Pin-up Effect

Using a mixture of filters and blending modes, Corey takes a stock photo and transforms it into an old, classic 1950’s pin-up poster.

Corey Barker is Executive Producer of PlanetPhotoshop.com and is an Education and Curriculum Developer for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Corey has also made numerous appearances on the highly rated podcast, PhotoshopUser TV, and is co-host of Layers TV.

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105 Comments

Gary Spedding said on — August 15, 2008 @ 11:47 am

WOW! Is there anything you cannot do in Photoshop? Amazing.
Josh said on — August 15, 2008 @ 3:48 pm

This was amazing !

It gave me jsut the look I wanted
for a design project I was doing for someone.

Photoshop GOD !
rosie said on — August 15, 2008 @ 4:23 pm

bloody brilliant!
Anoop said on — August 15, 2008 @ 11:38 pm

Could someone please tell me what will be the equivalent of alt+ctrl+tilda key if I want to do the same thing through the menu?
My keyboard is not english, so to press the tilda key, i have to press one other key which ultimately doesn’t work to give that effect that Corey is talking about. Hence I have to go by the menu. In future, it will help if it is mentioned what is the equivalent of the shortcut keys in the menu.
Corey Barker said on — August 16, 2008 @ 11:33 am

You can also Ctrl-Click right on the RGB Channel in the channels panel.
Nicolas said on — August 16, 2008 @ 12:37 pm

Awesome Tutorial! I always wanted to do that ^^
mitzs said on — August 16, 2008 @ 2:42 pm

Great tutorial Corey.
jmfisher said on — August 16, 2008 @ 10:49 pm

Great to see this one again! I’d caught it a long time back on youtube and then when I finally actually bought photoshop it was removed for some reason. After searching far and wide I was able to find a spanish language tutorial using the exact technique and did my best to translate, but its a relief to finally have Corey’s original english version.
zen said on — August 18, 2008 @ 8:45 am

thts great
Stomper said on — August 18, 2008 @ 9:47 am

Thanks brother man
Márcio Guerra said on — August 18, 2008 @ 6:21 pm

Hi! Great one… Another one…
For those who don’t have the til (or tilda, in portuguese is “til”) key, I found a solution that helps a lot, even to those that don’t know or have the brackets as a first keystroke in the keyboard. Change the operating system (OS), in this case Windows, to english mode, in the bar at the bottom, near the date and so, instead of your mother language, then, even though you can’t see which simbol has the key in it, you can always press the one that Corey says, like “the havie one next to the number one”, besides that, someone already explained how to select the luminosity, by pressing cmmd or ctrl and the RGB channel!
Well… Bye, and once again, nice tutorial…

Márcio Guerra
Celeste said on — August 19, 2008 @ 10:29 am

Bravo Cory! Can’t wait to try that effect on my images.
Marty Klunk said on — August 20, 2008 @ 8:57 pm

I have been looking for a tutorial like this for a year. Thanks so much for this.
vu said on — August 22, 2008 @ 6:15 pm

I can;t find another word to describe your talent but creative you are,
Mikka said on — August 24, 2008 @ 5:24 am

Nice tutorial but I can only see the beginning of it! After Corey explained how to smooth out the hair with the smudge tool the video changes and instead a comercial fot the magazine “Layers” starts. Please please I really wanna see the end of the turorial, how can a see the rest?

/Mikka
cvision said on — August 24, 2008 @ 4:54 pm

Another Kick ass tutorial by the one and only Cory Barker.
Shari said on — August 25, 2008 @ 9:16 am

I’m sorry…what am I missing? I’m on a mac and command-option-tilde does nothing for me. I’ve tried this on two macs. I’ve tried it with a shift even (since you need a shift key to make a ~ sign). I can’t find a menu command and Photoshop help doesn’t mention it.

command option 1, 2 or 3 does something….although I’m not sure what’s getting selected, but it’s different for each one. Can anyone help me with this?

BTW, love this tutorial (and this site!) Thanks!
Peter R said on — August 25, 2008 @ 11:02 am

Thanks for all tips the last two years
Its GREAT!!!!
Peter R said on — August 25, 2008 @ 11:07 am

Thanks for all tips the last years. Its GREAT!!!
Russell said on — August 29, 2008 @ 8:37 pm

This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen!

