Photoshop Techniques

[CGYMike]

Hey Everyone,

I've been playing around with Photoshop over the last few days and really like the Colour Accent over a Black and White background. It really makes images POP off the screen.

If any of you have photo designs, techniques or tips that you would like to share I would love to learn from you. Please feel free to post your photo creations here and share your secrets as to how you created them. I'm going to be exploring new and creative ways to "play" with photography and I'd love you to join me.



Thanks
Mike

[WalterB]

I have Paintshop Pro, but haven't really done a lot with it. Maybe I'll try.

[h0rnytoad1]

nice work, i woulda gone for even more subtle accenting, like just the sexy bits: lips and eyes

yes i did notice she has eyes

[CGYMike]

2nd attempt :)

[h0rnytoad1]

nice! now this is kick-ass

[dave45]

I think I'm going to play with this myself.


Dave

[CGYMike]

It's fun to have some fun with the ladies and I hope they don't mind if we try to add a little spin on their amazing photos.

Here is a Shanda pic I enhanced using a depth of field feature and a vignette feature. It really focuses the model and really softens the background :) It's almost like using the popular tilt-shift that a lot of pics feature now a days

[WalterB]

Depth of field is something a lot of photos are missing these days - I'm guessing because at least cheaper digital cameras aren't adjustable. or maybe todays cameramen just aren't aware of it. That pic looks good, Mike.

[CGYMike]

reverse b&W…I though this was an interesting pic to try this on..hope the VNA masses like this one

[CGYMike]

Well, here I go again playing around with Photoshop. Puma is a great subject (hope she doesn't kick my ass) to try this technique on. It's a depth of field tool again that really pulls the subject to the foreground even when the background is very simple. I kinda like getting creative with amazing pictures to begin with and putting my own lil' spin on them.

[WalterB]

That's nice, Mike. I like it.

[CGYMike]

More fun with Photoshop.. This picture uses a couple of techniques:

Colour to B&W
Depth of field
Perfect portrait

Combined it gives a very soft, almost animated look to a model...man do I love Black and White Photography :)

[WalterB]

Is "Perfect Portrait" a setting you can select or a comment on the picture? I think it's the latter.

[CGYMike]

Perfect Portrait is a photoshop setting Walt that is basically a skin softening tool. It's like smoothing skin with pastel and takes away the hard edges...depending on the amount of blending you want you can go from smoothing laugh lines to turning your favourite girl into Sailor Moon :) lol

If you look at the dress you will see the wrinkles even leaving the fabric

This is why Cosmo has flawless ladies on the cover and in every print ad between the pages


...original pic is on top followed by two examples using this tool

[WalterB]

I don't see too much difference on ShandaFay (isn't she pretty much flawless all ready?) but I do see it in the dress and waistband. Thanks, Mike

[CGYMike]

You will see changes in her cheek bones and the bridge of the nose...it softens the hard edges and blends the skin tones out.

Give those glasses a good cleaning and look again :) lol


Mike

[TheBoy]

Awesome work Mike :) I really liked the Shanda Fay depth of field picture earlier in the thread - to me it adds a feel of movement to the shot. Excellent.

[CGYMike]

Zoom Burst is another tool that I had a little luck with tonight. Charlee looks pretty damn good on a motorcycle but a little movement gives it even more sex appeal :)

[CGYMike]

more Charlee from tonight...it's fun to work with the girls and I hope that they don't mind...it beats the hell out of messing with a picture of a bowl of fruit, but I gotta admit, Charlee has some great melons :)

Cheers babe xoxxooo
Mike

[stickyvicky]

Awesome work Mike! I'm impressed!