You ended up with great results on this one, but just for your information I think I like the other one just a tad more. tigs=^..^=

I think I do too, but at first it was the other way around. :-)

I like this one the best, because it looks like you've caught the action of the breeze in the trees...it's beautiful artistry.

Totally awesome!! I can feel the breeze from over here:):) I think it's blowing your way:):)

From the Photoshop-aholic discussion thread.. you will find the following..

The 'illustrative' technique, simplified (think Orton's meets illustration):

Duplicate your Background layer twice. Hide the top layer (named Background copy 2 if you haven't renamed it).

Working with the Background copy layer selected (again, if you have not renamed the layers ... and you are well advised to do so):


Go to (in Photoshop) ... Filter >> Smart Blur ... and for the drop down menus; namely 'Quality' ... select ... 'High'. And then for that of 'Mode', select ... 'Edge Only'.

Bit of experimentation with the Radius and Threshold values/settings is involved. Try the default settings. And/or, play around with the values yourself. The preview window will inform you as to how much detail you are pulling out of the image. It will appear as a negative.

Then ...

Go to ... Image >> Adjustments >> Invert. This will convert the negative image. Now, you should see black lines on a white background.


Then ...

Go to ... Filter >> Artistic >> Cutout.

Again, a bit of experimentation is involved. Suffice to say that the following settings work reasonably and generally well:

Number of Levels: 7
Edge Simplicity: 4
Edge Fidelity: 2


Then ...

Unhide your top layer; Background copy 2 ... go to ... Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian Blur.

Here, and with regards to the value/setting of the Radius ... you want to 'blur' enough of the detail and fine lines, but, not overdo it. Experiment.


Then ... and without doing anything else in the interim, or you lose the ability to 'Fade' the blur results applied ... change the Blending mode to 'Darken' (go to ... Edit >> Fade..).

Depending on the image you are working with, adjusting the Blending and/or Opacity can provide an assist to the treatment or effect, if you will.

Add a Brightness/Contrast Adjustment layer ... make adjustments via the slider controls ... annnnnd ... done.


The key to producing a post worthy or enjoyable image is experimenting with the Radius and Threshold settings. That, and identifying an image that 'works' with the above technique.

"The key to producing a post worthy or enjoyable image is experimenting with the Radius and Threshold settings. That, and identifying an image that 'works' with the above technique."

"Don't overdo it," you said, filling me with terror... and the resulting effect was way too subtle. It also became very yellow once I got hold of the brightness/contrast slider.

I prefer the plain unvarnished shot. :-) I could post that too, if anyone else wanted to try.