In this tutorial I will show you how to create a stylish retro poster using Pixelamator. We wil play with basic tools and primary colors to do that. The inspiration is from old posters and of course, the master of the De Stijl Piet Mondrian.

This tutorial was originally written for the Pixelmator Learn site, you can see more tutorials I wrote for Pixelmator at http://www.pixelmator.com/learn/

Step 1

Open Pixelmator and create a new document, I'm using 500x2122 pixels for the size. Then fill the background with blue (#0963DB)

Step 2

With the Type Tool (T) add the word Pixelmator. I used Avant Garde for the font. After that go to Layer>Rasterize Type Layer.

Step 3

Add a new layer and then with the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) create a marquee extending the T like the image below.

Step 4

With the Paint Bucket Tool (N) and black for the color, fill the selection with black.

Step 5

Now with Erase the top left part of the letter "T".

Step 6

Nudge the new "T" to the left, then duplicate the layer with the black rectangle we created in the step 3 and 4. Then go to Edit>Free Transform, or simply Command + F. Rotate the rectangle like the image below. We will create the "A".

Step 7

Duplicate the black rectangle again and nudge it to the left, the A is almost done.

Step 8

Now just finish the top of the A and the middle part, you can copy and paste part of the other letters to keep the same thickness.

Step 9

Now, lets extend the "I", you can use the same process using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (N) or simply by duplicating the black rectangle.

Step 10

Now let's play with the X, again the same thing, just duplicate and with the free transform command rotate the rectangle to match the X style.

Step 11

The last thing with the text will be the R, just extend the bottom right part of it like the image below.

Step 12

Create a new layer on top of the Background layer only and beneath the other layers. Then with the Lasso Tool (L) create a selection of the area created with the letter A, like the image below.

Step 13

Fill the selection with white.

Step 14

Add a new layer on top of the white layer and change the Blending to Multiply then go to Filter>Generator>Checkboard. Use 15 for the Width and 100 for the Sharpness. After that select the white area again with the Lasso Tool (L) or the Magic Wand Tool (W). Then select the checkboard layer again and go to Layer>Add Layer Mask.

Step 15

Select the ther closed area created with the extension of I, X and A. Then fill it with a dark red.

Step 16

Now just play with some letters like the P, fill the open area of the P with blue. With the A and O fill them with yellow. The inspiration is clearly from Mondrian in the color choice.

Step 17

With the Brush Tool (B) and some grunge and dirty brushes from Misprintedtype created by Eduardo Recife, paint some areas using black, white and red for the colors. The idea is make the elements less uniform, as the poster was created via silk scren.

Step 18

Now using an old paper texture, in my case I used one that is courtesy by Shutterstock (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-35221027/stock-photo-old-paper.html). But you can use another image, the idea is just place a nice old texture in the design. Then change the Blending to Multiply. If it's too yellowish, go to Image>Hue and Saturation, then reduce the saturation.

Conclusion

Now just add some text and the retro poster is pretty much done. The whole process was very easy we used only basic tools to create a very stylish poster, once again I wanted to show that what is really important is the idea, the tool is just a way to make it come true.

Download the Pixelmator File

About the author

My name is Fabio Sasso, I'm a graphic/web designer from Porto Alegre, Brazil and I'm the founder of Abduzeedo. I hope we can share lots of information, tips, and ideas through Abduzeedo. Also you can follow me on Twitter or my personal site at http://fabiosasso.com.

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