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Turning Portraits into Digital Sketches, Oils, Watercolors Thinking about expanding beyond your traditional portrait and/or restoration, retouching and colorizing black and white image services? Find out what others are doing and how they are doing it.

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  #1  
Old 09-12-2004, 09:23 PM
DannyRaphael's Avatar
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Creative Portraits: Mother and Daughter - Toni and Shanon

A special moment in time shot by J.Thuemler.
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File Type: jpg CP-Toni-and-Shanon-J.Thueml.jpg (95.2 KB, 205 views)
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  #2  
Old 09-13-2004, 08:29 AM
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Tried all sorts in the hope it would look like an oil painting...sigh!
Started with photoline32 paint effect, added some brushwork in painter, changed hue-sat in ps7.
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File Type: jpg tonishanon.jpg (98.9 KB, 166 views)
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  #3  
Old 09-13-2004, 09:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaykita
Tried all sorts in the hope it would look like an oil painting...sigh!
Started with photoline32 paint effect, added some brushwork in painter, changed hue-sat in ps7.
Hey, that's pretty neat. Hadn't heard of Photoline32 before, so I goggled it and came up with a few hits, among them:

http://www.pl32.com

Thanks for including that tidbit. Another fun tool to investigate!

~Danny~
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  #4  
Old 09-13-2004, 04:05 PM
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What a beautiful pair! May want to try a few different types of techniques on this image....

For this one, in Photoshop, I duped several layers to work with, and used the wand tool to pick out most of the background highlights - then used the Quick Mask to add to my selection. Decided to recreate a background for the burned out areas and added noise, then did a variety of the Pixilate filters - Pointillize especially, to create a look of flower petals in the distance (to me, at least ). Ran the Smart Blur edges on another layer and topped it with a couple of Graphic Pen layers (ran at different strengths - not quite like Glenn Mitchell's tip, but using his idea ) with a Screen layer mode -- with opacity reduced on the Edges layer. Added layers on top to add back Color (Color layer mode with layer masking to taste).
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File Type: jpg CP-Toni-Shanon-JThueml-cj.jpg (86.0 KB, 133 views)
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  #5  
Old 09-15-2004, 07:26 PM
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Mum and Daughter

Lovely submissions Jaykita and CJ!

I had a number of goes at this one as I was experimenting with Impressionist. I finally settled for this....using PSP8.01. Image size worked on was 880 x 843 pixels, 72 dpi. I reduced final image to 65% prior to applying a sandstone texture.

Auto contrast to original image (lighter-norma-natural)
Duped bottom layer.
2nd Layer - Soft Focus (setting=Minimum Focus)
Eraser - low opacity - to reveal eyes mouth etc.
Impressionist Filter/Watercolour/Damp Translucent Wash
Bg=Image Coverage=35%
Brush Size=25% Pressure=76%
Again applied Soft Focus/Min Focus
Erased for eyes etc again.
Merged visible.
Applied some sharpening to highlight eyes mouth more.
Sandstone texture applied.

Thank you for the lovely photo to work with....!
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File Type: jpg Mum Daughter.jpg (88.7 KB, 119 views)
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  #6  
Old 09-23-2004, 10:03 AM
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Nice entries by all.

An attractive duo.

Adjusted levels.
Slight curve adjustment.
light simplification.
Used several layers to build up bg.
Used Nik Ink to further flatten and build bg.
Virtual painter on bg.
xero clairity to enhance.
Impressionist pencil sketch/detailed color for bg.
Did the same for subject but less opacity.
Embossed.
Nik skylight, contrast.
Another hue/sat adj.
Slight blur to reduce image size.
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File Type: jpg ToniShanon-LQQKER.jpg (99.1 KB, 131 views)
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  #7  
Old 09-24-2004, 08:19 PM
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Superb Lqqker Colours are vibrant and I like the detail on the whole. Great result.
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  #8  
Old 09-24-2004, 09:08 PM
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Mother and Daughter

Lqqker, I quite like the technique you used. I like the colors you chose. I like the painterly effect without having them too stylized. There is one thing that I noticed, however. And that is the light brown halo over the mother's head. Notice I haven't yet posted my own feeble efforts; so take what I say however you may. In any case, you did a great job.

