Smudging resources

[palms1]

I thought i would try and put together the resources that are out there on the net about smudging this is by no means complete if you know of any more please post and i will add them to the list

Brushes

lindas brush/sarsa's hair
http://www.innographx.com/forum/view...?p=46443#46443
trimoons brush
http://www.trimoon.com/html/smudging.html
hair/fur brush
http://www.3dmenagerie.com/goodies/bag/brushes.htm

Sylvias smudging brushes
http://abc-impact.com/ (scroll to the bottom of the page, there are some backgrounds and textures too )

Peter's smudging hair tools post 174

For converting ps brushes to use in psp read this thread


Techniques
Phyllis Stewart tips on smudging
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...ting-tips.html
Phyllis Stewart
http://www.innographx.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18
Alan Buonforte
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=13999204
smudged eyes by Alan Buonforte
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=14703851
Scott deardoff's
beagle:http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=17101687
renaissance man:http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=18183049
Trimoons
http://www.trimoon.com/html/smudging.html
Anita Stanhope (psp)
http://www.pbase.com/skyopal/anitas_tutorials
Rod Barker
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic2/522757/1
Amie Higgs (aka Amiebear)
http://amiehiggsdigitalartist.blogsp...efinitely.html **
a real easy explanation post #5
http://photocamel.com/forum/photo-il...-painting.html

Beginners smudge Tutorial for psp
http://www.flickr.com/groups/smudgep...7615681223476/

Smudging forum
http://smudgepainter.freeforums.org/index.php

Pdf's
beagle smudge by Scott Deardoff **
http://www.digitalimaging-uk.co.uk/reviews/Smudge.pdf

Faye Sirkus ( this is for painting in painter but has some useful tips for preparing to smudge as well )
http://www.corel.com/content/pdf/pai...ser_Sept05.pdf

Training cd's dvd's /online courses
(not free)

Brad Buttry's oil painting

http://www.mmkgraphics.com/tutorials/virtualpaint.html

Scott Deardoff gives online lessons check out this link for when lessons begin **
http://www.digitalartacademy.com/ins...ott-deardorff/

Scotts web site ( new) here


Another link that has links ( I havent the time to go through them all some are already here but others) ** submitted by member mikajomc
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=74655

This is a link to a forum thread about "Virtual oils" and "smudge painting " there is a lot of posts there but some little nuggets of info if you read through them as well as some great work (which you have to register to see) Rod Barker is a name to look out for (start at the end of the post and work backwards)
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=260882
Also i thought it could be the place for members to post questions and ask for or give advice

My top tip is read as much as you can and practice ( i still am)
there is no magic numbers for the smudge brush just general ones, soft pale skin needs less strength than someone older with a tan etc.
so just because something works once on one image does not mean it will work and the next

** denotes links from other members (thank you)

Palms

[skydog]

Thanks Palms...your resources amaze me and your willingness to share! thanks again..

[mikajomc]

Thank you so much Palms!!! I've been wanting to learn how to smudge, this is awesome!

-jordan in cinci

[Joeven]

Here's a link to a pdf on smudging.
http://www.digitalimaging-uk.co.uk/p...ad.php?tid=153

Joe

[palms1]

Thank you all for your interest as more info comes to light i will add to the list

Now for all of those wishing to learn smudging or practice smudging here are some photo's for you to try out ( courtesy of www.fontplay.com and www.morguefile.com ( girl one))

For those wanting to learn
Have a go any problems you have, just ask ( sorry i personally wont have all the answers but maybe others will ) by using the same images it should make things a bit easier and fun

For those practicing
try and give some info on how you achieved your smudge, like which brush, opacity, sharpening etc

have fun

Palms

[palms1]

Heres a couple of different smudges of the dog photo
1st one done with the rough round brush at 80% opacity
2nd one done with one of the furry brush's at 80% opacity

Palms

[palms1]

Flower smudge
using trimoons smudge tool preset 23# at opacity 60% and his soften edges #1 at 19%( brilliant brush this one not just for smudge painting but for softening edges especially when changing backgrounds )


Palms

[byRo]

Smudge portrait.

I like to keep the various peices in different layers, than I can sharpen them separately.

Rô

[Joeven]

I used the two brushes from one of your links to smudge the dog. A hair one and the one from Linda. I'm just learning.

Joe

[palms1]

Originally Posted by byRo

Smudge portrait.

I like to keep the various peices in different layers, than I can sharpen them separately.

Rô

Good idea the different layers, not sure if you do this way but you can smudge onto a empty layer by doing
new layer, and checking the box at the top that says "use all layers"
problem with it, is that it slows the pc down considerably the more you do, but for say the eyes etc it is ok
or do this for a bit then turn visibility off on the background layer and you can see where you have missed smudging ! ! !
Palms

[palms1]

Originally Posted by Joeven

I used the two brushes from one of your links to smudge the dog. A hair one and the one from Linda. I'm just learning.

