I often call into Stock Exchange so hope you don't mind me posting a couple of photos today?

Photo by Marc Petersen of his daughter.
Stock Exchange
http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml
"There are no usage restrictions for this photo"

A beautiful lady with a glowing complexion.
Started off with high-key, about to post, changed my mind, duplicated and g'blurred, hardlight-blended with original. From there, aniso, smudge, and a bit of dodge tool.

ok... I think this is what I did.

Duped BG.
Loaded the Red Channel as a selection and made it a new alpha channel.
Used Levels to ramp up the contrast and named it "sillhouette".
G.Blurred it by about 2.
Loaded the Blue Channel and made it a new selection.
Used Levels to make it a drastically high contrast channel and named it "eyes".
G.Blurred it by about 2.
Loaded sillhouette and inverted selection.
Ran Artistic: Colored Pencils - 4, 8, 25.
Inverted selection again and ran Imp.: Pencil Sketch: Detailed Soft.
Inverted Selection and ran the same.
Faded to lower Opacity.
Loaded eyes and ran Imp.: Pencil Sketch: Detailed Colored.
Faded to lower Opacity.
Deselected. Ran the same filter.
Faded to lower opacity.
Loaded eyes again and inverted the selection.
Ran Imp: Pencil Sketch: Soft Light.
Faded to lower opacity.

I think that's about it.

jaykita - very interesting result... the aniso gives it "another dimension" :nod:
glikster - lovely chalk-like effect :)



i've been again messing w/ the art history brush + impressionist combination... hopefully one day i'll look up in the thesaurus what the word "moderation" means ;) :lol:

Thanks for posting Neve and great renditions so far!!

Started with Impressionist: djrOil plus default settings
Sent to Painter 8 and smoothed the skin a bit with Chalk Cloner.
Back to Photoshop and ran Dave's Simplifier action and pumped up saturation a tad.
Ran Velvia action
Frame by Extensis.

Cheers
Dave

Dave, just great :bow:

Thanks! I always prefer praise over a body Check!

Dave

jaykita, what beautiful hair - if only I had some, you could paint mine any day.

I'm getting hooked on this (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showpost.php?p=80639&postcount=17).

Rô

Just posterized and ran Image -> Threshold to give it the illustrated look, then ran Artistic-> Cutout to smooth the look. This interfered with the gloss and beauty of her hair, so I tried to mask it back in somewhat.

Smoothed skin
Changed lip colour
Painted Hair in Painter
Added soft direct lighting to the face
Bleached the overall colour
Added leafy border
Added Name

Voila !

Dave... You really captured her soul on this one. Excellent use of tools between Painter and Photoshop.

- - - - - - - -

Two layers from the Impressionist plugin and one rendered by Photoshop (Dry Brush). Roadmap in the Layers Palette snapshot.

On isolating her from the BG...
* Duplicated the Red channel (the one with the most contrast)
* Image > Adjustment > Levels - to increase contrast
* Image > Adjustment > Threshold
* Hand painted black on the background areas a white on her to finish the mask
* Ctrl + click this alpha channel (to load the selection)
* Click on the RGB composite channel
* Switch to Layers Palette
* Clicked on a duplicate layer I'd made of layer E
* Ctrl + J to copy the selection onto its own layer

Then I converted the layer from which the subject has been isolated by applying the filters shown in the snapshot.

- - - - - - -

Neve: A#1 photo... great choice. This is going to be a very popular thread.

~Danny~

Desiree is bringing out the best in all of you....! :classic: :thumbsup:

PaintShopPro 8.1

Bottom Layer of Image
Applied - Filter - PR Brightness
Applied - Filter - Namesuppressed:Autochromatic/FX-Pseudo Sepia
Dupe Bottom Layer
L2 - Filter - Flaming Pear/Ghost - Mode Normal - Dupe this layer
L3 - Mode Soft Light 100% - Dupe this layer
L4 - Saturation (L)
Merge all layers.
Filter - Diffuse Glow - 1/9/18
Filter - Impressionist - Ink: Color Line Pen
BG=Image/Size=25%/Coverage=85/Pressure=50
Filter - AIM/USM
Merge all layers and dupe this layer.
L2 - Hard Light 50%
Merge all layers.

p.s. Edit....compressing this image after using AIM/USM results in poor quality unfortunately.

jaykita, what beautiful hair - if only I had some, you could paint mine any day.

