Impressionist plugin: Examples using your own pictures

[DannyRaphael]

A good friend, Harry Ellerton, who was recently inspired by one of Duv's creations, had a suggestion: "How about a thread dedicated to creations rendered exclusively by the Microsoft Impressionist plugin (PC only) with the requirement that specific Impressionist setting details be provided..."

Sounds like fun!

Guidelines:
* No Buzz, Flaming Pear, Virtual Painter, Zero, etc. filters/plugins
* No arty or distortion filters
* OK to sharpen or use filters like Unsharp Mask, Find Edges or Smart Blur/Edge Only for edge definition. Adjustment Layers OK, too.

Include the Impressionist Category and Varient, e.g., Chalk-Chunk Strokes. If you make setting changes, please note them, otherwise default settings are assumed.

Go for it!

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Use your own "before" picture. You don't need to use the one I used.

There's no time limit on this. Add to this thread whenever you're inspired to do so.

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Details on mine (see Layers Palette snapshot). Image built from the bottom up.
* Layer A: Copy of Background. Impressionist Watercolor: Damp Translucent Wash. Setting changes: Background = Image. Pressure = 100.
* B: Copy of Background. (Pin Light) Pencil Sketch: Soft Detailed (default settings)
* C: Copy of Background. (Luminosity). Layer > Add Layer Mask > Hide all. Painted white around leg area to restore a little detail.

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OK... Your turn. Let's see some creative uses of Impressionist.

Thanks, Harry, for the idea, and to Tom Judd who inspired me to rewrite the instructions for my initial creation!

~Danny~

[Duv]

Style: Pointillist Sparse
Background: Dark Blue
Brush: 25%
coverage: 100%
Pressure: 200
Added Sandwater Silver frame.

Cheers
Dave

[Cheryl H]

How could I resist this one. I read the directions as 1 pass of impressionist and nothing else, so here it is.

Custom preset 01 CH textured--crackled paint 1

General
background: sepia image
brush size 100%
coverage 98
pressure 105

Brush
brush--pain2c (use family)
smudge 0
pressure 105

Size
number of sizes 3
min 6
max 10

Color
Stroke color--from image
Jitter H 5, S 5, B 5
brightness 50
contrast 60

Paper
texture roughsto (might not be built in--I've made lots of custom paper) --edit--invert texture--
scale 50
grain 25
relief 2

[Cheryl H]

You shouldn't have gotten me started.

I wanted to share a technique I use in addition to settings.

Settings for custom a custom Impressionist brush I created ("02 CH non-textured--smudge 1"), which was used on both interpretations:

General
background--image
coverage 96
pressure 80

Brush
smud3c (use family)

Size
number of sizes-4
min 6
max 12

Stroke
H5, B5, S10

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Before applying the settings above on the first (left) attachment, I created a selection using the following steps.

1. Image > Mode > CYMK
2. Duplicate black channel (turn it off so it looks normal)
3. Image > Mode > RGB
4. Load black copy as a selection
5. Run Impressionist

Applying Impressionist with this selection active preserves some of the image detail.

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[For those into actions, I wrote one (attached below) that performs the steps Cheryl described above. - Danny]

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Modified by DannyR to clarify steps and add PS action.

[DannyRaphael]

Take note of the 1st post: I tweaked the guidelines a bit. (Rank has it privs.!)

While Impressionist does some wonderful textures and stroke effects, on some images you need to restore some detail/line definition on top of what's been done with Impressionist.

Hence, the following:
* Duplicated Background
* Applied Impressionist Chalk - Chunky Strokes
* Duplicated BG again
* Applied Blur > Smart Blur > Edge Only and CTRL + I to invert the result. Changed blend mode to Darken.
* Added a Layer Mask and zapped unwanted lines.
* Added a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and boosted Saturation to about 40

For some real interesting results, try the Apply Image command on the layer created by Impressionist.

~Danny~

[Cheryl H]

The image on the left (the clearer one) has the black channel loaded as a selection. I like this technique since I get the impressionist feel but still keep some detail.

Apply image looks interesting--I'm going to have to play with it this weekend.

