This picture of my wife is very special to me. I enjoy looking at the creative effects the members apply to the different photographs, so I hope I'm not out of line asking any of you who so desire to personialize this photo for me with your "signature" touches and share your techniques so I may learn.

THANKS!

Terry

Hi Terry:

Welcome to RetouchPRO. I can see why this picture is special to you. Thanks for posting it so some of us can have some fun.

As a rule I'm ususally pretty diligent about taking detailed notes about how I create a particular image, but quite frankly this time was an exception. I was just experimenting... pretty making it up as I went along.

I can tell you this...
* Resized the image to approx 8"x10" at 72 ppi.
* For part of it I used action 7ART-Watercolor and Ink 2.1-djr available in the the collection located here:
http://www.geocities.com/kafuensis/
* One layer was generated using Photoshop's Artistic > Dry Brush filter
* For two layers I used a plugin Microsoft Impressionist, available to folks who have Front Page 98. (I got my copy from a FP98 CD I bought through an eBay auction.)
* I used a lot of layer masks to blend the layers together. Here are two very good layer mask tutorials:

* http://www.shootsmarter.com/suzette.html

* http://www.vrya.net/ts/photoshop7.php

* I added a new layer at the top of the layer stack, filled it with 50% gray via Edit > Fill, set the blend to Overlay, lowered the opacity to about 70% and applied a canvas texture with the Texturizer filter.

* The frame was created by using the Edit > Stroke function on two layers.

Thanks again for sharing the lovely image to work with. I hope you and Pat like it and that my sketchy notes give you a few useful ideas.

~Danny~

Danny--It's got a painted look to it. That was an interesting combo you used. You remind me that I tend to get into a rut and use a single filter family when I play.

I went with impressionist as well, using the same steps as challenge 153--kelly http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6885

That's an excellent photo of your wife. I enjoyed working on it. The color of her hair was fun as different effects toned it down and brightened it up as I went along--I think it ended with a pretty good match.

1. USM radius 2
2. Levels
3. Flatten and duplicate layer
4. Run Paint Engine - arctic on duplicate layer
5. Add layer mask and paint the pupils of eye back in.
6. Flatten
7. Use clone brush to remove streaks along sharp edges of dress, handkerchief, and lips.
8. Add pattern layer and select brush pattern (I used a sharp vanGogh).
9. Add text layer and typed in name
10. Flatten
11. Resize to 72 ppi and 600 pixels high (this probably should have been done at the beginning; but I didn't realize the file was 300 ppi until I started to save it).
12. Save for web at 100K

Catia

After looking at this, I think I should have darkened the area beneath the eyes a bit.

All very wonderful submissions on a very lovely lady.

I used the clone stamp and healing brush on the face. also selected areas of the face I use Hue/Sat to bring down the washed out uneven tone. Did some doge and burn. Used a gaussian blur to soften and render lighting omni. Added light sandstone texture and vignette.

I’m doing a TuT and I’ll post it here in the next couple of days

Larger Image (http://www.trimoon.com/Pat%20No3.jpg)

A B&W

Well done on both, Steve. I especially like the BW. The tutorial will be an instant classic.

~Danny~

Steve those are awesome!

Think you Vikki and Danny

Created the basic sketch in Photoshop (Smart Blur/Edge Only + Stylize > Diffuse > Anisotropic), then jumped over to Painter 8 and experimented with some of the Watercolor brush variants, using them to apply color based on the original image.

Back to Photoshop for a little more fine tuning and application of texture.

~Danny~

What a beautiful lady!

I started by doing the b&w desaturate invert guassian blur thing. I then used a lot of layers. After bringing the color back in, I used virtual painter colored pencil (faded), diffuse aniso, buzz pro simplifier, rough pastels, and selective color. Also did a little work on the eyes.

Shari

http://www.pbase.com/shariwb

First I opened her right eye a little. Then did my India Ink method (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6446). Then increased saturation, sharpened, and added texture.

Lovely image of a beautiful young woman.

Just enhanced colors with Color Range selections, and added texture and brush treatment with Soft Light and Overlay blending modes. Hopefully enhanced whites of her eyes without distorting...

Wow, these are all great renditions. For mine I chose a classic pencil sketch look.


Ken

Nice renditions by all.
Decided to do "another" smudge, after not being satisified with what I initially did. I went for a softer look this time without using the liquify tool on the eyes.

Ran the adapt.equalize filter to bring out some detail
Used the smudge tool with various blend modes (15 to 50 opacity). Afterwards I softened portions using the blur tool.
Enhanced colors with Nik filters
Changed the color of her dress with "color replace".
added some layer styles

Terry, welcome, and thank you for such a lovely image!!
Danny, great work on both, but I especially like you second one:)
Cheryl, very impressionistic, and VERY lovely!!
Catia, just beautiful, very painterly:)
Jill, FANTASTIC, so soft and wonderful to view
Steve, as always, perfection. Can't wait for your Tut
Shari, great work, VERY nice
Andrew, this is so nice and soft, really great
CJ, this is so beautiful, you always do such lovely work
Ken, your pencil sketch is PERFECT, can't get any better
Looker, your smudge rendition is SUPERB, and I love the framing..
I just realized there's not enough adjectives to describe how wonderful all these renditions are:) :) :)

Well, I used Painter Classic. Made a clone of the original, made sure clone color was clicked in Art Materials. Used the Dry brush on the hair, opacity around 26%, Used the Just add Water brush on the face, very small airbrush on eyes. Opacity I usually lower, never 100%. I turned off the clone color, and used the airbrush, and Just add water brush to reshape her clothing. Opened in Photoshop and used selective color on the image. Sharpened and appplied Texture.

Wanda

Wanda, I wish I had just a little of the talent you have.


Ken

I started this whole thing with a simple request, and I must say I am overwhelmed with the response and beautiful work each of you has posted. It's amazing how you can start with one thing and wind up with so many excellent variations. It would be hard to choose a favorite but I am really struck by the one Wanda just posted. It seems so soft and beautiful. Perhaps this is the way I see my wife. I wish I had her talent and know how. I never expected so many images, but now I'm beginning to feel selfish and hope there are more to come. THANKS to everyone.

Terry

Am a beginner with Painters, your wife is lovely and a wonderful model. Worked both in Painters and then in Photoshop. Still feel more comfortable in Photoshop, it just doesn't have the painting ability that Painter offers.

Tried to turn the clock back just a tad....

Can't resist this one. Too wonderful to pass up even late.
Tony