Watercolor Effect

Watercolor Effect

June 28th, 2007 in Photo Edit, Tutorials by kailoon

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As my tutorial had been choose for the Top Ten in June by NI-LIMITS BLOG. Now I continue my job and share my photo edit tricks with all my fellow readers.

Step 1

Open an image, I will use this image because it suit to my tricks.

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Step 2

CTRL + J, duplicate the image. Now you will have a layer which labeled as “layer 1”. SHIFT + CTRL + U, desaturate the image and you will get something like this:

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Step 3

CTRL + J again to duplicate layer 1 and you will get a new layer which labeled as “layer 1 copy”.CTRL + I to invert the layer and set the layer blend mode to Color Dodge. Go to filter > other > minimum > 1. Double click on layer 1 copy to bring out the blending option. ALT + left click on the triangle and set the underlying layer as below:

Step 4

CTRL + E to merge up both layers. CTRL + J, duplicate layer 1. Select layer 1 copy and go to filter > blur > Gaussian Blur > radius 6. Set the layer blend mode to linear burn. CTRL + J on layer background and put the layer background copy at the top of all layer and set the layer blend mode to color.

Step 5

Hope you are still with me. Select layer background copy and add a layer mask, fill it with black color.

Step 6

Still with the layer background copy, go to image > adjustment > curve and set as below.

Step 7

Create a new layer and put it top of all layer. Fill it with #ffecd1. Set layer blend option to linear burn.

Step 8

We are nearly there, now select layer 1 and set the opacity to 60% or whatever you think suitable. Select the background copy layer’s mask, with a 45px soft brush, opacity 65%, brush the face area. Here is it!

The difference:

Examples:

Hope you guys enjoy this! Thanks!

Open the image you want to edit in photoshop. You can size it to whatever you’d like, even if it gets a little pixely, or has artifacts.

Next, apply the filter at Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic. The cell size is your choice. Experiment with different sizes if you’d like. Since I like all the different color detail in my picture, I made it relatively small. Important Note: Remember what size you make it!

Now create a new document, with the height and width of your mosiac cells. (Mine is 9 pixels) Make a circle selection like the one below:

Press Control-Shift-I to inverse your selection. Fill this with white (or black, white works better though) Now it will look like this. My background layer is lime to show the shape. Hide the background layer and any other layer except the white corners. Select only the layer with the white corners and transparent(not lime, because thats hidden) circle, and go to Edit > Define Pattern. Name it Dots.

Go back to your other image. Make a new layer on top, fill it with any color and apply these blending options:

In the general blending options:

In the Pattern Section:

Now your mosaic is done.

Here is the same one with a bigger pixel size, and black pattern, using all the same steps.

Some Pattern Examples:

These are all PNGs so you can save them and use them. The first two are 20×20 and the last two are 30×30.
   

Keywords: Adobe photoshop tutorial, circles, patterns, orbs, halftone, photo manipulation, cool photo shop tutorial, lips, illusion.

Creating a Rocking Silhouette in Photoshop

Ben Merckx on Feb 2nd 2008 with 97 comments

Adobe Design Premium CS5 software offers you complete creative freedom without sacrificing precision or quality, whether working in print, web, interactive, or mobile media.

If you’ve ever wanted to shine in the spotlight, try this tutorial. It shows you how to create a silhouette of a person taken from a normal photo, adding colorful light to it as if the light source is located behind this object.

Step 1

Start out by importing the image you want to cut the silhouette from into Photoshop. I used an image with a white background, which makes cutting very easy. Everyone has their own way of cutting something out, so I will not include that part in this tutorial. If you are unsure how to cut something out, look for a tutorial on that subject first.

When you are ready and feel like you have a clean cut, go into the layer’s blending options, choose Color Overlay, and set the color to black. This should give you the silhouette of what you cut out. In my example, I did the hair separately and used a lower opacity on the Color Overlay so you can still see some gray tones.

Step 2

We can add a background by creating a radial gradient (Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient). In the gradient options, change the style to Radial and choose dark colors on the outside and light colors for the inside.