[DannyRaphael]

Chalk-Detailed Opaque Strokes can be customized to render more or less detail by selecting different brush tips or adjusting options like brush size, coverage or pressure.

In this one...
* Layer A: Duplicate Background. Apply Impressionst Chalk-Detailed Opaque Strokes. Brush settings: Size, Coverage and Pressure to 60, 100, 100.
* B: Duplicate A and apply Unsharp Mask
* C: Duplicate Background again. Apply Impressionst Chalk-Detailed Opaque Strokes. Changed brush to chak6b.tif. Added Layer Mask and blended with layers below.
* D: Duplicate Background again. Apply Crayon-Short Choppy Strokes. This setting "breaks up" solid color areas like the background wall and some of the umbrella panels. I then applied Charcoal-Default to give it more of a brushed look. Added Layer Mask and blended with layers below.
* E: Added Hue/Sat adjustment layer to boost colors.

Are we having fun yet?

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

Used the action I wrote and posted above in Cheryl's post to create a selection based on the Black channel from a CMYK version of the image. (Pretty slick method, CH!!)

Then Impressionist - Chalk: Detailed Opaque Strokes was applied to a duplicate of the Background. The selection resulted in the retention of detail in several important areas of the image, e.g., tree trunks and larger limbs and people.

Deselected and duplicated the layer just rendered. Applied Impressionist - Chalk: Detailed Opaque Strokes again changing the Brush/Coverage/Pressure settings to 166, 90, 96 for a different look. Blended this layer with the layer below with a layer mask.

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

This is the most fun I've had in a while. Thanks, Harry, for suggesting this thread.

On this one:
* Layer A: Duplicated the Background and applied Impressionist Crayon: Short Choppy Strokes.
* A: Changed the layer blend mode from Normal to Hard Light.
* B: Duplicated layer B and applied the Charcoal: Default variant 4 times to "rough up" the water a bit. Used a Layer Mask to selectively apply the effect.

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

Here's another variation on the boats...

Layer A: Duplicate Background.
A: Blur > Smart Blur (Edge Only). Experiment with the settings.
A: Ctrl + I (invert) to get black lines on a white background.
A: Blur > Gaussian Blur (~ 1 pxl or so)
A: Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. Experiment with the settings.
A: Stylize > Diffuse > Anisotropic
A: Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. Experiment with the settings.

The result you get will probably be somewhat different than what I got due to setting variances. Not to worry. It'll be okay.

B: Duplicate layer A. Paint over "the black lines in the water" with white.

C: Duplicate B. Apply Impressionist's Pencil Sketch: Detailed Monochrome variant.

C: Immediately afterwards Edit > Fade (60% opacity) was applied to back off the effect a bit.

D: The original background was duplicated an dragged to the top of the layer stack.

D: Impressionist's Crayon - Short Choppy Strokes variant was applied.

D: Blend mode changed from Normal to Hard Light.

Optional (not shown), but I like this A LOT:

E: To the top of the layer stack, add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. Saturation = -100, Lightness = +50. This gives it a gray/pencil-like look.

Are we having fun yet?

~Danny

[Cheryl H]

This isn't a killer tip, but is something to try as a novelty.

1. Duplicate image and desaturate.
2. Save grayscale version as a tif file (it's not necessary to put it in the papers folder, but keep track of where you saved it).
3. Load impressionist and choose a favorite preset (don't run it yet). In the paper section set relief to around 20 (I set the grain to around 20 too but it shouldn't be necessary). Click on the thumbnail of the paper and choose your grayscale image. I find inverting the texture worked best on the sample images I tried. Make sure scale is at 100.
4. Let the filter run. You get an embossed image.

You can also choose an alternate image to use--for example use butterflies for one and flowers for the other.

[Trimoon]

This is a Yellow Lotus; I used the Impressionist Tutorial on this one.
I did some smudging, layer blending and texturing.




Larger Image

[Diane]

Photo is mine. I opened image, duped background, Impressionist setting:
Marker-opague strokes at its default setting, changed opacity of duped layer to 72 % , merged layers, duped again, used Impressionist Chalk-Detailed Opaque strokes at its default setting, changed opacity to 65%.

