[Cheryl H]

This photo is being provided for artistic interpretation by members of RetouchPro.

I hope you enjoy playing with this photo. Please share your favorite result and a brief description of how you achieved it in this thread. (two max please)

[Cheryl H]

This was done using Flaming Pear filters.

On a duplicate of the background, I ran Mr. Contrast and then blended copies of the result with copies of the original image until happy with the result.

On another duplicate of the background, I ran Melancholytron and then blended copies of the result with copies of the orginal image until satisfied.

The I took copies of both end results and copies of the original and blended until satisfied. Then made 2 copies of the latest result. Ran one through Lacquer and blended with the other copy. Added a texture and flattened.

Create an empty layer on top and fill with white. Create a paint-on mask and painted back part of the image.

[DannyRaphael]

Still experimenting with the Microsoft Impressionist plugin...

This is a layer rendered by the Colored Pencil (detailed) setting layer mask blended with a layer rendered by one of the Watercolor variations.

Very interesting pic to work with CH. Thx for sharing this one.
Danny

[okplayer]

this is my first submission into one of these interpretations. I applied a rough pastel filter, then duped that layer and applied the palette knife filter. I faded the palette knife filter to about 30% and set to linear burn, and i also lowered the opacity of the two altered layers to around 60 each. AFter that i just made the edge w/ a quick lasso and feathered it, then applied the canvas texture to a blank white layer on the bottom.

[Cheryl H]

Danny--Very nice. I'm sure glad this filter was "brought back." I've been having fun with it too. You picked a good combination. While the bird looks great, I'm most taken with the texture you got in the rock areas.

okplayer--Looks good. My compliments on dealing very effectively with the black shadow to the right of the bird. That harsh spot was spoiling the picture for me--I really like how you were able to soften and lighten it.

[Cheryl H]

Don--I love the water look you've got in the background--excellent. I looks like the bird is wading in a stream, which is a far more natural setting than the one the photo was taken in. The bird could use a little softer look, but I do like the vibrancy you gave to it's color.

[okplayer]

Mauler, i really like the results of yours. The flowing water was an excellent touch. If this is you goin loco, bring it because we enjoy it as Cheryl said, I may have toned down the sharpness of the bird, but that doesnt matter, because i wouldnt have gotten it to look that good to begin with.

[shariwb]

My variation of the sketch technique.

[Cheryl H]

Shari--excellent work. I like the combination of the soft colors and the texture you used.

Don, I like the bird better this time, but I think you're going to have a hard time beating the background you had on the first one.