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Computer Arts

August 2008 www.computerarts.co.uk

ART151.tut_1 62

12/6/08 13:25:08

www.computerarts.co.uk

Computer Arts

August 2008

Technique 6302

Usually at this point Iduplicate the original layer so I can tryout some layer effects on the wholeimage. You can also resize the imagebefore going any further, though I tendto work on an image at the highestpossible resolution and export a smallerversion at the end (for uploading toFlickr, for example).

Every image needs some level of retouching, and thisone is no exception. Create a new layer and do some paintingwith a brush of 20-40% opacity. Then add a small amount ofblur, and play a little with the opacity of the layer. The Smudgetool is useful for retouching, but works much better onphotographs of people.

The image dictates whichlayer effects are best for retouching,though Levels and Brightness/Contrastare often useful. Experimentation is key.One tip is to make adjustments ondifferent layers to achieve violentcontrasts. I want the sky to really glow,so use ﬁve layers here.

Photoshop CS3

Creativeretouching

It doesn’t matter howpowerful Photoshop is –great results still dependon the skills of the user.

Per Gustafson

shares hisexpert advice for makingmediocre photos magical

In this tutorial I will show you how to create a strikingand highly atmospheric image from a rather ordinary photograph.

I’ll use the standard ﬁlters and tools in Photoshop, with no add-onsor plug-ins. As long as you’re happy to play around and explore theboundaries in Photoshop, you can make a photo look however youwant it to look.If you follow the steps in this tutorial and work from thestarting ﬁle on this issue’s disc, you’ll begin to look at photographsin a new light. Some people believe that retouching to this degree isessentially cheating. But the techniques I’ll demonstrate here willenable you to get the best results possible from any image. And inPhotoshop there are no rules to break – just different ways toaccomplish your goals.

Per Gustafson

Hailing fromSweden, Per is agraphic designer,digital artist,animator andphotographer. Underthe name ofModernstyle he hasworked for clients allover the globe,including adidas,Universal andEricsson. Hecurrently resides inLondon. Per alsofounded the Swedishinternet mediacompany geidemarkgustafson. See www.pergustafson.comand www.modernstyle.se.

On the disc

The ﬁle you need tocomplete thistutorial can be foundin Disc Contents\Resources\retouch.

Time needed

2 hours

Skills

ManipulatinglayersUsing lightingeffectsGetting the bestout of ﬁlters

The original photograph was taken in daylight andlots of people are pictured. We want to create some sort of newworld with a magical atmosphere, so let’s paint them out. Aswell as using a brush, you’ll probably need the Eraser plussome blur effects on the hard edges.

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Computer Arts

August 2008 www.computerarts.co.uk

Now for the sky. Create a layer with 100% opacity and thelayer effect Color. With a big brush paint the blue colour in the outerareas, then green, yellow and ﬁnally red in the centre. For a reallybright light end with white, like in the centre of a ﬁre or an explosion.

Experiment with brushes, the Eraser and transformations until the bottomsection of the image is seamlessly merged with the top half containing the Eiffel Towerand the sky. Remember that not all of the picture has to be perfectly sharp – it’s okay toblow things up until it’s a little blurred.

Use the Eraser tool to smear out the edges and makethis section blend in better with the rest of the picture. Changethe opacity of the layer to 70% so that some of the sharp imagebelow shows through.

As this photo was taken on a grey day in Paris, you should add the Sunas a light source. Create a circle on a new layer and ﬁll it with white. Then useGaussian Blur and choose the Overlay layer effect, and place the Sun at thehorizon as if it’s setting.

The bottom section is now in a separate layer. Make it a bit darker usingBrightness/Contrast, then apply Gaussian Blur to ensure that the top half of the imagestands out in comparison.

You need to avoid making the whole bottom sectionof the image a solid black. With all the layers visible, select thelower section of the image with a marquee, and chooseEdit>CopyMerged then Edit>Paste.

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