How do I get this "effect"

[jnick]

Hiya guys,

As you may have seen, I'm working on a wallpaper. Except it's not coming out the way I want it at ALL. I want it too be dark, grungy, and have a sort of "scary" feel to it. So I was browsing around on how to blend images, and someone explained how and showed some brushes he used. So I checked out the link, and some of the thumbnails for their brushes are how I want my wallpaper to turn out!

Here is the link - http://annikavonholdt.com/brushes/x.htm

Now at that link, check out the thumbnails for these brushes:

Romantic Sunset
Le Mort
Night Obscure
Dead
Man Tells No Tale

That's the kind of effect I want my wallpaper to have. Not exactly like that, but something to where there is a saying, and then some pictures blended together to get a real grungy/dark feel.

It doesn't have to be just black and white either.

Can anyone tell me some techniques I should look up to get an overal effect like this?

Thank guys!

Jnick

 

[Welles]

Hiya jnick,

My suggestion would be to open all the source images which you wished to use in the final composite. Then use the clone tool set at a low transparency and use strange brushes. Activate the clone tool and then Alt (Option) click on one of your source images in an area you wish to use. I would also check "Aligned" in the options bar.

Then go to your new image where you are creating and, still using the clone stamp tool, simply paint an area with your grungy brushes. Multiple clicks or passes will build up opacity. Repeat with your other images. When you choose your brushes, use ones which aren't solid black. The cloned areas will have some of the texture of the brush you are using if you apply the clone stamp with a series of clicks rather than sweeping strokes.

Does that make sense?

[confused]