Antique Photo Tutorial - for Photoshop Users (FREE OVERLAYS)

March is Heritage Month.  A great time to learn an easy way to turn any photo into one with an antique look.  I am also including free overlays for you so you can follow along! 

1. Choose a photo to use for this tutorial.  If you want to follow along download the Antique Photo Overlays.  This is the photo I will be using.

2.  You will need to set up 3 layers above the original photo.  (by the way, it's a good idea to duplicate the photo and put the original one away)

Now drag the overlay to your photo using the Move Tool.  Position it in place.  Duplicate it by dragging the thumbnail icon to the New Layer icon.  Now change the Layer 1 copy to black and white, this is found in different locations depending on which Photoshop program you are using.  Use your favorite way to turn a layer to black and white.  Change this layer blending mode to Hard Light.  You can adjust the opacity of this layer and all layers when you get everything in place.  Set the blending mode for Layer 1 to Overlay.

For Layer 2 you will need to open a new layer and position it above the background layer.  Choose a brown color in the foreground color palette located in the tool bar, choose the paint bucket, and then fill this layer with brown.  Set the layer blend mode to Color. 

 

Now play with the opacities for each layer.  Every photo is different and so is everyone's personal taste.  Take a few moments to adjust the opacities of each layer.  By the way, feel free to try different blending modes too!  You might find a blend mode that works even better for your photo.  Experiment!!!

3.  Now Flatten all of the layers.  Let's add a little noise to make it look old.  Choose Filter>Noise>Add Noise. 

 

Set the Amount to 12%, choose Gaussian and Monochromatic.  Press OK.

 

4.  Now a little Burning around the edges will give it the final touch.  Press O to open the Burn Tool.  In the Options Bar choose a soft edged brush with the Exposure set to 45%.

 

Burn the edges of the photo and anywhere else you want to give it a darker look.

 

Here's a another finished sample done without the edges burned.

Download the Antique Photo Overlays Here!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please feel free to send your photographer friends here for the free download.  The 2 overlays included in the download are for personal use only.  If you want to use it for a photography business or professional use of any kind please contact me by email located in the TOU file.  Any use of these files for professional or commercial use is prohibited.  Any sharing of these files is also prohibited.

If you like the free overlays you might want to try other overlays for photos that I have created.  I have these linked to the Professional Use Versions for photographers but there are personal use versions available too!

       

     

Comments

[Sondra]

Thank you, Julie. I've used overlays before, but your technique is a little different. Can't wait to try it.

[danesa]

Thank you so much, Julie, for the tut and the overlay!

[Traci]

Thank you so much, Julie! This is so nice of you... and the overlays are gorgeous!

[Lainey]

Thanks Julie! Can't wait to try the overlays!