Photomanip tut

[Firefly]

Tutorial: photomanip
Author: firefly

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So yeah, here's a photomanip tut, as calcos suggested me to make one.

1. Open up the image you want to manipulate, scale down if needed. Here's my image:


2. Duplicate the background layer, and on the duplicated layer, add motion blur or gaussian blur from filter>blur. Motion blur distance: 30, Gaussian blur distance: 4. Set blending mode to hard light. I used both blurring methods, on 2 different layers.


3. Duplicate the unmodified background layer and set it above all the other layers. Go to Image>adjustments>threshold. Set the threshold so that the spots you want to have a slight glow/shine are white. Once set, add gaussian blur, distance: 4, and set the blending mode to screen.


4. From here on, you can manipulate other things, I'm going to change the sky in this one. I used the pen tool with black as the foreground color, and filled the sky with black. Then I moved the layer under the blurred layers. I also added a planet:


5. Add brushing, any effects, text, or any finishing touches you think it needs. I added some stars (scattered different sized dots, low opacity), and some brushing on overlay to the sky. And ofcourse text and a border. Here's the finished piece:


You can change a lot of stuff shown here, change blending modes, use different filters etc. These are just guidelines, not rules.

Comment on the tut, and rate the manip while you're at it

[m3rrix]

I like the tute man. Good work.

The skyline is Melbourne, Australia, yeah?
I pass that spot everyday on the train.
It's Southbank.
B/w Spencer and Flinders Street Stations.

Nice manip too.
 :grin:  

[Test Bear]

Thanks for the tut. Result turned out nice, but maybe too dark? I'll try it out.

[Firefly]

Yeah, it's a bit dark. Thanks for the comments

@m3rrix: Yes it is. I had no idea where it was from, but when I googled 'duxton hotel' I found out it's in melbourne. The filename was view-from-duxton-hotel.

[m3rrix]

It might be an old photo, cause I think the casino is right where you put the moon.

Melbourne's never looked so good though.

[InsaNe]

Cool tut firefly    

[Omni]

Good tut Firefly, and great result but that planet makes it look a bit tacky IMO.

[MisguidedAngel]

about time one of us made a tut, Im gonna make a little tutorial soon.

Nice result, but personally I dont like the planet in the background. Its cool and all, and its more of a manip with it...but I just dont think it looks to hot.

9/10 on the tut Firefly, cheers

[Midnight]

great but i can't get it to work with the threshold.. it gets to dark or to bright.. could you please show with a pic or write the level of threshold you use.. and i don't get how you get the sky dark.. I know you used the pen, but i don't know how..

[Yoda]

Nice manip dude, but it's a bit too dark and the planet ruins it comepletely. still, 7/10, without the planet: 8.7/10

BTW midnight, i love your sig

[Firefly]

Oh damn, I forgot. The threshold blending mode should be set to screen. Sorry about that . And the threshold is kinda optional. Some manips look better without it. If it's too bright you can erase some of it, or try experimenting with the blending modes. The pen tool is very hard to master, you can also use the lasso or polygonal lasso and fill the selection with black.

[Yoda]

hahahaha, i forgot a bit that it's a tut srry for that

good tut dude

[Midnight]

Oh damn, I forgot. The threshold blending mode should be set to screen. Sorry about that . And the threshold is kinda optional. Some manips look better without it. If it's too bright you can erase some of it, or try experimenting with the blending modes. The pen tool is very hard to master, you can also use the lasso or polygonal lasso and fill the selection with black.

Just a little detail

thanks, looks better now..
Btw, what font do you use to wirte Firefly, it looks really great!

[m3rrix]

Lethal | Dragon has a nice sig tut over at:

http://www.masterdesigns.tk/

in the tutorial section.

Don't know if he'd wanna post that here as well.