In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a realistic rubber stamp effect in Photoshop. Transforming a photo into a rubber stamp is achievable in just a few quick steps.
This rubber stamp effect is inspired by the Rubber Stamp Photoshop Generator from my portfolio on Envato Market.
Tutorial Assets
The assets used throughout the creation of this tutorial are as follows:
1. How to Create a Grunge Paper Background
Step 1
Create a new document with the size 850 x 550px. You can, of course, use other dimensions for your PSD file, but you will need to proportionally adjust all sizes used in this tutorial.
Add the Grunge Stained Paper Texture in a new layer.
Step 2
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer and add a Gradient Map adjustment. The colors used for the gradient map are #7a6849 and #fffbf7.
2. How to Create the Rubber Stamp Shape
Step 1
Select the Ellipse Tool. Hold down the Shift key while you draw to create a perfect circle. Name this layer Circle 1.
Step 2
Press Command/Control-J to duplicate the Circle 1 layer three times, and name the layers Circle 2, Circle 3, and Circle 4.
Set the Fill of the Circle 1 layer to 0% and add a Stroke of 6 px, color #000000.
Step 3
For the Circle 2 layer, press Command/Control-T to scale the shape. Make sure to click the Maintain Aspect Ratio button and scale it to 95%.
Set the Fill of the Circle 2 layer to 0% and add a Stroke of 4px, color #000000.
Step 4
For the Circle 3 layer, press Command/Control-T to scale the shape. Make sure to click the Maintain Aspect Ratio button and scale it to 75%.
Set the Fill of the Circle 3 layer to 0% and add a Stroke of 6px, color #000000.
Step 5
For the Circle 4 layer, press Command/Control-T to scale the shape. Make sure to click the Maintain Aspect Ratio button and scale it to 75%.
Set the Fill of the Circle 4 layer to 0% and also add a Stroke of 4px, color #000000.
Step 6
Download Circle Photoshop Shapes and load the CSH file into Photoshop. Go to Edit > Preset Manager and select Preset Type > Custom Shapes. Click the Load button to load the CSH file.
Set the Foreground color to #000000. Select the Custom Shape Tool and make sure you have checked the Defined Proportions option. For this tutorial, I am using shape no.17, but you can use any shape you like to customize your stamp design.
3. How to Add Text to the Rubber Stamp
Click on the Vector Mask Thumbnail of the Circle 3 layer. Select the Horizontal Type Tool and move directly over the circle path. The cursor will change to an I-beam with a dotted wavy line through it.
I used the font Intro and the color #000000 for the text. You can use any other font type and color to match your desired stamp aesthetic.
4. How to Create the Stamp Effect for a Photo
Step 1
Add a stock image of a Man Portrait on a new layer.
Step 2
Keep the Control key pressed and click on the Vector Mask Thumbnail of the Circle 4 layer to create a selection.
Click the Add Layer Mask button from the Layers tab to add a mask to the Man Portrait layer.
Step 3
Make sure the Foreground color is set to #000000 and the Background color is set to #ffffff, otherwise the next photo effect will not look correct.
Go to Filter > Sketch > Stamp and set the Light/Dark Balance to 4 and Smoothness to 1. This Stamp filter in Photoshop is key to achieving that classic stamp look.
Step 4
Open the Layer Style window of the Man Portrait layer. The Blend If sliders are at the bottom of this dialog. Use the slider from This Layer to remove the white color. Simply drag the slider to the right until 180 to hide the white tones and reveal the stamp effect.
Right-click on the Man Portrait layer and select Convert to Smart Object. This allows for non-destructive editing and further adjustments later on.
5. How to Add a Grungy Effect
Step 1
Select all the stamp layers (the Circle layers, the Text layer, and the Man Portrait layer), right-click on the layers, and select Convert to Smart Object. This consolidates all elements into a single editable stamp object.
Add a Layer Mask to the Man Portrait Smart Object. Select the Brush Tool and set the Brush Size to around 800 px. Also, set the Foreground color to #000000. Use Grunge Photoshop Brushes to create a grungy stamp effect; experiment with different brushes for varied textures.
Step 2
Create a new layer and name it Stamp Lines. Select the Brush Tool and from the Rubber Stamp Photoshop Brushes, use the stamp-lines brush.
Add a Layer Mask to the Stamp Lines layer. Again, use Grunge Photoshop Brushes to enhance the grungy stamp effect and also to hide some parts of the stamp lines that might be overlapping the main stamp image too much.
6. How to Create Multi-Colored Rubber Stamps
If you want to create multi-colored rubber stamps, you can add a Color Overlay Layer Style to the Man Portrait Smart Object using a color like #d9a4ae, or you can add different colors to layers within the Smart Object for more complex designs.
For a finishing touch, create a new layer and name it Old Envelope Stamp Brushes. You can use Old Envelope Stamp Brushes to add realistic old envelope effects around your stamp. Use colors like #b24659 and #b24659 to add different stamp marks and postmarks.
Congratulations! You Are Finished!
In this tutorial, you have learned how to create a rubber stamp effect in Photoshop from scratch by utilizing brushes and textures. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful in understanding how to achieve a scan stamp effect in Photoshop digitally.
This rubber stamp effect technique is inspired by the Rubber Stamp Photoshop Generator from my portfolio on Envato Market.
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