I'm getting hooked on this (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showpost.php?p=80639&postcount=17).

Rô
Thanks, Rô. You know, you are a great-looking guy even without much hair, but if you'd like, i could paint some on your photograph for you!

Everybody's renditions really are incredible. Axeleuk's and C.J.'s are my particular favorites.

I used Jaykita's waercolor settings in Imp. a lot.
I also used a modified Paint: Angled Scribbles.
Cloned and Healed some problem areas.

Hello Glikster! Mighty pleased to see you use my impr settings.
I did one too with these same settings, with a small diff. Hoping you might be interested for future reference.
I have included the layer's palette. There are only 3 wc layers, 2 are mine at reduced opacity and one with ps7's wc filter 14,0,1. I've observed that image adjustment-selective color- white reduce black and color neutral increase black upto 10 gives good results. Plus adding a sandstone texture reinforces the watercolor effect.
The custom filter is used to sharpen the image.
Here i havent touched any of it by hand, but you could use the clone tool for touch ups.
Have fun!
--------------
Thought i'd add a slice of the orig for the texture which didnt quite show in the first one.

Inspirational results as always! Had another go in Painter 8.1.

Basically (with many errors along the way....)

Cloned image and used Digital Water Color
Also did a sketch layer (later deleted) of outlines as a guide.

Hair - Wash Brush
Hair - Pointed wet Eraser to had highlights back.
Face - Pointed Simple Water
Blenders - Just add Water(over entire image)
Cloners - Simple Cloner to add back some small details especially
the Eyes.

Opened up in PSP8.1

Darkened and lightened where required.
Smudged here and there, also pulled strands of hair outwards.

It sounds simple enough but it wasn't quite so. Much of it is trial and error using the brushes. I liked the idea of using the eraser to bring back highlights to her hair, this works very well. It's much easier of course to work on someone with smooth skin, the real test is on faces with character lines.

^^Very nice edits above^^

Blur and noise removal to repair her minor skin blemishes/unevenness
Blended a golden layer to emulate using a gold reflector at the shoot
Gradient map layer for more color
Increased black for contrast
Selective sharpening, blurring, dodging, and burning
Recropped and resized to fit forum size guidelines

.

Thank you for the added info!
I've been playing with your technique, and it's great, as well as being great fun!

This is using Danny's Oil settings in Imp.
Used an edge mask to smooth her skin.
Loaded red channel.
Ran Imp: Danny's Oil.
Inverted selection and did the ssame.
Deselected and did the same. Faded to Darken.
Ran Other: Custom.
Slapped a canvas texture on her and faded it to lower opacity.


Whoah!!! Just viewed my compressed version! Let me post a smaller, higher quality pic...

I tried using the Art History Brush.

Had another go starting in Painter.

Cloned
Using Fine Camel Brush on hair
later blending with Rd. Blender Brush
Face - Simple Round Wash Brush
Blended with Rd. Blender Brush
Simple cloner to bring back detail of eyes
mouth, straps, necklace and hair.

Opened in PSP8.1

Spent a great deal of time smudging
cloning, darken/lighten tools.

Some lovely entries as always!

1. Duplicate Image
2. Desaturate new layer
3. Levels adjustment: Slide the white point slider far enough to almost blow out the whites and then slide the grey point slider to the right to bring back some detail.
4. Add a little Gaussian Blur (but bring back the sharpness to the eyes, mouth, and nose).
5. Duplicate Gaussian Blur Layer
6. Apply a Vignette
7. Duplicate layer
8. Apply Artistic Filter – Plastic Wrap. Set mode to Soft Light. This will further brighten your image

Jaykita,
Love the radiant glow you added.

