I've ban given an assignment to add a layer of ice to a face (which is a photo). This is one of those things which could so easily looks obviously retouched. Anyone tried anything like this before? Any tips to share?

foto-z, welcome to RetouchPRO :) hope you enjoy your visits here.

A while back we had a contest (here) (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/contests/18669-sep-07-contest.html) to make an "Ice Princess" with quite a few entries but as I recall only one would partially meet the criteria that you have outlined... you could probably modify the texture by using a displacement map to form the ice to the face. (Post 21) (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/contests/18669-sep-07-contest-2.html#post166088)

At any rate the use of a displacement map with whatever ice images you come up with will probably work pretty good..

Good Luck!!

Thanks for your reply. The submission you showed me seemed to depict a flat layer of ice in front of the subject, rather than a 3D layer of ice encasing the face and following the form, more like this effect (but on a face):

http://noise.typepad.com/photoblog/images/icestorm3.jpg

Well what the heck... I tried... not very good but I tried.

I found a picture of freezer frost...overlaid and masked... then added shading... or tried anyway.

Butch

The submission you showed me seemed to depict a flat layer of ice in front of the subject, rather than a 3D layer of ice encasing the face and following the form, more like this effect (but on a face):
http://noise.typepad.com/photoblog/images/icestorm3.jpg

Which is why I mentioned Displacement see:
http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/displace2/index.html

I found a picture of freezer frost...overlaid and masked... then added shading... or tried anyway.
Butch

Chilled Child!! COOL!!

You are right, a displacement map could be useful.

Thanks for the 'frosty boy' :D However, this is frost, not a coating of clear ice like the sample I posted :)

Filter>Artistic>Plastic Wrap

_Before_ Plastic Wrap

Here's a quick test run I tried with a few images I had lying around. I just used a displaced ice layer, curves, and a desaturated overlay of the original image to bring back some shadows. It's not a perfect method, but it's easy, and with some tweaking you can probably get it up to your standards.

Maroon, that is quite a nice effect but again it's nothing like the sample I posted on the tree branch in which the layer of ice is totally transparent and reflective with no frosting, i.e. no white crystals.

You could check out the Alien Skin plug-in 'Eye Candy' there is and effect there very like what you want.

Peter

Thanks for the Eye Candy suggestion. I had a look but it is really amateurish, I'm afraid.

I don't think this will be solved by any simple plugin.

not sure if this is what you are looking for but it might help you out some
http://www.oman3d.com/tutorials/photoshop/video/ice_flakes.php

not sure if this is what you are looking for but it might help you out some
http://www.oman3d.com/tutorials/photoshop/video/ice_flakes.php

I didn't know you could texture the emboss/bevel effect. Interesting, that might help. Thanks.

Something like this perhaps?

I tried using Portraiture enhanced tones set to luminosity mode.
Then used plastic wrap.
This was a quick try, you can enhance the effect using dodge and burn and adding some icicles to her nose and chin etc.
I used a photo from one of the challenges, let me know if that's ok.

I thought of going this direction.
Transparency you can adjust, but of course it needs to be refined.

I thought of going this direction.
Transparency you can adjust, but of course it needs to be refined.

Wow, closest so far. Did you just do that yourself? Pretty cool. Not transparent enough for my project but as you said, can be adjusted. If you did this yourself, care to share the steps?

Right now I 'm in the middle of some urgent work. As soon as things calm down I 'll explain what I did.

It's easier for both of us if you download the .psd file. I reduced size for easy download, but it' s all there.


http://users.skynet.be/fa318429/iceman.psd

Maybe you should still make it a bit more shiny. Don't know, you got the briefing.

Good luck!

It's easier for both of us if you download the .psd file. I reduced size for easy download, but it' s all there.


http://users.skynet.be/fa318429/iceman.psd

Maybe you should still make it a bit more shiny. Don't know, you got the briefing.

Good luck!

Very helpful, thanks!