Photoshop Gurus Forum
Welcome to Photoshop Gurus forum. Register a free account today to become a member! It's completely free. Once signed in, you'll enjoy an ad-free experience and be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Creating this effect
- Thread starter neolite
- Start date
Part of "the Look" is achieved through the textures and contrasts. Notice the folds in fabrics such as the sikh's turban...
Although the effect is not as dramatic without good contrasty fabric and hair/skin tones, use of the Dodge and Burn tools, along with some contrast adjustment still does a good job. I used an Outer Glow layer style with a bit of airbrushing for the background.
I removed the original background with the magic wand tool, and Quick mask for the edges of the hair.
Although the effect is not as dramatic without good contrasty fabric and hair/skin tones, use of the Dodge and Burn tools, along with some contrast adjustment still does a good job. I used an Outer Glow layer style with a bit of airbrushing for the background.
I removed the original background with the magic wand tool, and Quick mask for the edges of the hair.
D
Dodo
Guest
I'm not even sure what we're supposed to be doing with this! 8}
P
(PSD) Sergiy
Guest
Serge
Good Job Dodo its looks like its 3D figure
Good Job Dodo its looks like its 3D figure
You read the question well?
How to obtain this charcoal-like effect in a photograph (the Darren Levant style)
As you're all sooo impatient [confused] to show your skills, I have to jump to conclusions. As I wrote, I was trying to explain Neolite how to attack this kind of problem.
ahhh...another time perhaps...
How to obtain this charcoal-like effect in a photograph (the Darren Levant style)
As you're all sooo impatient [confused] to show your skills, I have to jump to conclusions. As I wrote, I was trying to explain Neolite how to attack this kind of problem.
ahhh...another time perhaps...
Right.
I understand you read what i wrote earlier in this thread so I won't explain in detail.
1/ I went to channels, and chose the blue one (I keep my mind's eye on the result and choose with that in mind) Ctrl+A, then Ctrl+C to copy it. Back to master channel
2/ Back to layers palette. Ctrl+V to paste the channel in a layer. Add a layer mask. Alt-click on the layer mask to activate/show it and Ctrl+V to paste the greyscale-once-BlueChannel in here too.
side remark: observe the result with the coloured version below it!!!
3/ activate the background, go to channel mixer and check desaturate. Set channels appr. the same (each one third)
4/ Activate layer-with-mask and apply Unsharp Mask (indeed Mark, my trick too
) set to 500, 3, 0
5/ copy this layer
6/ top layer: activate mask and invert it. Apply levels, set to 0, 1,5, 140
7/ middle layer: activate mask (no inverse here) apply levels, set to 0, 3, 140
8/ change the top layer's mode to Multiply and the middle ones to LinearBurn
9/ now take a soft brush, not too small and paint black on the eyes and eyelids (see image) in the top layer so that they get lighter.
save.
now do what I couldn't do here and grab that wacom pen and draw on a new layer that aura with a fine white brush (yes: mr Levant is patient and so should you be!)
flatten, and apply unsharp mask again, set to 70, 1, 0 (which I did)
You can fine-tune of course. For example: I wouldn't stay in grey, but apply a very(!!!) slight reddish brown hue to it.
And tweak the settings a bit, paint a bit more on the masks etc etc...
Mr. Levant's work is lighter. As I didn't select the head now (to be able to change the background), I kept the face itself also fairly dark. This also shows the technique much clearer.
I understand you read what i wrote earlier in this thread so I won't explain in detail.
1/ I went to channels, and chose the blue one (I keep my mind's eye on the result and choose with that in mind) Ctrl+A, then Ctrl+C to copy it. Back to master channel
2/ Back to layers palette. Ctrl+V to paste the channel in a layer. Add a layer mask. Alt-click on the layer mask to activate/show it and Ctrl+V to paste the greyscale-once-BlueChannel in here too.
side remark: observe the result with the coloured version below it!!!
3/ activate the background, go to channel mixer and check desaturate. Set channels appr. the same (each one third)
4/ Activate layer-with-mask and apply Unsharp Mask (indeed Mark, my trick too
) set to 500, 3, 05/ copy this layer
6/ top layer: activate mask and invert it. Apply levels, set to 0, 1,5, 140
7/ middle layer: activate mask (no inverse here) apply levels, set to 0, 3, 140
8/ change the top layer's mode to Multiply and the middle ones to LinearBurn
9/ now take a soft brush, not too small and paint black on the eyes and eyelids (see image) in the top layer so that they get lighter.
save.
now do what I couldn't do here and grab that wacom pen and draw on a new layer that aura with a fine white brush (yes: mr Levant is patient and so should you be!)
flatten, and apply unsharp mask again, set to 70, 1, 0 (which I did)
You can fine-tune of course. For example: I wouldn't stay in grey, but apply a very(!!!) slight reddish brown hue to it.
And tweak the settings a bit, paint a bit more on the masks etc etc...
Mr. Levant's work is lighter. As I didn't select the head now (to be able to change the background), I kept the face itself also fairly dark. This also shows the technique much clearer.
Crap...forgot that you may not have a wacom...
(I recommed buying one of those cheapo Graphire2. really good investment.)
I haven't got one either here, so here we go:
When you have arrived at the result I explained earlier, it's easy to select the figure.
Start with the flattened image; Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C to select and copy, then copy the background, add a mask, alt-click on the mask icon andCtrl+V to paste.
Now apply once again that unsharp mask at some 500, 1,5, 0 and then take a brush and white, and paint the whole figure white, except for the borders. (too complicated without a pen). Now go to Image>Adjust> Threshold and play a bit to left and right. Choose a good setting (easy to fill in the last specks of white, so you get a white silhouette against a black background.)
