---
url: /dex/no-15/
title: "Create a Retro Style Surf Poster | Dex | The Graphic Design School"
template: dex-single
priority: 5
wordCount: 1008
lastModified: 2026-05-22T09:34:02.339Z
site: "The Graphic Design School"
tokenCount: 1429
---

# Create a Retro Style Surf Poster | Dex | The Graphic Design School

Week 15: Create a Retro Style Surf PosterCreate a retro style illustrated surf poster or postcard, with faded colour palette and texture. Beginner+Create a surf poster in Illustrator, sourcing images to trace for the background and surfer. Create custom brushes to illustrate water and sky details. Use layers for different areas of the image. Intermediate+Create a surf poster in Illustrator, sourcing images to trace for the background and surfer. Open poster in Photoshop and add grain/grunge texture. Advanced+Create a series of surf posters/postcards in Illustrator, sourcing images to trace for the backgrounds and surfers. Use layers for different areas of the images. Open posters/postcards in Photoshop and add grain/grunge texture. Time Allocated+60 Minutes for Beginner: Create a scene, trace image and illustrate with Illustrator pen tool, layers and brushes. 75 Minutes for intermediate: Create a scene, trace image and illustrate with Illustrator pen tool, layers and brushes. Use Photoshop to add texture. 90-360 Minutes for advanced: Create scene, trace images to create a series of 3 posters/postcards and illustrate with Illustrator pen tool, layers and brushes. Use Photoshop or illustrator to add texture. Design Goals+Create a retro style illustrated surf poster or postcard, with faded colour palette and texture. Constraints+Create the scene and trace images in Illustrator and then use Illustrator custom brushes to illustrate details. Use Photoshop effects to add a grain. Resources+Surf Image: Photo by Mike Morgan on InstagramColour Palette: Palette from colourlovers.comPhotoshop Brushes: Freebie by Chris SpoonerCarnivalee Freakshow Typeface: Typeface from dafont.comLeague Gothic Typeface: Typeface from dafont.comSoftware+Adobe IllustratorLayersOtherAdobe After EffectsUpload+SoftwareDifficultyShow AllWeek 45: Create 3D Designs with Illustrator Week 44: Social Media Template Design for Clients Week 43: How to Create a Brand Campaign with Assets Week 42: Create Beautiful Type Design Editorials for Print and Web Week 41: Create Beautiful Type Design Editorials for Print and Web Week 39: Create promotion and brand materials with your own optical art design piece in Adobe Illustrator Week 38: Create a beautiful image design by merging two images seamlessly together in Photoshop Week 37: Create your own kaleidoscope print in Photoshop Week 36: Create a live animation for handwritten text in Adobe After Effects Week 35: Create an animated pattern of your logo in Adobe After Effects Week 34: Textile Design - Part 2 Creating Print Textures Week 33: Get Started with a Basic Animation in After Effects Week 32: Textile Design - Part 1 Repeat Print Week 31: Use the width tool to create your Own Curvy Letter Week 30: Create a punchy typographic Xmas gif, then we show you how to embed in your email signature! Week 29: Using Adobe Dimension & Photoshop To Create Striking Packaging Week 28: Draw & Apply your Own One-Line Art to a Mockup Week 27: Social Media Series: Learn to shoot, style and edit an image for your social media channels Week 26: Social Media Series: Absolute Beginners Design & Present an Instagram Mockup Week 25: Create a World Cup animated GIF in Photoshop to promote your event Week 24: Create a Seamless Pattern in Photoshop and Apply it to Your Mockups - Part 2 Week 23: Create an Identity Using Engraved Effect on Images - Part 1 Week 22: Create a website prototype in Adobe Xd - Part 2 Week 21: Add contrasting light effects to a photographic image - Part 1 Week 20: Create Wonderful Waves with the Twirl Tool Week 19: Create a Dripping Text Effect in Illustrator Week 18: Create a live animation for handwritten text in Adobe After Effects Week 17: Create a Band Artwork using Photoshop Liquify Tool Week 16: The Best Illustrator Brushes Tutorial Ever Week 15: Create a Retro Style Surf Poster Week 14: Create a Corny Holiday Sweater Knit Animated GIF Week 13: Use Adobe Dimension to create a Perfect Packaging Showcase Week 12: Create Surreal Compositions in Photoshop Week 11: Create an Asian-inspired vintage style poster/postcard and ink-effect logo Week 10: Create Patterns with Photoshop, Pattern Bombing, Apply Patterns to Mockups Week 9: Layered Effect With Illustrator & Photoshop Week 8: Gold Typography in Illustrator Week 7: Stamp Tool & Clipping Mask in Photoshop Week 6: Envelope Distort in Illustrator Week 5: Paper 3D Collage Week 4: Create a Mosaic of Beautiful Polygons Week 3: Create Your Own Mockup Week 2: Head Icons Design Week 1: Hand Lettering in a Shape Learn More About DEXWho is this for?+Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced level designer. There is a brief to suit you. Follow the instructions in the brief to the letter.How do I submit my work?+Once you're done upload your image to share. We may upload your image to our new Instagram page, be sure to include your Insta handle (@username) so we can credit you. If you don’t have an Instagram account, you can just type in your name. Leave your details blank if you like.What is a good size for the images?+Please make sure your image is of good resolution, it shouldn’t exceed more than 5mb or thereabouts. png, jpeg, svg all acceptable formats. By uploading your image you're giving us permission to publish it.Can I subscribe to this awesome concept?+If you would like to receive an email from us each week with the brief and video, be sure to subscribe at the top right of this page. We won’t share your information or be spammy.What if I want to go further?+If you love what we do, and think you would like to try your hand at becoming a designer. Check out our courses here.Can I contribute?+If you would like to become a regular video contributor, let us know. Even though we offer them for free, we pay contributors. Or if there is a technique that you would really like to learn, email us a visual, and any ideas you may have.Can I contact The Graphic Design School+Anything else you need or want to ask contact us at: info@thegraphicdesignschool.comCan I be a voice of TGDS?+If you want to spread the good word to your design friends feel free to share this page on social media ;)