I’m still new to photoshop, so would you mind helping me? I’m a little confused on how you did this part..

How did you “load that selection” (layer 1) “and create a new layer on top of that one? and fill that selection with white?”
Ady said on — September 5, 2008 @ 3:01 pm

Amazing ! Very nice ! Good job
Frunced said on — September 7, 2008 @ 2:26 am

yeah, i have no idea what the hell he’s doing, how do you load a selection, how did he fill it with white??????? I can’t follow this
Mi said on — September 8, 2008 @ 3:13 am

Omg, thank you -so- much for this!!! I desperately needed it because I edit my own photos and recently had a pinup shoot…….

Thanksthanksthanks…
Learn PhotoShop said on — September 9, 2008 @ 2:57 pm

Learning how to transform a photo into a pin-up girl effect is the coolest tutorial I’ve seen in PhotoShop yet.

Thanks.
applesomething said on — September 23, 2008 @ 3:24 pm

This is what I’ve been wanting to do. This and only this. I wonder how long it took to figure this out.
Celina said on — September 25, 2008 @ 10:33 pm

hi! im really interested in this tutorial, i just have one question what is the luminosity step…?

“option command and the wavy line” i tried searching on what is this and i dont understand…

so please, maybe someone can explain!!
Matt said on — September 26, 2008 @ 6:42 am

I really feel like I should be paying you for these high-quality tutorials… thank you very much!
mayr said on — October 1, 2008 @ 3:05 pm

Wow. Thanks. It’s wonderful to see a pro at work. I’ve got to get those keyboard moves down too. Love it. Thank you so much.
Charline said on — October 2, 2008 @ 3:37 pm

This is a wonderful tutorial. I have used it on numerous photographs and also used it as a black and white. They make great gifts when framed. Thanks a bunch. YOU ROCK!

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Hannah M said on — October 2, 2008 @ 8:30 pm

This is wonderful! You’re truly amazing.
Mary said on — October 5, 2008 @ 5:10 pm

Very good, but I use PC, not mac so i get lost when he does the selection on the overlay layer
The Very Bad Day « The Best Revenge Pingback on — October 7, 2008 @ 9:17 am

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brandon said on — October 11, 2008 @ 11:14 am

“How did you “load that selection” (layer 1) “and create a new layer on top of that one? and fill that selection with white?”

I did not understand this part either. Maybe Corey will read the comments one day a expand on this tricky part of the video.
35 Beautiful Vintage and Retro Photoshop Tutorials | Tutorials | Smashing Magazine Pingback on — October 14, 2008 @ 11:04 am

[...] Pin-up Effect This video tutorial showcases how you can create the classic 50’s pin-up effect using some Photoshop filters and Blending Modes. [...]
Link to Vintage & Retro Photoshop Tutorials « goriLaRadio Pingback on — October 15, 2008 @ 2:24 am

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[...] Pin-up Effect This video tutorial showcases how you can create the classic 50’s pin-up effect using some Photoshop filters and Blending Modes. [...]
Krissa said on — October 18, 2008 @ 7:39 pm

I found out the “fill with white” problem after fiddeling around for some time. And you can either press Shift+F5 (on a pc) or go to Edit+Fill(use:White)
Hope this helps !
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[...] Pin-up Effect [...]
Sid Pratt said on — October 27, 2008 @ 12:35 pm

Cool!
keggers said on — October 27, 2008 @ 3:20 pm

This tutorial saved my butt (and an iffy image) from a total disaster. Thanks!
David Whiting said on — October 28, 2008 @ 10:58 pm

You say on this tutorial around halfway. ‘Im going to fill this with white’. How do you do that? Is there a quick key for it?
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Lara said on — November 9, 2008 @ 10:01 pm

Russell and Frunced:

I don’t know the short cut but to load the selection go to the select menu and at the bottom it says load selection. A dialogue box will come up. Click ok. Next, click the new layer icon in the layers palette. If you don’t know what that is go to layer>new layer. Select the fill tool (under the gradient tool) and white from the swatches and click over the image. If you don’t know what the fill tool looks like go to edit>fill and select white. Click ctrl+d to deselect. i hope this helped!

