How to use PhotoVim

Create a Neon Movie Poster with Portrait, Rain and Text

Level · Beginner Updated 2026-09-28

Build a neon movie poster from a transparent portrait and separate rain layers. Follow the video to refine the hair edge with a layer mask and add editable type.

Watch on YouTube

English editor and subtitles · 81 seconds

Pause at each step and follow the shortcuts on screen. The practice files contain separate source layers; the video is a recorded UI demonstration.

Watch the vertical Shorts tutorial English subtitles (SRT)

Steps

Tap a step picture to see it full size

  1. Create the document and place the background

    Press Ctrl+Alt+N (or File > New…). Type 1080 in Width and 1200 in Height, then click Create. Choose File > Place Embedded… and pick BACKGROUND_ORIGINAL.png. Drag inside the box to move it and drag a corner handle to resize it. Make it cover the whole canvas without stretching. Press Enter (or double-click the image) to finish.

    Where to click — Create the document and place the background
    Where to click — Create the document and place the background
    Create the document and place the background — Create a Neon Movie Poster with Portrait, Rain and Text

  2. Add the back rain

    Choose File > Place Embedded… and pick RAIN_BACK_EDITABLE.svg. Drag inside the box to move it and drag a corner handle to resize it. Press Enter (or double-click the image) to finish.

    Add the back rain — Create a Neon Movie Poster with Portrait, Rain and Text

  3. Place the portrait

    Choose File > Place Embedded… and pick WOMAN_ORIGINAL_ALPHA.png. Drag inside the box to move it and drag a corner handle to resize it. Press Enter (or double-click the image) to finish.

    Place the portrait — Create a Neon Movie Poster with Portrait, Rain and Text

  4. Soften the hair edge

    Click the Add mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel (a rectangle with a circle inside). Press Z and click the hair to zoom in. Press B and D for black, set Size to 110, Hardness 0% and press 2 for about 25% opacity. Brush lightly along the outer hair. Press Ctrl+0 to see the whole poster.

    Where to click — Soften the hair edge
    Where to click — Soften the hair edge
    Soften the hair edge — Create a Neon Movie Poster with Portrait, Rain and Text

  5. Add front rain and the title

    Choose File > Place Embedded… and pick RAIN_FRONT_EDITABLE.svg. Drag inside the box to move it and drag a corner handle to resize it. Press Enter (or double-click the image) to finish. Then press D, then X so white is the foreground color. Press T for the Type tool, click on the canvas and type AFTER, press Enter, and type DARK. Press Ctrl+Enter to finish.

    Add front rain and the title — Create a Neon Movie Poster with Portrait, Rain and Text

  6. Check and save

    Press Z for the Zoom tool and click on the area you want to check. Press Ctrl+0 (View > Fit on Screen) to see the whole picture again. Press Ctrl+Alt+S (File > Save a Copy…) and choose PSD to keep an editable layered copy.

    Where to click — Check and save
    Where to click — Check and save
    Check and save — Create a Neon Movie Poster with Portrait, Rain and Text
Worth knowing

If a browser shortcut takes over, use the matching editor menu command. Keep the source files and practice on a copy.

Try it in the editor

Questions

Do I need Photoshop for this tutorial?

No. Every step is done in PhotoVim in your browser, with nothing to install. Menu names and shortcuts follow Photoshop, so the steps look familiar if you already use it.

How do I soften a hard hair edge?

Add a layer mask to the portrait and brush lightly along the outer hair with a soft black brush at low opacity.