In this Pixelmator tutorial we will create a Retro Pop Art style design, common in the 1950s. We will be combining stock images, color, brushes and textures to give our design a vintage comic book appearance.

Resources

Lets go ahead and grab the resources we will be using:

• Marilyn Monroe, popart.com
• Paper texture, BittBox
• Watercolor brushes, Pixelmator Learn website.

Step 1 - New Document

Create a new Pixelmator document, I chose 700 x 900 pixels. Fill the background with the color #0080ff.

Step 2 - Import Image

Import your chosen image. I’m using a photograph of Marilyn Monroe. Position and resize the image using (Edit > Transform).

Step 3 - Remove Image Background

Using the lasso tool, make a selection around Marilyn.

When using the Lasso tool, I find it easier to make smaller selections using the add to selection option.

Invert the selection (Edit > Inverse...) and then hit delete.

Step 4 - Colors

Pop art often features vivid colors, so lets brighten things up. Create a new layer called “Colors”. Using the Brush tool paint over the original image, onto the Colors layer. The exact colors do not matter, however I chose: Yellow (#ffff00), Pink (#ff6fcf), Red (#ff0000) and Violet (#8000ff).

Notice that we are painting solid colors, there is no need for shading.

Step 5 - Halftone

Duplicate the Image layer and place it at the top of the layer stack. Rename it “Halftone”.

Hide the original image.

Goto (Filter > Halftone > Dot Screen...). Apply the settings shown below:

Change the layers blending mode to Multiply.

Step 6 - Radial Lines

Let's add some visual interest to the background. It's time to add our Radial Lines (Credit to PixelCreativity).

Create a new layer called “Radial Lines” above the background layer.

Reset the default colors (D). Then goto (Filter > Generator > Stripes...).

Select the filter Circular Wrap (Filter > Distortion > Circular Wrap...).

Change the layers opacity to 10%.

Step 7 - Splodge

Select one of the water-colour brushes and with the default colors selected (D), paint a splatter.

Create a new temporary layer above the one we previously created.

Goto (Filter > Generator > Stripes...).

We need to rotate and position the stripes so that they cover majority of the splodge. (Edit > Transform... or CMD F)

With the temporary layer selected. Goto (Edit > Select Color...). Choose black and 200 for the radius.

Select the Splodge layer and hit delete.

Deselect our selection and delete the temporary layer.

Step 8 - Texture

The final step is to add an aged appearance.

Import your chosen paper texture and drag it to the top of the layers stack.

Resize and position the texture so that it fills the document (Edit > Transform... or CMD F).

Change the layers blending mode to Multiply.

Conclusion

There we have our finished result! From a few simple steps we have created a style that was commonly seen in the 1950s and given it vintage, worn look.

Thank you for following along and I hope you found this tutorial useful.