[Diane]

opened image, duped background, impressionist-chalk-medium coverage-settings brush 100 %, Coverage 100%, pressure 86%, reduced opacity to 67%
merged layers, duped again, changed blend mode to soft light.
Photo is mine

[Diane]

Photo is mine. Opened image, duped it, Impressionist: Crayon Distressed Fresco2: settings : Brush size 47% , Coverage 63% Pressure 90%
Opacity on layer changed to 85%

[DannyRaphael]

Diane:

A wonderful trio of Impressionist images. Well done. I especially like the butterfly.

Thanks for sharing your creativity. Keep 'em coming!

~Danny~

[Diane]

Photo is mine. I don't remember every step for this, I was just playing around with Impressionist. Opened image, duped it, find edges, inverted, blend mode was pin light, merged, impressionist: crayon short choppy strokes, rought bleached fresco, last thing I think was reducing opacity to 21 %.
I liked the final result tho it probably could be a little lighter.

[Janet Petty]

Diane, regarding your comment about the picture being a little lighter...
I for one like the dark just the way it is. Sure pics are great when the sun is shining brightly; but the color saturation is poor when that happens and things end up looking washed out. Your flowers really pop the way they are.
Your technique is good. I like the slightly blurred edges; yet one can tell what kind of flowers they are and feel the exuberance of so many of them clustered together. The only thing I might add to the Black Eyed Susans is their black "eye". I'm missing the dark centers.

[Janet Petty]

Cheryl, the image of the cart is stupendous. I know we aren't supposed to just say WOW and let things go; but I can't add anything else. So WOW! Keep up the good work. I'm going to try that particular combination and see what I can come up with.

Danny, your work is inspiring as well. I'm definitely going to have to learn to use painter (in another thread) so that I can achieve some of your special effects. So far, the learning curve is more than I've been willing to tackle this summer. Oh, and p.s. I especially liked your screen shots of your actual layers.

Great job guys.

[Cheryl H]

Thanks Janet. My presets are available for download. You can find the link in this thread http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-art-resources/8328-impressionist-plugin-custom-styles-member-posted.html
It's the third post down.

[Janet Petty]

I'm very much still learning about painting. I know what I like when I see it; but I can't duplicate it onto paper. I'm so glad to be learning about extracurricular photoshop capabilities. I might even learn how to paint someday. Here is one of my first tries at "painting" the photoshop way.

The entire description is listed in the screenshot.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Janet Petty

I'm very much still learning about painting. I know what I like when I see it; but I can't duplicate it onto paper. I'm so glad to be learning about extracurricular photoshop capabilities. I might even learn how to paint someday. Here is one of my first tries at "painting" the photoshop way.

The entire description is listed in the screenshot.

Good for you, Janet! This is just how you learn. Experiment with various styles and combinations and stop when you get something you like!

Over time I think you'll appreciate having named layers as you go as a creative roadmap/reminder. Speaking from experience, it's real frustrating to look at something you created six months ago, wanting to achieve similar results on another image and not remembering how you created the original.

Well done. Keep 'em coming.

~Danny~

[Tiger_Steve]

I've just started playing with Impressionist (thx Danny) and thought I'd share my first serious attempt with the RP community. The steps taken were as follows...

• Duplicated background four times, then from the bottom of the stack upwards...
• Impressionist - Pencil Sketch: Soft Detailed (layer opacity reduced to 80%).
• Impressionist - #djrOil24 (Hard Light blend mode).
• Smart Blur (High Quality/Edges Only) - Inverted - Stylize/Diffuse/Anisotropic (Multiply blend mode & layer opacity reduced to 80%).
• Created a Merged Visible layer.
• Applied Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.
• Applied creative border.
• Then, finally, I flattened the image, converted the profile & saved for web.

Hope you like the result.

[Tiger_Steve]

Number 2. This is based on the early B&W Edges stage of Danny's above post (#10), with Impressionist: djrOil24 (modified: Brush Size 100, Coverage 100, Pressure 100). The B&W Edges layer was placed above the Impressionist layer and the blend mode was changed to multiply and then the layer opacity was reduced to 50%. Finally a 3px stroke was applied to a blank layer and Gaussian Blurred (2.0), before flattening and saving.

