How to do this?

hark

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I am finishing up the last two drama production photos that I will photograph for my local high school's drama department. Since it takes a lot of time and commitment to do it, I won't be involved with them anymore. They have been an absolutely stellar organization, and it was my involvement with them that got me back into photography.

The drama director likes collage posters, and as many of you know, there aren't many templates available for 20"x30" posters. I created all the ones I made from scratch. While shopping at Walmart, I looked at their poster display. I like this one but am unsure of how to set it up. One of the plays was based on a true story during the Vietnam War so I'm leaning towards a camouflage background. Any idea on how to create a mulit-colored, somewhat textured background to simulate camouflage?

The photos on this poster look like they either have an inside or outside glow around them...at least that's what I think. For those who have used layer styles, is that what you think? Below are two photos to give you an idea.

Batman Poster low res.jpg



Here is a crop from the poster for a better view:

Batman Poster crop.jpg
 
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hark

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This might help if you are trying to do it in LR.


I had no idea collages could be made in Lightroom! I've made several collages in PCC but am not sure how to create a camouflage background from scratch. I know repeating patterns can be duplicated all over a background in PCC, but camouflage really isn't a repeating pattern...more of a random pattern. I may see if I can find an online photo like Kevin suggested.

Thanks for the tip on Lightroom. I haven't done a collage with the pattern she used. It gives me an idea for the other poster I need to make. :encouragement:
 

hark

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I just found this video on how to create a camouflage background. This might work. May try the inner glow for each individual photo--or possibly an inner bevel with an inner glow and a very small stroke to see if I can achieve a similar look to the edges of the photos.

 

BackdoorArts

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This is nothing more than 17 photos layered over top of a background image/texture. Each image layer has style added to it (the Fx button) that provides the shadow/bevel. There's other ways of doing it where you can actually make a template that's repeatable if that's what you need. If I had time to tell you more I would, but there are lots of tutorials on YouTube for this - creating a template and then plugging photos in. Not hard at all. You can do it in LR, but the borders are harder to do.
 

hark

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This is nothing more than 17 photos layered over top of a background image/texture. Each image layer has style added to it (the Fx button) that provides the shadow/bevel. There's other ways of doing it where you can actually make a template that's repeatable if that's what you need. If I had time to tell you more I would, but there are lots of tutorials on YouTube for this - creating a template and then plugging photos in. Not hard at all. You can do it in LR, but the borders are harder to do.

So you are saying the background like is in the Camo video can be done as 17 layers? I probably won't have time to start the poster for another couple of weeks so will see if there are other videos available. I'm sure there are other methods that can create the camo effect.
 

Horoscope Fish

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So you are saying the background like is in the Camo video can be done as 17 layers? I probably won't have time to start the poster for another couple of weeks so will see if there are other videos available. I'm sure there are other methods that can create the camo effect.
It's 17 photos... Arranged on one background layer. In your case, the background layer will be your camo pattern.
 

hark

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I've done collages before, but never anything at this level. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.

WM

Thanks! When I get it done, I will post the poster. Creating their posters always teaches me new ideas--and it's one thing I will miss by not continuing to photograph their dramas.

The first few posters I made were all very similar in style. Then in the collage thread here, someone posted a collage that piqued my interest. And it was that idea which allowed me to start thinking outside the box. So now I've been trying to come up with collage ideas that are different from any other posters I've made so far.

The poster I made that incorporated a filmstrip was by far the most popular. Last year I was asked to make a personal poster for a student who was graduating. That parent asked if I would be willing to make posters for the other graduating seniors. Since I knew I wouldn't have the time, I had to say no. Then I found out a couple of the drama students are into Photoshop so I uploaded the filmstrip poster's PCC file to Dropbox where they can use it as a template. One of the students was interested in creating similar filmstrip posters for graduating seniors. This way the graduates can have their own posters which encompass photos from all their high school years, and a student can make a little money in the process. Works for me since I don't have the time to do them myself! ;)
 
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