[DannyRaphael]

Questions? Examples to post? Discussion?

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Pictures worth 1000 words...

Example 1:
Before 1: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/att...=&postid=56702
After 2: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/att...=&postid=56703

Example 2:
Before 2: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/att...=&postid=56705
After 2: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/att...=&postid=56706

This tutorial was written by member CherylH and edited by DannyR. It is a multi-layer effect generated by various Photoshop filters. Photoshop Elements users can use this tutorial as well.

Note: It it based on Photoshop 7, but can be adapted to earlier versions.

Like all photo-art tutorials this will work great on some images, not so good on others. It will just depend.

Thank you, Cheryl, for sharing your awesome creativity. This is a wonderful technique.

~DannyR~

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In the steps that follow, values/settings used for the sample image are enclosed in parenthesis.

1. Drag and drop the Background over the New Layer button five times to create five duplicates. Label them (bottom to top):
. E - Photocopy
. D - Invert/Linear Dodge
. C - Smart Blur Edge Only
. B - Spatter
. A - Dry Brush
. Background (off)

2. Turn off all layer except for layer A.

3. Layer A: Filter > Artistic > Dry Brush (2/4/2).

4. B: Filter > Brush Strokes > Spatter (15/7).

5. B: Lower Opacity to 50%-75%.

6. C: Filter > Blur > Smart Blur > Edge Only, High. Adjust Threshold and Levels to taste. The goal is outlines with some, but not too much detail.

7. C: Image > Adjustments > Invert. You want black lines on a white background.

8. C: Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. A radius of 1-2 seems to work. The purpose is to soften the lines a bit.

9. C: Lower Opacity to 20%-60%. (35%)

10. C: Select a pleasing blend mode: Soft Light, Overlay, Multiply, Color Burn, Linear Burn. (Soft Light).

11. D: Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

12. D: Layer > Duplicate. New name: D1

13. D1: Set blend mode to Linear Dodge.

14. D1: Image > Adjustments > Invert.

15. D1: Filter > Blur Gaussian Blur. Radius: Around 2

16. D1: Layer > Merge Down.


17. D: Layer > Duplicate. New name: D2

18. D2: Set blend mode to Multiply

19. D2: Layer > Merge Down.

20. D: Lower Opacity to 20%-60%. (25%)

21. D: Select a pleasing blend mode: Soft light, overlay, multiply, color burn, linear burn. (Color Burn).

22. Use the Eyedropper to choose a very light color from the image. Press X to exchange the foreground and background color swatches.

23. Use the Eyedropper tool again to choose a very dark color from the image.

24. E: Filter > Sketch > Photocopy. Lower the detail and increase the darkness slightly.

25. E: Adjust opacity (33%) and blend mode (Linear Burn).

26. F: At the top of the layer stack Layer > New Fill Layer > Pattern (name it F) and pick a subtle pattern (I always use a grayscale pattern).

27. F: Blend mode = Soft Light

28. F: Optional: Lower opacity to suit.

29. G: Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels (or Curves). Adjust as needed.

30. H: Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation. Adjust as needed.

Open the attachment for a screen shot of the final Layers Palette. [it will look something like this:
. H - Hue/Saturation
. G - Levels
. F - Pattern Fill
. E - Photocopy
. D - Invert/Linear Dodge
. C - Smart Blur Edge Only
. B - Spatter
. A - Dry Brush
. Background

Be creative! Turn layers off and on. Experiment with layer opacity settings and blend modes. Have fun.

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Actions, anyone?

For those who are into Photoshop actions click HERE for the actionized version of this this tutorial.

ATTACHMENT: Screen shot of Layers palette.

[DannyRaphael]

In complying with a request by a member to remove all posts the member had posted previously, the "before and after" images previously used for this tutorial were lost.

The next four posts provide two before/example pairs to illustrate the possiblities.

Before example 1: Butterfly

[DannyRaphael]

After example 1: Butterfly

[DannyRaphael]

Before example 2: Disney

[DannyRaphael]

After example 2: Disney