This is what we're going to make:


This tutorial is for Adobe Photoshop. I use Adobe Photoshop CS 2 but other versions are excellent too.

For images, I will be using some of Mischa Barton, from Mischa-B.com. Please use different pics from mine I want you to learn with your images, not mine. Also, use a different artist and have fun![/b]

Step 1: Open a new canvas in Photoshop. *NOTE*: Make sure that the "Background Contents" Says "RGB" (Red, Green, Blue) and Not Grayscale. Photoshop will automatically choose Grayscale for Background Content if you are copying and pasting a Black & white image. So be aware of that. Make your canvas 1000x600 pixels.
IMAGE

Step 2: Before we make the blend, we need a background. I've already made a background for you to use.It's not a background I made. It's made up of 3 backgrounds blended together, turned into Black & white, and sharpened That was just some more little info. All you have to do is copy & paste it into your canvas. BACKGROUND

*PHOTOSHOP TRICK* The reason why everything so far has been Black & White is because they're the easiest to work with. By giving the images an equal tone and color, blending and adding textures will be easier and everything will look much more clean. I use this technique quite often, so feel free to use it whenever you make anything. I highly recommend it.

So far this is what MY CANVAS looks like.

Step 3: Choose your images. Don't pick more than 3. Make sure that they're all the same tone and texture. Don't get mix scans and photoshoot pictures because scans usually are lower in quality. Pick 3 images of your favorite artist. If they're not black and white, drag them into photoshop and hit SHIFT + CTRL + U. Make sure that you have the image selected with your mouse in the layers palette. This will turn the image into B & W.

Here are my images: 1, 2, 3
Please, please don't use the same images as me. I only want you to experiment so use different images. If you'de like some female pictures, this is a very good site.

Step 4: After placing all of your images on top of your background unselect them. You'll notice that when they are selected there is an eye, if you click on that eye with your mouse, it will unselect the images. Unselect all the images except for the lowest one. IMAGE

Step 5: Click on the eye for your first image. If it's too dark like mine, than go to Layer>>Duplicate. Set the 2nd layer on "Screen". IMAGE.

After doing that ^, my images look like this now: 1, 2, 3

Step 6. Make one of your images visible. All others unselected and invisible. Using the Magnetic Lasso Tool, , draw around your artist's figure. After you get the little dotted line around what you drew, go to Edit> Cut. This is what mine looks like right now.
Don't panic! I know it looks bad at the edges but we'll take care of that

Step 7: Get the ROUND BRUSH, Go to Edit>>Define Brush Set. Now, Using the Eraser Tool, go over the sharp edges of your picture and make everything smooth. This is what mine looks like now. Repeat this step for the other 2 images.

Place your images next to each other. Select the 3rd image with your mouse, then go to Layer >>Merge Down, Until you have all 3 images merged down. MINE.

Step 8: Sharpen 2 times or however much you need to until your image looks clearer. I sharpened 1 time. Filter> Sharpen> Sharpen

Step 9: Using the Eraser Tool, erase the bottom of your pictures so that the background appears. I erased the bottom, right portion of Micha and little bit on the bottom top and so that everything looks smooth and well blended. IMAGE.



Step 10: Place THIS texture on top of the 1st background we made (Step #2). Set this texture/stock image on Darken Opacity 25%.

Step 11: Place THIS gradient on top of everything else. Set this on Multiply Opacity 100%.
Step 12: Place THIS orange texture on top and set it on Darken Opacity 100%.
Step 13: Place THIS purple texture on top and set it on Screen Opacity 100%.
Step 14: Hit CTRL + U (or go to Image>Adjustments>>Hue/Saturation. Check the Colorize Box. Set your values to the following: Hue: 212, Saturation: 61, Lightness: 0. Click OK. IMAGE.

So far this is what I have.

Step 14: Hit CTRL + U again. Except this time, change the Hue to 52.
Step 15: Take THIS green texture and set it on Lighten 100%.

LAYER>>FLATTEN IMAGE
Step 16: CTRL + A, and CTRL + C, then CTR + V== Copy & Paste. OR Edit> Select All, Edit>Copy, Edit>Paste

Step 17: Set the second layer on Color Burn 100%. MINE.
Step 18: Take this PRETTY PINK TEXTURE and set it on Darken 100%
Step 19: Take the following Brushes and place them anywhere you want on your canvas. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Step 20: Last Step! Yay with font Arial Black Size 48 type your Celebrity/Artist's name. Now to go Window>Character. View IMAGE here.

The "Armed & Danger" text is a little extra thing I added at the end. It's the same style as the text ^ above, but with a little Outer Glow (Dark Pink) and Inner Shadow (Pink) with filling color of light pink. All set on Lighten.