Splatter Paint Effect in Affinity Photo

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a splatter paint effect in Affinity Photo. This effect will allow you to turn photos into a rainbow-colored mixed media look.

Before you begin, go to the following links to download the image and brushes used in this tutorial.

Man

Splatter paint brushes

Step 1

First, go to File > Open and select the image you downloaded. Press CTRL + J to duplicate the original image and turn the original layer off.

Step 2

Second, select the duplicated layer. Grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. In the Context Toolbar. Set the Mode to Add. Make sure the Snap to Edges box is checked. Then, take the brush and make a selection of the man.

Step 3

After you’ve made the selection, press CTRL + Alt + R to refine the edges. Set the Output to New Layer with Mask. Then, hit Apply. To make edits to the selection, select the mask layer of the selection in the Layers Panel. Next, grab the Paintbrush Tool from the Tools Panel. Go to the Brushes Panel and select a brush from the Basic Brushes. Now, go to the Swatches Panel. Set the color to black if you want to remove anything from the selection we made. Or, set the color to white if you want to add something back to the image.

Step 4

Select the duplicated layer. Click Add Pixel Layer icon in the Layers Panel to add a new pixel layer above this layer.

Step 5

Now, select the new layer. In the Swatches Panel, set the fill color to white. Then, go to the Edit menu and select Fill with Primary Color to fill the pixel layer with white. Press CTRL + J to duplicate the layer.

Step 6

In the Layers Panel, select the duplicated white-filled pixel layer and the layer with the selection of the man with the mask. Press CTRL + Shift + E to merge the two layers together. Or go to the Layer menu and click Merge Selected.

Step 7

Select the original white-filled layer. Then, click the Add Pixel Layer icon to add a new layer above this layer.

Step 8

Turn the merged layer off in the Layers Panel and select the new layer we added. Now, go to the splatter brushes link and download the brushed.

Step 9

Make sure the new layer we added is selected. Mow, grab the Paintbrush Tool. Next, go to the Brushes Panel and select the paint splatter brushes you downloaded. Select the splatter brush you want to use. I chose the number 31 brush. Go to the Swatches Panel. Double click the fill color to bring up the Color Chooser. Set the color to a bright color of your choosing. The hex code for the color I chose is #5C62FC. Take the brush and click on the document to add a paint splatter.

Step 10

Now, click the Add Pixel Layer four times to add 4-pixel layers.

Step 11

Select the first duplicated pixel layer we just added. Go to the Swatches Panel and change the color to a color of your choosing. I set the color to #F59257. Take the brush and click on the document once to add the paint. If you want to you can use a different splatter brush for each of the other layers. Here, I’m using the number 40 brush.

Step 12

After that, select the duplicated layer above the current layer. Go to the Swatches Panel and change the color. I set the color to #FC69CB. Change the brush if you want to. I’m using the number 45 brush. Then, take the brush and click on the document to add the splatter.

Step 13

Now, select the duplicated layer above this. Go to the Swatches Panel to change the color. I set the color to #B1FB61. Take the brush and add a paint splatter to the layer. I chose to use the number 41 brush here.

Step 14

Next, select the last duplicated layer. Change the color in the Swatches Panel. I set it to #FBFA7F. Then, take the brush and add the paint to the layer. I’m using the number 32 brush.

Step 15

Once you’ve done that, select all the paint splatter layers and press CTRL + G to group them together. Or right-click on them and select Group. With the group selected, press CTRL + J two times.

Step 16

Turn the layer with the man back on. Now, click on the Adjustments icon in the Layer Panel and select Threshold. Set the Threshold to 52%. In the Layers Panel, select the adjustment layer and the layer with the man. Then, press CTRL + Shift + E to merge the two layers together.

Step 17

Now, select one of the splatter groups. Drag the group inside of the layer with the man.

Step 18

Next, select the other two splatter groups and drag the groups above the layer with man.

Step 19

Select the splatter layer at the top. Change the Blend Mode to Saturation.

Step 20

After that, select the other splatter group below that. Change its Blend Mode to Screen.

Congratulations, this tutorial is complete! You now know how to create a splatter paint effect in Affinity Photo. For more tutorials on Affinity Photo, check out this article on how to turn a photo into stencil art.