Create vector-style images in Photoshop... without the pen tool!

More adventures in creating art without drawing! In this tutorial, I’ll run through an approach to create a vector or vexel style treatment using a few key tools in Adobe Photoshop. This look will draw some inspiration from the portraits of Shepard Fairey, but this approach can be adapted to create all kind of other vector-ish styles... thanks for watching!
Free download of the gradients and textures used in this tutorial:
texturelabs.org/tutorials/vec...
Photo Credit:
www.pexels.com/@vinicius-wies...
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[@GEOgraphicdesigner]

6:16 I literally shouted WTF and almost fell out of my chair. Can't believe that this effect was right in front of my nose this whole time.

[@Texturelabs]

That's the coolest part to mess with for sure! I had a little clip of that in the intro, how adjustable it is, but always end up trimming it to the bare minimum

[@FlowersInHisHair]

It's like magic

[@MrDioneu]

there should be a 'love' button just for your tutorials...and not only a 'like' button

[@concretemathematics8146]

indeed.

[@gideonlouistranas8041]

yeah, and now I just love playing with my portraits

[@SSingh-nr8qz]

Or a DONATE button.

[@artbyflynn8001]

I agree!!

[@hugorivault9942]

You're just a legend in Photoshop tutorials... I can explain how i'm happy now. Thx a lot for the quality of your explanations. Love from France

[@draimondi21]

I've been using Photoshop for 20 years, and your creativity with the technical aspects of the program blows me away. I really appreciate your contribution to the community! Thank you, and I hope you'll keep sharing your incredible knowledge.

[@Texturelabs]

Thanks for the post, I appreciate that!

[@dudedavid522]

this guy pirates

[@littleviewscom]

Yes -- I am old school. One of the very first Photoshop for the PC users in the 1990s (I'm even in the first Photoshop Bible). That said, I've been upgrading my skills but *no where on the web* found this information, at least, in a form I could comprehend. . . . I'm making a Photoshop Recipe book for my own use until I memorize the information.

[@markmanburns]

It is so awesome that FINALLY, someone is making content for folks that have been around photoshop for a while but are still looking to evolve their skills. Thank you for your being the person to help us get to the next level. Keep up the phenomenal work!

[@Marschland-mediaDe]

This has to be the most to-the-point tutorial for PS I have ever watched on YT. And you still explain the techniques and single steps so well and actually KNOW what you are doing. Very satisfying, thank you very much.

[@novem2790]

I just can't believe how skilled you are. Techniques you use in your tutorials are so advanced and mindblowing. And it's FREE! Also, you are the first and only person I subscribed to on Patreon. Well deserved!

[@gregkrazanski]

your tutorials are so well done. just perfect, every single time. always new tips and tricks or using something in a way i hadn't thought of. what's really incredible is they're somehow beginner-friendly AND advanced at the same time

[@TommySpero]

Ok, this is one of the rare times I have found a tutorial and technique to accomplish EXACTLY what I need to do to. Clearly explained and not a complex process at all with outstanding results. You rock!

[@Fancylooks]

This is amazing, I love the result, the oil painting filter... I never even bothered to try it out, great to know everything you explain!

[@HanafiIshak]

I've been using Photoshop more than 20 years. I love to learn tutorials back in the days but this few years i'm very picky on what to learn.. until i found your channel.. These are something you cant find it anywhere.. Subscribed and this is my first try using your tutorial.. Just posted it on my FB and tagged you on my IGstory. Thank you and keep up the awesome work

[@joellybaby]

This is such a good tutorial and technique. I especially love how the way you show to use the colour fill layer to play with the amounts of each shade, it gives so much control.

[@aleale11000]

The manner in which the lesson is offered is brilliant!! That is what all tutorials should be. Not boring at all !

[@AaronZOOM]

I've honestly learned more useful tricks in Photoshop from these tutorials than my 15 years as a professional digital artist. Amazing work and wizardry.

[@dougzuba]

Been a designer for 20 years and had a deadline to hit with a certain style I needed to hit. I found this video and even though I am doing something a bit different it TOTALLY saved my ASS, my friend. I can honestly say in photoshop there is always something new to learn and again THANK YOU! Subscribed and Liked it as hard as I could...keep it up my friend

[@leecannon6883]

Wonderfully succinct non-destructive tutorials, the best PS channel out there. Thank you Brady, I've learnt more from you in the last few months after using Photoshop for 25+ years!!

[@kristingulledgecreative7446]

Okay this was one of the most thorough, specific but somehow concise tutorials I've found; thank you so much!!

[@renn93]

another great tutorial! creating vector style is one of my favorite thing to do in photoshop using pentool. and this kind of approach is the cleanest one I have ever seen without using pentool.

[@herpaderppa3297]

i swear, you are the only real photoshop scientist out there. there are a lot of photoshop tutorial and photoshop project channels out there but you leave me flabbergasted every single time.

