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Discussion Board -> Desktop Wallpaper, Art, etc. -> The Photoshop Thread! Questions and Tips

The Photoshop Thread! Questions and Tips

::Shewolfe
12/09/07 3:13 PM GMT
Well, I might well have a few questions on the way and I'm sure it would be nice to have a place for any little questions that people have that do not need a whole thread of their own.

I've been using Ps for years now to edit and make wallpaper, signatures, icons etc but I have never learnt how to create things from scratch.
I'd like to learn and I know there are some great digital artists on the site...so alongside any tutorials I might find I'd love some tips, ideas, advice and help.

I've never taken a course in Ps or anything like that..I've taught myself anything that I do know..so be patient if I do not know the best way to do something (I might have found a long way around lol) or if I am not familiar with terms and names of certain things.

I uploaded my first attempt at creating anything today. Fresh in my gallery, it's called 'Baubles'..I was just messing about last night and it appeared.
I'd love to learn how do refine it..how to make the lighting points better...how to make a good 3D effect. I have been fiddling with sheen and transparent shapes that make things look shiny but it does not always appear to work so I must be doing something wrong.

Anyway..so much to learn! Time to stop rabbiting.
I have Ps CS2 here but I do have access to CS3.
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"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~

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+tbob
12/09/07 5:11 PM GMT
You might try adding a new layer then going back to the Baubles layer and removing the black than add a dropshadow and an inner shadow.
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&KEIFER
12/09/07 9:58 PM GMT
set a new layer below, fill it with white, for our example

1) .. experiment with the "blend" modes found at the top of the "layers palette" (lower right of your screen) ... certain blend modes will 'drop' black out of your image (screen, lighten) .. and certain ones will drop white (darken, multiply)

if you click on the word 'normal' (in the blend modes) you will select this word\menu .. then you can roll your mouse wheel, while looking at your image, and watch the changes in 'real time' (;)) without having to look back and forth



or ..

2) .. using the magic wand, click on the black to select it .. notice on the top tool bar you have a "tolerance" .. and a "contiguous" switch .... when you click with the magic wand, you are selecting a particular "black" .. there are MANY blacks in your image (usually) .. the tolerance will allow PS to select, also, those other blacks. .. the higher the tolerance to more liberal PS will be with its jumping to other blacks

Contiguous tells PS to only select the color as far as it is connected .. and NOT jump to isolated color patches ... for example: selecting the color outside of a donut (doughnut?) will not also select the color inside the aforementioned doughy treat .. however you Brits spell it

Keep in mind .. the toolbars, and some right-click menus, are context sensitive, and will change depending on which tool is selected


so .. to back up a bit .. select the black and then "invert your selection" so that you now have the 'baubles' .. you can do this via the "select" menu (select\inverse) .. or .. (Shft+Ctrl+I) .. you now have the "b" selected .. hit Ctrl+J to copy your selection to a new layer (or Layer\New\Layer via Copy) .... there is also "cutting to a new layer" for those times you don't want the original left behind

learn some of the keyboard shortcuts for common tasks


so .. you now have the "b's" on their own layer (double click the label and rename it CUT .. for our purposes) .. and, in our example, you have a white layer in there also .. click on the little "eye" on the left of the layer menu NEXT TO your original "Baubles+Black" to turn off that layer from view

with the "cut" layer selected, double click at the right edge of the label to bring up "Blending Options" ... or .. right click on the label and select "Blending Options" ...

at the top of this dialog you will find "drop shadow" .. clicking on the 'drop shadow' tool will display the controls for this .. and allow you to change direction, opacity .. etc




this is your bauble (*points*) .. this is your bauble on drop shadow (*points*)

any questions
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::Shewolfe
12/10/07 12:05 AM GMT
Ok, I know how to remove the black but how can I do this and keep the light effects?
Or am I looking at just going back to my image that I saved without lighting effects..then add them again later?
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"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~
+Samatar
12/10/07 1:00 AM GMT
I suggest you look at Nathan's "Jewel" tutorials and have a go at that, since you are into baubles.

Lens flares unfortunately don't work terribly well for lighting points I have found. If you try to make them brighter/stand out more they just get bigger and obscure everything else. I beleive there are brushes out there that are far more effective but I have never tried them.

