PHOTOSHOP DESIGN EFFECTS FOR INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED USERS

PHOTOSHOP DESIGN EFFECTS FOR INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED USERS Copyright 2012, National Seminars Training

Introduction This class is all about design effects in Adobe Photoshop. For example, let s say that you want to wrap an image around another image. It s a snap with Displacement Mapping techniques. Or say that you want to make it rain, or maybe change day into night. The techniques described herein are created using stock images, using filters and options in Adobe Photoshop; however, the version of the application is not limited to only the newest. If you have Photoshop CS3, CS4, or CS5, you will be able to perform all the techniques in this resource. 2

Learn How Blending Modes Are Indispensable to the Creation of Realistic Effects Blending modes have been around for a long time, and the power they employ makes it possible to create cool Photoshop effects. Blending modes give the designer the ability to take two or more layers and blend the elements of those layers. For example, the Multiply blending mode takes two layers and multiplies the elements of those layers, while the Screen blending mode take two layers and subtracts one from the other. To put it simply, Multiply darkens and Screen lightens. The Screen and Multiply blending modes lighten or darken an image. 3

Learn How Blending Modes Are Indispensable to the Creation of Realistic Effects, continued In this lesson we re going to put a doggy into a window. In addition, we ll use a layer mask to remove portions of the dog, to make the whole scene appear more believable. Finally, we ll use a blending mode called Luminosity to make it look as if the dog is behind the window. Getting Real In Adobe Photoshop the images are a two-dimensional representation of a real-world space. We can t really place the dog behind the glass in the photograph, but we can use a blending mode to make it appear as if the dog is behind the window. The dog and the window are two separate images that will be combined into a single image with the creative use of blending modes. In this example, I have an image of a dog in one layer and an image of a window in another. The object of this exercise is to take the dog and make him appear as if he is behind the window. 1. Move the dog image into the window image. You should now have a Photoshop document containing two layers: a window and a dog. Make sure the dog layer is on top. 2. Position the dog where you want him to be in the image. 3. Create a mask on the dog layer by clicking the Layer Mask icon, located at the bottom of the Layers panel. Make sure the mask is selected. 4. Select black as your painting color, then select the Paintbrush tool. 5. Move into the image of the dog and, using the Paintbrush tool, paint out the area of the dog that interacts with the wood in the window frame. Note: When you paint with black on a layer mask, it causes the image information to go transparent. 4

Learn How Blending Modes Are Indispensable to the Creation of Realistic Effects, continued A layer mask and black paint will allow you to remove selected portions of the target layer. 6. Select the dog layer. 7. Select the Blending Mode option, located at the top of the Layers panel, then select Luminosity from the available options. The Luminosity blending mode blends the dog into the window, creating the illusion of the dog being behind the glass. The Luminosity blending mode completes the illusion of the dog being behind the glass in the window. 5

Understand How to Use a Displacement Map to Wrap and Map a Graphic to an Image Photoshop has a feature that allows you to distort an image. You might ask yourself exactly why you want to distort a photograph. There are several reasons. You could do it just because you can, you could do it to create a surreal work of art, or you could do it because you want the image to look as if it s on another surface, and that s exactly what we re going to do. The Displacement Map feature allows you to take an image and give the appearance of it being wrapped or contoured to another image. For example, you could take one image and make it appear to be part of a brick wall or, as in our case, we re going to put a flag on the side of a rock face. To make this work, we ll use two images: a photograph of a rock face and the image we want contoured to the rock. In this example, the image we re using for the contour will be a graphic of the American flag. The two images: Rock Face and American Flag 1. Open the two images. 2. Move the flag image into the Rock Face document. Note: To position the flag image in the center of the receiving document, hold down the Shift key while dragging the flag layer into the target document. 3. Make a copy of the Rock Face document. This will be used for the Displacement Map. Name this copy Displacement Map. The copy of the Rock Face must be saved as a PSD. 4. Convert the Displacement Map (copy of Rock Face) to grayscale by clicking the Image menu, scrolling down to Adjustments, then selecting Desaturate from the available options. 5. Save and close the Displacement Map document. You will use it later for the Displacement Map. 6

