I've seen this recently, and I can't figure out how it was done. The person made a background image, and using multiple colors and/or a pattern, she "grabbed" the background and swirled it into a circular pattern. The end result was an oval or circular shape in the middle where a photo could be copied into it, and the background was this swirly effect. In one, she used a red and white heart pattern, and the closer to the middle it got, the more it swirled until it looked like someone had mixed red syrup into vanilla ice cream into a circular pattern. Another one that was pretty cute was a photo of a grassy lawn, which looked distinctly like grass on the outside perimeter, but closer to the center it was swirled into a green circular pattern.

I would include an example, but I found it on the Smugmug site (professional category) and this person is selling them. I'm afraid of getting into trouble if I copied it over here, but I'd really like to know how she did it. Just for my own use, of course.

I don't believe it would hurt to copy/paste a link (URL) to the site... How about doing that?

Do you mean these?

Example 1 (http://karyns-photo-creatio.smugmug.com/gallery/76908/1/2669467)

Example 2 (http://karyns-photo-creatio.smugmug.com/gallery/79258/1/2669479)

If so, I'm pretty sure this will work:

Place the layer you want swirled over the photo you want in the center. With the top layer selected, choose Filter>Distort>Twirl. Then add a layer mask and using a soft black brush, "erase" the center so that the photo beneath show through. You may need to crop slightly to get the effect you want.

Jeanie

Thank you! Those are exactly the photos I was referring to!! I can't wait to try this technique out. I appreciate you posting the directions VERY much ~~ you've made my day!!! :wavey:

Glad I could help. I'd love to see your results if you care to share them! ;)

Jeanie

Jeanie, you are a goddess! :) :bow:

I tried this technique and did something a little bit different. What I did was:

1) Dupe the original layer
2) Add the Twirl Filter (Filter > Distort > Twirl)
3) Create a layer mask and fill it in with black
4) Paint a little white into the layer mask
5) Add the Twirl Filter to the layer mask

It turned out really cool! I think I'm going to use it sometime!

I have just had a play with the ideas in the previous posts and here are a couple of different results.

I did these differently to the suggestions made earlier.

I opened an image and selected the middle part of the image with an ellipse and feathered it.

I then inversed the selection and applied the twirl distort effect.

Added a couple of borders and voila finished.

Here are the results for you.

Judy

Cute ones, Kitacat3.

I was curious and played with the filter also.
I'm not sure I'd use it for anything, but it's fun :)

Thankyou freelancer.

There are many different ways you can make it. The most obvious use of it is as a framing affect.

Did you upload any of the one's you did??

Judi

I made some silly ones :)

This is a very fun frame effect! Thanks for sharing.

Kitacat3,
I really like the one you did of the two little girls.

freelancer,
I can see that you are enjoying the swirls! I really like the tulip one you made. It would make a fun notecard.