Ctrl+click on the mask so as to load it as a selection.
Invert the selection
Activate the background and open levels. make lighter then use Gaussian blur.
Invert the selection back (so that the silhouette is selected) and apply levels. make it more contrasty by dragging both the black and white triangle atowards the centre but don't exaggerate)
Now Go to Selection>Modify>Expand and expand some 25 pixels (I am still working with the 1600 wide version, so adapt sizes as necessary for the size you chose)
The Selection>Feather and enter some 8 pixels.
Now Filter>Radial Blur set to Zoom and best and enter max value (100).
This gives you a white aura and a lighter, blurred background.
deselect
save.
Activate the top layer, ctrl+click on the mask (load as a selection) and apply Image>Adjust>ColorBalance to give a tad of yellow and red to the face.
Play a bit with curves on the face on the layer, deselect and finallyplay a bit with levels on the background.
save and then flatten, and resize. save for web and upload.
(I recommed buying one of those cheapo Graphire2. really good investment.)
I haven't got one either here, so here we go:
When you have arrived at the result I explained earlier, it's easy to select the figure.
Start with the flattened image; Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C to select and copy, then copy the background, add a mask, alt-click on the mask icon andCtrl+V to paste.
Now apply once again that unsharp mask at some 500, 1,5, 0 and then take a brush and white, and paint the whole figure white, except for the borders. (too complicated without a pen). Now go to Image>Adjust> Threshold and play a bit to left and right. Choose a good setting (easy to fill in the last specks of white, so you get a white silhouette against a black background.)
Ctrl+click on the mask so as to load it as a selection.
Invert the selection
Activate the background and open levels. make lighter then use Gaussian blur.
Invert the selection back (so that the silhouette is selected) and apply levels. make it more contrasty by dragging both the black and white triangle atowards the centre but don't exaggerate)
Now Go to Selection>Modify>Expand and expand some 25 pixels (I am still working with the 1600 wide version, so adapt sizes as necessary for the size you chose)
The Selection>Feather and enter some 8 pixels.
Now Filter>Radial Blur set to Zoom and best and enter max value (100).
This gives you a white aura and a lighter, blurred background.
deselect
save.
Activate the top layer, ctrl+click on the mask (load as a selection) and apply Image>Adjust>ColorBalance to give a tad of yellow and red to the face.
Play a bit with curves on the face on the layer, deselect and finallyplay a bit with levels on the background.
save and then flatten, and resize. save for web and upload.
Envoy:
I can well understand that this is a lot of information to swallow in one time. I meant to give it to you in smaller daily doses for about a week or so, but fate chose otherwise.
If you get stuck somewhere (also in the "aha" experience) feel free to ask.
extra question: ok, but that turban...that material does not have pores, now does it?
No. You can also use other methods to add the effect. One is to open another file, apply grain to it,then depending on the size of what you want enlarge to, say 250% and use prtscr to paste it in yet another file in PS, take a square or so and make that seamless tile. Then save as a pattern.
Go back to your original with turban, open a new layer and apply, indeed: that pattern.
That's why the size of the grain (enlargement) is so important.
The rest is etcetera.
I can well understand that this is a lot of information to swallow in one time. I meant to give it to you in smaller daily doses for about a week or so, but fate chose otherwise.
If you get stuck somewhere (also in the "aha" experience) feel free to ask.
extra question: ok, but that turban...that material does not have pores, now does it?
No. You can also use other methods to add the effect. One is to open another file, apply grain to it,then depending on the size of what you want enlarge to, say 250% and use prtscr to paste it in yet another file in PS, take a square or so and make that seamless tile. Then save as a pattern.
Go back to your original with turban, open a new layer and apply, indeed: that pattern.
That's why the size of the grain (enlargement) is so important.
The rest is etcetera.
D
Dodo
Guest
Thanks Erik. I must say it was interesting to see how you analysed the whole image in "Photoshop" terms by breaking the things down into method one learns as Photoshopper - also the stuff on the histogram and use of the channels - never thought of it before really - actually getting your image from there and also making selections from there.
Very nice detail in that enlarged portion you showed. Overall he looks like a coal miner now!
Oh, and you shouldn't mistake eagerness for impatience you know.
Very nice detail in that enlarged portion you showed. Overall he looks like a coal miner now!
Oh, and you shouldn't mistake eagerness for impatience you know.
Well, the good news is I do have a wacom tablet so your lesson wasn't wasted on me.
I've been unable to do any work on this project the entire week. I plan on spending a few hours today (Saturday) and going through all of your lessons above.
I like the way you spread it out over a course of a few different postings. That gives me time to work on each technique individually. As much as I like the instant gratification of "Step A, do this, Step B, do this" I also like the challenge of trying to figure out how something is done by learning the general concept.
Looking at all of the posts, I think it's interesting how different each person's interpretation of the original work looks. Erik, yours is very dark and "charcoally", Dodo's has a 3D effect to it and MsOz's is complimented and softened by the halo around the subject. As soon as I am finished with mine - I'll share it with the group.
Thanks again everyone for working on this with me. 8))
I've been unable to do any work on this project the entire week. I plan on spending a few hours today (Saturday) and going through all of your lessons above.
I like the way you spread it out over a course of a few different postings. That gives me time to work on each technique individually. As much as I like the instant gratification of "Step A, do this, Step B, do this" I also like the challenge of trying to figure out how something is done by learning the general concept.
Looking at all of the posts, I think it's interesting how different each person's interpretation of the original work looks. Erik, yours is very dark and "charcoally", Dodo's has a 3D effect to it and MsOz's is complimented and softened by the halo around the subject. As soon as I am finished with mine - I'll share it with the group.
Thanks again everyone for working on this with me. 8))