Understand How to Use a Displacement Map to Wrap and Map a Graphic to an Image, continued 6. Return to the Rock Face document, and select the Flag layer. 7. Click the Filters menu, scroll down to Distort, then select Displace from the available options. 8. Leave everything at default values and click OK. Note: You will be prompted to select the displacement map image. 9. Choose the Displacement Map image that you previously saved, then click OK to apply the displacement map to the flag layer. The Displacement Map options allow you to control the amount of distortion applied to the image. Note: The flag layer is now distorted to appear as if it was painted on the side of the rocks. 10. Change the blending mode of the flag layer to Overlay and adjust the Opacity to your liking. Additional Design Tip Create a layer mask, like we did on the image of the dog in the previous lesson, and paint out the portions of the flag that you don t want on the rock face. The final image combines the American Flag and Rock Face images. 7

Discover How a Feature Called Refine Edge Will Make Selection Around Hair a Snap Ever need to remove someone from a background and place the person into another background? Photoshop has many ways to accomplish this, and they all involve some sort of selection technique. Selection is a keystone skill in Photoshop. In this exercise we re going to make a complex selection using the Paintbrush tools and a feature called Refine Edge. In this example, we ll use the Refine Edge feature to remove a model in front of a dull wall and place her into a more appropriate background. The Refine Edge feature will help move the model into the professional backdrop. 1. Open both images and move the model into the document that has the good background. 2. Make a quick selection around the model and her dress. Don t worry if the selection is not perfect, especially around her hair. Note: The best tool to use here would be the Magnetic Lasso. 8

Discover How a Feature Called Refine Edge Will Make Selection Around Hair a Snap, continued The Magnetic Lasso is an excellent tool to make a rough selection around the model. 3. Click the Select menu, then choose Refine Edge from the available options. 4. Move into the image and begin painting around the edge of the model. As you paint with the Refine Edge brush, Photoshop works to make the edge more precise. Note: When you open the Refine Edge feature, the brush tool is automatically selected for use on the target layer. 5. Continue to paint the edge of the image until you see a good selection. 6. Before clicking OK, change the selection to a Layer Mask. 9

Discover How a Feature Called Refine Edge Will Make Selection Around Hair a Snap, continued Change the Refine Edge selection to a layer mask before clicking OK. The Refine Edge feature creates the layer mask and successfully removes the old background from the model layer. Refine Edge successfully removed the old, boring background and allows the new backdrop to display with the model on top. 10

Learn How to Apply Multiple Filters to Create Amazing Effects Using the Filter Gallery Several versions ago, Photoshop created the Filter Gallery. The Filter Gallery gives designers the ability to create an image using multiple filters. Before this, you had to apply a filter, lock yourself into that effect, then do it again and again until you achieved the best results. With Filter Gallery you can experiment to your heart s content and get exactly what you want. 1. Open an image in Photoshop. 2. Click the Filters menu and select Filter Gallery from the available options. 3. Select a filter from the available options and experiment with the specific filter s settings and adjustments. 4. Add an additional filter layer by clicking on the new filter layer, located at the bottom of the Filter Gallery panel, then choose a second filter. 5. Click OK when you re ready to apply the filter(s) to the image. The Filter Gallery panel allows you to apply single or multiple filters to individual Photoshop layers. 11

Learn How to Apply Multiple Filters to Create Amazing Effects Using the Filter Gallery, continued The before and after of a typical Filter Gallery adjustment 12

Gain Knowledge of Stunning Text Effects Like Metallic and Glass Text Text can be an important part of a document, and text in Photoshop takes on a different aspect. Photoshop can generate some really cool text effects, for example, giving text a metallic look. Metallic text can be achieved in several ways. In this example, we ll use text generated in Photoshop and apply a few filters to bring it to life. 1. Open a new document in Photoshop. 2. Create a new layer. 3. Choose the Horizontal Type Mask tool, then create a large, bold word. 4. Fill that text selection with a mid-gray color. 5. Click the Filters menu, scroll down to Noise, then select Add Noise from the fly-out menu. 6. Select a Noise value of 25 or more, select Monochromatic, then click OK. The Add Noise filter breaks up the color of the text. 7. Click the Filters menu, scroll down to Blur, then select Motion Blur from the available options. 8. Create a Motion Blur of 0 degrees at a Distance of 35. 13

