Objective

To learn Photoshop/Illustrator production techniques by recreating the following poster:

Discussion

Posters are advertising and promotion vehicles. As such, they need to attract attention from a distance and communicate its message clearly in the simplest way possible. Because of its size, posters can take advantage of extreme contrasts in size. Never be afraid of using small type on a poster because once you've grabbed someone's attention, they will not hesitate to get closer to read about the details.

Procedure

prepping the flower art in Photoshop

1. download starter files
2. open "magnolia.jpg" in photoshop
3. edit > transform > flip vertically
4. window > actions: new set "set 1"
5. create new action "image size 120%" (function key=shift F2)
6. record action: image > image size: 120% (bicubic smoother)
7. window > actions: stop recording
8. play action (6x)
9. duplicate "background" layer, hide previous layer
10. image > adjust > posterize (8)
11. filter > convert for filters
12. filter > brush strokes > sprayed strokes: (length=18, radius=1, horizontal)
13. save as "magnolia.psd"

prepping the paper art in Photoshop 

1. open "paper.jpg" in photoshop
2. rename "background" layer
3. magic wand tool: select black
4. select > modify > expand: 10
5. delete selection
6. image > adjust > levels: increase contrast, ghost
7. save as "paper.psd"

laying out the poster in Photoshop

1. file > new: 11x17in, 150ppi, CMYK, bg=white; save as "madama.psd"
2. fill "background" layer with red
3. type tool: "Madama Butterfly" (Helvetica light), adjust tracking, kerning, leading; scale visually
4. file > place "paper.psd"; scale, rotate (cmd+T)
5. add layer style: drop shadow
6. file > place "magnolia.psd" (layer mode=darken, opacity=80%)
7. file > place "lips.ai" (layer mode=multiply)
8. add layer style: color overlay (red)
9. add layer mask, make some areas semi-transparent
10. file > place "splatter.ai" (layer mode=multiply)
11. add layer style: color overlay (red)
12. duplicate "splatter.ai" (opacity=20%), blur
13. scale, rotate, reposition
14. save

finishing the layout in Illustrator

1. file > new: 11x17
2. rename "layer 1" as "art"
3. file > place "madama.psd"
4. new layer "type"; copy and paste text from "madama.txt": Palatino 13/15 or 25/24
5. new layer "logo"; copy and paste logo from "kcpaLogo.ai"
6. adjust layout

grading

1. submit b&w laser proof (11x17) with your name on it for grading
2. file graded proof in your 3-ring binder for individual review