Janet
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  #9  
Old 09-29-2004, 08:34 AM
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changed photo to black and white
painted and blended in painter 8, about 9 hours.
used edge preserving smooth in psp7
used emboss filter
added a glass filter
added black border
added glass filter.
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File Type: jpg retouchpro mother and daughter.jpg (45.7 KB, 132 views)
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  #10  
Old 09-29-2004, 10:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reason
changed photo to black and white
painted and blended in painter 8, about 9 hours.
used edge preserving smooth in psp7
used emboss filter
added a glass filter
added black border
added glass filter.
Wow.... you converted to BW, then colorized in Painter. That's impressive.

Nicely done.

~Danny~
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  #11  
Old 09-29-2004, 10:23 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reason
painted and blended in painter 8, about 9 hours.
Bravo, Reason. Lovely rendition! Well worth the effort!
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  #12  
Old 09-29-2004, 10:26 AM
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3 copies of background layer.

Bottom copy - Xero line Art - Drawing to lighten and enhance colours followed by impressionist chalk - background = image brush = 25 ran this twice.

next layer white fill - layer mask and using Trimoon's water colour technique painted back figures and part of background.

Next background copy layer - Chalkaholic, gaussian blur 2.5, Sketcher - dodged colour on girls neck later. Layer mode = screen

Next background copy Xero line art - Sketch, line = 10, Tone = -63, Mono. Layer mode = multiply. Painted white with rough brush to remove edges where ovelapped undelying layers

Christine
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  #13  
Old 09-29-2004, 12:33 PM
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Here's mine. And these are the steps:
First, original image-adjustment levels to brighten and lighten, 0, 1.45, 255.
Made 6 background copies. From last layer upwards:
6th - Impressionist plug-in pencil sketch soft detailed, opac 100, Normal.
5th - Impr custom #djr oil 24, hard light, opac 58.
4th - Impr custom chalk soft detail pastel rain (palette rainbow), normal opac 53.
3rd - Backgr copy - smart blur, find edges, invert, diffuse anisotropic, multiply, opac 63.
2nd - same as 6th, hard light, opac 57.
1st - Backgr copy - g'blur, soft light.
Merge all. Increase saturation upto 10.
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File Type: jpg Tonyshanon-web1.jpg (99.2 KB, 102 views)
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  #14  
Old 09-29-2004, 06:40 PM
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Thumbs down

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reason
changed photo to black and white
painted and blended in painter 8, about 9 hours.
used edge preserving smooth in psp7
used emboss filter
added a glass filter
added black border
added glass filter.
Great effort! I always look forward to seeing your exciting use of color!
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  #15  
Old 09-29-2004, 07:36 PM
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Thanks, Mary
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  #16  
Old 09-29-2004, 09:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M_Hnatiuk
Great effort! I always look forward to seeing your exciting use of color!
Welcome, Mary. Nice to see your cheerleading for Reason's creative effort. Hope to see something arty from you, too!

~Danny~
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  #17  
Old 09-30-2004, 04:54 AM
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Duped several layers in PShop,
Filled empty layer with gold, layer blend on Soft Light to add glow of sunlight
Layer 4: Ran Angled Strokes with layer blend set to Overlay
Layer 3: ran Sketch -> stamp filter with Layer blend set to Color Burn
Layer 2: ran Artistic - > Colored Pencil , layer blend set to Luminosity
Background layer
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File Type: jpg CP-Toni-and-Shanon-JThueml-.jpg (99.9 KB, 40 views)
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  #18  
Old 03-06-2005, 08:09 AM
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Question

Let's see, hard to remember all the steps...

1) Replaced background, did a painted background, didn't like the way the background became lighter than the people. (I still posted this image for other opinions below.)

2) Second attempt tried a darker background with a motion blur.

3) Spent time getting some of the colors into the hair and clothing so it would have a more consistent color palette for a painting.

