A Grungy and Retro Style Portrait Designing with Necessary Effects

In this tutorial I will show you how to design grunge girl wallpaper in Photoshop using some grunge textures and brushes. We will use different techniques such as image adjustments, layer blending options and filter effects. Have a look!

Final Image Preview

Create a new file (File>New) of 929х900/72dpi that must be fill with the Paint Bucket Tool (G) in black color.

On a new layer (Create new layer) we’ll choose a standard brush of #42311B color to paint the background.


Download a set of ready to use brushes for Adobe Photoshop, named BB_HighRes_Grunge_Textures and D_Grungeset1.
Create a new layer again and select here the brush out of the set BB_HighRes_Grunge_Textures. The brush’s color is #2A1305


Set the next indicated styles for the last made layer by clicking on this layer on the layers’ panel: Blending Options>Drop Shadow



On the next new layer we’ll chose a brush out of the same set, BB_HighRes_Grunge_Textures and the color #AC8E65


The layer’s options: Fill 22%, Blending mode-Linear light


Create a new layer again and use on it the standard brush with the Opacity of 20% and try to represent a shadow of black color coming from the picture’s top till down. The middle part of the picture must be processed with white color.


The layer’s options: Blending mode-Soft light


Using the Rectangle Tool (U), we’ll represent the primary layer for the picture’s frame, applying the color #F9E4BC

The layer’s styles: Blending Options>Drop Shadow


Blending Options>Inner Glow

On a new layer we’ll choose the brush out of the set, D_Grungeset1, and the color #8E7A5F



Press now Alt button and click between the brushes’ layer and the frame’s layer reserved for the photo (on the layers’ panel).


On the next new layer we’ll apply the brush out of the set BB_HighRes_Grunge_Textures and the color #FCE1BC


The layer’s options: Blending mode-Hard light, Blending Options>Drop Shadow



Press Alt button and make a mouse click between the layers on the layers’ panel.


Next step includes creating a new layer and using here the brush out of the set BB_HighRes_Grunge_Textures, having this time the #331D10 color


Press Alt button and make a click between the layers on the layers’ panel:


Create a new layer and select for it a standard brush of black color to make darker the frame’s edges:


The layer’s parameters: Blending mode-Overlay

Press Alt button the same way we did before and make a mouse click between the layers on the layers’ panel:


Insert now the picture on the frame and if necessary we may use the Eraser Tool (E) to cut out the photo’s edges:


The layer’s styles: Blending Options>Drop Shadow



Click on the bottom part of the layers’ panel on the next selection: Create new fill or adjustment layer>Black&White



Press Alt button and click between the Black & White layers and the layer containing the photo on the layers’ panel:


Create a new layer again to represent here a small piece of transparent adhesive tape, applying the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and white color. The tape must be inclined a little with the Free Transform selection.

Choose the Eraser Tool (E) to cut out some parts on the tape’s edges, getting the same picture from below:

Set the next options for the made layer: Fill 34%, Blending Options>Drop Shadow


Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Gradient’s parameters:


The final result!