FIRST MINI-CHALLENGE -or- NEW TO PHOTO-ART?
Click here (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4977) for "Information and Guidelines."

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PHOTO ART: Mini-challenge #94 – Hold the Phone

Here’s another “mini-challenge” to play with in the Photo-based Art category until the next major challenge is posted here (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/index.html).

The base image can be downloaded by clicking the link below the photo description.

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Danny found this great portrait by photographer Paula J. Garner, who titled it “Hold the Phone.”

Phyllis

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LEGAL VERBIAGE
Paula J. Garner retains the U.S. and international copyright © not only for the original image, but also for any photo-art versions of it. Unauthorized distribution or use of this image without permission are prohibited.

The jpeg artifacts make it a bit tricky to get an outline sketch, so I chose a technique that would cover them up and turned it into a portrait in oils...sort of. I used a few layers of the frosted glass filter with different blend modes and an embossed sandpaper pattern layer on top of the heap.

I think this picture would be well-suited to a smudge-brush painting treatment, but I'm feeling a bit too lazy for that just now. I'm sure someone will be up to the task though! :)

Phyllis

Phyllis - great picture and look
Tried to do a sketch and got jpeg artifacted to death! So I used Paint Shop Pro to emboss and then overlay that with a low opacity original layer.

bubba

Phyllis - Lovely lighting and I like the soft glow you gave it.

Bubba - Very unusual, I really like the different textures going on in this.

When I saw this, I thought of an Old Master's painting...but darn that phone :) I started with smart blur, added some lighting effects and color, and ended up here...

Pam

Oops, posted the "almost-ready-but-not-quite" version by mistake...

Sort of a sketch...

Bubba, I really like that look...very creative and unusual...works very well with this picture.

Pam, lovely soft look...I like this a lot!

BK, very Goth! Creative and effective...a bit creepy in its cold roughness...deathlike.

Here is another attempt at an oil painting look. Tthis one is done with high pass filter, unsharp mask, anisotropic diffuse, assorted blend modes, and a Van Gogh brushstroke pattern layer.

Phyllis

Great picture to play with..

Phyllis.. both really good painting effects..Like the second best..

Pam.. VERY pretty..I love the soft feel that you gave it..

Bubba..Great texture..looks like exterior wall art..

BK..Nice version..Really like it..

I just had to play with this one..It had illustration written all over it..Used a bunch of filters like film grain,accented edges, dc edjer, watercolor, sprayed strokes..Faded everything as I went..merged, and copied layer..Played with blend modes I think I ended up with soft light and adjusted opacity..Really lost track on this one..

Jerry :D

Phyllis - love that sandpaper texture and your second one, the brush strokes really add to the painted effect

bubba - neat embossed technique

Pam - what a rich oil painting look

Blacknite - very nice texture effect

Jerry - a perfect magazine cover for the vintage photo with the painted effect

i saw this as an old photo so i wanted to go with that theme. i cant believe i actually wrote down what i did :D

1) ran aged photo filter for lines and grain and slight sepia tone
2) added frosted edge, black
3) added xero's porcelain filter
4) almathera halo, white, 15 width, 65% opacity
5) upped saturation +38 to bring up her color
6) saved at 55% jpg quality
7) added a drop shadow and frame, saved

Here's my try at an oil using Painter 7...

...and a watercolor using the Slap-Dash2 action.


Jim

Jerry, very very clever! Love it!

Kudbegud, you succeeded beautifully in making this look like an old photo...very realistic.

Jim, both painting styles turned out great...can't decide between them.

She is wearing a furry coat so I thought it might be cold in there, so I gave it an icy texture and cool colors.

Phyllis

Nice work everybody.

Kudbegud, that's exactly what I had in mind for this picture but didn't know at all how to do that (I'll try your way) so I went to something else.

In PS7, used different layers with palette knife, dry brush, emboss, glass, hue/sat. Then, in Painter 7, used paper texture dry cracks to try to make it looks like an old painting.

WOW. Everybody's got a different take on this picture and everybody work is effective.

Here's an impressionist's point of view. But I don't think there were telephones then. Definitely not a yellow one. I have Photoshop 7 to clone out the phone. Moved her right hand close to her face and dropped herleft hand on the table. Now she's just waiting for the phone to come. Using Impressionist cloner in Painter 6, I ended up with this image.

