Photo-Based Art - - Back to cats

palms1 · #1 10-22-2006, 09:53 AM

More photo's of my lazy cat this time on a background that can easily be selected

of course she is getting ready for when the colder weather comes

Palms

Kraellin · #2 10-22-2006, 10:57 AM

hehe, i love that 'go away; i'm trying to sleep' look

palms1 · #3 10-22-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraellin

hehe, i love that 'go away; i'm trying to sleep' look

Glad you thought it was that, i thought it was " Oh no not the b***** camera again "

Palms

pavel123 · #4 10-22-2006, 12:09 PM

She does look as if she expects some rough weather ahead. Smudge, noise removal filter, sharpen, finally watercolor effect.

Fill size JPEG here

A smudge question

How to avoid blurred look?
I've seen so many great examples. Read a few tutorial too, everything basically boils down to "select your brush and start smudging". Every time I do that I end up with something that looks blurry, more or less as if i'm doing Gaussian blur with a brush. Is that wrong brush selection? Any hint will be much appreciated.

palms1 · #5 10-22-2006, 12:53 PM

Pavel that is lovely
not sure exactly what you mean but when you have smudged there are umpteen ways to finish
usually you do need to adjust contrast
and then try usm, high pass , paint daubs ( settings 1, 4 ), custom filter, and i have seen one/two finished with a lucis layer
and of course different brushes do give different effects as do strength, maybe it would be a idea to post a pic saying which brush you are using and strength
and have you seen this tut
http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=74448
(unfortunately just noticed there are some missing pictures)
any way please let us know how you get on
and maybe someone else has some ideas
and here is my different sort of smudge to yours

Palms

pavel123 · #6 10-22-2006, 01:22 PM

Palms,

Great rendition.

That's exactly what I mean saying that there are so many great examples of smudging. I guess I need more practice (and perhaps patience).
Next time I do smudging I'll try to post unfinished pic for critiques.

Pavel

oltenius · #7 10-22-2006, 05:06 PM

Here's a combination of watercolor and smudge tool.
Dan

Kraellin · #8 10-22-2006, 07:30 PM

generally, with smudge painting, you sort of follow the grain of the image, like you were painting with a thick brush. you want the lines to remain rather whole but you're smudging all up and down them.... sort of

and use a fairly narrow smudge tool. you want to sort of stay either on the edges or between them.... and again, sort of

and of course, that's just one method.

pavel123 · #9 10-22-2006, 07:33 PM

Thanks a lot, Craig

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraellin

generally, with smudge painting, you sort of follow the grain of the image, like you were painting with a thick brush. you want the lines to remain rather whole but you're smudging all up and down them.... sort of

and use a fairly narrow smudge tool. you want to sort of stay either on the edges or between them.... and again, sort of

and of course, that's just one method.

Kraellin · #10 10-22-2006, 07:59 PM

see my recent post in the fuchias picture. i used the warp brush instead of smudge to do something similar but a bit wilder.

palms1 · #11 10-23-2006, 03:47 AM

Thank you Pavel yes there are many great smudgers and all have there own style and as for practice yes i am still practicing

Dan the mixture of styles works very well makes her look cute

thanks for your advise Craig not sure about the warp tool in ps ( penny just dropped i bet it would be the liquify filter and the drag pixels ) unless any one else can put me straight

Palms

patriciakay · #12 10-23-2006, 09:47 AM

Hi Palms....two lovely photos of Winnie, looking very cosy!!!!
Thanks for sharing them! Great smudge....you are a real inspiration!

Pavel..nice smudge...we all smudge in different ways and i guess its what we are happy with that counts...its just to practice as much as poss!!!

Dan...your combination of watercolor and smudge worked well...like how the colors turned out!

Craig...Thank you for your smudging tips....to add to my ever growing list!!!

I have tried a sketch effect...a tutorial from my Photoshop book...dont think its quite the look i want but hopefully i will find it in the end!!!

Patricia....

oltenius · #13 10-23-2006, 10:22 AM

Palms, Patricia... Thanks for the kind comment!
Regards,
Dan

palms1 · #14 10-23-2006, 11:17 AM

Thanks Patricia it is annoying when you have a look in mind and can't quite get there ! although i like the look you have got

Palms

patriciakay · #15 10-23-2006, 11:39 AM

Thanks Palms... I will see it when it is done....if you know what i mean...the sketch look is one area where i really need to practice!!

Patricia...