How to Create a Photo Realistic Camera

Photoshop is a great tool to work with both vector and pixel shapes. In this tutorial we will demonstrate a powerful combination of vector shapes, layer styles, and manual drawing to create a photorealistic camera. So realistic you'll think it's just an ordinary photo.

Final Image Preview

Let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. Click here to see it in full size.

Step 1

Our first step is do some research. This camera is based on a Nikon D-60 so go ahead try to search for any reference material you can find. If you have this camera, put it beside you. If you don't, try Google image, eBay, or Nikon's official page to search for an image.

In Photoshop, we'll start by creating the camera's main body. Usually, it’s easier to start by creating a basic shape and then edit it from there. Use the rounded rectangle tool with a radius of 20 px, select the shape in the option bar. Create a rectangle with color #353a3d.

Step 2

Choose the Pen Tool and click on the path to add more points. Move each point individually using the Direct Selection tool until you have the basic camera shape.

Step 3

Double click the shape layer and add this layer style.

Step 4

Sometimes layer styles are just not enough to create the effect. To fix it, we need to manually draw with brush tool. Create new layer, Cmd-click camera shape and click Add Layer Mask icon. Use a soft brush and paint black in the indicated areas.

Step 5

Now let’s create the lens. Open your Ruler by pressing Cmd + R. Click and drag to create center of the lens.

Step 6

Activate the ellipse tool. While holding Shift and Alt drag from guide's intersection to create a perfect circle shape. Add these layer styles.

Step 7

Duplicate the circle shape by pressing Cmd + J. Draw a rectangle path touching the top edge of circle and select subtract.

Step 10

Press Cmd + Alt + T to duplicate and transform the selected rectangle path. Hold Alt and move pivot point (small dot in the center of the transformation box) to the guide center. Set rotation to 5 degree. Press Enter to start the transformation. Press Cmd + Alt + T few times until to repeat this transformation. Do this until the rectangles create a full circle.

Step 11

Draw a smaller circle shape with the color #a2a2a1 and add these layer styles.

Step 12

Create a new layer. Press Cmd + Alt + G to convert it to a clipping mask. Paint black and white for shadow and highlight using a soft brush. Note: I hid the guide in my example to help you see better.

Step 13

Draw smaller circle shape and add these layer styles.

Step 14

Now, we'll add subtle highlights. Create a new layer and create a circle selection then fill it with white. Press Up and Left Arrow keys to move the selection a few pixels. Hit Delete. Click Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Change layer opacity to 16%.

Step 15

Create a smaller black circle shape.

Step 16

Again, create a smaller circle shape. Add these layer styles.

Step 17

Create a rounded rectangle, place it in the middle of the vertical guide. Select path with path selection tool and choose Add to Path in option bar. Press Cmd + Alt + T, hold Alt and move pivot point to the lens center. In option bar, use rotate size 3 degree.

Step 18

Step 19

Create a circle covering the inner part of previous rectangle. Use #2b3033 for its color. Add these layer styles.

Step 20

Create a black circle covering the inner part of previous circle. Add these layer styles.

Step 21

Inside the black circle create a ring shape. To do this, start by creating a circle shape then add another circle inside it. From the option bar select subtract. For its color use #3b3d3e. Add layer styles shown below.

Step 22

Create a smaller ring shape and add the same layer style.

Step 23

Add another ring shape, this time wider and add this layer style.

Step 24

Again, create ring shape, bigger than our last ring shape. Make sure you can see a small part of the previous ring shape. Add this layer style.

Create circular selection and click the Add Layer Mask icon. Lower the layer's opacity to 90%. As you can see, this becomes a glass lens.

Step 26

Create a small black circle shape in the middle of the glass lens.

Step 27

Paint white on the lens center. Use a soft brush with low opacity.

Step 28

Create a small ring shape. Add these layer styles.

Step 27

Create a new layer and manually paint highlights on the ring. First, paint with a big soft brush and then paint it again with a smaller hard brush.

Step 28

Let's add the camera's brand to the lens. Create a circle path. Activate the type tool and click on the path. Remember, you must click on the path not inside the path, otherwise you'll end up with text inside the path.

Step 57

Step 58

Now let’s work on the AF Assist lamp. Create a circle shape. Double click layer shape to open layer style dialog and make sure you select Layer Mask Hides Effects. For other layer styles use setting below.

Step 65

Step 66

Duplicate the shape we have created, remove its layer style. Create a triangle on top and choose intersect in the option bar.

Step 67

Select the triangle’s path. Press Cmd + Alt + T and move it by pressing Right Arrow a few times. Repeat transformation and duplication by pressing Cmd + Shift + Alt + T repeatedly. Use path selection tool and move each path individually. Arrange the distance of each path to give it a nice perspective.

Add layer styles as shown below.

Step 68

Create a shape as shown below. Place it above the camera. Add these layer styles.

Step 69

Above the shape create a white ellipse shape. Add these layer styles.

Step 70

Create half ellipse under previous ellipse. For its color use white. Add these layer styles.

Step 71

Create a new layer under the shape and paint more shadow.

Step 72

Above the big ellipse, create a smaller ellipse. Use white for its color and add these layer styles.

Step 85

Step 86

Cmd-click channel to load it as a selection. Create a new layer for our texture. Make sure it is placed above all other layers. Fill selection with white. Add this Bevel and Emboss layer style.

Step 87

Set fill layer: 0%, opacity: 20%. Transform (Cmd + T) and change its size until you have suitable texture size.

Step 88

Cmd-click the camera shape and click Add Layer Mask icon. Paint black to remove texture from unneeded areas such as lens and shutter button. You can see layer mask used in this image below.

Step 89

This camera still need more highlights to give it realistic 3D look. So, create new layer and paint some highlights. Lower the layer’s opacity to keep the highlights subtle. Do this for both sides.

Step 90

Almost done! Create a new layer and put it deep down under all layers. Create an elliptical selection under the camera and fill it with black. Deselect (Cmd + D) then make it softer with Gaussian Blur filter.

Step 91

Create a new layer and paint black on the rest point, which is the place where the camera touches the floor. This shadow has to be much darker than the previous shadow.

Step 92

Do the same for the lens shadow. Create a new layer and add an elliptical selection. Fill the selection with black, deselect, and add Gaussian Blur.

Final Image

That's it! We're done. What do you think? Is it real enough? I hope you enjoyed this long tutorial and have learned something new. If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments below.