#roadattack

When we're feeling like it (because we don't want to do a picspam without inspiration now, do we?), we create a new file, the "basic shape" if you want. We can re-use this psd to make new picspam.

The document is 500x700 and is divided in 10 sections. To make sure everything is symetric, we put our ruler on and change the measuring unit to percentage (we can do it in editon > preference > units and rules). When it's done, we have a blank document that looks somewhat like this:

Because we don't like being lost when we work in Photoshop (don't deny it), we're going to add color to our lovely blank thing. We create a new layer, select one rectangle and put the color in it. Don't forget to ALWAYS CREATE A NEW LAYER WHEN YOU APPLY THE COLOR TO A BLANK SPACE. We have now a document filled with colors:

I also recommend that we put those new layers each in a different folder, because we're going to have a shitload of layers. When it's done, it's time to really start the work. We choose a picture we like/related to the current picspam and paste it just above your first layer. When we are satisfied with the position, we put it as a clipping mask.

The clipping mask, for those who don't know, enables you to work on a certain part of a document (i.e. layer) without touching anything else. It will only affect the layer you put it on.

To use the clipping mask, you can use the shorcut alt+ctrl+G, or you can go to layer > clipping mask. 

Without clipping mask:

With clipping mask:

Now that we understand clipping masks, we can use as many as we want to continue our picspam. I usually do my sharpening first, then add textures, gradient maps, anything I want to make it look pretty (looking pretty is kinda a good thing ya know what I mean).

And when we're satisfied with the first one, we jump to the second one, then the third, fourth, etc. We can also add other textures and color adjustments/gradient maps at the top of our folders. Don't forget that it will affect all the layers as well. One last thing, picspams need to be balanced and visually enjoyable. Not just a bunch of pictures put randomly.