PHOTO ART: Mini-Challenge #11 - Granddaughter of Jim Caffrey

[photofixer]

I guess what I liked most was her smile....

This is all done in Photoshop CS.

I started out by touching up her eyes, lips, and eyebrows with the rubber stamp tool.

Next, I used Dave's Simplifier Action (available at http://atncentral.com/download.htm), lowered the opacity of the simplifier layer to 40%, then flattened the image.

I made 2 duplicate layers, then turned off the visibility of the top layer and selected the middle layer.

In the middle layer, I chose Filter>Brush Strokes>Angled Strokes 50-4-3, and set this layer to Hard Light Blend Mode.

Next I selected the top layer and applied the MS Impressionist Filter, using the Natural:Gauze Underlay Style, and changed the brush size to 58%.Then I set this layer to Overlay Blend Mode, at 85% opacity.

After that, just a little touch-up with the rubber stamp and dodge tools, and flattened the image.

I was going for the rich but aged look of an old classic painting.

What a lovely young lady.


This is my first post on RetouchPro.... be kind :-)


Sharon

[Cheryl H]

Sharon--here's an unofficial welcome (Danny's out of town for a few days). It's great to see new people and new ideas. Thumbs up on both the art and explaining how you did it.

[photofixer]

I like this place.....nice people and tons of good ideas. I have been learning a lot here.

Sharon

[Kissed Vixen]

Wow lots of great examples... Though I have to learn to check the dates on these.. this one seems to be an old one oops
but still fun

I too am newish to submitting, though I do love Art Tag!! Wink Wink .. you should all give it a try... Come find us in the Studio

ok nuff of that campaigning for more players

heres my attempt at this fun project..

Ok I have never been good at keeping track of what I do to an image...
taking time to take note never seems to come naturally during the creative process...


So bare with me as I try to explain a bit

I tried to stay away from filters as I rely on them a lot some times. So only filter used is G.Blur.
I relied this time on layers, inverting, layer styles, curve and opacity. 12 layers later but only 7 in use I got this result.
The textures on the body and back ground is an image I got of a tree trunk really close up, her hair is a close up of a large bush, had a nature theme going here

that's it,
Sorry again for a lack of real details, going to try creating actions so to have a record of
the path I take

Kissed

[ahutton]

I tried to add magic to this portrait. First buzz slightly, then xero lithograph on one layer and another with VP pointillism.

AmyHutton

[DannyRaphael]

Photofixer: A big ditto on what Cheryl said; it's always great to have new folks join us. There's always room in the pool. Appreciate the "how to" info, too.

- - - - - - -

Kissed:

Very, very nice and no problem creating w/o filters and plugins. Yours is a very refreshing and creative approach.

Also, it's perfectly okay to take a swipe at older threads. None of these ever expire = there's always one to try. If you see one you like, give it a go.

- - - - - - -

Amy: You just keep getting better and better the more you do this stuff. It's fun to watch you spread your wings and continue to grow.

- - - - - - -

CH: Thanks for pinch hitting for me. Ya done good!

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

Historical note:

This photo was contributed by Jim Caffrey, one of the charter members of this forum. Although Jim passed away about a year ago, his artwork lives on here at RetouchPRO. Do a search via his profile and check out some of his beautiful creations.

- - - - - - - - - -

It's been awhile since I looked through this thread and was amused by my earlier contributions. I'm happier with the results I got with this set of interpretations than the ones posted before. I can honestly see that my "style" (if you can call it that) is maturing, which is a good thing, I guess.

I used the Microsoft Impressionist plugin, Virtual Painter plugin and common Photoshop filters to generate several layers, which were blended and combined using layer masks and layer blend modes. See the Layers Palette snapshot for the details. Don't hesitate to ask (or send e-mail or PM) if you have questions.

The first version was intended to look like a chalk sketch. (In the Layers Palette snapshot, this is layer "I.")

The second version was rendered by applying the Virtual Painter Oil Painting effect on layer "I." (This was a CherylH suggestion and I really like the Watercolor-like, smudged effect.) Although it looked pretty cool in grayscale, I added color just for something different: Duplicated the original Background, dragged it to the top of the layer stack, changed the blend mode to Color and lowered the opacity.