Tony

Nice work, Tony. And I like the look she has now.

I had a great time looking at everyones entries. This was a great picture to work with so much that could be done!
Phyllis great oil outcome.
Bubba Lots of attitude! I really like your submission
Pam very warm colors
Blacknight Wonderful you captured an attitude also.
Jerry very creative wish I thought of it!
Angue Great work I like wondering what she is waiting for.
Kudbegud Like the color and boarder.

I used color select to enhance the phone, lace table cover, and her skirt. Blur, GE embossed, and light effect.

Jean

TwinANJ (Jean)
Very effective lighting effect.

Jim - both of yours use brush strokes very effectivly


Phyllis - very "cool" blue indeed

mikl - nice overall texture

Tony - she looks very contemplative

Jean - nice lighting effect

I keep playing with this one, for some reason...

ooooooo ---- Wonderful colors and texture! love it!
I like the details you got Blacknight.

Phyliss three submissions. ONe I like the texture and the lighting of two and three makes me cold, nice touch.

Bubba the embossing gave her a different look.
Pam very dramatic look, nice.
Blacknight it looks like a charcoal effect, i like it.
Jerry great Idea.

Tony she looks like she telepathy.
TwninsNJ just the right amount of embossing.

Anyway mine is a combo. I used my oil painting tech and put a rice paper overlay on a dub layer and put detail in her face to keep it sharp. Then I used render liging to get a dramatic effect.

With all these fantistic submissions I am almost embarassed to submit my humble attempt. I got a very 1920's feel from the original and wanted to do more of a sketch, but got jpeg'ed. Anyway here is my simple submission, photo Deluxe-Sepia Tone, Photoshop 5.0-Graphic pen, Media Spark-Darkrn edges. Hope this works, the last one was too large so I had to reduce the file size.

Well, I didn't know what to do with this so I just started playing around to find some inspiration -- first lightened it up quite a bit, then did the SlapDash3 action to use as a "painterly" base. Then added the eyes back to serve as a focal point -- they had all but been obliterated by the paint effect. Then levels with a layer mask to darken everything and serve as a light channel coming from the upper right to our star... lastly, a close crop and a Splat frame and there you go.

Scott

So many expressive entries with this great pix, enjoyed viewing them.

Tried a watercolor, maybe later an oil......

Mikl, you achieved a great texture with that filter combination... I like it! I would suggest, however, that you partially remove some of the effect from the face especially around the eyes since you don’t want an effect to change a face or expression too much.

Tony, very clever! Now it has a totally new mood. Wondering what she’s thinking about so seriously? She looks distressed, like she can’t pay the rent, or had a fight with her boyfriend, or can’t find her phone. :)

Jean the lighting and texture work together to add depth and enhance the mood...good job!

BK, wow! Pychedelic! A sixties girl with an antique phone, I’ll bet!

Phili, I like how your simplifying effect has softened the pic, especially the background...gives it a new feel entirely. I’m not sure about the enlarged texture though...reminds me of worms. :)

Willie, good use of graphic pen to add texture. Looks like a cross between old photo and sketch...simple yet effective.

Scott and Goldcoin, two nice soft watercolor looks. A smart way to go with this pic because of the jpeg artifacts.

Phyllis

A bit less

Jerry: Positively BRILLIANT.

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Used a modified version of the Slap-Dash3 action mentioned in THIS THREAD (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5356), followed by an application of the Edit > Stroke command (twice) for the frame.

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Thanks to Mike Finn for the action and PJ for such an adoarable pic to work on!

~DannyR~

Everyone did such a great job that I had to take a shot myself. I saw what I wanted immediately! I knew before I even uploaded to PC that this was going to be sometype of painting look. I am already shopping for a frame! :)

After seeing all the wonderful work you have done I am almost embarrassed to show you all my version....oh well, here goes, although it is rather boring compared to what I have seen so far!

http://www.pbase.com/image/13739999/medium

Gosh, you are all really really good at this!

Take care,
NiteOwl

This picture has generated such great responses since I last checked in.. Very nice entries..

