Create a cracked skin effect in Photoshop

Create a cracked skin effect in Photoshop

Dramatic skin effects transform ordinary portraits into striking visual narratives. The cracked skin technique combines texture photography with advanced blending methods to create the illusion of deteriorating or peeling facial features.

This tutorial demonstrates how to blend crack textures with portrait photography using warping tools, layer masks, and strategic blending modes to achieve realistic results.

Watch the Tutorial Part I and II

Video by PHLEARN. Any links or downloads mentioned by the creator are available only on YouTube

Video by PHLEARN. Any links or downloads mentioned by the creator are available only on YouTube

Practical Tips for Cracked Skin Effects

Success with texture blending depends on careful preparation and strategic tool usage.

  • Choose crack textures that match the scale and lighting direction of your portrait subject
  • Use the Warp tool first to roughly conform the texture to facial contours before applying Liquify
  • Apply freeze masks in Liquify around key facial features like eyes and nose to create realistic edge interactions
  • Use multiply blending mode to eliminate white areas while preserving dark crack details
  • Adjust texture colors with clipped Hue/Saturation layers to match skin tones naturally

Explore more advanced techniques for creating dramatic portrait transformations.

How to Create Realistic Cracked Skin using Photoshop
This tutorial will teach you how to create realistic cracked skin textures. Perfect for beginners, the video utilizes free stock images and guides you through creating the effect step-by-step. Learn how to use layer masks, blending modes, and other tools to achieve a convincing cracked skin look for your projects. Watch tutorial
Cracks Photoshop Brushes
The author has created a set of Photoshop brushes that capture the intricate textures of various materials. These brushes are made up of cracks found in stone, pavement, sand, concrete, mud, and more. The author claims that these brushes can be used to recreate the appearance of cracks in almost any medium. The brushes are sizable, with most being around 1000 pixels high or wide. This ensures that the level of detail is preserved, allowing users to seamlessly integrate the cracks into their dig
Skin tearing effect in Photoshop
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a captivating skin tearing effect in Photoshop. The tutorial will guide you through the process of transforming a subject into a robot, where the person rips open their chest with their hands to reveal the mechanical body within. Not only will you master the Photoshop techniques, but you will also discover the secrets behind the lighting and photography setup. By the end of this review, you will have the skills to produce a visually striking and be
Frost Effect Photo Manipulation in Photoshop
The ability to realistically portray extreme weather effects in photo manipulation can transform an ordinary image into a captivating visual narrative. Mastering elements like frost not only enhances creative projects but also refines advanced compositing skills, allowing artists to convey chilling narratives or fantastical scenes with precision. This tutorial offers a comprehensive guide to producing a striking frost effect on a human arm within Photoshop. Viewers will learn to integrate vario

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

You might also like

Horror, Blood and Gore Photoshop Effects Tutorials

If you love horror art, you know there’s something satisfying about creating a perfectly twisted image — fake blood, torn flesh, cracked skin, and all. Photoshop makes it easy to bring your inner monster to life without needing a gallon of corn syrup. This roundup is packed with tutorials that...

How to Create Textured Portrait Collages in Photoshop

Portrait collages open up creative possibilities that go far beyond traditional photo editing. By combining artistic filters, color manipulation, and texture mapping, you can transform ordinary portraits into striking visual compositions that blend photography with graphic design elements. This technique breaks down complex imagery into simplified color zones, then maps...

Time-Blending Photography: Combine Photos from Different Times of Day

Empty streets and dark buildings can ruin an otherwise perfect sunset shot. Time-blending photography solves this problem by combining the best elements from different times of day — the vibrant sky from golden hour with the dynamic light trails from nighttime traffic. This technique transforms static daytime or sunset scenes into...

Understanding White Balance in Photoshop: Temperature vs Tint Explained

White balance confusion ends here. Temperature and tint work differently to fix color casts, and knowing when to use each tool transforms how you correct photos. Photoshop's new Color and Vibrance adjustment layer finally brings these essential controls natively into the workspace, eliminating the need to jump into...

How to Remove Reflections and Glare from Glasses in Photoshop Using AI

Eyeglass glare can ruin an otherwise perfect portrait, obscuring the subject's eyes with bright reflections. Photoshop's AI tools now offer powerful solutions for removing even the most stubborn reflections while preserving natural eye details. This tutorial demonstrates proven techniques using multiple AI models and strategic masking...

How to Use Photoshop Curves Auto Options for Color Grading

Professional color grading transforms ordinary images into visually striking compositions with rich depth and atmosphere. Hidden curves auto options in Photoshop let you assign custom colors to shadows, midtones, and highlights for dramatic enhancement. This technique goes beyond basic adjustments to create cinematic looks that bring images to life with...

You’ve successfully subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap
Welcome back! You’ve successfully signed in.
Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Success! Your email is updated.
Your link has expired
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.