In this Photoshop tutorial I will show you how to create a simple portrait effect using adjustment layers and blend modes.This works great for portraits to add a faded effect or a more vintage yet still modern look to your photos or a hipster look.

We will use a few gradient maps and blend modes to create brown tones and an autumn look for a portrait.

Portrait effect final result

How to create a portrait effect in Photoshop using blend modes

Download portrait   Download Photoshop action

What I would recommend when making this kind of portrait effect in Photoshop is to use adjustment layers because that way you can apply the same effect to other pictures and you will be able to change the settings of the adjustment layers without affecting the original image.

Working this way also allows you to automate the process and create a Photoshop action and apply the same settings and adjustments to any photo with a simple mouse click.

Simple adjustments like Gradient Maps and Levels, combined with blend modes will give you endless combinations to create a wide range of different effects for your photos.
In this tutorial I will use the Photographic Toning gradients for the Gradient Maps and Curves to create a soft split tone effect and combine them with blend modes.