Gain Knowledge of Stunning Text Effects Like Metallic and Glass Text, continued The Motion Blur filter creates the effect of brushed metal. 9. Click OK. 10. To finish the effect, click the Effects button, located at the bottom of the Layers panel, then add Bevel and Emboss. 11. Choose an Inner Bevel, then click OK. Additional Design Note Adding an additional layer behind the text and using the same brush metal technique creates an object with the letters stamped into the faux metal. The finished effect resembles brushed metal. 14

Discover How to Create a Realistic Reflection on Any Object With Blending Modes, Free Transform, and Opacity In the real world, a reflection on an object is a common occurrence; however, Photoshop is not the real world. And if we want a reflection, we have to make it ourselves. We re going to accomplish this with Blending Modes, Free Transform, and Opacity. 1. Open an image with a transparent background. In this example, the image is a car. 2. Make a copy of the target image in another layer. 3. Select the copy layer. 4. Click the Edit menu, scroll down to Transform, then select Flip Vertical from the fly-out menu. This will stand the copy image on its head or upside-down. 5. Change the blending mode of the flipped layer to Overlay, then position the flipped image directly below the original image. This will create the illusion of the reflected image. The flipped image and the Overlay blending mode create the illusion of a reflection. 6. Add a layer behind the two images, and choose a color or colors to generate a background. 15

Discover How to Create a Realistic Reflection on Any Object With Blending Modes, Free Transform, and Opacity, continued The background color helps blend the reflection into the image and creates the illusion of a reflection. Additional Design Tip To help the illusion, create another layer with a black, blurred oval, and place it between the original image and the reflection to create the illusion of a shadow under the object. The addition of a shadow layer helps create the illusion of a reflection. 16

Impress Your Clients by Moving Away From Common Drop Shadows and Into the World of Cast Shadows Photoshop can create a drop shadow with the click of a button. However, sometimes you re not interested in a drop shadow; you want a bottom shadow, or a cast shadow. A cast shadow is a shadow of the object that falls behind the image. It s as if the light source is directly in front of the object. 1. Open an image in Photoshop with a transparent background. 2. Make a copy of the object, then place the copy behind the original image layer. 3. Click the Lock Transparency option on the copy layer. This option is located at the top of the Layers panel. 4. Fill the copy object with black. The Lock Transparency option allows you to fill the copy layer with pure black. Note: With the Lock Transparency option selected, choose black as the Foreground option, then click Option + Delete (Mac) or Alt + Backspace (Windows). 5. Turn off the Lock Transparency option on the copy layer. 6. Select the copy layer, which is now black. 17

Impress Your Clients by Moving Away From Common Drop Shadows and Into the World of Cast Shadows, continued 7. Select the Edit menu, scroll down to Transform, then select Distort from the fly-out menu. 8. Click on the top-middle Distort anchor and drag up and to the right. 9. Press the Enter key to confirm the Distort option. The Distort option allows you to manipulate the copy layer into a cast shadow. 10. Select the Filter menu, scroll down to Blur, then select Gaussian Blur from the fly-out menu. 11. Choose a blur for the cast shadow and click OK. 18

Impress Your Clients by Moving Away From Common Drop Shadows and Into the World of Cast Shadows, continued Additional Design Note Add a layer mask to the cast shadow and use a gradient to let the shadow fade into the distance. Adding a layer mask to the cast shadow can impart a sense of realism to the shadow. 19

Learn How to Turn Day Into Night With a Few Simple Photoshop Tricks You take a cool photograph of a sunny day, but you want it to look more like night. You could go back to the same spot and wait until dark, or you could try this technique. The process of turning day into night will differ with each image. In this example the image is darkened by the use of a Curves adjustment layer. 1. Open the image in Photoshop. The original image was taken during the day in full sunlight. 20

