Hello,

I am brand new to Photo Art and am excited to start tinkering with my photos to make them more artful. I found the myjanee.com tutorials and I am working through those at the moment.

I want to learn Photo Art as a basis for designing club-type fliers and posters.

I was wondering how I could go about achieving this look:
http://www.flyercity.com/cache/flyers/PXK8Q33_big1_20040225104926.jpg

Would it just be a matter of playing with a Hue/Saturation level on the image, or has something else been done to make this reddish in color?

Thanks for any tips you can give.

Natalie

Hi Natalie,

I don't know the 'official' way of doing this technique - there is probably a filter that does it in an automated way ... I gave it a quick try and this is what I did ...

-converted to b&w
-Increased contrast with curve (image on left with curve in middle)
-Added Solid color layer, changed blending mode to color

The only reason I think they might be using this method is that there is a lot of color in the light areas. Could also be done with colorize checked in Hue/Saturation ...

To match look you could add some blur then add noise / grain.

Good luck,
Roger

I agree with Roger. Mostly you need to experiment until you get the look you like. I would suggest using Simplifier plugins and actions, colorizing and adding noise. Here's a different effect.

Cheers
Duv

Image:Adjust:Posterize

We use it a lot for screened in background images on posters and stuff.

No idea how they did it back then, but I just posterized (4 tones), applied red multiply layer, then put the whole thing over a pinkish layer and applied a layer mask.

Thanks for all those suggestions!

I am gonna play with it tonight (once I clear all this PS7 action pallette bugginess I am having! grrrr!)

I'll post the results.

:)

Nat

Duv,

Where would I be able to find out more about those Simplifier plugins?

Thanks,
Nat

No idea how they did it back then, but I just posterized (4 tones), applied red multiply layer, then put the whole thing over a pinkish layer and applied a layer mask.


Doug,

So far, so good. Just wondering what layer you put the layer mask on and where that Pink layer was in the stacking order?

I've attached a screen shot of my layer order...

Thanks,
Nat

Duv,

Where would I be able to find out more about those Simplifier plugins?

Thanks,
Nat
Hi Nat

There's probably lots of different Simplifier effect out there. Others may be able to steer you to some other sites. The two I use most is Dave's Simplifier action found at atncentral.com and Amphisoft Simplifer plugin at amphisoft.com.

Cheers
Duv

Thanks Duv!

Nanaimo is such a pretty place. Do they still have those murals on the walls in town?

Nat

Your group looks pretty much like mine, only I grouped the red fill layer to the posterized layer, then applied the layer mask to the posterized layer. I masked pretty aggressively for the bg, then turned down my brush opacity to 5% for the eyes (and would have done the same if I'd done the nose, etc., like in the original).

Your group looks pretty much like mine, only I grouped the red fill layer to the posterized layer, then applied the layer mask to the posterized layer. I masked pretty aggressively for the bg, then turned down my brush opacity to 5% for the eyes (and would have done the same if I'd done the nose, etc., like in the original).

Doug,

When you say 'grouped', do you mean you linked the layers?

I've tried linking the layers, putting the pink fill layer beneath the red/posterized layer and then putting a layer mask on the posterized image... then tried to brush on the mask with black on the red parts of the image to erase to pink. It's not erasing to pink. I know I am doing something stupidly wrong here... LOL

Can someone clue me in?

Thanks

Used to by called Group With, now it is called Clipping Mask. Put your mouse on the line between layers and hold down the alt/option key - it changes to a different symbol - while holding down alt/option click your mouse on that line and the layer above the line you will be indented.

This means that only where there is image area will the above layer show through - anywhere the layer below is clear or masked that above layer is masked. Or to put it another way only shows where the layer that it is grouped with shows.

From the Menu: Layers>Create/Remove Cliiping Mask.

Hope this helps,
Roger

Yeah, what Roger said :)

Thanks for the help with the Clipping Mask Roger. I didn't know about that before you pointed it out.

I finished the image :) Yay.

I've attached the Before and the After Images.

Thanks for all your help on this!

Nat

Late to the party, but a sincere welcome, Nat. Glad you posted your question. Just what we like to see.

Great suggestions from the gang, too. Lots of willing and talented folks, here.

Here's a couple more filter options to consider for future reference:
* Filter > Blur > Smart Blur/Normal - this filter can be used to simplify (smooth) an image, too. Fiddle with the settings until you get the look you like.

* Filter > Artistic > Cutout - this gives a result similar to Posterize, but the seams where colors meet are a little smoother.

Anyway, looks like you're off to the races. Well done. Keep the questions coming and keep having fun.

~Danny~

Danny,

Thanks fore the welcome.

I am learning a TON of awesome stuff here.

Thanks also for the variations you gave me to work with.

This is a blast!

Nat

I'm pretty new to this artsy stuff too; but I love experimenting and learning; so I usually have a lot of fun. I worked on two or three versions of your picture and got slightly different results with each.

Since I'm not exactly sure how to post pictures to this forum, I'll try to describe the techniques I used and hope it helps some.

1. Duplicated background. Posterized (4). Used a gradient map of pink, black and red.

2. Duplicated background twice. Posterized (4) on one. The other I used find edges. On the posterized layer, I again used the pink/black/red gradient map. Set the find edges layer on overlay above the gradient map layer. This one turned out best of the three done.

3. Duplicated background layer twice. Used Threshold with the slider about 3/4 way to the right on top layer and turned off the layer to see what effect the next layer would have. Used Threshold with the slider about 1/2 to the left on the next layer. Turned back on the upper layer and lowered opacity to 55%. This gave some nice gray halftones. On the top layer and without a clipping path, I added a gradient map of only pink and red. The effect was exotic and dramatic.

Even if this doesn't help you, I certainly had fun. Thanks.

I would try gradient maps too. I have gotten some really funky psychedilic effects with it!

Make a duplicate layer (control J) and on the bottom of the layers pallette select new fill or adjustment layer. Gradient maps is one of the options. You'll have to play around with the colors, but its a quick and easy way to do it.....

I was kinda late to this party, I hope I added something useful. :masked:

I finally figured out how to post pictures and refound this red woman challenge. Here is my take on stylizing her.

I found this thread to be quite interesting and decided to have a go at it.

Here is my original and finished picture. I had to resize the image down due to upload limits.

Judi