Joe

You are doing well Joe , If you have downloaded trimoons smudge brushes try the soften edges on your edges, I think it makes a better finish

Palms

[byRo]

Originally Posted by palms1

....but you can smudge onto a empty layer by doing
new layer, and checking the box at the top that says "use all layers"
........then turn visibility off on the background layer and you can see where you have missed smudging

Exactly

Rô

[palms1]

My attempt at the girl, and I send my apologies i thought this was a decent candidate to smudge for both those starting out smudging and for those who just wanted practice

WRONG

the freckles ( wished i could of got them back in ) and all the fine fly away hair cause some problems (take note)
And yes the dog has a few problems like blown out bits ! ! ! !

but i suppose it shows you what is meant be some images work better than others

Palms

[palms1]

when i have finished a smudge painting i sharpen, but different ways depending on the image. ( when you read the tutorials they nearly all use a different way ) This is quite time consuming so i have attempted to make a action based on the sharpening methods i mainly use.

It opens a duplicate of the image and makes 5 layers each with a different type of sharpening, just turn on the visibility (eye) of each layer to see the effect. this is meant to be mainly a visual guide so that you can make a quicker choice for your original

hopefully i have got everything right and it runs ok

Palms

[Mchilly]

Thanks for sharing this... I would definitely download all the smudge tools :-)

[palms1]

Just a quick up date i have added to the links ( rod barker technique and a post from another forum dealing with virtual paintings (smudge) ) Also at the moment i know the link to lisa's video is down, this i am hoping is down to maintenece work at nikon cafe will keep a eye on the situation though



http://abc-impact.com/
Palms

[sylvia1065]

Oh wow, Palms, you did a fantastic job with this post! I had never heard of most of these threads.
I'm glad you added the link to download Lisa's video from my website, I know a lot of people enjoy that video.
Thanks for putting all this stuff together!!!
Sylvia

[palms1]

Originally Posted by sylvia1065

Oh wow, Palms, you did a fantastic job with this post! I had never heard of most of these threads.
I'm glad you added the link to download Lisa's video from my website, I know a lot of people enjoy that video.
Thanks for putting all this stuff together!!!
Sylvia

And thank you Sylvia for making Lias's video available it would be criminal to let such a useful video sink without a trace

[sylvia1065]

My pleasure! I had a heck of a time to find it!!!
If anybody needs Lisa's brush or pictures, let me know and I'll try to get them...
Sylvia

[sylvia1065]

I'm so very sorry but Lisa just informed me that she doesn't wish to share her video on the Internet anymore, so I removed it from my website.
Sorry about that...
Sylvia

[palms1]

Originally Posted by sylvia1065

I'm so very sorry but Lisa just informed me that she doesn't wish to share her video on the Internet anymore, so I removed it from my website.
Sorry about that...
Sylvia

What a shame oh well will have to remove the links now

Palms

[AmieBear]

I thought i would add to the list of resources its a tutorial of sorts more a walkthrough of how i smudge painted an image.
http://amiehiggsdigitalartist.blogsp...efinitely.html
I hope it all makes sense i haven't done a tutorial before let me know if it doesnt so i can change it

[palms1]

Originally Posted by AmieBear

I thought i would add to the list of resources its a tutorial of sorts more a walkthrough of how i smudge painted an image.
http://amiehiggsdigitalartist.blogsp...efinitely.html
I hope it all makes sense i haven't done a tutorial before let me know if it doesnt so i can change it

Thank you for your link I have added it to the first post of this thread ( just in case someone dosent go through all the posts) I will have a read through it and try it out over the weekend

Palms

[palms1]

A new forum has started up for smudgers
It was started mainly for people who had done Scott Deardoffs course but they welcome all other smudgers


http://smudgepainter.freeforums.org/index.php

Palms

[Peter S]

Palms

Just so you won't come gunning for me here is a pic for smudging, I know you were going to post but I saw this and thought it a good one.
My effort is smudged but taken a little further by over sharpening to highlight the brush strokes, and has an added texture layer.

link to original zip file at Morgue file
http://storage1.morguefile.com/downl...?display=67152

link to higher res version of mine (over 1meg)
[img=http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/108/gorilla2582imsl8.th.jpg]


Look forward to seeing some good versions

Peter

[amica999]

Peter, even though you did not show your first efforts, you truly became a smudge master. May I ask which brushes you are using?

[palms1]

Originally Posted by Peter S

Palms

Just so you won't come gunning for me here is a pic for smudging, I know you were going to post but I saw this and thought it a good one.
My effort is smudged but taken a little further by over sharpening to highlight the brush strokes, and has an added texture layer.

link to original zip file at Morgue file
http://storage1.morguefile.com/downl...?display=67152

link to higher res version of mine (over 1meg)
[img=http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/108/gorilla2582imsl8.th.jpg]


Look forward to seeing some good versions

Peter

Yes Peter that does look like a good picture to smudge and i will have a go soon

As for your version That is Superb

See both you and Amica haven't really needed me !

If possible anyone doing a smudge can they put in which brush they have used it would help a lot ( as would any other details such as strength etc)

Palms

Palms

[Peter S]

If possible anyone doing a smudge can they put in which brush they have used it would help a lot ( as would any other details such as strength etc)

I think the brush was Smudge tool TM#23 (Trimoons???)
Strength I know was 35% and used a lot of alternating modes - Normal/Darken/Lighten.


And yes thanks guys, and Palms I certainly need you to keep me on my toes, you keep setting the bar higher with your posts.

Peter

[janie]

Are these tool that I should download into PS CS3 - or does CS 3 come with all these brushes/tools. I'd love to try something like this!

[sylvia1065]

Janie,
You can download some brushes/presets from my website.
Sylvia