4) Used a warming filter on the people faces and used Virtual Painter as a color only layer across the whole painting at about 50% opacity. Manually elimited garish green color artifacts in the face from the jpg using a color adjustment layer with layer mask.

5) Into Painter IX (arrived yesterday). Definately faster, didn't seem much different than 8 though. Would have liked Corel to have put maybe one or two "Wow" items for the sake of the upgrade, but I guess the product is starting to come to a point of completion? Still, it seems by this forum that there are lots of steps to get a painted look, perhaps more automation of this in Painter down the road, but I digress...

6) Oil cloners and blenders in Painter to soften and blend.

7) Back to PS for a quick vignette, a high-pass filter overlay and a border

Still struggling with making the jump to the next level of skill/experience. Would appreciate and suggestions or critiques no matter how harsh. The direction I want to head is more in the direction of a Helen Yancy, Fay Sirkis, Jeremy Sutton - realism but definately painted. The only way to get there is good feedback from others. This is my second post and I did get one critique on my first from SWEngineer (Thanks Mark) and thanks to everyone here too -what a great community!!!
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File Type: jpg FirstTry-Toni-and-Shanon-1.jpg (61.5 KB, 53 views)
File Type: jpg Final-Toni-and-Shanon-3.jpg (98.3 KB, 54 views)
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  #19  
Old 03-06-2005, 01:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plewis6
The direction I want to head is more in the direction of a Helen Yancy, Fay Sirkis, Jeremy Sutton - realism but definately painted. The only way to get there is good feedback from others. This is my second post and I did get one critique on my first from SWEngineer (Thanks Mark) and thanks to everyone here too -what a great community!!!
Paul:

Your style is very Jeremy-like (and that's a compliment). Colors and blending look fine to me. Using VP for a color layer is very effective since VP really juices up colors.

For "paintings" they look a bit flat texture-wise. Have you tried Effects > Surface Control > Apply Surface Texture > 3D brush strokes (or image luminance) to bring out the brushes texture a bit more? Sometimes a little Unsharp Mask helps, too.

re: Painter IX
I've heard it is faster and a bit more Photoshop-like in terms of layers, commands, ability to rotate canvas, etc.

How's reliabity so far? I've heard mixed reviews.
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  #20  
Old 03-06-2005, 04:23 PM
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Danny, I have not tried the Surface Control to get more brush texture but will try that soon.

I agree with VP as a color juicer. Very different from simply increasing the saturation for two primary reasons. First, it varies the colors (in little rough squares if using oil paint). Second, it avoids the equivalent of "out-of-gamut" colors for a painter. For example in my first submission I mentioned how many painters would not paint with black but rather would blend colors to acheive dark tones instead. VP subs out colors like black and grey for more appealing colors.

Painter IX.
Well I was stable on my computer with Painter 8, but watched it crash regularly on my wife's computer. Painter IX has been stable for the one project I have done on it ( 30 minutes of activity). I think the speed up may have been exaggerated, doesn't feel like 10 times faster, but it is noticeably faster, and to be honest, the slow downs in Painter 8 made it painful to use and certainly took away from the freedom to experiment. My upgrade was only $179 and probably worth the money. If it had been $99 it would have been a no brainer, but no major complaints.
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  #21  
Old 03-08-2005, 08:49 PM
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Here's mine and some feedback for Paul:

Paul, I'm not much of a critic (but practice helps I expect ) I think your first version has too strong of a blue cast in the skin tones, but I like the background. In the 2nd, I don't like the background as well. It competes too much with the subject(s). In both case, it seems the coloration of the subjects tends to blend them into the background as opposed to having them stand out against it. I think a good mix would be the ladies from the 2nd image with the background from the first.

For mine, I surrendered to the blown out highlights.
BG: Color corrected
A: copy BG. Amphisoft Simplifier. Xero Porcelain. Impressionist-JaykitaWC2 modified
B: copy A. VirtualPhographer-Dreamy. Layermask to save what little color existed in the upper background
C-E: Cloning & copy/paste to make the composition (foliage, faint background colors) more to my liking.

