Stylish Retro Poster in Pixelmator

Stylish Retro Poster in Pixelmator

In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a stylish retro poster using Pixelamator. We will play with basic tools and primary colors to do that. The inspiration is from old posters and, of course, the master of the De Stijl, Piet Mondrian.

Step 1

Open Pixelmator, and create a new document. I’m using 1500×2122 pixels for the size. Then fill the background with blue (#0963DB).

Step 2

With the Type Tool (T), add the word “Pixelmator.” I used Avant Garde for the font. After that, go to Layer>Rasterize Type Layer.

Step 3

Add a new layer and then, with the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), create a marquee, extending the “T” as in the image below.

Step 4

With the Paint Bucket Tool (N) and black for the color, fill the selection with black.

Step 5

Now, with Erase, remove the top left part of the letter “T.”

Step 6

Nudge the new “T” to the left. Then duplicate the layer with the black rectangle we created in steps 3 and 4. Then go to Edit>Free Transform or simply Command + F. Rotate the rectangle like the image below. We will create the “A.”

Step 7

Duplicate the black rectangle again and nudge it to the left; now the “A” is almost done.

Step 8

Now, just finish the top of the “A” and the middle part. You can copy and paste the other letters to maintain the same thickness.

Step 9

Now, let’s extend the “I.” You can use the same process, utilizing the Rectangular Marquee Tool (N), or simply by duplicating the black rectangle.

Step 10

Now, let’s play with the “X” again. Do the same thing: just duplicate and, with the free transform command, rotate the rectangle to match the “X” style.

Step 11

The last thing to do with the text will be the “R.” Just extend the bottom right part of it, as in the image below.

Step 12

Create a new layer on top of the background layer only and beneath the other layers. Then, with the Lasso Tool (L), create a selection of the area created with the letter “A,” as in the image below.

Step 13

Fill the selection with white.

Step 14

Add a new layer on top of the white layer and change the blending to “Multiply.” Then go to Filter>Generator>Checkboard. Use 15 for the width and 100 for the sharpness. After that, select the white area again with the Lasso Tool (L) or the Magic Wand Tool (W). Then select the checkerboard layer again and go to Layer>Add Layer Mask.

Step 15

Select the closed area created by the extension of “I,” “X,” and “A.” Then fill it with dark red.

Step 16

Now, just play with some letters, like the “P.” Fill the open area of the “P” with blue. Fill the “A” and “O” with yellow. The inspiration for the color choice is clearly from Mondrian.

Step 17

With the Brush Tool (B) and some grunge and dirty brushes from Misprintedtype created by Eduardo Recife, paint some areas using black, white, and red. The idea is to make the elements appear to be less uniform, as if the poster was created via silk screen.

Step 18

Now, use an old paper texture; in mine, I used one that I found courtesy of Shutterstock (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-35221027/stock-photo-old-paper.html). But you can use another image. The idea is to place a nice, old texture in the design. Then change the blending to “Multiply.” If it’s too yellowish, go to Image>Hue and Saturation, and then reduce the saturation.

Conclusion

Now, just add some text, and the retro poster is pretty much done. The whole process was very easy. We used only basic tools to create a very stylish poster. I wanted to show that what is really important is the idea; the tool is just a way to make it come true.