CJ,
I really like the posterized results!

Axleuk,
Stunning results with Painter. It now has a lovely soft glow. I also really like the leaf border. It frames her face nicely. Excellent work!

Neve,
I really like the pen line strokes. They give the photo an artistic sketch feel.

Axeluk that is very beautifully done...

T Paul wow i am impressed and took the notes to try myself.

Thanks!

You could easily apply some selective coloring or artistic brush strokes for some fun variations.

Hard to compete with all these wonderful entries but here's my attempt at a tutorial in current issue of Digital Photo Effects. I hope the resizing to upload hasn't lost too much.

Christine

Hard to compete with all these wonderful entries but here's my attempt at a tutorial in current issue of Digital Photo Effects. I hope the resizing to upload hasn't lost too much.

Christine

Nice. Can you summarize the steps. This is a "keeper" process.

- - - - - - - -

I haven't messed with Painter in awhile....

Preparation in Photoshop:
* Duplicated Background
* Applied Impressionist #djroils 24 3-times
* Duplicated Background again and dragged to top of layer stack.
* Applied Impressionist #djroils 24 1-time to this layer and applied a layer mask. Airbrushed black on the layer mask to reveal some of the layer below.
* Duplicated Background again and dragged to top of layer stack and added a Hide All layer mask. Airbrushed layer mask to restore eye and mouth detail.
* Added a new layer and merged all visible (Alt + Ctrl + Shift + E)
* Applied Photoshop Brush Strokes > Spatter for a little variation
* Saved, duplicated the image and flattened the duplicate
* Opened the duplicate in Painter
* Applied the Grainy brushes from the Blender group to give it more of a brushed look
* Closed Painter.
* Opened in Photoshop and applied some Unsharp mask
* Added another layer, filled with 50% gray and applied Texturizer filter
* Lowered texture layer opacity to about 30%
* Cropped and saved.

Whew... Just in time to go watch Super Bowl XXXIX.

- - - - - -

Update: Per Christine's suggestion below on a second version (built basically the same way as described above) I applied Painter's Surface Effects function which did indeed bring out the stroke texture.

Thank's again, Christine.

- - - - - -

~Danny~

Christine, that is terrific :thumbsup: , I love it and PLEASE tell us how.

Danny - Well may you say WHEW, this is marvellous and worth all the effort, I'm sure, to achieve such a rare result. :bigthmb: :bigthmb:

Very nice effect Danny. It really looks oil painted.

Janet

Here's the basics of the sketch I did.

Using Photoshop CS.

Increase size to 300ppi

Duplicate layer
change layer to black and white by whichever means you prefer (I use the free black and white filter from the plugin site).

Duplicate again - hide top layer for now.
Add a new layer above the background layer and fill with canvas colour.
Convert first duplicate to outline sketch and mode to soft light.
This is to give an outline so you know where to draw.

Activate the top layer adjust contrast slightly. (levels,curves whatever you prefer).

Add a hide all mask - set layer mode to darken.

Using the dry nedia brush set select 'pastel on charcoal paper' brush - adjust size (12-20) and set opacity to pen pressure.

Now just scribble lines as wanted on the mask using white. (Hide sketch layer to view progress)

Hide sketch layer.

Have fun - thats the most important part.

There's also a very nice watercolour tutorial in this mag - not like any I've seen before so thats next for me to try.

Christine

Very much appreciated Christine :pleased: Looking forward to seeing your WC next.

This technique does not work well on the original photo. I used my last Post done in Painter for this. So if you have an image on a white background and one that you've worked on by smudging or painted in Painter will work well.

Original Layer - Buzz lightly retaining some detail. Dupe this layer.
L2 - Plugin/Namesuppressed/Autochromatic - Dupe this layer
L3 - Plugin/Virtual Painter/Collage/Default - Blend Mode - Color (L)
Delete L2 and Merge the rest.

