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

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

PHOTO ART: Mini-challenge #99 – Carolina

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.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Here’s another great photo by Paula J. Garner (PJ Bailey), who generously allowed us to use it. The original appears at http://www.pbase.com/image/13944129, and you can see more of her excellent photography on that site as well.
Phyllis

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

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.

I loved working on this picture! Here's a b/w sketch which starts with the usual outline method, then, among other things, uses KPT6's equalizer filter, which lets you select the pixel radius you want to sharpen or blur.

Phyllis

This color version has, besides the added color, an "abstract" layer blended in at very low opacity.

Phyllis

I used custom filter set to -1 in upper left corner blended in difference mode at 50% opacity over the outline. Did a few other minor things, then colored it all blue and painted some pinkish color on the skin with a brush set to color mode. Last used a pattern adjustment layer to make it look like denim all over.

Phyllis

very nice Phyllis! I really like your new sketch effect, both in color and black and white, it looks very authentic, and suits this photo nicely.

- David :)

Phyllis stunning on all three. The last is very neat with the look of her on denim.
The eyes on the B/W dramatic.

Jean

What a nice portrait to work with..

Phyllis..Very nice sketch renditions..You know me, I am partial to the colored version..Great work!!

I started out by hand tinting a sketch.. Then applied a faded drybrush filter..with a very faded canvas effect..

Then one of Buds new oval matt treatments..

Jerry :D

Phyllis --- wonderful --- just wonderful.
All three are just stunning.

Jerry - Love the soft look without lossing the attitude! Great!

I followed Al Ward's tut on sketches -- then went off on my own. Added texture overlay - dirt. Played with Hue sats - Brighness contrast. Created another layer did another find edges, erased everything but the outline. Flatten, dup layer added lighting on bottom layer.

Jerry soft with attitude!

Jill like the edge work.

Layered desaturated, find edge adjust level, dup orig Dry brush soft light layers. New layer sandstone texture yello. New Layer light effect worked opacity. New layer worked history bursh.

Jean

Jill..Very artlike..The rough texture definately goes with the girls pose..Like it.

Jean..Nice use of lighting effects..

I decided to give this one another try..I thought this portrait lends itself to a b/w technique originally posted by Lisa Neal on DPreview..It involves changing to b/w and using the dodge tool to lighten the portrait using different brush sizes and opacities..
The eyes and mouth are sharpened and masked into the softened pic..

Jerry :D

Phyllis, all beautiful. My favorite is the second, color rendition.
Jill, very bold.
Jean, very realistic sketch. Lighting effect works!
Jerry, perfect use of the sketch.

Mine is a straightforward watercolor/pencil look that I think transforms the angry look to a more mysterious look. Used some of Psy's colour technique.

Once again this group maintains high marks! Great picture to work with Phyllis! I like your color pencil version, as well as Bill M. Jill and Jean I also like your sketch versions, and Jerry - your BW is awesome!
Here's my rendition- I wanted to bring out the eyes
Bill C

Billm..very nice water color effect..I really like the tinted look..
(P.S. met my wife at Va. Beach..Great Place)

Billc..Very nicely done..Your lighting effect really shows off the portrait..Keep em coming.. (:lol: Nice Farmers Market & "SPEED TRAP") (Pa. humor)

Jerry :D

I went for the rough look. Layer copy with smart blur edges only, inverted and eliminate white filter. Faded and set to overlay. Flattened and desaturated. Played with curves to bring out details. Added canvas texture and background of noise gradient overlay. Used one of Bud's frames.

Phyllis all your versions are wonderful, your color one is my personal favorite.

TwinbNJ, your's has a rough look that really seems to fit the image.

TwinANJ, the lighting effect really enhnaced your version.

Jerry, the B&W version is spectacular.

For mine, I used the same as I did for Chuck's wife challenge. This one just looked like a perfect candidate.

Ken

I got to messing around with the layers that were created using Bud's latest actions, Simple Portrait, and came up with this version. The top layer, called Photo Copy, I smart blurred from my former entry version, and set the blend mode to Multiply. The other picture version, called Photo, I set the blend mode to Linear burn, which brought out the colors beneath it (the color of the frame, which was set to a light blue/cyan). This almost looks like some of the art I have seen in comic books.