Hope you like it.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Tiger_Steve

...I thought I'd share my first serious attempt...

You mean your other posted pics haven't been serious? LOL (I'm just jerking your chain.)

I'd say you're off to a great start, Steve. The more you use this plugin, the more your eyes will open to its possibilities. The fun has just begun.

Thanks for sharing your breakthrough creation & steps. Here's to many more in the future.

~Danny~

[Neve]

I don't get much chance to play with the Impressionist Plugin and now have a new dig cam too. DH bought me some flowers for our 41st anniversary on Tuesday so I took a shot or two of them. It is quite clear I'll never be a good photographer so I'm entirely thankful we can transform a bad photo into something which is more pleasant to view...!

PSP8.01 and Impressionist

Duped BG Layer
L2 – Screen Mode 50%/Merged
AIM/USM
Duped Layer Twice
L2 – Impressionist/Watercolour/Damp Transluscent Wash
BG =Image/Brush=137%/Cover=84%/Press=70%
Layer Blend Normal 100%
L3 – Impressionist/As above
BG=Image/Brush=400%/Cover=100%/Press=70%
Layer Blend Luminance (L) 82%
Merged all
AIM/USM
Duped Bottom Layer
Edge Dilate-LayerBlend Soft Light 62%
Merged all.
Resized for upload.
PSP/USM twice. 5/25/5

[Neve]

PPS8.01 and Impressionist No. 2

Auto Contrast to Lighten
AIM/USM - Duped bottom layer
L2 - Impressionist/Conte Faithful/ 200/78/100
Mode Luminance (L)/Merged layers/Duped Layer
L2 - AIM/USM Mode Normal 50%/Merged layers
Duped layer
L2 - Mode Screen 25% - Merged all.

[jaykita]

The image is taken from http://gal.mvc.ru/gallery/ as shown below.
The impr plug-in settings were as follows:
Style - waterchalk smudged modified.
General - Backgr - image, brush size 100%, coverage 90, pressure 100.
Brush - watr5a modified (i g'blurred the image), smudge 10, pressure 100.
Placement random-90%
Size - No. of sizes 3, width min 4, max 12, ht 2.04, 6.13, distribution about even.
Color- stroke color-image, Jitter H-0,S-8,B-5, brightness 50, contr 50.
Using a layer mask and fill layer white, isolated the 2 flowers, and used the impr plugin, then the text, lastly the border.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by jaykita

The image is taken from http://gal.mvc.ru/gallery/ as shown below.
The impr plug-in settings were as follows:
Style - waterchalk smudged modified.
General - Backgr - image, brush size 100%, coverage 90, pressure 100.
Brush - watr5a modified (i g'blurred the image), smudge 10, pressure 100.
Placement random-90%
Size - No. of sizes 3, width min 4, max 12, ht 2.04, 6.13, distribution about even.
Color- stroke color-image, Jitter H-0,S-8,B-5, brightness 50, contr 50.
Using a layer mask and fill layer white, isolated the 2 flowers, and used the impr plugin, then the text, lastly the border.

Wow... This is exceptional.

On the settings...
* "waterchalk smudged modified" = Your name for the modified style, correct?

If so can I ask another favor?
* In the Impressionist dialog choose this style, as though you're going to apply it
* Click Save (Category name=#jaykita, variant name=waterchalk, file name=jaykita waterchalk.set)
* Go to the Impressionist \User Settings folder and Zip file "jaykita waterchalk.set"
* Add a post to this thread and upload the .zip.

This is a really neat style.

~Danny~

[jaykita]

Hello Danny. Thank you for the appreciation.
I'd also like to tell you that I MUST GIVE CREDIT where credit is due. Originally the "waterchalk smudged" style was taken from "Fluffbutt All Settings.set" which i downloaded from the "Impressionist plugin: Custom styles (member posted)" thread. Those are very good.
Of course, the change that i made was to modify the brush, like i said.
So if you still want me to upload the zip file with my name on it, i sure will, gladly. Please let me know.