I got inspired after watching so many iPod commercials! This is one of my favourite:
The trick behind creating this Apple-esque poster is just using Photoshop’s handy Quickmask function! Here’s a short tutorial (sorry, no screenshots!).
- Open the image - Either drag the image into the workspace or go to File > Open…
- Enter quickmask mode - Press [Q] or find the button just below the foreground / background colour swatches.
- Painting time - Remeber to set the foreground and background colours to the default ones by just pressing [D]. Paint over the areas of the image you want to turn black (painted areas will appear red in quickmask mode, so don’t worry!).
- Exit quickmask mode - Press [Q] to exit. Now you’ll find the marching ants (those moving black dashed lines at the border of the selected area).
- Invert selection - Since you’ve painted over the selected areas of the image, you’re actually MASKING them (eg, preventing them from being modified). So you’ll have to invert your selection. Just right-click on any place on the canvas, and click Select Inverse on the menu that appears.
- Create new layer - Press [Ctrl] + [Shirt] + [N], select a huge brush (and make sure that the foreground colour is black, #000000), and start painting within the selected area. You don’t want to pain over the original image, so that’s why you will need a new layer!
- Repeat step 2 to 5 - Now select the part of the image you want to paint white (e.g. mp3 players, headphones, shoes or any objects)
- Create another new layer - Do not paint on the first new layer! You want to maintain editability, remember? Make sure that the foreground colour is white, #ffffff, before proceeding.
- And you’re done!
Do tell me if you want a more detailed tutorial 
I’ll be more than happy to share!
5 responses to My first i-(Whatever), going Apple-esque
Responses can be separated into comments and trackbacks.
Comments »
You can always grab a ticket and leave a response »
April 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I think you may want to add shadows to the feet/shoes. Such pop effects are better on videos than with a static poster. But nevertheless, hope you had fun playing with it.
Respond to this comment »
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 am
Wow… it’s definitely something different and almost inspiring. Thanks for the tips on how to create a similar imagine. That ipod commercial was the first of its kind that I saw. BTW… I really enjoy your site, I’ll be back ^_^
Check out Destiny’s last blog post: Review: The Forbidden Kingdom
Respond to this comment »
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I remember seeing a music video from way back in the 90s that is so similar to the iPod commercials. I can’t remember what it was, but when I saw it, I couldn’t help but think if it was inspired by that.
Either way, great job on the iShoe graphic! Makes for a good layout concept, eh? =D
Check out Id’s last blog post: Playing the Tourist Game.
Respond to this comment »
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 am
LOL. Ever since I wanted a Macbook Pro, I’ve been watching a lot of Mac vs Pc ads and some (lame but sadly, sometimes, true) Pc vs Mac ads. It’s like a war over there. LOL.
and, I love the ipod ad, btw. it’s a simple ad but it’s nicely animated. not to mention inspiring. ^^
I wonder what the ishoe does. LOL.
Check out Aisyah’s last blog post: When kids ask about sex
Respond to this comment »
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:43 am
@Xing: You have a point there! After scrutinising at the feet of those dancing people in the Apple ad I realised that they have shadows too (although it’s most probably digitalled added in post-production). I’ve did a little tweaking in photoshop but I’m too lazy to upload the new version (another reason is because they look horrendous). Haha! Thanks anyway.
@Destiny: I’m really honoured to have you comment! I realised that you’re one very talented designer and illustrator after visiting your blog. I feel so ashamed that I couldn’t make my blog live up to my personal standard. I shall work hard, heheh
@Id: Hmmm I couldn’t remember the commercial you’ve mentioned as well. That’s why Apple used its idea because it wasn’t famous, heh. Anyway speaking of an Apple-esque Wordpress theme, I think there’s one iTunes-like one over at N.Design Studio (iTheme)…
@Aisyah: Haha yea I kind of get a good laugh at those rivalry stuff. I laughed when I read a comic strip about how Bill Gates was so infuriated when IE market share dipped after having Mozilla kicking IE’s butt *wham!* maybe the iShoe plays squeaks when you make a baby wear it
and make teenagers sound like walking boomboxes as they wonder around (that’ll be sound pollution, but heck, it won’t materialise anyway).
Respond to this comment »