Same layers as above, but top layer set to Difference blend mode, lower layer inverted and set to multiply.

I wanted to play with this one. This young lady is so pretty, but what an attitude! I thought I'd see what she'd look like with a twinkle in her eye, instead of a glare. :)

Tyeise

All great submissions! I particularly like all of the sketch treatments...this photo lends itself well to that.

My son saw her picture, and said "Oh, Momma! That girl's naughty!" and I had to agree with him. She's clearly up to no good! So I took it and ran with it, and eventually ended up with something that looks like the cover of a horror novel or something. I guess I was thinking "firestarter" while working on her...

Jerry, nice soft look, even down to the oval mat. And a really lovely b/w portrait which sets off her eyes. You are clearly in the minority here seeing her as “soft,” judging from all the others. :)

Jill and Jean, both nice sketches, both with a roughness to them that seems to befit her expression. I like the spotlight.

Bill, two “serious” looks, neither naughty nor nice, just pensive. Really like the second one, the way it emphasizes her eyes.

BK, more good “rough gal” looks. I especially like #3 with the bright comic book colors.

Ken, the symmetric look works well on this pic...gives her a “cuter” look than her normal pout.

Tyeise, you really captured her naughty twinkle! Removing the hand changed the mood quite a bit, making the picture more lighthearted.

Amanda, great painting as usual. Those Satanic yellow are really shocking! Reminds me of “Rosemary’s Baby.”

While I was playing around with smart blur simplification and the distort>diffuse-glow filter, I stumbled upon a much older look, and a really vampish face at that. Could it be that this rugged little tomboy could grow up to be a femme fatale?

Phyllis

What a fun picture to work with. I can't wait to try various techniques on this.

I first duplicated the original and then took a snapshot. Then I changed to mode to screen on the dup layer to make the image a little more high key. I desatured and then flattened the image. I ran shan's action to turn the picture into a pencil sketch. Then I just used the art history brush to color in. Finally added a bit of texture using canvas texture and added a frame. Total time 10 minutes.

Lisa

Lisa:

GR-EAT! to see you pop in. I see you haven't lost your touch. Welcome home.

- - - - - - - -

BTW: You've seen this pouty lip before... She's the subject of the recent "Hold the Phone" mini-challenge. I busted up at the versions where folks attempted to make our budding Mona Lisa smile a little.

Anyway I was stumbling along, trying this and that (for a future tutorial) and came up with this version. (Tutorial to be posted in the Photo-art 101 forum in about a week.) It's a blend of several layers to which a number of filters were applied.

~Danny~

Kenb..Nice job, you really like your faces symetrical.:D

Bk..Your last version is my favorite..Nice colored sketch appearance.

Amanda..That look is frightening..Nice job..

Tyeise..Never trust anyone with that large of a twinkle in there eye..I like it..

Phyllis.."The Vamp" very clever and well done..I can picture that in any teen magazine.. Great

Lisa (YEAH LISA IS BACK)..Welcome back..You definately have not lost your touch..This is a very artlike entry..I REALLY like it..I remember the first photoart thread when you said.."I am trying to make this photo look like a painting"..Look what you started and now we have Danny the Photoart Champion leading us..Keep them coming, we are having a ball..

Danny.. very nice effect..It has a very painted look..Will Definately look for the tutorial.. Thanks

Jerry
:D

Wow the submissions are just getting better and better. Great job to everyone!
Just love how the attitude is being manipulated.

Everybodys submissions are great.
Phyliss very nice but I love your second one is just great, looks like a vamp.
Jerry nice water color no 2 is a super effect.
JIll nice hand coloring
Jane nice pencil sk.
Bill M nice water color started to do that saw yours went different.
Bill c very dramatic.
Black NT.Really like all three
Ken real cool Idea nice job.
Tyeise awsome its her but eyes and lips are changed, has slight smile.
Amanda yours is awsome my favorite.
Lisa you have been missing in action, great sketch.
DAnny cant wait for the tutorial, super textures and look.

Well I started out dojng a pencil atn ( which is really not a pencil, more of an enhancement) I wanted to turn it into a water color and got the idea of physco hair and looked at her look and said mind altering look like a movie and thjought of what you see.

