This was originally pretty lousy shot, but the kids were great and I decided to save it. A few layers, shades and new CS2's Warp tool - and I think it turned out at least decent:
That's cool!! Is there a step by step process you can explain on that?!
BrianThanks, Brian!
It took me several iterations to do this, but the approximate venue is as follows
For those who are comfortable with PS already the whole routine can be described as:
Create target layer (Multiply) with border and shadow
Warp it
Use original selection to create a correct shadow in the corners
Lower the lightness on the background and motion blur it to center
For the inexperienced PS users here goes a step-by-step. It may seem like a very long and complicated process - but it's not, trust me:
Have an idea in your head:-) - this is usually the hardest part:-)
Open the image in PS CS2
Ctrl+J make a new copy of the original layer - I always start with that to ensure the backround is there is I need it
Using marquee tool make a rectangular selection which will be your "target frame" - it's not gonna be vertical fo now, that's ok
Menu: Select|Transform Selection. Rotate and adjust selection to what you target frame is goona be. Make sure you leave some space for the white border inside this selection.
Save the selection (you gonna need it later)
Make sure selection is active, Ctrl+J. It will create a new layer with your frame in it
Hit Ctrl+J again, it will create another copy
On this new layer, change the blending mode to Multiply. If it's too bright, adjust opacity. I ended up with about 45%.
Hit Ctrl+E to merge two top layers into one.
On that merged layer create new effect layer (button with fletter on it)
On the same layer select drop shadow, adjust parameteres fo match the picture/imagination
Select the merged layer (not the effect one)
Ctrl+Click on the layer icon to select just the layer
Menu: Edit|Transform|Warp
Adjust the corners to create the slightly warped picture
(NOTE: there is a bug in CS2's warp tool - it may create one or several white circles. I worked around it by changing the viewing scale to a smaller scale)
Now the only problem is that shadow warped with the picture, while at the cornders we need the bigger shadow. Here where we need our original selection
Select the 1-st copy layer (it should be simply a copy of the background)
Load selection
Ctrl+J - create another frame of the original selection
Hide all the layers above it
Fill it with black (many ways to do it, one of them - "d", select, Shift+Backspace, fill with foreground color)
Gaussian Blur with 20..30 pixel radius
Change the opacity so it looks like the shadow
Ctrl+click to select
Transform it in to a trapezoid to create the proper shadow, confirm transformation
Make al layers visible, make final adjustments to opacities, shapes and whatever paparmeters you feel like.
Select the 1st copy, create new adjustment Hue/Saturation layer
Change the lightness to shade the background
Select Filter|Blur|Motion Blur, set it to radial, about 10 pixels, hit ok
Save as PSD and as JPG
Upload JPG:-)
Guys, once again: I *know* this sounds scary. It's not, and it's fun.
Once I figured out what I wanted it took me less than 5 minutes to do it (I spent a lot of time finding the workaround for that warp bug, though) from start to finish.
Comments
Eric
It's better to be hated for who you are than to be loved for who you're not.
http://photosbyeric.smugmug.com
David Clifford
“PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”
http://jwear.smugmug.com/
It's very "by the book", but hey, that's what the books are for:-)
Cheers!
Good luck in learning! PS is a great fun!
Cheers!
Actually, it is:-)
I did leave this blowout in place since I was mimicking el cheapo polaroid effect.
Cheers, mate!
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
Moderator of: Location, Location, Location , Mind Your Own Business & Other Cool Shots
Glad you like it.:-)
Cheers!
Thanks, man, appreciate it!
Cheers!
That's cool!! Is there a step by step process you can explain on that?!
Brian
"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
Ansel Adams
I hope eventually their parents will love it, too:-)
Classic recipes are hard to spoil:-)
Cheers!
-
BrianThanks, Brian!It took me several iterations to do this, but the approximate venue is as follows
For those who are comfortable with PS already the whole routine can be described as:
- Create target layer (Multiply) with border and shadow
- Warp it
- Use original selection to create a correct shadow in the corners
- Lower the lightness on the background and motion blur it to center
For the inexperienced PS users here goes a step-by-step. It may seem like a very long and complicated process - but it's not, trust me:- Have an idea in your head:-) - this is usually the hardest part:-)
- Open the image in PS CS2
- Ctrl+J make a new copy of the original layer - I always start with that to ensure the backround is there is I need it
- Using marquee tool make a rectangular selection which will be your "target frame" - it's not gonna be vertical fo now, that's ok
- Menu: Select|Transform Selection. Rotate and adjust selection to what you target frame is goona be. Make sure you leave some space for the white border inside this selection.
- Save the selection (you gonna need it later)
- Make sure selection is active, Ctrl+J. It will create a new layer with your frame in it
- Hit Ctrl+J again, it will create another copy
- On this new layer, change the blending mode to Multiply. If it's too bright, adjust opacity. I ended up with about 45%.
- Hit Ctrl+E to merge two top layers into one.
- On that merged layer create new effect layer (button with f letter on it)
- Select stroke effect (white color, adjust width, inside)
- On the same layer select drop shadow, adjust parameteres fo match the picture/imagination
- Select the merged layer (not the effect one)
- Ctrl+Click on the layer icon to select just the layer
- Menu: Edit|Transform|Warp
- Adjust the corners to create the slightly warped picture
- Now the only problem is that shadow warped with the picture, while at the cornders we need the bigger shadow. Here where we need our original selection
- Select the 1-st copy layer (it should be simply a copy of the background)
- Load selection
- Ctrl+J - create another frame of the original selection
- Hide all the layers above it
- Fill it with black (many ways to do it, one of them - "d", select, Shift+Backspace, fill with foreground color)
- Gaussian Blur with 20..30 pixel radius
- Change the opacity so it looks like the shadow
- Ctrl+click to select
- Transform it in to a trapezoid to create the proper shadow, confirm transformation
- Make al layers visible, make final adjustments to opacities, shapes and whatever paparmeters you feel like.
- Select the 1st copy, create new adjustment Hue/Saturation layer
- Change the lightness to shade the background
- Select Filter|Blur|Motion Blur, set it to radial, about 10 pixels, hit ok
- Save as PSD and as JPG
- Upload JPG:-)
Guys, once again: I *know* this sounds scary. It's not, and it's fun.(NOTE: there is a bug in CS2's warp tool - it may create one or several white circles. I worked around it by changing the viewing scale to a smaller scale)
Once I figured out what I wanted it took me less than 5 minutes to do it (I spent a lot of time finding the workaround for that warp bug, though) from start to finish.
Hope this helps!
Cheers!