PHOTO ART: Mini-challenge #53 – Twisted Trunk

[Kraellin]

you're welcome.

The submissions for this have been inspiring.

and i agree.

Craig

[DannyRaphael]

Let me add my welcome, too, adaomalem. I always enjoy seeing new creative twists applied. Look forward to see what you try next.

~Danny~

[Swampy]

I've looked at this challenge several times and today I got inspired.

Like many, I wanted to bring out the snake shape.

Colorized the snake area, added a color fill overlay to bring out the other brown tones.

On the snake's paint layer (painted on a blank layer) I added snake skin texture with Photoshop's texturizer.

"Snakes! Why does it always have to be snakes?" - Harrison Ford, Raiders of the Lost Ark

[Kraellin]

dee dee,

that's kinda cool. could you leave the twist directly under the 'snake' alone, and then extend your effect down the main twist?

Craig

[Swampy]

Like This? Sure I can.... LOL

Actually, I had to redo the whole thing because, one of the few times, I didn't save an original PS file.

But this was fairly easy to redo. Colors may be a little different, but your wish is my command.

[Kraellin]

dee dee,

thank you! you're a sweetheart for doing that for me!

might i risk making one more suggestion? (gets ready to duck and run). the top line of scales is great. the second line, the one you just added, needs to be trimmed to follow a graceful line to meet the top lines. a trim on the bottom trunk, near the top, on the top part of the whole, the line curves upwards too quickly to really meet its counterpart on the other side of the remaining tree trunk. did that make sense? in other words, make the snake/dragon/whatever's neck follow the lines it would as if it were real.

ya know what would be really cool for this site? a built in simple editor where you could show things with marks and lines and arrows. you wouldnt want it to mark on the original, but if you 'quoted' the picture it would make a duplicate and you could then mark on that. yeah, i know, get off my butt and make one

Craig

[Swampy]

I kinda understood, Craig.

You really don't have much directional control when applying textures through the PhotoShop Texture filter. In this case the snake skin options are for size and relief. By making the scales smaller there is more "flow", but the scales start looking more like pebbles.

The texturizer algorythm apparently looks at the overall shape of the path to be filled starts along the outside edges where the "flow" does follow the path pretty well and works inward where it starts to lose integrity due to varied sizes and torque of the scales. I can see that where vertical meets horizontal things can get a little dicey at the mid point.

This version may suit you better.

[Kraellin]

dee dee,

nope. that wasnt what i meant. sorry, so much easier to explain with pictures than words. on the part you added on the second picture, i meant along the top edge of the part added, where it goes up and behind the trunk. it goes up, but shld go more left, the edge, in order to join with the part above the trunk. you might have to change the trunk if it's a problem with PS and make the trunk edge to more to the left and not up.

it's not a big deal. i was just curious how it would look with the 'snake' wrapping himself all the way down and around the trunk and you've satisfied that curiosity

Craig

[Swampy]

Okay... NOW I think I understand... he was too thick at the top of the second segment.

Is this better?
dee dee

[Kraellin]

bingo! well done! that was what i was getting on about

Craig

[Panpan]

Laocoön caught in the coils of the serpent.

Where others see a head, I see a hand connected to a man's back. I do see a head right behind it though, so it's still snakes! I made a collage and warped it to match the tree.

Great job, Dee Dee and AdaoMalem and everybody! Thank you Snowleoprd for the great picture. I especially like the surreal images of pstewart.


Pierre

[Swampy]

Wonderful, Pan Pan!! I missed it completely
dee dee

[greatguy]

Well, I thought the trunk remided me of a gargoyle and I could see a snake there also. So here is my rendition for better or worse.

[Kraellin]

wow, i LIKE that one, greatguy! very powerful!

Craig

[greatguy]

Thanks Craig, I had a lot of fun doing it

Bruce

[dbuckle]

Everyone did such amazing things with this image over a long period I thought I'd give it a try. Heres my attempt using Studio Artist and PScs.

[freddieanne]

Beautiful dbuckle, suitable for framing. I love the wizard (?).

How did you create the frame and matting?

Thumbs up

Annabel

[dbuckle]

The frame was created using a Dave Jaseck Frame action in PS.

[Kraellin]

nice, dbuckle. and yes, i like the addition of the figure also. totally changes the scale of things. well done!

Craig

[dbuckle]

Originally Posted by Kraellin

nice, dbuckle. and yes, i like the addition of the figure also. totally changes the scale of things. well done!

Craig

Thanks. I was trying to get a magical tree spirit feel. Wheather it's a kind spririt or an evil one is open to the viewers interpetation. I really enjoyed looking at what everyone has done and working on it myself.

[syl]

a feng (phoenix) in his nest

[lkroll]

First I made it seamless, then I used that result for the Amazing Circle (yes; I did this before for another image; lol).

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by syl

a feng (phoenix) in his nest

Welcome to RetouchPRO ! Glad you are finally posting... Good work!!

I have heard of them but never believed till now, I thought they were an old wives tale!! Nice rendition!!