I tried for a pencil painting with a graphite look.

Its a great subject so I did another Pencil sketch.

boy oh boy, you people are just too good...all the renditions are just wonderfull.

here's my first try. i wanted to emphasize her eyes

on this second one i used Natalies sketch action then replaced the background

kubegud.

Illike the lighting in no one but No 2 is outstanding, It really stands out. Great job.

This is a great thread...so much creativity!

Phil, thanks for your lovely compliment!:D

I couldn't just leave this one alone, so I went back to the drawing board. (literally)

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Anyone ever heard that one before?

(I'm probably just loopy from medication...I tore a ligament in my ankle yesterday night and am all propped up and doped up right now. blah.)

Kud, love the graphite sketch!

Phili, you succeeded beautifully in emphasizing the eyes by keeping the rest flat and "in the background"...and making them green helped even more.

Amanda, I guess you painted that eye...wow! Very impressive work.

Phyllis

Smart blur edge only, invert, anisotropic diffuse to smooth lines, overlay on smart blur version which had been placed at half opacity over original.

Phyllis

Amanda super Idea. Never thought of doing that.


Phyliss, yours is kind of lke a comicactionm /newspaper style but nicer then what I have. Give us a tutorial. PLease.

I figure I would do a comic action. It give it a difrerent effect.

Originally posted by phili1
Phyliss, yours is kind of lke a comicactionm /newspaper style.... Give us a tutorial. PLease.

Sure thing, here ya go. :)

Refer to the picture posted here to see the numbered versions referred to in the text.
-----------

Make two dupe layers:

top layer: smart blur edges only, low, 4.2, 30
invert
stylize>diffuse>anisotropic
set to overlay

second layer: smart blur normal, low, 4.2, 30

[make two copies of this, three new layers]

#1--At this point you have result very similar to the picture you are asking about, except on that one I had added another step somewhere or used different settings...forget.

top layer: high pass filter, 20

#2--right now this is a nice look, might consider merging here instead of continuing as I did for this image]

To make result #3, continue with final steps:

difference mode, reduce opacity to 40-50%
merge into third layer

desaturate
set to luminosity mode
merge
hue/saturation to get yellow out of face, slider more towards red
adjust contrast, brightness, etc. and sharpen to taste

As you can see, once you get the basic smooth outline, you can make a variety of different looks just by changing blending modes...lots of room to experiment. Have fun!

Phyllis

The version here is like #3 above but has a greenish border around it only because I did all the steps on an enlarged canvas which already had a drop shadow applied to it, then flattened that before starting. The dark shadowy edge is what made the green blurry border in the high pass step. I rather like it.

Phyllis

Very nice Phyliss, I love the look.

I am just tryimg differnt filter combos and making adjustments to it.

New filter with personal adjustments.

I found that control I gives it a totally new look.

Amanda, Very clever reflection. I guess you got the inspiration from your avatar.

Phyllis,
Thank you for posting the steps to achieve a comics illustration effect. I personally like the third one.

Phili1,
Very creative use of filters.

Me, I'm just being lazy trying the actions from Bud Guinn's compilation posted here.Elements Action v1. (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5221)
I used Psy's color pencil action. I had to enlarge the image so that you see the effects better.
I like actions where you have options to change or adjust the settings.

I've been away from the group for a few weeks. I see that the work products still look fantastic and varied.

I attempted to stress the "hardness" of this young lady. I used the efx_painter filter, which produces a rough textured image, not at all pleasant looking on people. I'll have to try it on a building sometime. I moved the backgound layer to the top, and erase some of this layer, to reveal the rough texture below. I made second copy of this efx layer at 35% opacity, producing the amount of texture I wanted.

I really love that look of "Attitude".

David

:tongue: :tongue:

Love it David!!! Perfect fit!

I just had to submit another version - I was having withdrawal pains - hadn't submitted anything in a couple of days!
Bob and Dave - I really like your 'tough girl' renditions.
Phili1 - definitely a 60's psychadelic (spelling) look!
Here's my 'different' look
Bill

Amanda and BillC,
Thank you for you kind comments. The more I looked at the young lady the more I could see the Norman Rockwell look in her and I thought the "shiner" would probably be something he would do.
(Do I age myself by mentioning Norman Rockwell?)