Learn How to Turn Day Into Night With a Few Simple Photoshop Tricks, continued 2. Select specific areas of the image that display overly light areas (sunlight), then use layer masks with Curves adjustment layers to equalize the lighting. Use selective adjustment layers to equalize the light and dark areas. 21

Learn How to Turn Day Into Night With a Few Simple Photoshop Tricks, continued 3. Use one overall Curves adjustment layer to darken the image to nighttime. The image appears to be taken in the evening. 22

Learn How to Turn Day Into Night With a Few Simple Photoshop Tricks, continued Additional Design Tip You can create additional layers with selective coloring to turn on streetlights and put lights into windows. Use additional layers to add streetlights and lights in windows. 23

Discover How to Create One-of-a-Kind Vignettes With Photoshop s Powerful Masking Features A border around an image can make or break the look of the photograph. Images come in a square or rectangle; however, Photoshop allows you to create borders in some very creative ways, using Layer masks and filters. 1. Open an image in Photoshop. 2. Use a selection tool to create a selection on the image. Note: Since many vignettes are ovals, select the Elliptical Marquee and make an oval selection on the image. 3. Create a layer mask by clicking the Layer Mask button, located at the bottom of the Layers panel. Note: The image will now be cropped into a sharp oval shape. 4. Make sure the Layer Mask is selected. The layer mask creates an oval on the image. 5. Click the Filters menu, then select Filter Gallery from the available options. 6. Apply a filter to the mask. In this example, the Brush Strokes filter Sprayed Strokes was used to create a ragged appearance. 7. Click OK to apply the filter to the mask. The image now appears to have a ragged oval surrounding it. 24

Discover How to Create One-of-a-Kind Vignettes With Photoshop s Powerful Masking Features, continued The Filter Gallery and the Brush Stroke filters make a ragged edge vignette on the target layer. Additional Design Note The final image gives a new look to the common vignette. You can work with more of the filters, including Gaussian Blur, to create some very interesting borders for your images. 25

Learn How to Be a Rainmaker Using a Combination of Layers, Filters, and Blending Modes Controlling the weather is no problem in Photoshop; all you need is the right photo and a couple of extra layers. 1. Open an outdoor image in Photoshop. 2. Create a new layer and fill it with 50% gray. 3. Click the Filter menu, scroll down to Noise, and select Add Noise from the fly-out menu. 4. Add about 20% noise. 5. Click OK. The Noise filter breaks up the solid gray color. 6. Click the Filter menu, scroll down to Blur, then select Motion Blur from the fly-out menu. 7. Change the direction to 90 degrees (rain often falls straight down), with a distance of 20. 8. Click OK. 26

Learn How to Be a Rainmaker Using a Combination of Layers, Filters, and Blending Modes, continued The Motion Blur filter begins to give the illusion of falling rain. 9. Click the Image menu, scroll down to Adjustments, then select Threshold from the fly-out menu. 10. Move the Threshold slider until you see black streaks against white. 11. Click OK. 12. Select the Magic Wand tool, click into the white areas, and press the Delete key. You should now have a layer with black streaks. 27

Learn How to Be a Rainmaker Using a Combination of Layers, Filters, and Blending Modes, continued After deleting the white in the rain layer, you should see the original image covered in black streaks. 13. Click the Lock Transparency option, located at the top of the Layers panel. 14. Change the Foreground color to light gray, then click Option + Delete (Mac) or Alt + Backspace (Windows) to fill the black streaks with light gray. 28

Learn How to Be a Rainmaker Using a Combination of Layers, Filters, and Blending Modes, continued The Lock Transparency option allows you to change the color of the black streaks to light gray. 15. Turn off the Lock Transparency option. 16. Lower the Opacity of the streak layer until it resembles rain. 17. Add a bit of Gaussian Blur to help the effect. 29

Learn How to Be a Rainmaker Using a Combination of Layers, Filters, and Blending Modes, continued A bit of Gaussian Blur helps blend the rain layer into the image and create the illusion of rain. Additional Design Note Rain is notoriously difficult to pull off, and depending on the image you re using, you might have to do a bit of tweaking with the color of the rain, and the amount of Gaussian Blur and Opacity. 30