[@stvsueoka1]

This is one of the clearest, most efficient tutorials I've ever seen. amazing. thank you.

[@simonsmith7755]

Used Oil Paint a lot in a similar way but the non-destructive flexibility shown here is something else. Really great tutorial. Clear, concise and full of great tips. Thanks.

[@cracking2909]

In all my time as a graphic designer, I've come across a ton of videos attempting to emulate the vector look on Photoshop and nobody has come close to how perfect you have. Thank you! Subscribed.

[@MrMakingwavesmedia]

same here been using the pentool for so long. The only plus you get from using the pen tool is that the image will actually be vector so you will loose zero qulity in any print resolution but this is a great method for doing digital design.

[@dirty47]

This is the most technically impactful video I've watched in a really long time.

[@MrMakingwavesmedia]

This is super smart man. I have been creating images like this for over 20 years using the pen tool and your results look even better. Amazing tutorial thanks so much will save me hours of work from now on.

[@racerschin]

complete, creative, streamlined workflow, all parametric, explained fully in just 10 minutes. amazing channel.

[@colinpowers6979]

There’s a lot PS tutorials out there, but I have never seen a channel put out such amazing work with simple to understand steps.

[@issacdhan]

Just a tips: With a Gradient Map and a Posterize adjustment layer you can control the contour and shape (dark, mid and light part ) more precisely.

[@GOROFFMediaAP1]

I am learning so grate lessons from you brother. This channel has been of so much help to me. Thank you to you and the people who are supporting and making these free. Blessing!

[@morethancolors4775]

I love how you explained each step in detail. It made it so easy to follow along and understand.

[@savagecabbage3918]

Every single one of your videos is a masterpiece! Every. Single. One.

[@radiansinus8126]

The Photoshop King of KZbin.

[@Texturelabs]

Very kind if you!

[@heidieveliinah]

Agreed! 💪🏼

[@killmewhileimahead]

Absolutely this channel is unique, doesn’t post the same monotonous stuff as the others

[@FeasonMasowa]

True that, makes me want to design more and more. Keep up the great work guys

[@TheBishopsBane]

After 20+ years using Photoshop, here I thought I'd tapped out on learning anything new or exciting. Every one of your videos has not only taught me something new, but inspired me to just jump back in and be creative with a tool I rarely use any more. Thank you!

[@Texturelabs]

Very cool, that's great to hear!

[@TryptychUK]

Agreed. I started on Photoshop 2.5, and I've kept up with most of it, but got to say, this is all groundbreaking.

[@DavidMFranks]

Dude - this is NEXT LEVEL creativity. Like the other comments, this is simply brilliant. No extra plugins, just skills and an amazing effect. Thank you.

[@williamcanady]

Your videos are true hidden gems!!!!!!! You are very clear and accurate with your speech. Can't get enough!!!!Keep up the good work!

[@unattended129]

You always make videos that make me say, "this is the best one yet!"

[@tomcollins6989]

Agree. His tutorials are top top notch.

[@joe_newdawn]

Amazing tutorial. Brief, easy to understand, perfectly edited and narrated, and super useful. Subbed.

[@Lomaxxx]

One of the best and innovative tutorials i have ever seen. And i am working with photoshop and co. for over 20 years now. big fat thumbs up

[@jensenkung]

the clarity level from this tutorial is more than 9000 thank you very much for sharing!

[@TheLeoTamayo]

I feel so inspired after this video! It's just what I needed to get that creative spark going again. Thank you so much!

[@Texturelabs]

For sure, that's great to hear!

[@unadventurer_]

Wow wow wow wow wow... You have certifiably blown the minds of every single person that watches this video. UNREAL how effective this simple process is. Hot damn!

[@Texturelabs]

Haha thank you!

[@TheNatashakong]

Wow, I have also been using Photoshop for over 20 years and have never seen anyone use these tools with such creativity and technical expertise! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@williambeaudette152]

I honestly love what you're bringing to the community, thanks a lot 😊

[@tj_offroad]

What you're doing is great, I've been using PS for 20 plus years but was self taught and accomplished things like this with a brute force effect that required much more work to make and was harder to edit. The fact that most of what you do is dynamic is simply fantastic and makes it much easier for an artist or designer to provide comps and edits for a client.

[@Texturelabs]

Awesome, ya, I think it's all those years of deadlines and edits that pushed me into figuring out dynamic solutions!

[@franciscomachado5174]

@@Texturelabs Thank you!!

[@HarlequiNQB]

Yeah, the dynamic aspects are really what sets these apart - I've been able to do a lot of them for years, but if I need to go back and edit I need to repeat all the steps. No longer! A lot of these techniques have had me reevaluating other things I do, and seeing if there's a more 'live' way of doing them. Amazing! Thank you so much.

