Close Menu
PSD VaultPSD Vault
  • VIP Area
  • Photoshop Basics
  • Photo Effect
  • Text Effect
  • Premium Tuts
  • Resources
  • Drawing
  • Inspiration
  • Web Graphics
  • Abstract
  • Freebies
  • Advertise
  • Get in Touch
  • About PSD Vault
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube TikTok
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube TikTok RSS
PSD VaultPSD Vault
  • VIP Area
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
  • Photoshop Basics
  • AI
  • Photoshop Error Fixes
  • Video Tutorial
  • Photo Effect
  • Text Effect
  • Premium Tuts
  • Drawing
  • Opinion
PSD VaultPSD Vault
Home»Photo Effect»How to Create a Stunning Metal Face Effect in Photoshop
Photo Effect

How to Create a Stunning Metal Face Effect in Photoshop

By Mario TeodosioJanuary 30, 20254 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Transform your portraits into futuristic masterpieces with this step-by-step guide to creating a metal face effect in Photoshop. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer, this tutorial will walk you through the process of turning a human face into a metallic work of art. Perfect for sci-fi designs, album covers, or just experimenting with photo effects!

The PSD file of this tutorial is available via the PSD Vault VIP members area.

Here is a preview of the final effect I have for this tutorial: (click to enlarge)

Alternative version:

PSD Vault VIP Membership

You can download the PSD File for this tutorial via the VIP Members Area for only $6.95/Month (or less)! You will not only get this PSD File, but also 250+ other PSD Files + Extra Goodies + Exclusive Photoshop tutorials there. Signup now and get exclusive!

To complete this tutorial, you will need the following stocks:

  • Model by MariaAmanda
  • Metal Background
  • Metal Scraps 1
  • Metal Scraps 2

Step 1

Create a new document sized 800px (width) * 1060px (height) with black background in Photoshop. Load the metal background texture into Photoshop, copy & paste the entire stock onto our newly-created document:

Fade the following spots of the metal texture with a big soft eraser – this create some depth for our background:

Apply the following adjustment layers on top of the metal texture layer:

Black & White

Levels

Curves

And this is the effect so far:

Step 2

Load the model stock into Photoshop, select the head & shoulder portion as shown below:

Remove the following parts off the model after you paste it to our document:

We will want to darken the skin of the model so it’s easier to apply texture later on, so let’s add the following adjustment layers as clipping masks to this model layer:

Black and White

Levels

Curves

and this is the effect so far:

Step 3

Let’s work on adding metal texture onto the facial area. Load the “metal scraps 1” texture into Photoshop, use the Lasso Tool (with 30px feather setting) to select the following portion:

Hint: when you select the metal textures, pick the ones with a good mix of every shape/size metal in it.

Copy and paste the selection to cover the face as shown below:

Use a soft eraser, remove parts of the texture from the image as shown below:

Repeat the above process, add a few more texture around the body area:

Make sure you tidy up the metal texture’s edge so it fits right into the facial area:

And this is the effect I have so far:

Add a couple more metal texture into the background, lower their layer opacity to around 50%:

Step 4

This step is optional. I decided to add some varieties into the effect. So I found some metal cables in the “metal scrap 2” image and select a portion from it:

Copy and paste the selection to the following area:

Step 5

We’re almost done! For final touches, I painted some particle effect around the image:

Also added some highlights in these area:

and here is my effect so far:

I further added a blue colour overlay to the stock image, and this is my final result: (click to enlarge)

Alternative version:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use this effect on other objects besides faces?

Absolutely! This technique works on any object, such as hands, animals, or even text.

2. What if my selection isn’t perfect?

Use the Refine Edge Tool to smooth and feather the selection for a seamless blend.

3. How can I make the effect more dramatic?

Increase the contrast and saturation, or add more textures for a layered look.

Conclusion

Creating a metal face effect in Photoshop is a fun and creative way to elevate your photo editing skills. With this tutorial, you’ll be able to turn any portrait into a futuristic masterpiece. Don’t forget to experiment with different textures and adjustments to make the effect your own!

That’s it for this tutorial! Hope you enjoy it and find it useful. If you have any questions for this tutorial, please let me a comment below and I will try my best to answer it.

Till next time, have a great day!

Show Off Your Work!

We’d love to see your creations! Share your metal face effect designs in the comments below or tag us on social media with #PSDVault.

face human manipluation metal photo surreal
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Mario Teodosio
  • Website

Mario is a Freelance Illustrator & Concept Artist from Italy.

Related Posts

How to Create Stunning Cityscape Portraits in Photoshop

July 1, 2025

How to Create Epic War Scene in Photoshop

June 30, 2025

Create Fiery Dragon Ravaging Mountain Village Scene in Photoshop

June 27, 2025

Comments are closed.

Don't Miss

Why Learning Non-Destructive Editing is a Must for Every Photoshop Beginner

July 5, 2025

Mastering Sky Replacement in Photoshop: A Comprehensive Guide

July 4, 2025

How to Effectively Change Hair Colour in Photoshop

July 2, 2025

For Beginners

Basics

Mastering Sky Replacement in Photoshop: A Comprehensive Guide

By Lana WilsonJuly 4, 20256 Mins Read

How to Effectively Change Hair Colour in Photoshop

July 2, 2025

How to Use “Find Distractions” Feature in Photoshop for Easy Photo Clean-up

June 28, 2025

Photoshop June 2025 Update: Master New Features in Version 26.8

June 21, 2025

You May Also Like

Photo Effect

How to Create Stunning Cityscape Portraits in Photoshop

By James QuJuly 1, 20255 Mins Read
Photo Effect

How to Create Epic War Scene in Photoshop

By James QuJune 30, 20255 Mins Read
Photo Effect

Create Fiery Dragon Ravaging Mountain Village Scene in Photoshop

By James QuJune 27, 20254 Mins Read
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • About Us
  • Get in Touch
  • Advertise
  • VIP Area
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
© 2025 PSD Vault. All Right Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}