Since some of the lens flares cross over into the black area, you would have to do them again, yes. You can't really keep them contained in a layer unless they are completely inside the bounds of said layer so you would have to save the finished image as (for example) a jpeg and then render the lens flares on that (as far as I am aware).
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-Everyone is entitled to my opinion- rescope.com.au
&KEIFER
12/10/07 1:06 AM GMT
study any 3D ball ... you will, typically, have a main light glint ... a reflection, either softly identifiable, or just specular highlights and glints .... you will also have a shadow if it is close to a surface ... all of these contribute to the 3D illusion

Tears... .. (check the tutorial linked from this link)

the "glass" and "shadow" are provided via AlienSkin EyeCandy "IMPACT" ... but they can be faked with some effort

MrXwild ..Christmas ... 3D programs, of course, do it all internally


the 'reflections' are called various things by various programs .. but two such names are Light Probes .. also Environment Maps
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::Shewolfe
12/10/07 1:10 AM GMT
Thanks for the help so far guys..and the links :)
Tears is fantastic!

I had a fiddle.. though after seeing those it looks rather naff lol
Baubles #2
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"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~
&KEIFER
12/10/07 1:27 AM GMT
baubles 2 has better dimensionality .. due to the introduction of the 'sheen' ... the pink one looks a little flat due to the 'sheen' being centered ... the blue ones are better with it offset

I would experiment with making the sheen smaller and offset to serve as your 'main glint' .. I usually go with upper left, but I'm a one-trick pony
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::Shewolfe
12/10/07 1:30 AM GMT
You have a good eye lol I must be tired..I didn't even notice the pink one's sheen was more centred.

I'll experiment some more then :)
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"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~
+Samatar
12/10/07 2:24 AM GMT
The revision definitely looks better...
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-Everyone is entitled to my opinion- rescope.com.au
+tbob
12/10/07 9:34 PM GMT
Yea it does look better.Innershadows sometimes adds more of a 3d look more than a drop shadow do.
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::Shewolfe
12/10/07 10:26 PM GMT
Hey guys,

I'm probably being really thick but I would like to follow this tutorial, however I don't think it is written very well and would love it if someone could maybe fill in the gaps this guy has left?
I need it more...step by step..maybe someone knows a ebtter tutorial?

Tutorial
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"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~
::Shewolfe
12/27/07 12:42 AM GMT
*Waves*
I'm also looking for tips on working on photos with over exposed sky and glare.
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"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~
purmusic
12/27/07 6:34 PM GMT
Tip (Re: over-exposed sky and glare):

Don't do that. :oP

Seriously though ... the time spent in trying to fix that particular error is not worth the time spent, when you could be out taking more pictures.

Submitting, even a 'fixed' overexposed sky is simply not worth the investment of your time Bonnie. The image will sink into the abyss ... you will only end up getting your hopes and dreams dashed on the rocks of the ... ahem ... 'C-shores'.

Take ... more ... pictures.
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"Sometimes me think what is love, and then me think love is what last cookie is for. Me give up the last cookie for you." - Cookie Monster
::Shewolfe
12/27/07 6:57 PM GMT
No I really need to fix them :p
I can't go out and try again and I really love the shots, I just need to fix a few bits.
0∈ [?]
"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~
::J_272004
12/27/07 10:32 PM GMT
I'd be interested in that answer too.. ;)
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MY GALLERY ........... "Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece"
&KEIFER
12/27/07 11:56 PM GMT
1) .. try, maybe, Phil's .. Faking the HDR thing...... ... or ... The sky's the limit... ..... (and browse the other 'toots')

2) .. consider POSTING, somewhere, (here or photobucket) .. an image in LARGE rez and asking for tips and toots ... otherwise we are just grabbing at vapor (vapour?)
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::J_272004
12/28/07 1:25 AM GMT
maybe there can be a gallery called "HELP!!" so that the images can be posted in there..
0∈ [?]
MY GALLERY ........... "Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece"
.akashastrega
01/04/08 5:52 AM GMT
I am beginning college on monday...and after 20+ years out of school, decided to ease myself back in slowly...so I am taking a PhotoShop class...so you will soon see me whoring this thread with questions...and maybe one day actually be able to answer other peoples questions.
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Feisty Woman= One who is vibrant, gutsy, lives boldly, is true to herself, and embraces her power as a woman!

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