How to Create a Movie Poster in Affinity Photo

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a movie poster in Affinity Photo.

Before you begin to create a movie poster in Affinity Photo, go to the following links to download the images and fonts used in this tutorial.

• World network binary
• Man
• Robot/human hand
• Furore font
• Playfair Display font
• Movie Credits

Step 1

First, go to File > New. Set the Document Units to Inches. Next, set the Page Width to 27 in and the Page Height to 40 in. Now, set the DPI to 300.

Step 2

After that, go to File > Open. Select the World Network Binary image and drag it onto the document. Go to the Transform Panel and turn on the Lock Aspect Ratio. Take the Move Tool and resize the image as you see it on the screen. Press CTRL + R to activate the rulers. Turn on Snapping in the Toolbar. Then, take the Move Tool and drag a guideline from the top to the center, and drag a guide from the left to the center of the document.

Step 3

Now, click the Mask Layer icon to add a mask to this layer. Next, grab the Paintbrush Tool from the Tools Panel. Go to the Brushes Panel and select one of the Round Light Brushes from the Basic brushes. In the Context Toolbar, set the Opacity to 30%, Flow to 25%, and Hardness to 0%.

Step 4

Go to the Swatches Panel and set the fill color to black. Then, select the mask layer in the Layers Panel. Now, take the paintbrush and mask out the bottom and top part of the image.

Step 5

Once you’ve done that, click on the Adjustments icon in the Layers Panel and select the Recolor adjustment. Set the Hue to 205 degrees, Saturation to 100%, and Lightness to 2%. Drag the adjustment into the image layer. Then, lower the Opacity of the image to 70%. Label the layer Background 2.

Step 6

Now, go to the Layers Panel and click on the Add Pixel Layer icon. Drag this layer beneath the image layer. Go to the Swatches Panel. Double click on the fill color to bring up the Color Chooser. Then, enter the following hex code #00070B. After that, go to the Edit menu and select Fill with Primary Color. Label this layer Background.

Step 7

Next, go to File > Open and select the image of the man. Grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. In the Context Toolbar, set the Mode to Add and check the Snap to Edges box. Take the brush and select the man.

Step 8

Once you’ve made the selection, press CTRL + J to duplicate the layer. Now, copy the layer and paste it onto the poster document.

Step 9

Take the Move Tool, resize the man, and place him on the poster the way you see it on the screen. Click the Adjustments icon in the Layers Panel and select the Black and White adjustment. Drag the adjustment into the layer with the man.

Step 10

Now, click the Adjustments icon. Select the Recolor adjustment. Drag it into the layer of the man. Set the Hue to 205 degrees, Saturation to 62%, and the Lightness to -15%. Then, set the Blend Mode to Linear Burn.

Step 11

After that, select the man layer. Then, click the Mask Layer icon to add a mask layer. Grab the Paintbrush Tool from the Tools Panel. In the Swatches Panel, make sure the fill color is set to black. Also, make sure the mask layer is selected. Take the brush and mask out the bottom part of the man until you’re halfway up his torso. Label this layer Man.

Step 12

Next, go to File > Open and select the image of the robot and human hands. Grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. In the Context Toolbar, set the Mode to Add and check the Snap to Edges box. Take the brush and select the robot’s hand. Then, press CTRL + J to place a copy of the selection onto a new layer. Label this Robot Hand. Press CTRL + D to deselect.

Step 13

Now, take the Selection Brush Tool and make a selection of the human hand. Once you’ve done that, press CTRL + J to duplicate it. Then, label it Human Hand. Press CTRL + D to deselect.

Step 14

In the Layers Panel, select both hands. Copy the layers. Then, paste them onto the poster. Make sure they’re at the top of everything. Take the Move Tool and resize the two hand layers. Then, place them where you see them on the screen.

Step 15

Next, press CTRL and click the thumbnail of the Human Hand layer. Click the Adjustments icon in the Layers Panel and select the Recolor adjustment. Drag this into the human hand layer. Set the Hue to 205 degrees, Saturation to 50%, and the Lightness to 38%. Then, lower the Opacity to 80%.

Step 16

Now, click the Adjustments icon and select the Curves adjustment. Place this layer into the human hand layer above the recolor adjustment. Select the point on the left and drag it to the right just before it meets the graph. Then, click on the middle of the curve to add a point and drag it up some. Select the point on the right and drag it slightly to the left. Press CTRL + D to deselect.

Step 17

Press CTRL and click the thumbnail of the robot hand. Next, click the Adjustments icon and select the Recolor adjustment. Drag it into the robot hand layer. Set the Hue to 205 degrees, Saturation to 60%, and the Lightness to 40%. Then, lower the Opacity to 80%.