Step 3

To get some light shining, we add a Layer Mask (Layer > Add Layer Mask > Reveal All, do this while having the silhouettes layer selected). Select a large, soft brush and set the foreground color to black. While having the layer mask selected (click on it in the layers pallet), brush at the sides of the silhouette so it becomes transparent. With a hard brush I got rid of the cable that runs to the guitar.

Step 4

At this point we can add a bit more color to the light. I made a Levels adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels). When I hit the Auto button it came up with some colors I liked. If you dislike the automatic settings, you can try hitting the Options button and changing the shadows and highlights there, or try out other types of adjustment layers.

Step 5

Cut a little piece of the original guitar and put it over the silhouette to give it some depth. For a smooth transition, use a the eraser or a mask to soften the edges. Desaturate the layer (Image > Adjustments > Desaturate) and set the blending mode to Multiply with an opacity of 60-70%.

Step 6

Copy the silhouette layer and change the Color Overlay in the Blendings Options to white. Give this layer a Gaussian Blur (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) of 3-4px. Update the layers mask if needed (at some places too much white may shine through).

Step 7

If we want to insinuate some movement, we can make a few paths on a new layer. Before stroking, select a small hard brush and a darker color. Right-click the path and choose Stroke Path (while having the Pen Tool or Path Selection Tool active), in the options choose Brush and check Simulate Pressure.

Step 8

Create two more paths on a new layer, but stroke these with a large white soft brush. Add a Motion Blur (Filter > Blur > Motion Blur) to this layer.

Step 9

When adding text, we can use a piece of the background as on overlay so it fits in perfectly. Create a new layer above your text layer and use apply image (<em>Image > Apply Image) on it. Make this layer a Clipping Mask (Layer > Create Clipping Mask) and move it around to find a good part of the background. If you don’t find a good position, try Apply Image again but this time with only the background layers shown. I also added two black boxes (with a low opacity) to create a subtle letterbox effect.

Conclusion

As a finishing touch, we need some more light and color. Add a new layer and use apply image (Image > Apply Image). In the lighting effects (Filter > Render > Lighting Effects) options, add more lights to the scene (drag the light bulb icon onto the small preview). Set this layer to Soft Light with an opacity of 80-90%.

Part of what makes Photoshop such an incredibly powerful and pleasurable program to use is its well-thought out implementation: the interface is polished and uncluttered and easily customizable (despite its vast arsenal of tools and commands). In fact, there is a surprising amount of "hidden" functionality within Photoshop; so much so, that despite the number of years you work with the program, you will undoubtedly keep discovering more and more about it. I doubt anyone could claim that they know "everything" about Photoshop (except maybe Adobe's software engineers ;-).

The 120 tips below should help you (whether you are a beginner or a seasoned expert) to harness some of Photoshop's "hidden" functionality to streamline your work, perform complex tasks more quickly or efficiently, or teach yourself something you had no idea Photoshop was capable of!

For your convenience, the tips have been organized into the following ten categories:

Interface Tips [ 18 Tips ]

Tool Tips [ 11 Tips ]

Command Tips [ 21 Tips ]

Selection Tips [ 8 Tips ]

Layer Tips [ 14 Tips ]

Tips for Guides & Rulers [ 7 Tips ]

Navigation & HotKey Tips [ 7 Tips ]

Tips for Duplicating [ 10 Tips ]

Type Tips [ 10 Tips ]

ImageReady Tips [ 14 Tips ]

Here are a couple of notes before you begin:

• I tend to prefer hotkeys (e.g. [Ctrl+D] ), but I have provided equivalent alternatives (e.g. Select » Deselect - which denotes a menu command) wherever possible

• Mac Users: Ctrl = Apple, Alt = Option (e.g. Ctrl+Alt+D = Apple·Option·D); right-click = Option·click

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Getting Started with Digital Imaging, 2 Edition: Tips, tools and techniques for photographers Summary:

