Help creating this effect

[sukipop]

Hi all,Could anyone give me some tips on how to create this washed out effect, or perhaps point me to a tutorial? I've included the original image and the end result/effect I'm after. I'd like to be able to emulate this effect with other images.Thanks for your help.

 

[Paul]

Removed your advert in second image - leaving up as it could help others, in answer to the question though just apply a new layer filled with white then drop opacity.

 

[sukipop]

Thank you for responding Paul. Adding a white layer and dropping the opacity does make it looked washed out, it also looses the richness/depth in the orginal image – i.e. the wood gets washed out in a way that it doesn't in the original image. So I'm hoping there's another way to reproduce this effect without losing that depth.

I should add that it wasn't an ad, as you suggested. I had taken a screen shot of an image I saw on a homepage. I'm not affiliated in any way with that page.

 

[sukipop]

I'm posting another screen shot which does not make mention to the site but shows the effect im after. When you compare it to the white layer with lowered opacity, I'm hoping you can see the difference...as subtle as it may be.

 

[IamSam]

Like this?

 

[IamSam]

Open the original.
Duplicate the original and set it's layer mode to overlay.
(You can also try the soft light mode as well when done to see which looks better.)
Add a Gaussian blur of about 8.0
Lower the opacity.
Add a Curves Adjustment layer to reduce brightness. Increase the red slightly.

 

[sukipop]

Thanks IamSam. I followed your advice and got closer to the desired effect. I think the one thing that's missing is the sepia/yellow wash over the image. I've attached a screen shot of my attempt following the above suggestions and the original which illustrates this wash I'm trying to describe (blocked out any reference to the webpage it was taken from).

 

[MikeMc]

You can add a hues adj for color shift

 

[IamSam]

Yeah, you would need to play with a few adjustments, I was just demonstrating a basic technique.

Here I've added H&S and decreased both. I also added a Photo Filter adjustment layer and added the hue.

Closer, but still needs some adjusting.


One thing I would add, I don't know why I didn't earlier, is that on the second or duplicated layer, I would convert that to a smart object. This way you could change the G blur.