Since last year, I’ve been making posters parodying the Dark Knight posters featuring Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, like this Todd McLellan one for the Sharks. Since its a fairly simple process after all the particulars are worked out, I’ve decided to create a tutorial so others can do the same.

I also included PSDs for both a regular (small) version and a large version, so you don’t technically have to follow the tutorial and just use those, but what’s the fun in that?

First, copy and paste the following picture into Photoshop.

Find a picture you want to use for the face. The face should be fairly large, with the face straight forward and a grim expression. That means NO SMILING. Just look at Harvey Dent’s face as a comparison.

Then follow these layer styles as noted; you should end up with 30 layers, not including the background layer that is automatically there.

30. Gradient Map BW soft light 30%

29. Name Here transform (tilt)

28. Title layer mask BW gradient over – a bit above the bottom center

27. Date – positioned bottom-center

25. Bottom bar #030206 lighten – so it covers the logo

24. Color box #030206 over logo 65%

23. Logo multiply – right over the date, underneath the title.

22. Color fill #2c5566 overlay – erase all but over logo

22. Logo copy 1 copy (sat +100, all white) radial blur – zoom – 100.

21. Logo copy 1 sat +100 (all white)

15.-20. Names x6 – evenly spaced out at the top; each full name gets an individual layer.

14. Clone stamp – cover up name with red button background

13. Brush #030206 – use to define face, cover up anything not wanted

12. Reference pic – layer mask, erase face

11. Color fill #050409 lighten

10. Color fill #2c5566 overlay

9. Levels RGB input: 16 1.08 224

8. Picture copy 3 BW (sat -100; CTRL+U) soft light

7. Color fill #a0ccd9 normal 20%

6. Curves RGB coordinates: 81,63 183,177

5. Gradiant Map BW

4. Picture copy 2 soft light

3. Picture copy 1 screen

2. Picture – set opacity to 60% and transform so that the size and angle of the face lines up with Dent’s.

1. Reference poster

Or, if you are too lazy/impatient to follow those directions, just download the PSD, which includes both a simplified tutorial and two different sizes of the poster.

Click Here for the Download