilitia

---

Step 1

Create a new file with the below dimensions. This is going to be a wide screen wallpaper

---

Step 2

Create a new layer in the Layers palette. Set the foreground color to #040916. Hit Alt + Backspace to fill the current color.

---

Step 3

Let’s add a texture to the background to make it look a bit dynamic. Import the texture directly into our file as a Smart Object using the “Place” command. Choose File > Place and locate the texture. This imports the image as a Smart Object which we can transform and apply filters to without harming the actual contents of the image.

Now the texture is placed in our document.

---

Step 4

Hit Ctrl + T, hold by the corner and rotate it 90 degrees anti clock wise or simply right click and choose “Rotate 90 degrees CCW” option.

Resize the texture to cover the entire document area and hit “Enter” to confirm the transformation.

---

Step 5

Now desaturate the texture. Apply “Hue/Saturation” adjustment layer on top of the texture. Set the saturation to -100 using the slider. Then clip it to the texture layer by clicking the “Clip to the Below Layer Option” or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + G.

---

Step 6

We need to invert the texture layer. Since it is a Smart Object we can’t directly invert it. Double click on the thumbnail to see the contents. Now press Ctrl + I or go to Image > Adjustments > Invert to invert the image. Press Ctrl + S to save and close the smart object document.

Your image should look like below.

---

Step 7

Set the blend mode to “Color Dodge”

---

Step 8

Increase the visibility of the texture. Add Levels adjustment layer to the texture and adjust the mid tone values.

---

Step 9

Import the ground layer using the place command like earlier.

---

Step 10

Make a similar selection using the Lasso Tool. No need to be perfect, just keep it identical.

---

Step 11

Once the selection in on click on the “Add layer mask” button at the bottom of the Layers Palette. You should get the below result.

---

Step 12

Open up the New York skyline image. In the Layers palette right click on the layer thumbnail and choose “Layer From Background” option. Now select the buildings using your preferred selection tool. I used Magic Wand tool and Polygonal Lasso tool in combination to select mine.

I would like to further adjust the selection using the “Refine Edge” command (Select > Refine Edge). After adjustments click “OK” to confirm.

---

Step 13

Add layer mask using the selection.

---

Step 14

Select the buildings on the sides. Click the Layer mask that is already there, fill the selection with black to hide them.

---

Step 15

Before moving this into our design we need to convert it into a Smart Object. So that we can transform it freely. Right click on the layer and choose “Convert to Smart Object”.

---

Step 16

Now move the buildings Smart Object into the main file. Resize it and place it behind the ground layer.

---

Step 17

Import the water color texture ( Watercolors_Vol1 – Watercolors_V1_1032.jpg) in to the document using the “Place” command.

Rotate the texture.

---

Step 18

Place it behind the buildings layer.

---

Step 19

Desaturate the layer by applying the “Hue/Saturation” adjustment layer.

---

Step 20

Now double click the water color Smart Object layer. Press Ctrl+ I to invert it. Save and close the window.

Your image should look like this.

---

Step 21

Now change the blend mode to “Screen”.

---

Step 22

Open up the girl stock image. Select the girl. Since we have a monotone background we can use the Magic Wand tool or use the “Color Range Command”. You may need to refine the selection further like we did earlier. This will remove any edge artifacts and gives a much cleaner selection.

---

Step 23

Add Layer Mask using the selection.

---

Step 24

Convert to Smart Object.

---

Step 25

Move the girl into main file. Place it above the ground layer.

---

Step 26

Add the word “GAME”. I used “Futura STD Extra Bold”. If you don’t have it use a similar font that is bold enough. Adjust Kerning using the Character Palette.

---

Step 27

Add the words “Love The”.

---

Step 28

Load the ball stock image into Photoshop. Mask out the background. Convert the layer into a Smart Object.

---

Step 29

Drag the ball smart object into the main file. Resize it appropriately. Place above the girl layer covering the original ball below.

---

Step 30

Add Curves Adjustment layer to the ball and slightly adjust the mid tone brightness. Clip it to the ball layer.

---

Step 31

Open up the goal post image, select the front post.

---

Step 32

Apply Layer Mask with the selection. Then Convert it into Smart Object.

---

Step 33

Place it below the girl layer.

---

Step 34

Create a new layer below the goal post frame. Quickly make a selection and fill it with white to give an impression of a net. Reduce the layer’s opacity to 50%.

---

Step 35

Select the Line Tool and draw the frame of the goal post.

---

Step 36

We have the goal keeper silhouette here. Since it has the black as background and white as foreground I set the blending mode to screen. This will get rid of the blacks and retains the whites. You can get a similar image or create your own silhouette from a real image.

---

Step 37

Duplicate the ball layer and reduce the size and place it near the goal keeper like he is jumping to catch the ball.

---

Step 38

I have got this mountain peek like image with the white background. I used the Magic Wand tool to select and created a new layer and filled the selection with black. You can find a similar image or simply draw the shape in Photoshop.

---

Step 39

Bring the shape into the main file. Invert the layer and convert into a Smart Object.

---

Step 40

I rotated the shape and resized it. Duplicated it placed behind the buildings layer.

---

Step 41

Place the dripping paint texture (Spray Paint pack – Media_Militia_-_Spray_Paint_Textures_05.jpg)as Smart Object. Position it above the type layer.

---

Step 42

Clip the paint layer to the type layer(Ctrl + Alt + G).

---

Step 43

Now place the splatter image above the type layer.

---

Step 44

Double click on the thumbnail. Press Ctrl + I to invert. Save and close it.

---

Step 45

Set the blend mode to “Screen”

---

Step 46

Clip it to the type layer.

---

Step 47

Open up the splatter texture image. Select a splatter and copy it.

---

Step 48

Get back to the main file, paste the texture below the girl layer.

---

Step 49

Invert the layer then convert into Smart Object.

---

Step 50

Rotate the texture place it below the girl’s foot.

---

Step 51

Change the blend mode to Screen. That eliminates the blacks

---

Step 52

Make a copy of the paint layer and place behind the girl. You need to rotate it.

---

Step 53

Make a few more copies of the same layer and arrange them intuitively.

---

Step 54

Copy the other portion of the texture.

---

Step 55

Paste the copied portion in the main file. Invert it. Make it a Smart Object.

---

Step 56

Resize and change the blend mode to “Screen”.

---

Step 57

Open up the fire stock image. Select and copy some of the flames.

---

Step 58

Switch back to the main file. Paste the flames.

---

Step 59

Slightly increase the black levels using the Levels Adjustment layer.

---

Step 60

Hide the edges with Layer Mask. Use a round soft brush to paint out the edges.

---

Step 61

Send the fire layer back to the girl layer.

---

Step 62

Change the blend mode to “Screen”. Reduce the opacity if you feel required.

---

Step 63

Open paint splatter image. Copy a piece from it.

---

Step 64

Paste and invert the layer.

You may need to rotate it slightly. Set the blend mode to “Screen”.

---

Step 65

Copy another chunk from the same image.

---

Step 66

Invert and set the blend mode to “Screen”.

---

Step 67

Open up the plant image. Select the leaf using the Pen Tool.

---

Step 68

Copy and paste it into the main file. Convert it into Smart Object.

Final Results

Tutorial by Niranth M