Launch your photo editing project in Photoshop. I utilized a stock image from Pixabay (refer to this example), but this technique is applicable to any image. Feel free to use one from your personal library.
Historical photographs are predominantly monochrome, so we’ll eliminate color by utilizing the Shift+Ctrl+U command (navigate to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate).
Due to the limitations of cameras in the past, which couldn’t capture sharp, high-resolution images, we need to soften the fine details in our image to give it an aged appearance. Here’s a technique to achieve this: Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the layer, then change the new layer’s blend mode to ‘Hard Light’ and reduce the layer opacity to around 70%, or until the desired effect is achieved.
Now, let’s add texture and a vignette to replicate the graininess typical of aged photographs and the fading that occurs over time.Locate a paper texture that appeals to you. Alternatively, you can use the one I’ve selected, sourced from our collection of free old paper stock photos. I utilized the first stock photo.
Open the paper texture in Photoshop and import it into your PSD file.The texture should be on its own layer. If you’re working with a horizontally-oriented image, you should also rotate the texture by accessing Edit > Transform > Rotate 90° CW.Adjust the size of the paper texture to fit the canvas. Press Ctrl+T (Edit > Free Transform) to activate the transform controls at the corners of the texture.While holding down Shift to maintain the texture’s proportions, click and drag one of the transform controls to resize the texture until its edges roughly align with the edges of the canvas.
Important Note: If your photo is larger than the texture and you need to enlarge the texture, that’s acceptable since high resolution is not necessary. However, generally, it’s advisable to avoid scaling up images as this can result in a loss of quality.Next, blend the texture layer with your photo by altering the texture layer’s blend mode to ‘Multiply’ and lowering the layer’s opacity to approximately 70% (adjust as needed). Experiment with the opacity value until you achieve a satisfactory result.
Old photographs often exhibit creases and scratches due to frequent folding and handling, so let’s replicate this with another texture. Find a texture with creases and folds. I’m using a free cardboard texture from this set.Specifically, I chose the first one because it has an appropriate amount of creasing and texture without being overpowering or distracting.Open the cardboard texture in Photoshop.
Double-click the single layer in the Layers panel (labeled ‘Background’ by default) to unlock it and automatically rename it to ‘Layer 0’ in the dialogue box that appears.
Rotate the texture by selecting Image > Image Rotation > 90° CW to orient it in portrait mode; this step is unnecessary if your photo is landscape-oriented.
Consider the creases, scratches, and stains on the cardboard texture, which we want to highlight. We want to discard the subtle texturing and color since we’ve already incorporated these from the first texture.Remove color from the cardboard texture using Shift+Ctrl+U (Image > Adjustments > Desaturate).
Open the Levels dialogue box by pressing Ctrl+L (Image > Adjustments > Levels) to adjust the tonal range of the texture to isolate the creases, scratches, and stains.To obtain the desired effect, move the midtones and highlights sliders to the left and the shadows slider to the right.
Great, we’re ready to proceed.Copy this texture to your main Photoshop document.Right-click on the canvas and select ‘Duplicate layer’ from the menu. In the ‘Duplicate Layer’ window, choose your primary PSD file from the ‘Document’ dropdown menu.Click ‘OK’.
Verify that the layer was successfully copied into your primary PSD, and then you can close the cardboard texture PSD.As before, you may need to resize the cardboard texture to fit the canvas. Use Ctrl+T (Edit > Free Transform) to adjust the size of the texture layer by clicking and dragging one of the transform controls.
Change the blend mode of the cardboard texture layer to ‘Multiply’ and lower the layer opacity to about 60%.
Old photographs tend to take on a yellowish hue due to the lignin and cellulose in the paper used, which oxidize when exposed to air and sunlight, turning the paper brownish-yellow.Let’s replicate this paper oxidation effect using a Gradient Map adjustment layer.In the Layers panel, click the ‘Create new fill or layer adjustment’ button at the bottom of the panel, then select ‘Gradient Map’ from the menu that appears.
A new gradient map adjustment layer should now be at the top of your layers stack, and the Adjustments panel should have opened automatically.In the Adjustments panel, click on the gradient preview to open the Gradient Editor window.
Select a dark chocolate color (#593010) for the left Color Stop and a light tan color (#f7dca4) for the right Color Stop.
Click ‘OK’ when you are satisfied with the gradient.And there you have it!Here’s the final result:
I hope you enjoyed following this tutorial. Feel free to share your results in the comments below!
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