[@Rocadamis]

I'm not kidding; these are the best tutorial videos on Photoshop ANYWHERE on the Internet, bar none! Brady, you did it again and I seriously don't know how you keep knocking our socks off with each tutorial. You my friend, are a genius.

[@Texturelabs]

Too kind my friend! Not to worry, got a few boring ones on the way!

[@Bennett.R]

@@Texturelabs Doubt it! I mean, doubt they’ll be boring.

[@Rocadamis]

@@Texturelabs Ha ha ha! I'm thinking your idea of boring will still light years ahead of all the other Photoshop videos.

[@LightoftheSpirit]

This is a revelation of the artistic power of photoshop. Many thanks.

[@thencasti]

I'm so impressed and wowed by this tutorial! Excellent work! Thank you.

[@ptc96]

Oh my god... ever since i started with graphic design i tried emulating Shepard's style with little to no success, since he is one of my favorite street artist ever! I kept trying with multiple layers of image trace in illustrator with different levels of output... it's such a painful process... and now here you are saving my life!! this is the best ps channel out there, but at the same time i don't want too many people discovering all these amazing techniques lol

[@Texturelabs]

Nice! Ya I've always really like his work too... Agreed on the Illustrator trace, it's so good for silhouettes and stuff, but kinda painful for more detailed images. Glad this might be handy!

[@lucasmuneton4255]

babe, wake up, there is a new texturelabs video

[@Texturelabs]

🙌 🙌 🙌

[@mentor_neto]

I use Photoshop since version 1.0. You have, hands down, the best tutorials I ever saw.

[@followthetrawler]

Genius, pure genius. Thank you for this, and all your tutorials

[@tsavin2]

About halfway through I thought "wow this is an awesome final product" and every 30 seconds my mind was blown again.

[@jamisonyzaguirre6614]

Just joined your patron. I love the short straight to the point videos.

[@Texturelabs]

Truly appreciate that thank you! Love making this stuff, but the Patreon definitely means I can put in that extra time and effort

[@sxysweetyungthang]

VERY NICE! You explain everything so well!! I'm very grateful for this tutorial!!

[@pxlpshr9887]

This is great Brady. Love the sequential steps on the left-hand side. Thank you.

[@suruzuddin]

Much credit goes to high exposure of original photo. How photo was taken plays a great role here.

[@designthescenes]

One of my fav channels! congrats on all the subs and the great videos!

[@Texturelabs]

Very cool, thank you!

[@judechiji6552]

The end result is so beautiful, definitely going to practice this. Thank you!

[@downrock.creative]

*Jaw drop* Amazingly creative use of tools often ignored/overlooked! Bonus: I really appreciate your clear, efficient and eloquent vocal delivery.

[@r3d-c4rd]

Wow! Glad that youtube recommended this to me.

[@MFrancis]

Another 20 year veteran. You are dropping GOLD!

[@KellySWard]

Wow, this is amazing! You continue to blow my mind and inspire me, when other teachers keep telling us the stuff we alread know and we want to keep learning new and amazing things! So thank you once more...

[@Hyperdriveuk]

One of the best Ps tutorial I've ever seen. So clear- great visuals 10/10

[@DrejcD]

Shepard is my spirit animal, and this channel is my church. ✊ Thank you. 🙏 ❤️

[@Texturelabs]

Nice!

[@aaronalbores3999]

Really awesome technique, i really love it!! i'm trying it and the level of control of the posterization is just incredible. It doesn't work well with any portrait, though. The better illuminated the face is (and the more beautiful the model is), the better the results. Sometimes shadows/highlights adjustment may not be enough, but you can dodge/burn with a low opacity pencil in a soft light layer and enhance certain areas. You basically have to turn your portrait into a really hard HDR picture.

[@Texturelabs]

Good call on the dodge and burn! And good point about the source image... lighting that's a little stronger on one side of the face also helps.

[@fabriziodipalma8932]

This is one of the best tutorials i've seen in years, mate! Hats off!

[@pedrolibanio4182]

You are an amazing teacher... Each step is easy to understand and reproduce. Thanks a lot for sharing!

[@joshuadefibaugh3634]

This is incredible. After photoshop, but before you add the textures, I'd love to image trace this in illustrator. Since it's only 4 colors, I imagine it would vectorize quite well.

[@theelectricunicyclist9069]

Good idea.

[@rutkowski1490]

Fantastic tutorial again! Everyone: Support this man on patreon. Greetings from Berlin

[@filipkrzyzynski]

You have no idea how valuable this tutorial was for me...Thank you so much!

[@TheAbsolutecad]

Very clever process. I LOVE the non linear method in here. Well done

[@WillyYellow]

PiXimperfect better watch their back! You’re the best new creator in this space! 💛

[@fuyee4784]

Piximperfect let me know the nice way to do. Texturelabs show me the pro level.

