Editing the Spray Portrait

I scanned in my two spray portraits and opened them in Photoshop. I removed the background by selecting the entire layer to my clipboard, and in Channels pasted it onto the Alpha layer. Then, by selecting the Alpha thumbnail, I was able to remove the background and fill the remaining inverted selection on a new layer.

I used that new layer as a base for my Clipping layers and added colour.

After colouring both of my stencil layers, I proceeded to add dripped spray textures I had found at Stock Vector, as this added a more 'hand done' touch to the piece and makes more aesthetically pleasing.

I experimented more with the colours and shape of the added spray texture, and this version was my favourite. I also used the spray to have a different layer setting each time for a different effect. I think the most successful is the green and blue gradiented spray as it contrasts from the dark blue but also subtly over lays the other layers due to it's multiply setting.

I also think it is the most successful as the warm yellow tones compliment the colder blues and purples.