How to make a text poster of a portrait in Photoshop

One surprising technique in creating a text portrait poster involves generating a specific displacement map. The process requires saving a composite snapshot of the subject's head and shoulders as a separate file, then intentionally darkening its levels between 110 and 120.

This seemingly counter-intuitive step is crucial for ensuring the text wraps organically around the contours of the face, rather than simply overlaying it flatly. This approach allows for the dynamic integration of lyrics, prose, or poetry, transforming a simple portrait into a visually rich and thematic artwork.

Watch the Full Tutorial

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

The Art of Text Portraiture and Displacement

Text portraiture in digital art offers a compelling way to combine visual imagery with narrative or thematic content. By having text conform to the curves and shadows of a face, artists can create a deeper connection between the subject and the words chosen. This technique is particularly effective for portraying figures associated with written works, such as authors, poets, or musicians, allowing their own words to literally shape their image.

The core of achieving this effect in Photoshop lies in the use of a displacement map. A displacement map is a grayscale image where different shades of gray instruct Photoshop to shift pixels in the main image. Lighter areas cause pixels to shift in one direction, while darker areas cause them to shift in another, creating the illusion of depth and texture. For text portraits, the grayscale values derived from the subject's face guide the text to wrap around its features.

This method transcends simple text overlays, providing a sophisticated visual effect that draws the viewer's eye into the details of both the portrait and the accompanying text. The careful preparation of the displacement map, including its specific level adjustments, ensures that the text interacts realistically with the underlying image, making the final poster both artistic and impactful.

Practical Tips for Text Portrait Design

Desaturate the original photo by pressing Control + Shift + U (PC) or Command + Shift + U (Mac) to ensure a proper grayscale image for the displacement map.
Create a composite snapshot for the displacement map by activating the head layer and pressing Control + Shift + Alt + E (PC) or Command + Shift + Option + E (Mac).
Adjust the levels of your saved displacement map file by pressing Control + L (PC) or Command + L (Mac), setting the output levels between 110 and 120 for optimal text wrapping.
Ensure your text block is completely filled and free of empty spaces by using the backspace key to consolidate text, which prevents gaps after displacement.
Change the text layer's blend mode to Overlay and duplicate the layer (Control + J or Command + J) to enhance brightness and visual impact.

Explore more resources to deepen your understanding of integrating typography and imagery in poster design.

Thanks for Reading — Want More Like This?

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter for more expert tutorials and insights delivered directly to your inbox.

How to Remove White or Black Backgrounds Using Blend If in Photoshop

When standard selection tools fail to cleanly remove backgrounds from logos, icons, or graphics, you need a different approach. White edges, missed details, and poor selections can ruin what should be a simple task. The Blend If feature offers a direct solution for images with solid white or black backgrounds....

Distressed Ink Bleed Text Effect in Photoshop

Street art and underground design aesthetics have a raw, rebellious quality that draws the eye and commands attention. The distressed ink bleed effect captures this energy by transforming clean typography into something that looks weathered, organic, and authentically gritty. This technique combines blur effects with threshold adjustments to create text...

How to Create Chromatic Aberration Text Effect in Photoshop

Chromatic aberration brings that dreamy, vintage camera lens distortion that makes text pop with separated color channels. This optical effect mimics how cheaper lenses struggle to focus all colors at the same point, creating those signature red, green, and blue edges that drift apart. This technique transforms ordinary text into...

Create a Retro Pop Art Effect with Color Halftone in Photoshop

Pop art transformed ordinary subjects into bold, graphic statements through vibrant colors and distinctive printing techniques. The movement's signature look came from commercial printing methods, especially the visible halftone dots that created depth and texture in mass-produced images. This video demonstrates how to recreate that iconic aesthetic digitally,...

10 Essential Photoshop Rules Every Beginner Should Know

Photoshop's vast toolkit can overwhelm newcomers, leading to common pitfalls that affect image quality and workflow efficiency. Understanding the fundamental rules of professional editing prevents costly mistakes and builds a foundation for advanced techniques. These ten essential practices cover everything from color management and file formats to smart...

Create an Analog Retro-Futuristic Monitor Effect in Photoshop

The distinctive glow of vintage computer monitors carries a powerful nostalgic appeal that transcends generations. Those chunky green pixels, flickering displays, and analog imperfections define an entire era of sci-fi aesthetics. From classic arcade games to retro-futuristic films, this visual language continues to captivate designers and artists. This tutorial demonstrates...