[@SSingh-nr8qz]

Different kinds of content really. I don't see them as direct competitors. Piximperfect is more about photography where this is more about stylization. I am grateful both these channels exist.

[@tareklarine5260]

There is always something i dont know in your videos ,, thnks man hope you get millions of subs soon

[@Texturelabs]

Appreciate that, definitely the goal to always add something new in the mix!

[@lucasmuneton4255]

@@Texturelabs in the hard mix ;)

[@keenanmoore264]

Phenomenal process to get a vector portrait. Great tut

[@cyrusfraser3916]

Hands down. This is one the best video I've seen for Vector Art. Just Awesome!

[@ArtsyStudio]

Man 25 years of experience says it all. Awesome

[@Texturelabs]

Appreciate that, thank you!

[@FullHomeless]

Even when trying to replicate this with the exact image he used, the Solid Color Layer + Hard Mix comes out much darker with less detail. Would anyone have any insight to why this is happening? Her left sleeve is pretty much completely black, even when using the same color values as well.

[@littleviewscom]

I followed the "10 Tips for Awesome Layer Style Effects" exactly and found that some of the settings did not correspond with what I saw on my monitor. When I tweaked the settings, I did accomplish my goal, but those settings are not exactly what was in the tutorial. Strangely, the issue actually helped me understand the tutorial better.

[@marcosanchez487]

Wow man. Please don’t stop! My photoshop skills have skyrocketed since watching you

[@grzesiekenczyk4696]

The 2nd tutorial I see from you and I am absolutely impressed and inspired! Thank you!! All exactly hitting my style and needs...

[@60fpsplanet]

The 2 people who disliked this are the jealous ones

[@phk-designs]

This is probably my second or third time commenting on a video ever. I'll just say I gave up finding a way to do this which wouldn't involve the pen tool... until the almighty algorithm decided to recommend this out of the blue. Everything about this approach is so elegant and flexible. Hats off to you, sir!

[@meaganthemarionette4899]

I just started using Photoshop this semester for a college class, and something that's a bit more difficult for me to get down are vectors (without path tutorials built into my lessons) and masks,, but you made this look so simple and easy to follow, it's great! This art looks amazing! I'm definitely gonna have to try this for one of my pictures! 😁

[@kyleschuman3805]

Incredible!! Love how your work stays transformable and live.

[@Texturelabs]

Awesome, thanks!

[@blender_photography]

I love your content. Super premium and with lots of wisdom packed in just minutes.

[@AsR3DaS]

Really love this tutorial, great explanations as always and the finished work is awesome!!

[@stewartbruce7547]

Some of the best tutorials on KZbin, thank you for you work

[@Bruno-jf3cb]

You are the best, I’ve been using photoshop since 2009 but I’ve never got into filters and such and your videos really helps me to learn how they work so I can implement new and fresh stuff to my work. Thanks! I’m hoping for one day I can retrieve you something back!

[@Chris.888]

Epic! Has to be one of the best tutorials I've ever seen.

[@deastman2]

I’ve been using Photoshop since it was Digital Darkroom, and it amazes me that there are still new techniques to learn! This is a really clever use of the Oil Paint filter... I’m going to be borrowing this technique for sure!

[@ashlinahan]

Only Photoshop channel so far that's earned my sub with a single video. Well done.

[@madgehaynes2258]

What a fantastic tutorial. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@hsmproduction6552]

I will watch this vdo again n again... This channel generally and this tuto espicially is the missing puzzle piece on the whole internet ..you are the best ...keep going ... Following you from ALGERIA🇩🇿

[@artpunk444]

Bro, this tutorial is gold. Reminds me a lot of Shepard Fairey's style. I always tried to recreate it but that's pretty much it.

[@luisferr2001]

This is the tutorial I've been looking for for a long time! Pretty sure I'm not the only one thinking this. Thanks so much, guys!

[@ValdiValdies]

This looked so effortlessly. Amazing job

[@jmv1968]

Best tutorials ever!!! They way you go through them is awesome!!! LOVE IT!!!!

[@rubensandoval2245]

One of the best tutorials out there! Thank you

[@lorensims4846]

After years of using Photoshop, always amazed by what was actually possible, I finally bailed on the subscription thing. I still have an old version to work with, but I'm going to see what I can do with some of my Photoshop alternatives. Thank you for this. This one's fun!

[@pabloandradegraphics]

Wow! Truly amazing result!

[@rahatkhansiyad]

Probably the best photoshop tutorial I have ever seen. ❤❤❤❤

[@Kissmirauce]

Very satisfying tutorial. I love learning new tricks and techniques.

[@DanielRamosFilms]

This is a whole other level of photoshop, I'm blown away

[@brihiggins]

Amazing. I was sitting here yesterday trying to paint this style by hand. Thank you!