Making a VHS effect in Photoshop is as easy as adding a few filters and layers. The following steps will show you how to create a simple VHS effect using two filters: the Spatial Layers Filter and the Drop Shadow Filter.
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Start by importing the images you want to use for your VHS effect.
In this example, I’m using a photo of a VHS tape and a photo of a vintage VCR. - Open the Spatial Layers Filter in Photoshop and click on the New Layer button.
- Select the VHS tape image and drag it over the top of the VCR image.
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In the Spatial Layers Filter’s Options bar, change the Layer Mask to transparent.
This will allow the VHS tape image to show through, but the VCR image will be hidden. - Click on the Drop Shadow button and select the VCR image.
- In the Drop Shadow Filter’s Options bar, change the Mode to “Soft Light”.
- Change the Opacity to 50%.
- Click on the OK button to apply the filter.
- In the Layers panel, double-click on the VHS tape layer to open the Layers palette.
- In the Layers palette, click on the Blur tool and drag it over the top of the VCR image.
- In the Blur tool’s Options bar, change the Radius to 10px.
- Click on the OK button to apply the Blur effect.
- In the Layers palette, click on the Drop Shadow button and select the VCR image.
- In the Drop Shadow Filter’s Options bar, change the Mode to “Hard Light”.
- Change the Opacity to 100%.
- In the Layers palette, double-click on the VHS tape layer to open the Layers palette.
- In the Layers palette, click on the Add Layer Mask button and select the VHS tape image.
- In the Add Layer Mask dialog box, change the Mask to RGB (R, G, B) and click on the OK button.
- In the Layers palette, double-click on the VCR layer to open the Layers palette.
- In the Layers palette, click on the Add Layer Mask button and select the VCR image.
- In the Add Layer Mask dialog box, change the Mask to Luma (L, a, b) and click on the OK button.
- In the Layers palette, double-click on the Background layer to open the Layers palette.
- Change the Blend Mode to “Lighten”.
- Click on the OK button to apply the effect.
- In the Layers palette, double-click on the Spatial Layers Filter layer to close the Layers palette.
- In the Layers panel, click on the Filter menu and select the Blur effect.
- In the Blur effect’s Options bar, change the Mode to “Gaussian Blur”.
- Change the Radius to 3px.
- In the Drop Shadow effect’s Options bar, change the Mode to “Multiply”.
- Change the Opacity to 30%.
- Click on the OK button to apply the Drop Shadow effect.
- In the Layers panel, click on the Filter menu and select the Dodge effect.
- In the Dodge effect’s Options bar, change the Mode to “Lighten”.
- Change the Amount to 40%.
- Click on the OK button to apply the Dodge effect.
- In the Layers panel, click on the OK button to close the Layers panel.
- In the Layers palette, double-click on the Background layer to close the Layers palette.
- In the Layers panel, click on the Save button to save the image.
- In the File menu, click on the Close button to close the Photoshop file.
- In the Photoshop menu, click on the File menu and select the Exit button to close Photoshop.
In the Layers panel, click on the Filter menu and select the Drop Shadow effect.
PRO TIP: This warning note is about the VHS effect in Photoshop. This effect can be created by using the ‘Add Noise’ filter and adding a noise layer to your image. The VHS effect can also be created by using the ‘Add Grain’ filter.