Tutorial.
This was requested by dreamt_too_late.
Program: Photoshop CS2
Involves: Curves, Selective Color, Color Balance, Levels, 'Smudging'
Level: Intermediate, depending on the image.
Example-
From
to
JACK SHEPARD & KATE AUSTEN TUTORIAL.
So I started with this picture of Jack and Kate from Lost.
1. I moved my picture down on my canvas to get the cropping I wanted. The black space is actually blank canvas.
to
2. Create a new Curves layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Curves) I used the following settings. If your image is still too dark you can substitute this layer for a duplicated 'Screen' layer or just increase the value of the curves.
RGB:
1st dot (In-8, Ou-0)
2nd dot (In-115, Ou-126)
to
3. Next hit Ctrl+A to select your entire image, next hit Shift+Ctrl+C to copy your entire image and finally paste it will Ctrl+V. This is the layer we be the 'smudge' layer. The technique can be explained in full here.
to
4. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #2b1703 change the layer to 'Exclusion' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 94% but if your sky needs more of a blue hue then you can increase the opacity.
to
5. Create a new selective color layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Selective color). I used the following settings. If you find your image is turing out too red lower the Cyan and Magenta settings closer to 0 in the red option.
Reds: -32, +12, +94, +21
Yellows: +27, -10, +31, +22
Cyans: +93, +34, +67,
Blues: +13, +11, +5, +6
Whites: -17, -39, -33, +25
Neutrals: +19, +11, +9, +5
to
6.Create a new color balance layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Color balance).
I used the following settings. This layer adds some contrasting blues to the image.
Midtones: -45, -39, -23
Highlights: -23, -17, -15
to
7. Create a new selective color layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Selective color). I used the following settings. If your result looks to 'cyan' than skip this step.
Cyans: +87, +19, -12, +3
Blacks: 0, 0, 0, +8
to
8. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #8c490e change the layer to 'Linear Dodge' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 34% but some images may be very orange, if that is the case change the opacity.
to
9. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #362a26 change the layer to 'Exclusion' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 95% but if your images loses too much contrast then lower the opacity.
to
10. Duplicate your base image and bring it to the top. Set the layer to 'Soft Light' too add some contrast. I set the layer at 100% opacity but you can lower or increase it according to your picture.
to
11. Create a new levels layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Levels). I used the following settings. This darkens the blacks in the picture and lightens the grays.
RGB:
Input- 14, 1.09, 255
Output- 0, 255
to
12. Create a new brightness/contrast layer (Layers - New adjustment layer - Brightness/contrast). I used the following settings.
Brightness: +3
Contrast: +19
to
13. Create a new color balance layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Color balance).
I used the following settings. If the blues become to overwhelming for the image then lower the blue slider closer to yellow under 'Shadows'.
Midtones: +11, -2, +10
Shadows: -12, -13, +19
Highlights: -3, +9, +17
to
14. Duplicate your -smudged- base layer and drag it to the top. Set this layer to 'Screen' and play with your opacity until you get a favoured result.
to
15. Next hit Ctrl+A to select your entire image, next hit Shift+Ctrl+C to copy your entire image and finally paste it will Ctrl+V. This is the layer you will sharpen. Go Filter - Sharpen - Sharpen and adjust the opacity of the layer to your preference.
to
16. Create a new layer and fill it with a cloud image, for example this one.
Set the cloud layer to 'Darken' and erase all the parts of the image that are not sky. I set the opacity to '80%'. If you find the sky isn't blue enough even at 100% opacity then change the layer to 'Multiply'.
to
17. Create a new selective color layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Selective color). I used the following settings. This layer will improve the color of the sky and any other cyan aspects of your image.
Cyans: +93, +43, +51, +42
Blacks: +2, -1, +3, +11
to
18. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #d0cdcd change the layer to 'Color Burn' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 26% but if your image is to drk then lower the opacity.
to
19. LAST STEP! ^_^ I created a new layer and with soft-edged brush I made two large dots with the color #dbe1e5 and set the layer to 'Lighten'. I set my opacity at 35%. This layer will help highlight the sky and make it more realistic.
to
Any comments/questions? Please post them HERE
Program: Photoshop CS2
Involves: Curves, Selective Color, Color Balance, Levels, 'Smudging'
Level: Intermediate, depending on the image.
