Bricks Background Montage

For this tutorial you are going to need a Bricks Brush (unless you want to draw the bricks or use the default unnatural filter), so we have prepared it for you, before you start the tutorial be sure to download and install the Bricks brush.

But first, why do we need a Brush instead of using the default Brick Filter (Filters - Texture - Texturizer - Brick)?, well it's because the Filter is quite unnatural, at least for a photo montage, it could be used for a design maybe, but for the desired NATURAL effect we need this brush.

Now that you have download the Bricks Brush and placed it in your chosen directory just select your Brush Tool

Then click on the down arrow on the Brush Options bar...

Now click the little right arrow and select the Load Brushes Option, and now just browse for your Brush on your Hard Drive.

Voila the Bricks Brush is there by now.

Now that you have the Brush we can start with our Bricks Background Montage.

Step 1:

Choose the photo that you want to make the Bricks Background Montage, try to find one with a solid color Background like ours, the effect will look much better and the process will be much easier.

Keep in mind that if your Background is dark you will have to paint your Bricks with a light color, and if it's light you will have to paint them with a dark color.

Step 2:

Press Ctrl + Shift + N (new layer) and name it "Bricks"

Step 3:

Select your Brush Tool, now you have to tweak your Master Diameter (size) of the brush to make the Bricks fit in your photo in a natural way (bricks size).

Now fill the entire photo with the Bricks Brush, be carefully and make a straight wall.

Now that you have filled the entire photo, it's going to look like this:

Step 4:

Select your Eraser Tool, now you have to be very very carefully because you have to erase all the bricks that are above the original photo character. Adjust your Eraser Tool Master Diameter (size), and be very carefully and patient.

Tip: If you can't see the photo character because of the Bricks, just turn down the Opacity of your Bricks layer, now you can see it much better isn't it?, when you are done turn it up again.

Now your picture will look like this, looks very real uh?

Basically the overall Bricks Background Montage effect is done and looking great!

But you can merge a little more the two layers to make it look more natural.

Step 5 (Optional):

Press Ctrl + Shift + E (merge layers)

Then press Ctrl + B (color balance) and tweak a little the settings so you will get the two colors merged.

You can adjust it in a lot of ways, look it looks great in Warm Sepia, don't know how to make a Sepia Tone?, don't worry just check this tutorial.

We want to thanks Deviantart.com for the AWESOME Bricks brush.