By the way, i really enjoyed this tutorial. I have tried making a similar effect but nothing has turned out this polished. Thanks!
Olivia said on — November 18, 2008 @ 4:42 pm

OMG you rule! This was brilliant
jefferson ferreira said on — November 19, 2008 @ 7:15 am

Muito bom o Tutorial.
valeu….
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[...] Pin-up Effect [...]
Fabio Pysklyvicz said on — December 19, 2008 @ 1:05 pm

Superb!

The tilde key for the WINDOWS is Shift + ~ but on photoshop for me it worked as Alt Gr + Shift + ~

Hope this helps
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marce said on — February 24, 2009 @ 12:01 am

where is the tilled kery? or however it is spelled for me to make the wavy line?
BILLU BILLA » Blog Archive » Adobe Photoshop Retro Vintage Design Tutorials Pingback on — February 25, 2009 @ 8:08 am

[...] Pin-up Effect [...]
Heather said on — March 10, 2009 @ 11:01 am

Thank you so much, I have been searching for a tutorial on this effect forever!! You helped me so much thank you for this tutorial.
Trish said on — March 17, 2009 @ 6:51 am

That is so good! Merci!
David Bosca said on — March 17, 2009 @ 11:09 am

Awesome tutorial! thanks so much!
Thomas Quinn said on — March 30, 2009 @ 10:00 am

I believe the Opt-Command-Tilde on CS4 has been changes to Opt-Command-2.

The Tilde did not work

Tom Q
Galo said on — April 6, 2009 @ 2:44 pm

that was GREEEEEEEEAAT! TOTALLY GOING TO DO THAT LIKE RIGHT NOW! I LOVED IT! GREAT POST!
chelseadaniele said on — April 10, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

here is my picture. this is my first try so please let me know what you think! http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/chelseadaniele/photoschop/pinupLarge.jpg
mary said on — April 29, 2009 @ 6:37 am

how do i turn it white??
maria said on — April 30, 2009 @ 8:20 am

cool so far!
but how do i make layer 3??
Pin-up Effect | Photoshop Tutorials « Werbefotograf Pingback on — May 5, 2009 @ 12:44 pm

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Novaman396 (on flickr) said on — May 10, 2009 @ 2:57 pm

Love your tutorials. The very cool effects plus the fact that you mention all the short cut keys you are using. Excellent!!!!
Paul Ferris said on — May 14, 2009 @ 1:37 am

Can anyone clear up the option command plus the tild key for me. How would I do this on CS4 on a PC not a mac? Thanks
KATE said on — May 14, 2009 @ 3:41 pm

HI, I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE EFFECT YOU GOT BUT THE TUTORIAL ONLY LET ME SEE 1 MIN. OR SO. DO I NEED TO SIGN UP OR PAY FOR ANYTHING?
MediaSpecialist said on — May 14, 2009 @ 3:59 pm

Something is wrong with this tutorial. Everytime he gets to the part where he duplicates the layer and sets it to overlay, and then makes the comment about how saturates the colr is, the tutorials stops and a Layers maazine ad starts. This has done it six or eight times in a row.
Corey Barker said on — May 14, 2009 @ 4:10 pm

Give it a moment to load. If that doesn’t work try a different browser.
ching said on — May 23, 2009 @ 7:14 am

what is option command tilda i cant understand that he says. thers no tilda in my key is there any easiest way to get that.?
envy-me said on — June 4, 2009 @ 6:38 pm

i looked through all my photoshop and didn’t find something similar like channels or that(near the layers)…
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[...] Pin-up Effect [...]
Macarena said on — June 19, 2009 @ 10:15 am

Are You God?!? It’s amazing!!!! love it!!!
Jave said on — July 11, 2009 @ 8:46 am

great tut! Thanks!
Jamie said on — July 14, 2009 @ 2:59 am

You should post on how to do this on a PC! or if someone could tell me what mac = on pc
Kathryn said on — July 22, 2009 @ 12:19 am