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Amateur and student photographers learn how to use digital imaging tools to create great images for print and online! Whether you are using a digital compact or dSLR camera to shoot, or a Mac or PC to manipulate your images, Joe Farace explains what products are out thereand how to use them to get the best shots. While most books offer photographers tips and tricks for working with the latest software package, this book offers a new approach to working with digital images: Learn how to use digital imaging tools not just a particular softwarepackage to produce professional prints or digital images for the web. Getting Started with Digital Imaging offers a new approach for amateur photographers working with digital images. It takes you behind the screens, showing you how to use the tools - not the software itself - to produce professional prints or digital images for the Web. Joe Farace guides you through the entire digital workflow, from choosing the right digital camera, setting up your digital darkroom, learning the key imaging tools and shortcuts, understanding file formats, printing and preparing images for the web. Packed with step-by-step tutorials, case studies and invaluable tips from the pros, this guide will help you get to grips with digital imaging and produce fantastic results in no time at all. * Guides you through digitalworkflow from capture to output
* Relevant for ALL digital imaging software
* Real world examples and invaluable tips are clearly explained with high quality full color images and screengrabs * Get the most out of the digital imaging tools you have without the need to upgrade
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User Guide

use Adobe applications together.
PHOTOSHOP CS3
User Guide
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When you start the Adobe Video Workshop, you choose the products you want to learn and the subjects you want to view. You can see details about each video to focus and direct your learning.
Community of presenters
With this release, Adobe Systems invited the community of its users to share their expertise and insights. Adobe and lynda.com present tutorials, tips, and tricks from leading designers and developers such as Joseph Lowery, Katrin Eismann, and Chris Georgenes. You can see and hear Adobe experts such as Lynn Grillo, Greg Rewis, and Russell Brown. In all, over 30 product experts share their knowledge.
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The Adobe Video Workshop includes training for novices and experienced users. You’ll also find videos on new features and key techniques. Each video covers a single subject and typically runs about 3-5 minutes. Most videos come with an illustrated tutorial and source files, so you can print detailed steps and try the tutorial on your own.
Using Adobe Video Workshop
You can access Adobe Video Workshop using the DVD included with your Creative Suite 3 product. It’s also available online at www.adobe.com/go/learn_videotutorials. Adobe will regularly add new videos to the online Video Workshop, so check in to see what’s new.
Photoshop CS3 videos
Adobe Video Workshop covers a wide range of subjects for Adobe Photoshop® CS3 and Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended, including these:
• Using and aligning layers
• Making selections
• Applying Smart Filters
• Using Vanishing Point
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• Printing photos
Videos also show you how to use Photoshop CS3 with other Adobe products:
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• Using Smart Objects and Live Color
• Using Bridge in a photography workflow
To access Adobe Creative Suite 3 video tutorials, visit Adobe Video Workshop at www.adobe.com/go/learn_videotutorials.
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You have access to a wide variety of resources that will help you make the most of your Adobe software. Some of these resources are installed on your computer during the setup process; additional helpful samples and documents are included on the installation or content DVD. Unique extras are also offered online by the Adobe Exchange community, at www.adobe.com/go/exchange.
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During software installation, a number of resources are placed in your application folder. To view those files, navigate to the application folder on your computer.
• Windows®: [startup drive]\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe [application]
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The application folder may contain the following resources:
Plug- ins Plug-in modules are small software programs that extend or add features to your software. Once installed,
plug-in modules appear as options in the Import or Export menu; as file formats in the Open, Save As, and Export
Original dialog boxes; or as filters in the Filter submenus. For example, a number of special effects plug-ins are
automatically installed in the Plug-ins folder inside the Photoshop CS3 folder.
Pre sets Presets include a wide variety of useful tools, preferences, effects, and images. Product presets include
brushes, swatches, color groups, symbols, custom shapes, graphic and layer styles, patterns, textures, actions,
workspaces, and more. Preset content can be found throughout the user interface. Some presets (for example,
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an effect or image from scratch, go to the preset libraries for inspiration.
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and websites to DVD menus and video buttons. Each template file is professionally constructed and represents a
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DVD content
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Adobe Exchange
For more free content, visit www.adobe.com/go/exchange, an online community where users download and share thousands of free actions, extensions, plug-ins, and other content for use with Adobe products.
Bridge Home
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