Another Sketch using Paint Alchemy.

Please, oh please, don't ask me how I ended up with this...it is 3:22 and I have a baby girl in my lap who FINALLY is asleep, and I have no brain power left whatsoever. :dead:

You deserve a medal MUM!!!! :wavey:

Here's another take on Desiree. I used a RetouchPRO tutorial on making a magazine cover.

Well done....like the sound of that spa...!!!! :happy:

Good Going Keepemcomin. And I like your sense of humor a lot.

Janet

Ditto the kudos! :bigthmb: :bigthmb:

Very nicely crafted.

Duplicate Layer
Layer Mode - Overlay
Glowing Edges
Gaussian blur
Duplicate layer
Layer mode - Soft Light
Opacity 50%

Christine

I felt like doing a nice soft portrait to relax tonight and Desiree was a beautiful subject. I altered the contrast, colours and size in Photoshop first then cloned in Painter with Jeremy's Mish Mash for the background (great name !), Soft Wet Acrylic for the skin and Captured Bristle for the hair.

You can see a larger version here:

http://upload.pbase.com/image/43945319/original

:bigthmb: Top result Pam!

Well, it doesn't really look like a painting, but I did do a lot of coloring... all by hand. Anyway, I thought it was striking... especially since it's not something you'd normally see. Except maybe at Mardi Gras.

I think it captures her wild side that just seemed to be seething, waiting to jump out.

I apologize if it's posted in the wrong place.

I felt like doing a nice soft portrait to relax tonight and Desiree was a beautiful subject. I altered the contrast, colours and size in Photoshop first then cloned in Painter with Jeremy's Mish Mash for the background (great name !), Soft Wet Acrylic for the skin and Captured Bristle for the hair.

You can see a larger version here:

http://upload.pbase.com/image/43945319/originalVery nice results overall, Pam. Did you mean to leave the halo over her upper lip? Looks like it may have been a result of sharpening.

Well, it doesn't really look like a painting, but I did do a lot of coloring... all by hand. Anyway, I thought it was striking... especially since it's not something you'd normally see. Except maybe at Mardi Gras.

I think it captures her wild side that just seemed to be seething, waiting to jump out.

I apologize if it's posted in the wrong place.You have very successfully captured the Mardi Gras, wild look. As a father of an almost 9-year-old, this is something I'll probably have to face someday (too) soon!:)

Thanks Danny - Yeah I think it was because of the sharpening but I didn't know how to get rid of it and I like the sharpening on the rest of the image. It doesn't show up so much on the printed version I have so I decided to just leave it. Any ideas how I can get rid of it or avoid it?

Any ideas how I can get rid of it or avoid it? I, too, like the results of applying some sharpening for its defining effect, but halos can be a problem.

You might try something like this (lots of detail in case anyone needs it):
* Duplicate your image and close the original
* Use Lasso tool, Magic Wand, Quick Mask or any selection method with which you're comfortable to select the lips. (I'd use the Lasso if it was me.) The selection does not have to be precise; it's OK to include the halo. Just be sure you get all of the lips.
* When the selection is complete, Ctrl + J to put a copy of the selection onto a new layer
* Add a layer mask (Layer > Add Layer Mask > Reveal All) and then turn off this layer (click eyeball)
* Click layer below
* Add a new layer above it
* Engage Photoshop's Clone tool. "Use all layers" = on. Set opacity to around 95%. With a soft-edged brush generously clone over the halo. Don't worry if you clone over the part of lips on this layer
* Turn on the "isolated lips" layer again (eyeball "on")
* Press D key to reset colors
* Choose Brush tool, select Airbrush option; opacity ~50%, flow ~50%
* Right-click and choose a soft-edge brush, small radius (your call)
* Click on the layer mask icon in the layers palette
* Press X (foreground color switches to black)
* Airbrush black over the halo area and edges of the selection. blending it into the newly cloned section below.

There are other approaches, but this one is safe and generic. If all else fails, delete the top two layers and you're back to where you started.