I’m using Photoshop Elements 6. I can not get past the Luminosity layer. In addition I am on a PC and not a Mac. When he talks about the option command tilda key…i have tried every combo that I can think of and still cant get it to select the same thing. If someone has a solution for me it would be great!
kab said on — August 9, 2009 @ 3:37 pm

pretty good!
Anita said on — August 28, 2009 @ 2:15 pm

Amazing! I just love you!
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Kerry said on — September 13, 2009 @ 11:07 pm

Very awesome. Can’t wait to try it out!
Lisa said on — November 7, 2009 @ 4:46 pm

Love it too but I have a problem with my settings I think^^ When I’m doing “past the selection” (the first time)my background gets black and don’t stay white. That really sucks. You’ve got an idea where my problem is? And I also don’t know how to fill it white. If I do it like the way described from some guys here there is nothing else to see, just white^^ I am german sorry for my englisch.
Fernando Bretas Junior said on — November 21, 2009 @ 5:03 pm

Great Tutorial! Thanks a lot!
Steven said on — November 23, 2009 @ 9:19 pm

I can’t thank you enough for this tutorial! This is exactly the information I’ve been searching for!
I’m looking forward to view the other tutorials on the site too!

You guys have a New Fan!

===Steven===>>
roger said on — December 13, 2009 @ 9:16 am

thank u very much. i have a beautiful pic of my girlfriend i wanted tattooed in a pin up girl style. im about to jump on photoshop now.
Kristen said on — December 15, 2009 @ 2:23 pm

We were wanting something like a Norman Rockwell feeling for our Christmas card this year and this tut is exactly what I needed to make that happen!! Thank you so much!

And thanks to the commenter who suggested “Command+Click” on the RGB channel instead of using the tilda shortcut. Worked like a charm!!

Here’s our end result:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj131/kristensheets/MistletoeLoRes.jpg
Pinky said on — December 17, 2009 @ 6:14 pm

Hey all PC users…to load Luminosity on a pc with cs4…..
Press and hold the Ctrl key with the Alt key then press the number 2.(not F2…just 2)

Don’t quote me on this but I think previous versions of PS may be …..Press and hold the Ctrl key with the Alt key then press the ~ key to the left of the number 1, you may even need to press the shift key too. Someone with earlier PS may be able to confirm.

Pinky
Peck said on — December 30, 2009 @ 4:50 pm

It took me a while, but I finally did it!! It’s an awesome tutorial, thank you for sharing this with us!!!
I also want to thank all the people who wrote explaining some commands, it helped me a lot.
Here you can see what I did:
From this
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/laurygilmore/rs627395808199105.jpg
To this
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/laurygilmore/fotonatalieportmantutorial.jpg
jessy said on — January 3, 2010 @ 1:08 am

yo what is the command key im stressing!
angelica said on — January 7, 2010 @ 10:43 pm

layer 3 use > hold down the option (alt key for PC users), while selecting Merge Visible. This copies all the other layers and merges their information onto the new layer.
Marianne said on — January 20, 2010 @ 1:50 am

Awesome, Corey. Just what I was looking for. You rock!!!.
Retrodaisy said on — February 2, 2010 @ 12:25 pm

Bookmarked! Totally FAB!
Matilda said on — April 13, 2010 @ 6:31 am

THANK YOU! This was exactly was i was looking for and in need of
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sasha said on — April 25, 2010 @ 7:12 am

Absolutely amazing tutorial!! Worked perfectly!! For ppl having issues with shortcuts just google, say “load luminosity in CS4 (or whatever version you are in as shortcuts do change from time to time) and then your OS.” Should help out a bit! Once again, GREAT tutorial!!
dave said on — June 26, 2010 @ 6:51 pm

CS2 and 10.4.11.
Cannot get the luminosity selection to happen with the cntrl-opt-tilde key. Not only that, but when I try the ‘merge visible’ option as stated, it doesn’t merge all onto another layer, leaving the layers intact… it goes ahead as if I had asked it to flatten the image.
So… I’m stuck. Help?
bokhung said on — August 4, 2010 @ 3:20 am

the ‘comand’ button on mac its the “apple” button on the keyboard
Nuno said on — August 5, 2010 @ 11:58 am

Probably the best photoshop tutorial i’ve ever seen
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