Deke’s Techniques

Your weekly quick-fix of Deke, with ideas you may inspire or inform your own projects.

Creating a Full-Color Hedcut Effect

Deke adds some customized (Lab produced) color to his hedcut technique.

Creating a Faux Hedcut in Photoshop

Deke attempts to recreate the signature WSJ hedcut-style portrait from inside Photoshop.

Drawing a Stylish Computer Key in Adobe Illustrator

Deke creates a type effect in Adobe Illustrator that makes the letters look like keyboard keys.

Simulating an Adjustment Layer in Adobe Illustrator

Deke uses layers of black or white set to the Soft Light blend mode in Illustrator in order to simulate a Photoshop Levels adjustment layer.

Contour Mapping for Cash in Photoshop

Deke uses his contour map skills to make a portrait effect suitable for use on American currency

Riffing on Your Contour Map in Photoshop

Deke riffs on last week's project with an extra displacement map.

Contour Mapping with Distort > Displace

Deke uses a displacement map to contour a stripe pattern to his model's face.

Jogging Your Creative Memory with the Note tool

Deke reveals his secret for remembering how he arrived at creative brilliance: the Note tool in Photoshop

Enhancing and Masking Your Marvel Disintegration Effect

Deke puts the final demolition touches on his Marvel-esque superhero disintegration effect

The Marvel Disintegration Effect in Photoshop

Deke attempts to recreate the Marvel disintegration effect using displacement maps in Photoshop.

“Quieting Down” an Overly Elaborate Design

Deke uses the easily changeable nature of Illustrator's dynamic effects and tones down the out-of-control puzzle piece he's been working on.

Dynamic Warp Distortions in Adobe Illustrator: Fish and Twist

Deke wraps up his warped, extruded, blended letter puzzle with a fishy twist.