-Mark
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File Type: jpg mom&daughter_art.jpg (82.3 KB, 43 views)
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  #22  
Old 03-15-2005, 06:20 AM
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Mark,

Thanks for the comments. Yeah the first one I quit working on half way because it didn't seem to be working. Never got around to proper color correction.

I am still pondering your second comment because I can plainly see that the colors of the people on the second image would look much better on the first, and that they are "blending" in on the second image. I also know that I try to reduce the palette of colors in any image so that things don't look like they were cut out and pasted in. In most cases, a traditional painter would only mix so many colors/hues for a particular image.

I wonder if anyone else in the forum has general thoughts or suggestions about color reduction, or possibly has traditional painting experience/guidelines they might share with us?

All comments are appreciated!

-paul
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  #23  
Old 03-15-2005, 10:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plewis6
I wonder if anyone else in the forum has general thoughts or suggestions about color reduction, or possibly has traditional painting experience/guidelines they might share with us?

-paul
I don't have traditional painting experience, but based on some study I did discover one of things that disntinguishes paintings from photos is that paintings normally have considerably fewer colors than a color photo of the same scene. (Color photos attempt to capture all colors in a scene.)

Traditional artists apply color theory, too, when it comes to color selection, e.g. complimentary colors to achieve contrast and seldom using true whites and blacks.

Color simplification is definitely a goal for one trying to achieve more of a truly painted look. I don't have any good ideas, however, on how to achieve that without a lot of manual effort (as in select/replace colors).

~Danny~
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  #24  
Old 03-15-2005, 11:12 PM
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Here's an attempt at a watercolor effect using filters like median, palette knife, and the good old watercolor filter in ps.
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File Type: jpg tonishanon1-web.jpg (99.5 KB, 43 views)
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  #25  
Old 03-16-2005, 09:57 AM
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Jaykita...really like your results here...the colors are glorious.
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  #26  
Old 03-16-2005, 04:07 PM
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I'm not sure if I should post this here, in retouching, or somewhere else . I guess framing is an art too so here it is.

I converted the photo to sepia by using hue/saturation with the colorize box checked, then adjusted levels a little.

For the mat I simply made an oval, punched out the center, colored, added noise and used layer styles to add a drop shadow. I made the frame using the same basic steps except instead of noise I used the wood filter in Eye Candy 4000. I used styles to add a bevel and a couple more drop shadows.
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File Type: jpg CP-Toni-and-Shanon-J.Thueml-org.jpg (95.2 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg CP-Toni-and-Shanon-J.Thueml.jpg (85.6 KB, 22 views)
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  #27  
Old 03-18-2005, 11:00 AM
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Hi all,
I started with a sketch effect and selected just the parts I wanted. Then filled the background with white and deselected.
Softened the edges round what was left.
Duped the background layer and added sepia tone.
deleted background on the sepia layer over eyes and teeth.
Merged then added a canvas texture.

Regards,
Mitch.

Last edited by Mitch; 08-16-2007 at 02:44 AM.
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  #28  
Old 03-18-2005, 11:35 AM
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Sorry = the canvas effect looks nasty at this size!
Slightly better without.
Regards,
Mitch.

Last edited by Mitch; 08-16-2007 at 02:44 AM.
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  #29  
Old 03-18-2005, 03:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mitch
Sorry = the canvas effect looks nasty at this size!
Slightly better without.
Regards,
Mitch.
Agreed. Sans texture looks better under these conditions.

For future reference you can edit you own posts (Click Edit, then Manage Attachments again to delete, then add a replacement image.)

No problem in this case, since having both provided a means of comparison.

Nice results in either case.

~Danny~
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  #30  
Old 03-19-2005, 05:45 PM
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Colored pencil and pen sketch

I used photoshop's graphic pen effect to create copies of this in four different orientations (horizontal, vertical, left diagonal, right diagonal), then used these with various blend modes over the original, saving the result each time in a new layer. I then made a copy of all of the original that wasn't overlapped by these. I used the colored pencil effect on this and on a copy of the original. I blended these two for the best effect. Then I used the four blended graphic pen layers, with layer masks, to add some directional strokes where needed. I also did some further monkeying around.
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