Niteowl..Very nice addition to the collection..We are a friendly lot..Never hesitate to post your photoart..We all take our chances..Some good.. Some very experimental.. But we all have fun playing with these challenges..

Danny, thanks for the nice comments.. The minute I saw this pic., I saw that mag. cover in my head..I have been playing with Mikes slapdash actions..My stuff just isn't that good..You have Really captured the value of his action with your entry..Very painterly effect..Maybe some hints on the proper way to use the action would be helpful..Thanks for all of your action effort..

Jerry :D

First time poster, although I 'hang out' occassionally over at DPREVIEW with Danny. I wanted to really change the mood on this one and highlight the phone.
Bill

Hi Bill:

This is a facinating interpretation. Welcome to the funny farm! :)

Hope you continue to post your creations so the folks here can benefit from and be inspired by your creativity as I have.

Don't hesitate to wave the flag if I can help you find your way around. BTW: The cleverly hidden site map can be found by clicking the link beneath my signature. It may (or may not) be helpful!

Again, welcome. Glad to have you join us.

~Danny~

NIght owl yours is great, I agree with Jerry welcome aboard and this sight is for fun , there is no right and no wrong. JUst lota of imagination and experimentation.

Hi Danny.

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Hey, Mr. Lombardi... hope all is well w/you. djr

Bill Coughlin, I really really like your treatment. The soft focus look is exactly what this pic calls for! What program and/or filter did you use to get the effect?

Phyllis

Bill You think like me, I love the lighting effect.

Ok Phyliss you didnt like my rice paper effect, so I tried someting different.

A while back I developed an oil painting effect and everyonce in a while I try someting new and here it is.

I used my oiol paing effect thjat lets you paint back your subject. I like it because of the effects you can get, so I painted back her face till it was very sharp, leaving the surrounding areas with large daubs. Then I increased the brush size which will agian increase the daub size on the face, leaving the eyes and mouth sharp. I then used render/lighting/ omni to get the luminous effect. I forgot I also made phone sharp.

Phyllis and Phil - thanks for the comments.
Phyllis - I duplicated the layer, then used NIK Midnight filter (yes, expensive but the set was a gift), then used eraser to bring back the color in the phone.
Regards,
Bill

I think this photo is great to work with reminded me of Rembrant so I went with that look....First I made a layer to look like a drawing/ inverted to neg/ created light sorce/ add texture/ made frame/ combined everything/ adjusted to liking

Very nice image, katilla. It gives an other dimension to the original picture.

Katilla I like the way you composed it, has a very dramatic look.

Phili, I LIKE that look...a lot! It has a real "sixties" feel to it. How did you get that effect? What program/filter?

Katilla, great job with the pic and with framing it as well...reallysuits this picture!

Phyllis

Thanks Phyliss.

I think I sent you my oil painting Art HIstory action. I put ther begining steps into an action and then you paint by hand.
when you use it you can vary the brush size for different effects. the smaller the brush the more detail. One thing I found is that when you view it on the screen, it looks one way but when you print it on canvas paper it looks just like oil. I did a small brush on her face and phone and a larger one on the rest and then used lilghting omni effect.

on org image I created a beam of light,cloned out imperfections,dodged where light hit, burned in more shadows then I did the following..../ org image/layer via copy, name lay1/lay1-invert to neg,blending mode to color dodge, will turn completely white, filter, blur, gaussian,2 pix/create a blank new layer above lay1/stamp a copy of what is visible to this layer -name stamp,lay1,change blending mode to linear burn/highlight lay1,jump a copy of this layer to its own new layer, name lay2/highlight lay2, filter>blur>Gaussian>50 pix .....I then created new layer and added texture and adjusted to taste ,I combined all photos together adjusting blending and opacity,.......Created new layer took that into frame pro and created the frame, back in photoshop i adjusted colors to blend with picture.
If you want to know how I created beam of light just let me know. Thanks for the comments. I also liked the drama it created

This link takes you to a large image
The phone.jpg (http://www.trimoon.com/The_phone_call.jpg)

And this one (http://www.trimoon.com/The_phone_call_No3.jpg)

It would take days to comment on each individual photo, but I do love all of them. So many different renditions of such a lovely photo to begin with.

