Continued from the previous page
Soft Contrast Sketch Techniques
Some subjects deserve a gentler treatment, so here I applied Gaussian Blur to the middle Overlay layer. See original
Adjust the Overlay layers as shown in this dialog box:
Layer 1: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
Layer 2: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
Layer 3: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
(click here for the results.)
Next: Stark Contrast
This shot, taken in crisp, winter light, was already high-contrast, so I applied Gaussian Blur to the middle Overlay layer. See original
Adjust the Overlay layers as shown in this dialog box:
Layer 1: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
Layer 2: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
Layer 3: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
(click here for the results.)
Next: Brassed Off
As an alternative, I applied the Emboss filter on the top layer. This produced a more textured finish. See original
Adjust the Overlay layers as shown in this dialog box:
Layer 1: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
Layer 2: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
Layer 3: Opacity: 60, Fill: 100
(click here for the results.)
Learn to blend layers like the pros...
Unlike Photoshop's built-in filters, blending modes don't change the actual pixels that make up an image, so their effects are completely reversible. There are over 20 blending modes in Photoshop CS2, which range from those which darken and lighten images (such as Darken, Multiply, Lighten, and Screen) to modes that increase contrast (such as Overlay and Hard Light) and adjust color (such as Hue, Color. Luminosity, and Saturation).
Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook is the only recipe-format book that covers blending modes specifically for digital photographers.
Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for Digital Photographers : 49 Easy-to-Follow Recipes to Fix Problem Photos and Create Amazing Effects
by John Beardsworth
In addition to covering each blending mode in detail, John Beardsworth, a London-based photographer and author, takes the reader through a whole collection of recipes that demonstrate how to use blending modes alone or in combination to fix problem photos, add subtle effects, and create dramatic images that are truly unique.
List Price: $29.95; Amazon Price: $18.87 -- You Save: $11.08 (36%)
Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; 1 edition
Covers: Changing hue, saturation, luminosity, and color * Correcting basic color shifts * Repairing highlights * Sharpening or softening focus * Adjusting lighting for subtle or dramatic effects * Controlling contrast * Creating surface effects and textures * Adding interest to landscapes and urban scenes * Enhancing portraits of children and adults * Simulating graphics arts techiques * and much more.
- This article is the exclusive property of O'Reilly Publishing and Ilex Press, Limited. All images are the exclusive property of John Beardsworth. ©Copyright 2006 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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