David

I'm a Duke Fan myself...

Such a GREAT subject - attitude plus! Loved all of the versions but am partial to Phyllis and Jerry BW pencil sketch. jerry - I just got back from Branson and while there I spent some time with a local artist that was soing pencil sketches. Your BW sketch looks like you did it with a pencil while sitting at an easel!

Just my usual PI colored pen, desaturaed then into Paint Shop Pro and unsharpen mask

bubba

I have to agreee Phyliss is good and Jerry's redition was also, so when you have good you do not competer with it, you go for different and thats is Photo ARt.

Nice pencil Bubba , how is that cute little lady killer.

phili1 - meant to say this in the last post but the c-nility virus must have hit me! Your first post (with the rays like a shattered glass pane) reminded me of a picture I am restoring. Half of the cover glass is still attached and it has a point of impact and shatter pattern like your picture. BTW - the little cowboy is still a lady killer just an older version!

bubba

isn't it funny how some pictures just make you come back for more?

Phil and Phyllis, your comic book renditions inspired me to try one as well. I don't remember what all I did to this, but I do know I took the scenic route to get there. I destaurated, ran a find edges filter, upped the brightness and the contrast a few times, colorized and ran a diffusion filter in there once or twice, too. And added some noise. And something else that I can't recall...

Anyway, I hope it was all worth it in the end!

Don't look too long or you will get dizzy.

Amanda nice cartoon, It fun isnt it.

Agnue wow, it relly fells like she is trying to put you in a spell,

Lots of interesting new versions here, from clever takes like Tony's "hypno-stare" to Lacto's "Duke fan" and lots inbetween. I especially like Amanda's cartoon and David's black eye! Bill C continues to make good use of that painted-on-glass-outline, and of course Bubba continues to make me jealous of his software with PI's colored pen sketch look.

I thought I'd try a watercolor look, done largely with smart blur and anisotropic diffuse.

Phyllis

pstewart,
Thanks for appreciating my sense of humor.
I like the effect you have on your watercolor but don't know what the ???? difuse is. What program is that?

I thought I would toss in a watercolor of my own. It is made with my secret sauce and the watercolor filter in Photoshop.

David

David:

The "shiner" is classic. Brings to mind an old ad campaign, "I'd rather fight than switch!" Like this most recent one, too.

BTW: The filter Phyllis mentioned is Photoshop 7's, Stylize > Diffuse > Anisotropic. She turned me onto it some time ago and it has become one of my favorites.

- - - - - -
Phyllis:

(Speaking of whom)... This watercolor version is exceptional. I tried mucking with SB & your fav filter and couldn't even come close. Well done.

~Danny~

Originally posted by DannyRaphael

Phyllis: This watercolor version is exceptional. I tried mucking with SB & your fav filter and couldn't even come close.

Guess I left something out then. By the looks of the whitish areas and shading changes, it could be distort>diffuse-glow, or possibly b/w high pass inverted and layered above. I've been trying these two filters a lot lately, so one or both of them is likely to be involved in this water color.

Phyllis<--doesn't think taking notes is fun, so doesn't often do it :(

Hi all

I am a newbie so, I did a simple Dry brush and watercolor blended with linear dodge

seems my atach didn't go :depressed

Alex - nice job! I really like what you did with it, both with the textures and with the oval.

Tyeise

Alex, welcome! Nicely done version...good frame idea too.

Phyllis

Alex - A belated welcome from me, too.

This is a very nice interpretation. Hope to see more of your creations in the future!

~DannyR~

Mysterious Carolina

I used BWorks from Mediachance to burn the image twice, added a vignette in Photopaint with a sampled color.

I used Invert Colors instead. On a duplicate layer and ran Flaming Pear's Tachyon filter and inverted the result (I am using Photoshop only this time). I then set this layer property to Screen. I flattened and then used Flaming Pear's Mr. Contrast for additional enhancement. Some selective cleaning and sharpening and Voila. :)

My rendition.

http://www.jereme.com/clients/challenge99.jpg

i like that, lk. thank you :)

craig

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here but I had to give this one a shot just to see what would come of it.