Example-
From
to
JACK SHEPARD & KATE AUSTEN TUTORIAL.
So I started with this picture of Jack and Kate from Lost.
1. I moved my picture down on my canvas to get the cropping I wanted. The black space is actually blank canvas.
to
2. Create a new Curves layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Curves) I used the following settings. If your image is still too dark you can substitute this layer for a duplicated 'Screen' layer or just increase the value of the curves.
RGB:
1st dot (In-8, Ou-0)
2nd dot (In-115, Ou-126)
to
3. Next hit Ctrl+A to select your entire image, next hit Shift+Ctrl+C to copy your entire image and finally paste it will Ctrl+V. This is the layer we be the 'smudge' layer. The technique can be explained in full here.
to
4. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #2b1703 change the layer to 'Exclusion' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 94% but if your sky needs more of a blue hue then you can increase the opacity.
to
5. Create a new selective color layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Selective color). I used the following settings. If you find your image is turing out too red lower the Cyan and Magenta settings closer to 0 in the red option.
Reds: -32, +12, +94, +21
Yellows: +27, -10, +31, +22
Cyans: +93, +34, +67,
Blues: +13, +11, +5, +6
Whites: -17, -39, -33, +25
Neutrals: +19, +11, +9, +5
to
6.Create a new color balance layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Color balance).
I used the following settings. This layer adds some contrasting blues to the image.
Midtones: -45, -39, -23
Highlights: -23, -17, -15
to
7. Create a new selective color layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Selective color). I used the following settings. If your result looks to 'cyan' than skip this step.
Cyans: +87, +19, -12, +3
Blacks: 0, 0, 0, +8
to
8. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #8c490e change the layer to 'Linear Dodge' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 34% but some images may be very orange, if that is the case change the opacity.
to
9. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #362a26 change the layer to 'Exclusion' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 95% but if your images loses too much contrast then lower the opacity.
to
10. Duplicate your base image and bring it to the top. Set the layer to 'Soft Light' too add some contrast. I set the layer at 100% opacity but you can lower or increase it according to your picture.
to
11. Create a new levels layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Levels). I used the following settings. This darkens the blacks in the picture and lightens the grays.
RGB:
Input- 14, 1.09, 255
Output- 0, 255
to
12. Create a new brightness/contrast layer (Layers - New adjustment layer - Brightness/contrast). I used the following settings.
Brightness: +3
Contrast: +19
to
13. Create a new color balance layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Color balance).
I used the following settings. If the blues become to overwhelming for the image then lower the blue slider closer to yellow under 'Shadows'.
Midtones: +11, -2, +10
Shadows: -12, -13, +19
Highlights: -3, +9, +17
to
14. Duplicate your -smudged- base layer and drag it to the top. Set this layer to 'Screen' and play with your opacity until you get a favoured result.
to
15. Next hit Ctrl+A to select your entire image, next hit Shift+Ctrl+C to copy your entire image and finally paste it will Ctrl+V. This is the layer you will sharpen. Go Filter - Sharpen - Sharpen and adjust the opacity of the layer to your preference.
to
16. Create a new layer and fill it with a cloud image, for example this one.
Set the cloud layer to 'Darken' and erase all the parts of the image that are not sky. I set the opacity to '80%'. If you find the sky isn't blue enough even at 100% opacity then change the layer to 'Multiply'.
to
17. Create a new selective color layer (Layer - New adjustment layer - Selective color). I used the following settings. This layer will improve the color of the sky and any other cyan aspects of your image.
Cyans: +93, +43, +51, +42
Blacks: +2, -1, +3, +11
to
18. Create a new layer and fill it with the color #d0cdcd change the layer to 'Color Burn' and adjust the opacity accordingly. I used 26% but if your image is to drk then lower the opacity.
to
19. LAST STEP! ^_^ I created a new layer and with soft-edged brush I made two large dots with the color #dbe1e5 and set the layer to 'Lighten'. I set my opacity at 35%. This layer will help highlight the sky and make it more realistic.
to
Any comments/questions? Please post them HERE