~Danny~

Thanks for that Danny ! I'll give it a go. I just played around in photoshop and managed to reduce it by sampling the good colour around the lips and painting on a new layer with a soft brush over the halo. I gaussian blurred it and set the blend to soft light. It doesn't look bad but I'll try your method too I think.

Here are my amended versions (Left one - my attempt, Right one - after following Danny's suggestions).

I like your approach much better than mine Danny because I got to clone in the brush stroke texture which I hadn't done with my attempt. Thanks again :)

Large version of final portrait: http://upload.pbase.com/pamsav/image/43945319/original

And one from me using AHB.

Oh that rhymes

Peter

Still experimenting with the edge detect capabilities of the Redfield Emboss filter. Vector simplication and smudging was also involved, so not just all filters this time. :tired:

So many great interpretations of this beautiful young woman. I just had to give it a try.

Lot's of smudging - face and hair.

Replaced BG with gradient

Duped and used a 50% blend of VP Radiant.

Dave

nice, peter, lyle, fitz :)

i saw this pic and i went and made a new filter forge filter for it. i shamelessly borrowed Northershadow's 'technical drawing' filter, or parts of it, at least, and made a sort of colored pencil or color wash type filter. she does some marvelous pastel filters and i wanted to borrow some of the components and routines to make this. so, this is 70% northernshadow's and 30% mine :)

Peter - thanks for bringing this lovely girl's thread back up to the top! Nice work with your AHB; I'm still not ready for display of my AHB efforts.

Lyle, Dave, Craig -- nice work, guys!

Decided to play with sketching also.

A pretty lady.

I guess this is sort of a painty/sketchy look.

Steve C.

thanks, cj :) (i dont like it much now that i look at it today. lol. i may do another)

i was wondering when looking at yours if you brought up the saturation on the skin areas, what it would look like.

Craig, here's more saturated skin --

Craig, here's more saturated skin --


Well I like all 3 of them CJ.
Don't listen to Craig he warps trees you know. :clown: :nod: :lmao:

Peter

Here is one of the not many B/W interpretation, with Andromeda’s “EtchTone” filter help.

A sketch in Photoshop/Painter

thanks, cj :)

are those two new ones based on the one you posted first?

thanks, cj :)

are those two new ones based on the one you posted first?

Started with the same process on one of them. The other is mostly Diffuse Glow done differently on each channel -- then I did most of the sketch processes on that. Kinda... sorta... ;) I used Brush Strokes -> Dark Strokes on one of the layers on the first one and at least one of the last two -- I don't usually like the effect, but after a fade effect, I liked it on this image. Of course, this lady is so pretty that she can look good even when hidden under a bunch of filter effects.

you know how you look for a 'look' and go all around it and get near, then lose it again and go looking some more? well, i finally found the look i've been trying to get for months now. it's a high contrast, but softer texture and high saturation without losing color integrity.... or something like that :)

nancyj made a comment on this look i've been looking for a while back. it was about a very high contrast style i was doing and it was just never quite right. i knew it, she knew it and so i veered off again.

well anyways, this is very close to what i've been looking for for quite a while now :) no filter forge filters... no 3rd party filters or plugins at all. this is all Paint Shop Pro.

i treat the image as a photo to begin with and clean it up a bit and treat it a bit and then do some blurs, blend modes and unsharp masks. and then i whack it with a warped tree, just for peter :D

ok, thanks, cj.

what i was thinking on that first one was just a mask on the skin and then saturate it a bit more. just wanted to see how it would differ.

Another very pretty girl ( maybe just for uk residents but doesnt she look like Heather Mills ( Lady Mcartney))



Palms

and here my version - on the beginning I wanted to simulate jaykita's second
rendering, but finally ended with this ..

I used Gimp :happy: on Linux

Had to have another go at this one now I've learnt some more.

Peter

Like Peter, I thought I would give it another go too. :)

levels, well converted to duotone, and apply halfpattern..

3 minutes. basic stuff