A picture shows a digital document labeled "ARTICLE" that has a blue box where an image will go and lines of text. The backdrop is a world map, and at the top, the name "Ruhani Rabin" is written in bold. An arrow points to the article to highlight its significance.

How to Create Retro Print Effects [Photoshop]

ByRuhani Rabin Updated on Reading Time: 4 minutes

Support this Creator via Patreon—access exclusive perks like those mentioned in video credits and one-to-one calls. Read more.

Create Retro Print Effects

There are lots of ways to take a photo and make it a little more interesting. Some of the most fun effects are actually making it look older than it is. You can dress up like a flapper girl or a cowboy, but having the photo in the right tones really makes the photo look as if it’s straight from another time period. There are many photo programs available to play with your photos. Some come with pre-made filters that take one click. The most common photo editing software for pros and aspiring photographers is Adobe Photoshop. Here we will discuss how to adjust new photos in Photoshop and make them look older.

Sepia

Sepia is a nice auburn color that will take you right back to the ’20s and ’30s. It’s perfect for that old saloon look from the Wild West. You often see this effect used at carnival stands and photo studios where they dress you up in western garb. To get started, import your photo into Photoshop, be sure it is in RGB color mode. You can do this by selecting Image >Mode > RGB Color.

Select RGB Mode

After you’re in RGB color mode click on Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.

Image > Adjustment > Hue

Take the saturation down to about -45. You’ll see the photo lose some of its bright colors.

Recommendations

Easily Craft Stunning WordPress Websites that Excel in Speed and Design!

Get this Deal!
Easily Craft Stunning WordPress Websites that Excel in Speed and Design! KadenceWP

Divi AI Empowers You to Effortlessly Create Content and Produce Images Right within The WordPress Builder.

Get this Deal!
Divi AI can write content and generate images for you right inside the builder.

Then go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.

Color Balance

Side the first bar towards red to about +35. Slide the last color bar left towards yellow about -35. This should give you a nice rich sepia-tone just like the old west photos. Every photo is a little different so your discretion and give or take a few points in any of these areas to get your photo just the way you like it.

Black & White

If you are looking for a more the 1940s or ’50’s black and white. First, let’s loose the color. Go to Image > Mode >Grayscale. Click on Discard.

From there let’s go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

Adjust Contrast

Increase the contrast to about +50. This should give you nice blacks, and bright whites and make it look a little more like a film. Again, use your discretion as every photo starts out differently. If you want more of a ’60’s look adjust the contrast up to +100 and turn the brightness up to about +50. This makes the image pop a little more like the spirit of the 1960s.

Retro Color Grain

For a retro 60s or 70s color film look, you need to get that rich yellowish warm tone into the photos. Again, import your photo into Photoshop. Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast.

Adjust Brightness

Take the brightness down to about -50.

Then go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.

Adjust Color

Here, adjust the top slider +50 towards the red. With the second slider take +50 towards the green, and take the last slider -100 towards the yellow. This should give you that 40-year-old aged photo print look.

Play around with your Photoshop settings. You will discover hundreds of possibilities. Get creative and remember there is no right or wrong.

Some of the link on this post may have affiliate links attached. Read the FTC Disclaimer.

Co-Authored With

This article was written on behalf of PrinterInks – leading suppliers of printer cartridges and toners throughout the UK.

Similar Posts

How To Use The Elements Of Design To Increase Conversions

How To Use The Elements Of Design To Increase Conversions

ByRuhani Rabin Updated on

Almost half of the consumers will judge the credibility of your brand based on your design and every experienced web marketing expert will point out that the positive experience of your visitors is highly affected by the presentation of your content. So let’s take a look at how can you make the presentation that will make them hooked.

How Can Web Design Boost Your SEO Strategy

How Web Design Can Boost Your SEO Strategy Effectively

ByRuhani Rabin Updated on

It is quite understandable; putting up a website can be financially and technically-daunting, especially for small businesses whose budget allocations are focused on investments designed to keep them afloat. But we are in a different era now, a time when an online presence is no longer a luxury, but a necessity, when websites can be easily created without bleeding company resources dry. Here’s why every business should have their own website

copyright 3360802 1920

How to Protect Your Product Design

ByRuhani Rabin Updated on

The first is the fact that, as soon as your product starts making a large profit for you, there will always be people who will attempt to steal your design features in any way they can and come up with knockoffs that they can sell for themselves.