You can use different tools to add a cyberpunk effect to your photos but they may not be suitable and some of them are paid, so why not learn to add a cyberpunk effect using Photoshop? Here’s our guide:
#1 Let’s Prepare
Here’s are the first few steps:
- Open Photoshop and import the image you want to edit.
- Select an image that meets the following requirements:
- 8 Bits/Channel
- RGB Color
- 25oo to 4500 pixels
- Be the background layer – Layer>New>Background from Layer
- Go to Windows>Actions and find the main icon in the top right-hand corner of the Actions panel.
- Click New Set and give it a name – Cyberpunk.
- Repeat the same process but this time click New Action instead of New Set. Again, name it Cyberpunk.
#2 Creating Your Color Look
You’ll have to create a look. Here’s how:
- Open Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Gradient Map. Name your new layer Look_1.
- Double-click the new thumbnail and go to Properties. Here, open Gradient Editor by clicking on the gradient and change the settings:
- Name: Custom
- Gradient Type: Solid
- Smoothness: 100%
- Left color stop: 0000ff
- Right color stop: ff00ff
- Change the layer’s Opacity to 70 percent and the Blending Mode to Soft Light.
- Click the Background layer to select it.
- Go to Layer, select New Adjustment Layer, choose Hue/Saturation. This will create a new adjustment layer. Name it Look_2.
- Double click your new layer and choose your desired setting for these colors:
- Magentas
- Blues
- Yellows
- Cyans
- Greens
- Reds
- Choose your Background layer, select Layer, go to New Adjustment Layer, and click Photo Filter. This will create a new photo filter adjustment layer. Name it Look_3.
- Double click the new thumbnail and go to Properties. Now, make these changes:
- Density: 25%
- Filter: Cooling Filter (80)
- Check the Preserve Luminosity box
#3 A Few More Adjustments
Now that you’ve selected colors, it’s time to make final adjustments. Here’s how:
- Choose the Look_1 layer and reset the swatches by selecting Reset Swatches from the pull-down menu found in the “Swatches” tab. You can also press D to get the job done.
- Go to Layer, choose New Adjustment Layer, and select Gradient Map. This will create a new gradient map adjustment layer. Name it Complete Contrast.
- Change the layer’s Opacity to 80 percent and the Blending Mode to Luminosity.
- Go to Layer, choose New Adjustment Layer, and select Vibrance. This will create a new vibrance adjustment layer. Name it Complete Saturation.
- Double-click this new layer thumbnail and make these changes by going to the Properties panel:
- Vibrance: +25
- Saturation: +10
- Go to Layer, choose New Adjustment Layer, and select Levels. This will create a new levels adjustment layer. Name it Complete Brightness.
- Double-click this new layer thumbnail and make these changes by going to the Properties panel:
- Create a screenshot by pressing Control-Alt-Shift-E.
- Desaturate this new layer by pressing Control-Shift-U.
- Change Radium to 2 pixels by going to Filter, Option, and High Pass.
- Change the layer’s Opacity to 80 percent and the Blending Mode to Hard Light.
- You’re done.
The process may appear complicated but once you start giving your photos the Cyberpunk look in Photoshop, you’ll realize it is easy. Enjoy!