architecture pixel effect ~ passion of art

		Preparations: In this tutorial, we will need an image that you wish to create the stretch pixel effect with. I’m using a photo of Singapore skyscraper taken by archlover. Click here to view the original image. All rights of these resources belong to their respective owners.

		Step 1 – Setting Up Background: Create a document with size 750×550 pixels. Fill the background with #000000.

		Step 2 – Create Reference Layer: Open up the photo and drag it into the document. Name this layer as Reference. Set the opacity of this image layer to 40%. This layer is to be used as a reference when we are doing the following steps.

		Step 3a – Stretch Vertically: Select the Reference layer. Zoom in the image so it is easier to work with. Using the Rectangular Marquee tool, make selection with 1 pixel height as shown in the diagram. Select only the part where you wish to stretch the colors. Press Ctrl+C.

		Step 3b – Stretch Vertically: Hide the Reference layer by clicking on the Eye icon. Press Ctrl+V. This will create a new layer with the row of pixels you have selected in Step 3a. Go to Edit > Free Transform. Stretch the pixels downwards.

		Step 3c – Stretch Vertically: You may also select some smaller areas and stretch them further so there are more variations in the stretched items.

		Step 4a – Stretch Horizontally: Unhide the Reference layer by clicking on the Eye icon again. Similar to Step 3a, select a column with 1 pixel width using the Rectangular Marquee tool. Press Ctrl+C.

		Step 4b – Stretch Horizontally: Hide the Reference layer. Press Ctrl+V. Go to Edit > Free Transform. Stretch the pixels horizontally.

		Step 4c – Stretch Horizontally: Select part of the stretched pixels and go to Edit > Free Transform again. This time we create some perspective to it. Go to Edit > Transform > Skew. Move your cursor over the border of the Transform grid till you see a double-sided arrow. Left-click and drag your cursor downwards.

		Step 5a – Create Architecture: Zoom out to have an overview of the buildings you created so far.

		Step 5b – Create Architecture: With the same methods stated in Step 3 and 4, create the rest of the buildings as shown in the diagram.

		Step 5c – Create Architecture: You may adjust the opacity (around 30-60%) and overlap some of the buildings to create a better effect.

		Step 6 – Cropping Objects: Let us mix some cropped objects to the foreground. Duplicate the original photo. Select the duplicated layer and create a Layer Mask on it. Using Soft Brush tool with color #000000, paint the areas that you wish to hide on the Layer Mask. You may touch up on the mask by painting with white and black colors.

		Step 7 – Adding Halftone Effects: Download halftone graphics at Vecteezy here. Open up the file in Illustrator. Select one of the halftone effects and press Ctrl+C. Back to Photoshop and press Ctrl+V. Select Paste as Smart Object. Resize the graphic to your desired size. Right-click on the layer and choose Blending Options. Activate Color Overlay and choose the color you wish to replace with.

		Optional: I added texts and some more halftone effects to the background. This is a very simple tutorial that I hope will be useful to everyone reading it. Click here to view the final image.