~Danny~

[Duv]

Extensis Intellihance Pro Soft Enhance
Xero Fuzzifier
Dave's Simplifier (Last Half)
Changed Opacity to 50%

Cheers
Duv

[jaykita]

I like what i did ..she looks like a sweet senorita (at least to me!)

[jaykita]

Here's another done with my favorite toys...ps7, impressionist, virtual p., buzz. Layers Palette shown below.

[Northernshadow]

Holy Smokes! Absolutley incredible work on this thread! I agree she worked exceptionall well for the Mona Lisa, and I absolutlely loved the fairy! What is really neat about looking at an old thread is to see how people have refined their techniques and preferences.

Was sad to read Jim has passed away, he has a lovely grandaughter.

I have been fiddling with some variations with the basic steps I used on another portrait, here are my steps.

I did all the preliminary work in Corel Photopaint just because I am more
familiar with it than Photoshop. I have only had photoshop for about a year
and still have much to learn about it.

-desaturated original
-adjusted color balance- shadows a dusky blue, highlights peachy
-ran Paint Alchemy (a variant of sponge clip) the Impressionist filter
would work great too (a spongy look, geez I love that plug, It's incredible!)
-saved this as image1
-opened original and desaturated about 50% ?
-saved as image2

-opened image1 in Painter 8 this was the working image
-opened image2 in Painter, set this as the clone source
-added a new layer in image1 and used a smeary camel varient set to clone
her face and edge of hair. Set this layer to 50% transp
-added a new watercolor layer and touched up the eyes, lips, hair and added
some red in her shirt
-dropped all layers and added paper texture, parchment.

-cropped, resized, unsharpen mask to bring back clarity

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Northernshadow

Holy Smokes! Absolutley incredible work on this thread! I agree she worked exceptionall well for the Mona Lisa, and I absolutlely loved the fairy! What is really neat about looking at an old thread is to see how people have refined their techniques and preferences.

Was sad to read Jim has passed away, he has a lovely grandaughter.

I have been fiddling with some variations with the basic steps I used on another portrait, here are my steps.

I did all the preliminary work in Corel Photopaint just because I am more
familiar with it than Photoshop. I have only had photoshop for about a year
and still have much to learn about it.

-desaturated original
-adjusted color balance- shadows a dusky blue, highlights peachy
-ran Paint Alchemy (a variant of sponge clip) the Impressionist filter
would work great too (a spongy look, geez I love that plug, It's incredible!)
-saved this as image1
-opened original and desaturated about 50% ?
-saved as image2

-opened image1 in Painter 8 this was the working image
-opened image2 in Painter, set this as the clone source
-added a new layer in image1 and used a smeary camel varient set to clone
her face and edge of hair. Set this layer to 50% transp
-added a new watercolor layer and touched up the eyes, lips, hair and added
some red in her shirt
-dropped all layers and added paper texture, parchment.

-cropped, resized, unsharpen mask to bring back clarity

A simply lovely interpretation. Jim is certainly smiling about this one.

~Danny~

[Neve]

Hadn't spotted this lovely lass until today.

PSP8.1

Smudged everything.
PR Brightness Filter
Darkened Eyebrows
Impressionist/Fluffbutt2 - Stevie Goache/Modified.
Added two layers - One Soft Light 30%
Other Multiply 40%
Merged and flattened.
Added canvas texture.
Also darkenedd outside edges slightly.

[glikster]

Northernshadow, I love yours!

Here's mine.

[Elleth]

I was looking for images to practice portrait techniques and thought this one fit the bill!

I used TM watercolor AHB, highpass filter, smudging, and texture.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Elleth

I was looking for images to practice portrait techniques and thought this one fit the bill!

I used TM watercolor AHB, highpass filter, smudging, and texture.

Glad you took a shot at this one. It's one of my favorites.

This thread was started a couple years before the "portraits" subforum was started by one of the founding members of the photo-art forum. Although Jim passed away about a year ago, I'm sure he would haved liked this interpretation a lot.

