How did I do this?

[stevic]

Hi,
For the life of me I can't remember how I did this a couple of weeks ago for my Photoshop final assignment at the local college. The theme of my assignment is portals and I'm trying to get the effect of looking out from the inside of a cave.
Anyone have any ideas? This is embarrassing.
Craig Carlson

p.s. This is my first attempt of posting an image. I hope it works

[LQQKER]

There are a ton of ways to do this, but one way is to start with a new layer (white). Duplicate the image and fill black. Use the lasso tool and create your cave entrance on the black layer and delete it's contents (which leaves you a white hole). Select another area "outside the original hole (the distance you want for the outside cave reflection) and feather it to about 30 or 40 (depending on your image size).

Go to your filter menu "brush strokes" and select "sprayed strokes" (stroke length 0, spray radius 25) left diagonal. Repeat with right diagonal.

This is a highly simplified answer and may not be what you are looking for but it may place you in the right direction.

[Vikki]

I looks to me as if you had a black background with a white area in the center.
Apply filter>distort>glass.

[stevic]

Hi,

Thanks Vikki and Looker, Vikki you are the winner, that is how I did it! Thank you Looker, for another look at a technique for my problem. Here's what I've come up with so far and it still needs work. I still have to have a reflection, a shape layer and a layer mask and text for this portion of the course. Then next I have to explain all my methods on a grayscale image and find a printer who will do a 30 x 24 inch print.

Craig Carlson
Sebastopol,Ca.

[Vikki]

Wow, you have quite an assignment!
Good luck to you - what you have so far looks great.

[Duv]

Hi Craig

I think what you have done here is "top drawer". As a very minor critique..the outside light appears fairly subdued..late afternoon or evening? If so, perhaps a little less light on the edges of the cave. Also I think caves get dark very fast. Maybe a gradient tool to run the edges to black. Here's a very crude rendering that's just a thought. Otherwise, I really like your picture.

Cheers
Duv

[stevic]

Duv, I like that, exactly how did you use that gradient? Step by step would be nice if you have the time.
Craig

[Duv]

Hi Craig

That is a good question because I couldn't figure out how to achieve the effect I wanted with the gradient tool. What I did was Press D to set Black/White. With black selected I used a paintbrush set at 40% opacity and painted over the cave entrance and walls. You could gradually increase the darkness of the walls to the edges by gradually increasing your brush density to perhaps 80% but I think that is an amateurish approach.
If someone knows how to accomplish this with gradient please let us know.

Cheers
Duv

[stevic]

Hi Duv and friends,

I took the easy way out and did a black fill layer on my background at approx 30% opacity to dull everything down . This is what I ended up submitting for this section of the course. I'll also include a grayscale image in my next post. The assignment had to include a layer mask, a vector mask, shadows or reflections and at least three filters + the grayscale image showing what I did and printing options.

Craig

[stevic]

Hi,

Here's the grayscale.

Craig

[Duv]

The easy way is the only way if it gets you to where you want or need to be. What you have achieved given the parameters of your course is stunning. When you are "unconstrained" I hope you will keep working on this image. With the correct interior cave light, this pic could make you some coin.

Cheers
Duv