This document provides instructions for creating a film poster in Photoshop. It explains how to set up the file dimensions, import images, create layers, edit images by removing backgrounds, add and style text, and includes some tips. The key steps covered are: 1) Setting up the file and importing images onto separate layers, 2) Editing images by resizing and removing backgrounds, 3) Adding text and applying effects like shadows, and 4) Saving the file in the appropriate format for editing or submission.

1. Adobe Photoshop How To Guide
Creating a film poster
ü Open up Adobe Photoshop and click File >
New and make sure the Preset is set to
International Paper. This is so that your
advert/poster will print out in A4.
ü Your document should open up like so…
ü To import your images into Photoshop, go to
File > Open and select the files you wish to
import.
ü You will notice that your multiple files will
appear in different tabs at the top of the
Photoshop workspace.
ü These separate images can be dragged on to your blank template.
ü In Photoshop (same as in Illustrator), you must create Layers to
work from. Each time you add a new object/image/text etc., a new
layer should be created. Your layers can be monitored in the Layers
Panel.
We create layers so that if you need to edit anything at a later date,
you can do so without having to start the poster again.
ü It is recommended to name your layers accordingly so that you can
go back to them and edit certain objects easily.
1. Setting up your Film Poster Document in Photoshop

2. ü To edit/adjust an image, you need to click on it on the layers panel, so to resize
my background image of the Smokey road; I’ll click on that layer and then click
on the Arrow Tool icon to resize it.
ü Always make sure that the Show Transform
Controls box is ticked to resize your image.
ü I have now brought in an image of Batman that I
would like to place on top of the road, however,
there is another background behind him, which I
would like to get rid of.
ü To fix this, I will go back into the original tab that
the Batman image opened in and get rid of the
background.
ü Click the Quick Selection tool.
ü Select the image that you want to cut out from
the background.
ü You will see ‘marching ants’ moving around the
parts of the image that you select.
ü Once you are happy with your selection, click
Refine Edge.
ü You will notice that the background has disappeared and a
Refine Edge options box has appeared. This is so you can
finely edit the edge so no remaining background appears
around your object.
2. Editing images
3. Removing a background

3. ü Once you are happy with your image removed from the background, make sure
that the Output To section is set to New Layer With Layer Mask, and
then hit OK.
ü Making sure that you have selected the Arrow Tool, you can now drag the
new image on to your film poster document tab.

4. ü To add text to your advert, simply click the T icon and drag a text box on
to your advert.
ü Begin typing and you can change the font, colour and size in the boxes
situated on the top of the toolbar
ü You will notice a new layer has been made for your text. This allows you to
come back and edit it at any time, simply by clicking on the Text layer.
ü To make your text stand out a bit more or to give it a 3D effect, you can right
click on the text layer and click Blending Options. This will enable you to
add shadows, contours, outer strokes etc. to your Text and give it
a more effective look. Have a try!
4. Adding text to your film posters

5. ü Play around with Photoshop and look at tutorials on YouTube. There are
millions of ways to edit your photos. There are also tutorials on the Coombe
Media blog!
ü ALWAYS make sure you have clicked on to the correct layer that you want
to edit before amending anything otherwise it could be amending the wrong
thing!
ü By clicking Image > Adjustments, you can amend the brightness, contrast,
colouring, sharpness etc. of any of your images.
ü To adjust whether you want your document to be Portrait or Landscape,
you must click on the Background layer and then go to: Image > Image
Rotation > 90°CW
ü There are 2 ways to save your work: you may need to save it to come back and
edit at a later date, OR you have completely finished and are ready to hand it in
to be marked. Here are the two ways:
5. Some handy tips
6. Saving your work
Saving your document to
be edited again:
ü File>Save As
ü Name your document
and save it in your
desired location
ü The format must be
saved as a Photoshop
(PSD) file
ü Then click OK!
Saving your document to
be submitted as a Final
copy:
ü File>Save As
ü Name your document
and save it in your
desired location
ü The format must be
saved as a JPEG (JPG)
file
ü Then click OK!