I first applied a sketch effect and overlayed that over the color layer. Next I started to apply a brush stroke effect using Paint Shop Pro and last I added some noise.

Once I had that finished I made a simple frame and applied some USM.

Oh I almost forgot I also blacked her eye just because I thought it looked good on another image posted here earlier in the thread. :nod:

Hope ya'll enjoy!

TwoLaidBack

Marvelous Two. The work is excellent. The black eye especially works with the attitude oozing from that expression.

Janet

Hi Janet,

Yes she does seem to have attitude dosn't she? :wink:

Thanks for taking the time to view my work and the wonderful comment.

TwoLaidBack

I don't think this young lady is into posing for photos!

Steve

Another go.

Steve

Another go.

Steve

Always a softy for soft glow effects; especially ones that keep the main subject in focus. Good job. :)

I thank you sir.

This is a technique working up to photo to cartoon-ish effect. Not quite there yet, but trying. Some images look more cartoonish when using this technique. This one just came out with the soft glow you see.

BTW, I am really overworking your Van Gogh presets. Haven't posted but a couple. Trying to avoid overkill, but it really makes for some interesting effects on some of the images I have used it on. It really comes a lot closer than any VG's I have tried.

Steve



Always a softy for soft glow effects; especially ones that keep the main subject in focus. Good job. :)

Just trying to emulate this guys (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1032&message=17564705) stuff; did a better job on another photo, but that one wasn't mine, so I can not show you.

Dup
Invert top layer
Gaussean blur top layer (high amount)
Set top to Overlay
Copy base layer to top and set to Color
Duplicate Center layer to taste
Do some selective cleaning where needed (you'll see)
Flatten
Duplicate layer
Bumpmap filter (yes I used GIMP)
Set the top layer to Overlay and adjust opacity to taste
Sharpen eyes and hair
brighten eyes some more
Clean color artifacts in hair (didn't have to on the other sample, but had to here)
Invert the backgroung (wanted it black instead of white, but you don't have to do this step).

Done. :)


Here's a link (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=17675489) to a better example (thanks Britt). :)

I have absolutley no idea what I was trying to do with this one at all.
I would just like to say, that in the making of this no pixels were harmed at all, just a little shaken.

Peter

My try on this with a little extra help from Byro ( well his action actually, wanted try it out )

Palms

The advantages of being a newcomer, being able to work with images the 'old timers' have forgotten about, particularly ones as good as this...
Below is my painted version......

Excellent, Gilbert!
Here's my version...
Sylvia

used 'a watercolor painting' filter forge filter from northernshadow.

and a slightly different approach using another FF filter, 'portrait effects' by scary kitty :)

My version

Wow Craig, you made her so scary. I used art history water color brushes in Photoshop and added some paper texture to finish. I used some blending modes to adjust color.

Cathy

well, she's got such a great little scowl going on there, cathy. i just had to enhance it a bit :) that pose says to me, 'ok, you can force me to sit for this, but i dont have to like it!'. expressions are such a great form of communication :)

nice work on yours. you softened it up, but that scowl still shows through :D

I am new at this so I did three !!!

here is the first one

here is # 2

#3 first time i work with plastic i think it's cool lol

Ok...I don't appreciate it when a photographer - also being one at a point in time in Europe...blows a face out losing depth and realism...and leaves RED shadows in the darkest values...

GoMango

P.S. If an attachment does not come through for this challenge...I need instructions please....

Can someone inform me why the attachments are not coming through?

Gomango you will get there honest read this and see if you have any problems then, ( if you preview you will see if you have attached before you submit )

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/image-help/9077-size-quality-attached-images.html

dont give up

Palms

Can someone tell me how to get a thumbnail attachment added...even if I click attachment, browse, upload...the file does not seem to transfer

Help...

Ok...as I stated before, blowing out faces detroys detail, shape and form by eliminatinf the subtle shades and shadows cast by ambient light sources. RED shadows gotta go....giving the face shape and color correctedness certainly is much more real to life and more involoved than adding just a artistic filter....and orange hair is not acceptable....

GoMango

Two versions....clean abd simple and corrected for realism and the altered states....

GoMango