I wanted to battle all of those artifiacts to see if I could get a decent sketch out of this. I don't know if I succeeded or not...

wow! that is excellant

I did a
Watercolor (http://www.trimoon.com/The_phone_call_Watercolor.jpg)

Superb work, Steve. Lucky I have a fast connection though. But it was worthed. I appreciate your coming back.

I like the way the pencil sketch brings out her eyes and gives an innocence to the scene.

Themanda --- very nice, I like the look and feel and what you did.

Bill M. --- Welcome, the pencil is soft and looks great.

Bill, good job on b/w soft sketch.

Amanda, great idea and nicely done sketch. But isn’t her left hand backwards?

DwDraw, your picture failed to upload. Please try it again so we can see it.

Trimoon, nice watercolor. I toured your web page today and am so impressed with your photography and your watercolors that I am just in awe of your talent.

Phyllis

First of all, I want to say that this fourm is fun and a great place for learning different ways to do a photo. All the entries look great, I enjoy them very much.

The one that I am sending was worked over in Photoshop 7 lighting filter and then passed thru LucisArt's, Winslow filter.

Thanks for your time.

DW

Hi again,

If my photo seems too small, let me know and I will post it larger.

Thanks again for your time.

DW

DWDraw very nice but as you said it is small and you can not see the detail. I for one would like to see it larger.

Jean

Thanks for your interest. I re-sized it to a larger size.

DW

dwdraw Much better I can see everything! You did a very good job.

Jean

Trimon, yes its a great water color.

Thermanda, awsome job with the hands.

Bill M nice pencil sketch

I tried this on my own and failed so I used an action, adds an old framing effect to it.

Don--thanks for digging this one up. The rich earth tones are wonderful.

I do believe I've found something that is pretty consistant for portraits. :) This is the same set of steps on used on the Kelly challenge. I did lighten the image before I started.

Each number represents a layer starting from the bottom and working my way up. I make a duplicate layer from the background for each. I did change the default brush on one or two of these--it was the one where the brush looks like an outline

1. Watercolor--damp translucent
2. Watercolor--spotty brush on rough paper (luminosity 67%)
3. watercolor--soft daubs on fine paper (soft light 47%)
4. pencil sketch --detailed color (screen 40%)
5. paint--smudges on soft paper (soft light 58%)
6. paint--fine brush hairs (darken 65%) remove emboss effect before applying
7. stylize--find edges (soft light 37%)
8. gaussian blur soft sketch (soft light 52%)
9. pattern fill layer in soft light at 75% to add a light texture.

Cheryl,

I can see why Danny called you the "Impressionist Queen." Nice rendition.

The first thing I thought of when I saw this photo was old photo. So here is an old photo. This one was done in PS7. First I boosted the brightness and contrast and then ran the Ancient Photo action.

Catia

And here is one obtained using PSP8. First, I cropped the photo a little tighter and then ran the one step photo correction. Then ran the Old Photo Album script (set for 100 years).

Catia

Here's my take. I embossed the image to sharpen it and then coverted to duotone. It took me longer to do the frame than anything else.

I wanted to practice using the Sargent brushes in Painter, and I thought this image would be a good one for a painting.

Cathy :rainbow:

Cathy
You were right, a good image for a good painting don't, think you need to much practice though
Palms

Thanks palms. The Sargent brush is so much fun, I keep looking for ways to use it.

Cathy

Cathy, this is a wonderful photo I had never seen, and I'm glad you bumped it up. I love your Painter Version! Here's mine, done in Painter, using Captured Bristle brush. I may have to play with this gorgeous photo some more :)

Here's a larger version:
http://www.pbase.com/image/51423150

Cheryl-great look but I have a question did you put each layer on top of the last one (9 on top) or left toward the bottom (9 on bottom)? I tried doing what you did on a pic of my own and it did not turn out the same and it is so good.
ydelle

Just a lot of blends using Xero's Artifax filter, GIMP's Retinex filter, and Impressionist. Also some Bumpmapping with the GIMP. :)

Thanks Catherine. I love your brush strokes. I am going to try and play with the captured bristle brush. You seem to have mastered the technique.

