Create a Posterized Warhol-Style Pop Art Portrait in Photoshop
This tutorial shows how to convert a portrait into a posterized, Warhol-inspired pop art image. You’ll prep the photo, isolate the subject, and apply halftone and sharpening filters non-destructively. Finally, you’ll brighten the tones and paint bold colors for a classic pop art look.
Step-by-step instructions
Prepare the photo and convert to Smart Object
Open your image (File → Open…). Optionally crop with the Rectangular Marquee Tool → Image → Crop, then deselect (Ctrl/Cmd+D).
In the Layers panel menu, choose Convert to Smart Object for non-destructive editing.
Resize for best filter results and set view
Go to Image → Image Size…
Set Resolution to 72 Pixels/Inch and Height to 870 px, then click OK.
Press Ctrl/Cmd+0 to fit on screen or Ctrl/Cmd+1 for 100% view.
Select the subject and refine edges
Choose the Quick Selection Tool (W) and set brush size to ~10 px.
Drag over the subject to select it.
Go to Select → Refine Edge… (or Select and Mask). Enable Smart Radius and increase Radius; brush hair edges. Set Output to: Layer Mask and click OK.
Add a white background and desaturate the subject
Ctrl/Cmd‑click the New Layer icon to add a layer below the subject.
Press D to reset swatches, then press Ctrl/Cmd+Delete to fill the layer with white.
With the subject layer active, click the Adjustment Layer icon → Black & White to desaturate.
Combine layers into a Smart Object for filters
Shift‑click the bottom related layer to select all relevant layers.
In the Layers panel menu, choose Convert to Smart Object.
Apply halftone dots and sharpening
Go to Filter → Filter Gallery… → Sketch → Halftone Pattern.
Set Pattern Type: Dot, Size: 2, Contrast: 0, then click OK.
Go to Filter → Sharpen → Smart Sharpen… and set Amount: 500%, Radius: 64 px, Noise: 0%. Click OK.
Brighten with Levels and set blend mode
Click the Adjustment Layer icon → Levels.
Set Input White Level to 100 to brighten the image.
Select the Smart Object layer and change Blend Mode to Linear Burn.
Add background color and paint pop colors
Ctrl/Cmd‑click the New Layer icon to create a layer below; click the Foreground color and choose a background color, then press Alt/Option+Delete to fill.
Clip the Levels adjustment to the portrait (Ctrl/Cmd+Alt/Option+G) so it affects only the subject.
Choose a skin color, select the Pencil Tool (B) with Hardness 100% and Opacity 100%, adjust size with [ and ], and draw over skin areas.
Pick new colors for hair and clothing; for soft blends, switch to the Brush Tool (B) with Hardness 0.