[Swampy]

She's such a cute little girl!

My goal was to achieve a soft painterly effect without losing detail in her face.

Can't remember how I did this... arrrgh... I tried several approaches and liked this one best.

[lkroll]

To many other subtle steps to mention.

[MargaretM]

Used this as practise to become more familiar with Painter. Painted from a cloned source with canvas texture. Many more great creative versions than mine here but Photoart is my "Sunday hobby".
Margaret M

[MargaretM]

Did another version - tried to make a delicate pencil sketch. Used just Photoshop here and inverted, then blurred. Such a delightful subject!

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by MargaretM

Used this as practise to become more familiar with Painter. Painted from a cloned source with canvas texture. Many more great creative versions than mine here but Photoart is my "Sunday hobby".
Margaret M

So it looks like the "pencil sketch" would be your "Monday hobby," right?

(I'm pulling your leg, here... ) Both are very nicely done, Margaret. Glad to see you're getting into Painter. It has a lot of potential.

[MargaretM]

So it looks like the "pencil sketch" would be your "Monday hobby," right?

Thanks Danny - I'm hoping to come up today with a Tuesday hobby as well, and so avoid real work three days in a row.
Yes Painter is interesting - I need a quick and dirty Tutorial on different kinds of brushes and their resulting strokes. The choice is so extensive and baffling to a non-artist like myself.
Keep up the good work - MargaretM.

[Mitch]

Hi all,
Love this picture and all the entries so far.
Tried another waterycolour effort.

PSP

coloured edges
desaturated and lightened
VP oils

Second layer of rough black brushstrokes set to OVERLAY
adjusted sliders on brushstrokes.

Merged all and unsharp mask.

Regards to all,
Mitch.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Mitch

Hi all,
Love this picture and all the entries so far.
Tried another waterycolour effort.

PSP

coloured edges
desaturated and lightened
VP oils

Second layer of rough black brushstrokes set to OVERLAY
adjusted sliders on brushstrokes.

Merged all and unsharp mask.

Regards to all,
Mitch.

Wow. Very nice interpretation. I espcially like the texturing.

Did you manually paint the brushstrokes with PSP?

[vvs]

Been lurking here off and on for a while now, thinking that some day when I had more time, I'd start participating in lots of challenges and really immerse myself in this really cool corner of the net you guys have built here, but I finally decided that since it could be a while before I make it to that vast oasis of freetime, better at least stick a toe in here and there when I've got a chance. So when I saw this mini-challenge, I thought I'd give it a try.

Fair warning, I come from the world of fanart, don't know what kind of a rep that has around these parts, but, you know, I see a picture of a pretty girl, can't help following my same old familiar fanart procedures... which in this case is (1) layer on stock images I happen to have on the harddrive in various opacities and blend modes (2) because I'm using PS5 without gradiant map adjustment layers, use mehdi's free gradiant smithy plugin to replicate a gold-to-violet gradiant, setting the layer to soft-light (3) Use adjustment layers (levels and selective colors) to further tweak the colors/contrast.

[Kraellin]

vvs,

welcome to RP!

lovely rendition! you've brought out what i saw as the 'mona lisa' quality this image had from the start. you really see it in your work. very well done!

Craig

[Mitch]

Hi Danny,

Sorry, I,ve only just come back to this thread. The brushstokes were from a Tut I downloaded some time ago. I just resize or cut to suit. Until I get a tablet I'll have to give up on PSP brushes. With a mouse they're full on and off - or it's just me. The brushstrokes were a scan of 'real' paint on paper.

Regards to all,
Mitch.

[thana]

mime time! i've always wanted to be an actress, mime's good, too ;)

pozdrawiam!

[Kraellin]

thana,

how cool first mime i've seen someone do that. it's now mime favorite

Craig

[cazubi]

I love the old world look of the beautiful girl. I thought I would give her a renaissance look. I edited the photo, Hue&sat, levels, color match to a Leonardo painting, smudge brush set to oils, crackle texture overlay mode. I added a different background and arch.

Cathy