Very interesting texture Ikroll, What program are you using?

Cathy :nod:

First, I have to say that you got me beat; can't compete against a Wacom (I just do filters and blends with very minimum amout of smudging). The main two editors that I usually use is GIMP (both 1.2.4 and 2.2.8; mainly 2.2.8, but some pretty cool filters have been removed when version 2 came out), and Photoshop 5.5 (yes, I know; feel sorry for me; I do :lol: ). My favorite filter only works in Photoshop (Impressionist; can be found here (http://www.trimoon.com/html/downloads.html)). I really like Paint Engine (http://home.centurytel.net/luvs2cr8/paintengine.html) too and it also can only be used in Photoshop. GIMP has a lot to offer, and for strait editing, I'm most comfortable using it, so it is my main editor for that reason. If it wasn't for the cool filters, I would only be using GIMP. Did I mention that GIMP is 100% free. The two aforementioned filters are currently free too. :)

lkroll,

have you tried gimpshop?

Craig

I've used versions of Photoshop up through 7.0 (on a MAC in a past life), and I still like the GIMP interface better. I guess I'm weird, or, being a former geek (EE Auburn Grad; too bad I could not stay in Engineering), I guess I relate better to GIMP's interface. I didn't care too much for GIMP 1.x interface, but 2.x is very nice. Even able to create lock groups of multiple dialogues (I totempoled Layers and Paths on one group, and Tools, Brushes and Undo History in another; pretty cool). I also like the ability to right click and apply any of the effects such as filters, or merge down; not able to do so with Photoshop 5.5 at least. :)

Thanks for the info Ikroll. I am using a Mac, and so I don't think I can use Gimp, Paint Engine, or Impressionist. :(

Cathy :pleased:

Unfortunately, I'm afraid your right w.r.t. Impressionist and Paint Engine. Here is the link to GIMP for Macintosh. :)

http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/

lkroll,

ok. gimpshop came out a few months back. the idea was to take the gimp and make it more of a photoshop interface without changing the features of the gimp. the purpose to that was to give folks an editor with a Photoshop like interface to learn on so that if they wished to go to ps later, they'd feel right at home.

so, since you're happy with the gimp interface, i guess you might not be that crazy about the idea.

Craig

I just prefer ole GIMP. I remember hearing about GIMPShop on Screen Savers; some guy on the set actually helped co-create it as I recall. Again, I've used GIMP for several years now and prefer it as it is. I actually am not fond of the Photoshop interface (see previous post as to why I like GIMP). Still, I use Photoshop since certain effects/filters are not available in the GIMP that I like using. :)

yup. understood.

deluxe paint III was always my favorite interface :)

Craig

I've tried this one before, but not with any success. Its a great picture, which is why I keep coming back to it.
This is as close as I have come to something I am satisfied with, so thought I would post it.
Larger version below
Peter


[img=http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2250/phonecalldj0.th.jpg] (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=phonecalldj0.jpg)

Great picture!
Pattern stamp tool + adjustment layers.
Sylvia

Sure this photo is one of the best, very artsy.

Two attempts with AHB

Wonderful Alex. I love the mood, the tones, and the execution of the style.

Janet

batik art, a filter forge filter by northernshadow.

Thank you Janet
Very nice batik Craig

Another AHB

thanks, alex. the credit goes mostly to northernshadow, however.

Nice Alex and Craig. I love this photo and thought that I would try a different style. I used PSCS and Painter X. In PX I used the impressionist and Sargent cloners.

Cathy

Some nice painting done here.I used some Xero filters then desaturated by adding a white layer above my image and setting layer blend to saturation

thanks, cathy :)

nice painter work!

Thank you, Cathy
I like you rendition, more details in face, more sharp - it will be "Gogh style"

Another Impressionist

interesting piece, alex. i like it.

mode lab
invert channel b
mode rgb
history brushed backgound
desaturate skin except eyes and lips
the smoke effect will be written another thread

fun painting.

Thank you, Craig
saby, remarkable idea - invert channel b and smoke effect and great result
Nice painting, glikster

Another two "lazy" impressionist

Cool Alex. Picasso would be proud of you.

Janet

:) Thank you, Janet :)

Pastel style in Gertrudis