20 PSD Tuts That Will Turn You Into A Photoshop Guru

Many people can use Photoshop, but only a select few can call themselves gurus. Learn all the methods in the 20 tutorials below and you’ll be well on your way to joining this elite. Rather than focus on tuts for beginners, intermediates or advanced users, we’ve simply chosen ones which produce jaw-dropping effects. All of them are easy to follow, although most do require at least some prior knowledge and experience.

1. Colorful Plexi Text Effect

Follow this tutorial to create dazzling, multi-layered, semi-transparent lettering, with a Perspex-like quality. No files are needed- simply follow the instructions.

2. 3D Pixel Stretch Effect

File this tutorial under “simple but effective”. Stretching a line of pixels produces a tried-and-tested impressive visual effect, but this tutorial takes things one step further, introducing an exciting 3D element.

3. Photo Manipulation of a Flooded City Scene

Turn a simple cityscape into a torrentially flooded wasteland. The 15 steps are very well explained and the end product is nothing short of spectacular.

4. Light and Glow Effect

Become the master of light and glow on Photoshop with this brief, easy-to-follow guide. There are several different effects to learn, each one more rewarding than the last.

5. Master 3D Type Effects

Use masking tools, layers, gradients and lines to turn your favorite piece of 3D text into something more colorful and commercial.

6. Powerful Mental Wave Explosion

Mental waves do not exist, but if they did they’d look rather like this. Use filters and images to create an image fit for an X-Men movie.

7. Realistic Water Reflection

This tutorial is so versatile. Once you’ve mastered the methods it teaches you’ll be able to employ them in any number of different projects. A filter and displacement map is used to create the ripples.

8. Age Progression

Turning a young person old is one of the most fun things you can do with Photoshop, but more often than not you’ll simply end up with a saggier version of the original image. Follow the 16 steps in this tutorial for thoroughly professional results.

9. Watercolor Effect Menu

This is mainly one for the web designers, but the watercolor-like techniques can be used for various purposes. The end product is attractive, cool and in demand right now.

10. High Impact Gig Poster

Chances are if you’re a young graphic designer, friends will constantly bug you to do work for them. Designing a gig poster (or flyer) is often high on their list of demands, so you might as well know how to do it
properly!

11. Draw a Portrait

Portraits occupy the more advanced end of the Photoshop learning spectrum. Creating a bad one is pretty easy, but producing a good one is rather trickier. This tutorial guides you through the basic process. There are valuable lessons to be learnt.

12. Graffiti

Spraying graffiti on walls is illegal, but not if you do it on Photoshop. With so many tutorials showing you how to produce the “whackest” graffiti effects possible, it’s refreshing to find one which produces authentic results.

13. A Slow Motion Bullet Effect

With 47 steps, this isn’t the easiest tutorial to master, but it’s certainly one of the best. So long as you know how to select an area with the pen tool and you’ve used the liquefier a couple of times, you shouldn’t have any problems.

14. Abstract Watercolor

Layer masking is the best way to get a watercolor effect in Photoshop. You’ll learn the technique properly in this excellent tut, transforming a photograph into an abstract watercolor.

15. Glass Ball

Creating a glass ball in Photoshop is a great way to impress. It looks as though it would be really hard, but in fact it’s relatively straightforward for intermediate and advances users.

16. Vintage Photograph

This tutorial was written a long time ago, but it’s as useful today as it was 7 years ago. Colorizing is a very time-consuming process, but the results can be stunning, provided your source image is up to scratch.

17. Star and Meteor Impact

Intermediate Photoshop users should find making this intergalactic explosion lots of fun. The “soil texture” is used for a realistic, extraterrestrial planetary ground surface.

18. Mold Paint Splatter to a Face

Splatting paint onto somebody’s face is very satisfying, but you’re more than likely to get a punch from the splat recipient unless you do it on Photoshop! You’ll find this paint splatter effect popping up in all kinds of ads.

19. Watercolor Effect

You’ll be amazed by what you can achieve in just 10 simple steps. Use masks and watercolor brushes to produce a thoroughly eye-catching image.

20. 3D Text Photo Manipulation

Follow this tutorial to learn how to superimpose a 3D object of any kind into natural surroundings. You don’t have to use 3D text, but it looks brilliant if you do.

Related posts:

1. 20 PSD Text Manipulation Tuts That Will Turn You Into A Pro

2. 50 great photoshop tutorials

3. 15 Fantastic Photoshop Tutorials to Sharpen Your Skills

4. Photoshop Tutorial Hall of Fame

5. 40+ Best Photoshop Tutorials for Creating Buttons and Badges