How to Create a Blueprint Effect in Affinity Photo

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a blueprint effect in Affinity Photo. A blueprint is a reproduction of a technical drawing or engineering drawing. Blueprints were created by Sir John Herschel in 1842, and they were used in construction. This process used white lines on a blue background. Today, blueprint refers to any type of floor plan. It’s used by architects, engineers, and drafters to help them visualize their designs and inventions. Also, instead of using actual paper like Sir John, most blueprints are created in computer-aided design software such as Auto Cad or Solid Works.

Go to the following links to download the images for the tutorial:

• Audi RS 5
• Grungy Paper Texture

Step 1

First, go to File > New. Select Web. Then, choose FHD 1080p (1920 px by 1080 px).

Step 2

Second, grab the Flood Fill Tool from the Tools Panel. Take the tool and click on the document.

Step 3

With the pixel layer selected, select the fx icon in the Layers Panel. Check the Gradient Overlay box. Set the Blend Mode to Normal, Type to Radial.

Step 4

Next, go to the Gradient. Select the white color stop and go to Color. Then, go to the RGB Hex Sliders and type the following hex code number #004892.

Step 5

After that, select the black color. Go to Color and type the following hex code #01288C.

Step 6

Then, go to the Angle and set it to 160 degrees.

Step 7

Now, grab the Rectangle Tool from the Tools Panel and draw a rectangle on the document. Make sure it’s in the center of the document.

Step 8

With the rectangle still selected, press Shift + X to switch the fill color of the rectangle to the stroke color which is black. Then, go to the Context Toolbar and go to the Stroke. Set the Stroke to 3 pt.

Step 9

Next, grab the Rectangle Tool again. Draw a skinny, long vertical rectangle. In the Swatches Panel, get rid of the stroke color and set the fill color of the rectangle to white.

Step 10

Now, press CTRL + J to duplicate the rectangle. Hold Shift and drag the duplicated rectangle slightly to the right.

Step 11

With the duplicated rectangle still select, press CTRL + J multiple times to make more duplicates of the rectangle until you reach the right side of the document.

Step 12

In the Layers Panel, select all the duplicated rectangle. Then, press CTRL + J to duplicate all the rectangles. Hold Shift and rotate the duplicated rectangles to -90 degrees.

Step 13

After that, go to the Layers Panel and select all the duplicated rectangles. Then, drag the duplicated rectangles into the black rectangle layer.

Step 14

Now, select the rectangle. In the Layers Panel, set the Blend Mode of the rectangle to Screen.

Step 15

With the rectangle selected, press CTRL + J to duplicate the rectangle. Get rid of the duplicated rectangles inside of the bigger rectangle. Hold CTRL + Shift and make the duplicated rectangle smaller.

Step 16

Go to the blueprint link in the description. Right click on the image and click Save Image As and save the image.

Step 17

Now, go back to Affinity Photo. Then, go to File > Open and select the blueprint of the car.

Step 18

Grab the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the Tools Panel. Make a selection of the image. Next, press CTRL + C to copy the image.

Step 19

In the Transform Panel, turn on the Lock Aspect Ratio, then resize the image.

Step 20

With the car image still selected, go to the Layers Panel and set the Blend Mode of this layer to Screen.

Step 21

Next, go to the Adjustments icon in the Layers Panel and select the Invert Adjustment. Drag the adjustment inside of the car layer.

Step 22

Grab the Artistic Text Tool from the Tools Panel and type the name of the car which is Audi RS 5. Next, go to the Font Family and set the font of the text to Roboto Regular. Place the text at the bottom left of the document.

Step 23

In the Layers Panel, click the Adjustments icon and select the Levels Adjustment. Drag he adjustment into the car layer. Then, set the White Level to 85%.

We’re now going to add a texture to this blueprint effect in Affinity Photo to make it look more realistic.

Step 24

Go to the texture link in the description. Right click on it and click Save Image As to save it.

Step 25

In Affinity Photo, go to File > Place and select the texture image. Hold Shift and stretch the image across the document.

Step 26

Next, go to the Layers Panel and change the Blend Mode to Divide. Then, lower the Opacity of the layer to 75%.

Congratulations, this tutorial is complete! You now know how to create a blueprint effect in Affinity Photo. For more Affinity Photo tutorials, check out this article on how to create a sketch effect.