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since 17 Jan 2005
'Old Print' Effect Photoshop Tutorial
9476 views since 2 June 2005

In this tutorial we propose a very simple and quick method to transform a photo into an 'Old Print' effect, useful for architectural illustrations or other purposes.

Final image (click to enlarge)
 

1. Open the photo you wish to transform

2. Duplicate the Background Layer

3. Go to Filter Gallery and apply the following filters subsequently:

3a. Photocopy

- Detail: 2
- Darkness: 10

3b. Poster Edges

- Edge Thickness: 0
- Edge intensity: 8
- Posterization: 1

3c. Torn Edges

- Image Balance: 50
- Smoothness: 12
- Contrast: 16

You should obtain something like a "blueprint" with very irregular edges (see picture on the right).

Name this layer as "B-W background"

4. Now make another copy of the layer containing the photo, go to Filter Gallery... and apply the following filters:

4a. Graphic Pen

In this case we used the following settings:

- Stroke Length: 15
- Light/Dark Balance: 44
- Stroke Direction: Right-Diagonal

Anyway you can play with them to obtain the right amount of contrast, depending on your original image

4b. Paint Daubs

- Brush Size: 1
- Sharpness: 0
- Brush Type: Wide Sharp

This filter enables to smooth the sharp contours made by the Graphic Pen filter.

5. Name this layer as "B-W foreground" and adjust its contrast (Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast)

In this case we used the following settings:

- Brightness: +14
- Contrast: +28

Now move this layer above the "B-W background" layer and set its Blending Mode to "Multiply".

That's it!

 

6. An interesting variation can be obtained by setting the Blending Mode of the "B-W background" layer to "Multiply". This way the colors of the underneath photo come up with a nice pictorial effect.

Another Example (Croatian House in Brac)
Original image
Final image