Step 18

After that, click the Adjustments icon and select the Curves adjustment. Drag it into the robot layer above the recolor adjustment. Select the point on the left and drag it to the right at the beginning of the graph. Then, add a pint in the middle of the curve and drag it up.

Step 19

Grab the Ellipse Tool from the Tools Panel. Draw an ellipse that’s 1” x 1”. Press CTRL + J to duplicate the ellipse and move it slightly to the right but make sure it’s touching the original ellipse.

Step 20

Now, press CTRL + J four times. You should have a total of six ellipses, and they should be connected like a chain. Go to the Swatches Panel and remove the fill color. Next, double click on the stroke color to bring up the Color Chooser and enter the following hex code #C2DA61. Then, go to the Stroke Panel and set the Stroke Width to 3.5 pt.

Step 21

In the Layers Panel, select all the ellipses. Press CTRL + G to group them together. Or right-click on the selected layers and select Group.

Step 22

With the group selected, click the fx icon in the Layers Panel. Check the Outer Glow box and select it. Set the Radius to .7 px, Intensity to 72%. Click Color. Go to the RGB Hex Sliders and enter the following hex code #DBE212. By default, the Blend Mode should be Screen and Opacity should be 100%.

Step 23

Now, check the Inner Glow box and select it. Set the Blend Mode to Screen, Opacity to 100%, Radius to 3 px, and Intensity to 59%. Go to Color and enter the following hex code #F9F80B. Then, make sure Edge is selected.

Step 24

After that, check the Gaussian Blur box and select it. Set the Radius to 31 px.

Step 25

With the group still selected, press CTRL + J two times to make two duplicates of the group. Select the three groups. Then, press CTRL + G to group them together.

Step 26

Next, grab the Rectangle Tool from the Tools Panel. Select the Background 2 layer. Then, draw a rectangle behind the man and slightly below the hands. Go to the Swatches Panel and set the fill color to #0068B2.

Step 27

With the rectangle still selected, go to the Filters menu. Select Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Radius to 100%.

Step 28

Select the rectangle. Go to the Filters menu again. Select Lighting. Set the lighting to the settings you see on the screen.

Step 29

After that, press CTRL + J to duplicate the blue-colored pixel layer. Then, go to the Filters menu and select Lighting. Set the Type to Point. Then, select Specular Color. Go to RGB Hex Sliders and enter the following hex #036BB5. Next, go to the Ambient Light Color and enter the following hex code #4285B5. Now, go to Color and enter this hex code #0068B2. Set the Distance to 20% and enter the other settings the way you see them on the screen. Set the Blend Mode of this layer to Average.

Step 30

Select both of the blue-filled pixel layers. Press CTRL + G to group the layers together. Label the group Blue Lights.

Step 31

Grab the Artistic Text Tool from the Tools Panel. Take the tool and click below the blue light’s area. Type CONNECTION in ALL CAPS. Next, select the text. Go to the Swatches Panel and enter the following hex code # for the text #F7F641.

Step 32

With the text still selected, go to the Font Family and change the font to the Furore font you downloaded or to another type of sci-fi font. Take the Move Tool and resize the text so that it stretches across the poster.

Step 33

Now, grab the Artistic Text Tool. Click on the poster on the left side above the man’s head. Type the tagline “When humans and robots connect, things can turn deadly…”.

Step 34

Next, select the text layer.  Go to the Font Family and set the text to Playfair Display Bold. Resize the text with the Move Tool the way you see it on the screen. Center the text. Then, go to the Swatches Panel and set the text to white.

Step 35

Now, grab the Artistic Text Tool, Click above the tag line. Type SETH BIRD in ALL CAPS. Then, press CTRL + Shift and drag a copy of the text to the right side of the original text. Type DONNA WELLS in ALL CAPS.

Step 36

With the Move Tool, select both of the text layers. Then, go to the Swatches Panel and set the text to the same color as the connection text which is #F7F641. Press CTRL ; to remove the guides.

Step 37

Now, go to File > Open drag the movie credits image onto the poster.

Step 38

Grab the Rectangle Tool from the Tools Panel. Go to the Swatches Panel and set the color to white. Take the tool and draw a rectangle on the bottom part of the poster. Then, take the Move Tool and place the movie credits on top of the rectangle. Resize the credits the way you see it on the screen.

Step 39

Select all the layers in the Layers Panel. Then, press CTRL + ALT + Shift + E to merge the layers together. Turn the other layers off.

Congratulations, this tutorial is complete. You now know how to create a movie poster in Affinity Photo. For more Affinity Photo tutorials, check out this article on how to create a book cover.