Forgive the brevity. I've got the flu. I'll populate this post with the traditional verbiage tomorrow.

Picture by Art Hill.

For the record I screwed up last week. THIS is the image that was supposed to have been posted for the mini-challenge. Second chances are good!

Adjust levels.
Duplicate layer (BG copy #1) and set Brightness = 15, contrast = 20.
Duplicate layer (BG copy #2).
On BG copy #1 apply cutout (8,3,3)
Select BG copy #2, set blend to soft light and opacity to 80%.
Merge down.
Smart blur (2,20,low,normal)
Hue =5, Saturation =20
Apply Sandstone texture
Sign, flatten, resize and save.

Catia

My goal was a watercolor over sketch look. This process is still wobbly--the top 2 layers vary by image in the blending mode that's best. Also, while I used the find edges method for the sketch on this one, I find that the soft sketch (gaussian blur method) is frequently better.

Make 3 duplicate layers from the background. We'll start at the bottom and work our way up. Leave the background layer untouched. Each number represents a layer.

1. (bottom duplicate) Filter--Brush Strokes--Sprayed Strokes (20, 25, right diagonal); Filter--Brush Strokes--Sprayed Strokes (20, 25, left diagonal); Edit--Fade--65%; Filter--Artistic--Sponge (10, 0, 15)
2. (middle duplicate) Filter--Artistic--Sponge (10, 0, 15). Set Blending mode to Lighten. (sometimes other blending modes look better--it depends on the image)
3. (top duplicate) Filter--Stylize--Find Edges. Set to Overlay blending mode (try others modes) at around 30% (note: good values for this layer vary by image--anything from 20-70%)
4. The image is probably overly washed out. Add a new Levels Adjustment layer and clip the ends to the ends of the histogram.

Just playing around. Not pretty to most, but I enjoyed the challenge. :)

Watery color..............

Steve

Oh Wow Steve that is a lovely watercolour and you used psp9 too, well done!!! Steve reminds me of paint by numbers!!!

I got carried away again with trimoon tuts.

I thank you kindly. I am not a great watercolor fan, but thought this rendering was ok.

Steve

Oh Wow Steve that is a lovely watercolour and you used psp9 too, well done!!! Steve reminds me of paint by numbers!!!

Good job Steve. Humbled I am. :lol:

Catia: like your colorful watercolor like effect.
Cheryl H: Cool looking transparency effect you have obtained.
Steve Conway: Cool looking water color.

Here is my water color, in Painter 9, painted on wet layer with dry camel brush with high opacity to give it a night time effect.

chance,

that's quite a bit different. i like that.

Craig

Thanks Kraellin! I need to figure out how to get an avatar going !

you're welcome.

dont know if you can upload an avatar to here. i put mine on another site and link to it from here. use your profile to add the link, if that's how you do it. i suppose you could just make a thread here, attach a picture, and link to that. shld work.

Craig

Danny great second try -howed you do that???

No offense or "humbling" intended. Your version showed a lot of imagination and was quite well done. I only have the guts to post what I do because I believe in "the eye of the beholder" idea. And what looks great to some will look like junk to others. 8-)

Thanks for your kind comments.

Steve

Good job Steve. Humbled I am. :lol:

Danny, ya caught me in an arty mood. Fun project!

Photoshop CS

1. Ran a sketch filter and adjusted the levels on the result
2. Painted on a new layer with a Dry Brush
3. Added frame

How 'bout a storm on the way? Windy city and all that stuff.

Steve

This is my humble try at this challenge.

Simple Watercolor effect using Paint Shop Pro v8.
TwoLaidBack

Painter Arcylic, history bush in Photoshop, uped H/S

Steve.. very, very, nice watercolor
Legacy.. lovely ...
~Nancy~

hmmm, having problems uploading, well try again manana.

Thank you much. I appreciate your nice comments.

Steve

Painter Arcylic, history bush in Photoshop, uped H/S

Steve.. very, very, nice watercolor

Found this I had done when I first came across RetouchPRO , but never posted, can't remeber how I did it, but I'm sure there was a porcelain effect somewhere in there, and looks like an airbrush and ink PSPscript.
Looking back through the images posted to this thread I think it was Chance's image that got me on this moonlight kick I seem to be on now. ;)

Liked the way the clouds came out in this one.

Lucis and poster edges mainly

Peter

Two attempts of watercolor

Alex, I really like number 2. It is bold, crisp, and refreshing.

Janet

Two attempts of watercolor

Again Alex i like this technique you are using. Which software are you using ?



Palms

Janet, Palms thank you.
I use Photoshop CS and plug-ins - Impressionist, Snap Art, Virtual Painter.
But I prefer to make my works in PSCS, filters only without plug-ins -- the watercolor you like.