'Pop Out' picture

Make your pictures come to life with this simple tutorial

The image I used in this tutorial can be found here: http://www.graphicshunt.com/wallpapers/images/butterfly_with_flowers-7717.htm

I chose this image because the butterfly sat out further than the flower, making it easy to see which bit will ‘pop out’ of the photo.

STEP 1

Make two copies of your background butterfly layer (ctrl + J), then hide the background layer (click the eye beside the layer icon) – this will be kept as a backup in case a mistake is made.

STEP 2

We want to work on the top layer, so hide the second layer. Click the top layer so that it is highlighted.

Select the magnetic lasso tool and use this to select the butterfly and flowers. This only needs to be neat on the left and right – the rest can be done roughly.

NOTE: if the magnetic is not sticking to the section you want, you can place points yourself by clicking where you want it to grab. Also, if you make a mistake, you can remove the last point by hitting delete.

Your image should look something like that above.

STEP 3

We want to delete the bit surrounding the selection – go to select>inverse (or use shortcut shift + ctrl + I). Then hit delete. This will leave your image something similar to that above.

STEP 4

Now we want to work on the second layer, so hide the top layer and show the second, clicking it so it’s highlighted.

Select the rectangular marquee tool from the menu on the left. 

Make a selection on your image like seen above. 

NOTE: for this, you want to give the impression that it’s a frame around the image. I used this selection as it allowed for 2 different parts of the butterfly to ‘pop out’, as well as a little bit of flower.

STEP 5

We want to delete the ‘frame’, and so need to select the inverse – select>inverse (or use shortcut shift + ctrl + I). Then hit delete.

Your image should look similar to that above.

STEP 6

We want to create a highlighted edge around this layer. Go to Layer>Layer style>stroke. For this, I used a size of 3px with 100% opacity.  I chose a yellow colour close to that of the flowers in the image.

STEP 7

Create a new layer using the new layer button at the bottom of the right hand menu, and drag it between the background layer and the second layer.

Select the eye dropper tool, and choose a shade of green from within the picture. Then, using the paint bucket tool, fill the new layer with this colour. 

Your image should look similar to that above.

STEP 8

Now that we have created the frame, we want to show all layers again. Your image should look similar to that above.

We want to refine the sections that are outside the frame – to do this, use the rectangular marquee tool. Select the flowers that lie outside the bottom of the frame, but DO NOT select the butterfly wing. Your selection should look a little like that shown above. Hit delete, then ctrl + D to deselect the area.

Use the magnetic lasso tool as before, to delete the section beneath the butterfly wing, keeping the wing over the frame.

After seeing the frame completed, you can choose which sections to delete away from the image – I also removed the flower from the right-hand side as I felt that it didn’t work well!

That is the image completed!

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This image was done in the same way – the original image can be found here: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=flowers&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=634&tbs=isz:l&tbm=isch&tbnid=XlNZCxi4K741XM:&imgrefurl=http://www.wallpaperpimper.com/wallpaper/download-wallpaper-Flowers_and_Butterfly-size-1024x768-id-120885.htm&docid=bgQtdi1bCjRlHM&w=1054&h=844&ei=91I8TuCwNcGZ8QOC5KDLDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=733&vpy=213&dur=5&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=187&ty=86&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=161&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0

Creating a typographic image

Above you can see the original picture and final effect.

The picture I used for this tutorial can be found here:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.papermag.com/freeformimages/2008/bp2008/riley_keogh_main.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.papermag.com/%3Fsection%3Darticle%26parid%3D2550&usg=__pRXeiSMjk_HpRzb1fkePJveTTBg=&h=441&w=610&sz=141&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Eyc5c2SDzt-BCM:&tbnh=148&tbnw=204&ei=hu0aTsWSJ5K18QOa8-Et&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbeautiful%2Bpeople%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D677%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=308&vpy=397&dur=247&hovh=191&hovw=264&tx=207&ty=141&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0&biw=1366&bih=677

STEP 1

Make three copies of the background layer (ctrl + J ). We will change the levels of each of these layers so that we have a better finished affect.

STEP 2

Go to image>adjustments>levels to change the levels of the top layer. We want to make this layer lighter. For this, drag the middle pointer slightly to the right, and the right pointer to the left. I used the values shown above.

Rename this layer ‘light’ – double click the layer name.

STEP 3

Hide the first layer (the layer you just worked on) by clicking the eye beside the icon. Then click the second layer. 

We want to give this layer a higher contrast. Go to image>adjustments>levels, again dragging the pointers in the same direction. 

I used the values shown above.

Rename this layer ‘dark’ – double click the layer name.

Show the light layer again by clicking the eye beside the icon, and hide all other layers.

STEP 4

Rename the third layer ‘normal’ – double click the layer name. We will not change the levels of this layer

STEP 5

Now we want to create the text. For this, you can use the same font/size the whole way through the image, or you can change them – both are effective. 

For this tutorial, I will change to font/size.

This can be done in several different ways, but for this tutorial, I will use the method that uses the least amount of layers.

Start by duplicating the ‘light’ layer – to do this click on the layer and use shortcut (ctrl + J). Rename this layer as ‘light2’ and hide it - it will be used as a backup layer.

Click on the text tool, selecting horizontal type tool, then on the image where you want to type. This works better with single words rather than sentences.

Highlight the text and change the font/size on the top tool bar. I chose the font cooper black at size 30pt.

Click the move tool to deselect the text.

STEP 6 

Repeat step 5 until you achieve an image similar to that above.

NOTE: Some of the text layers should overlap slightly – this will give a better final image. The whole space does not need to be filled.

NOTE: If you want to keep the font the same, instead of repeating step 5, you can simply duplicate the text layer (ctrl + J) and move to a different position. These layers can be resized using (ctrl + T) (remember to hold shift while resizing to keep the proportions!)

STEP 7

We want to merge all of the text layers, to create one single layer.

Click the top text layer, then hold shift and click the bottom text layer – this will select all of the layers in between too. Right click on one of the selected layers and choose rasterize type.

Again right click on of the selected layers, this time choosing merge layers. This combines all layers into one.

STEP 8

Hold ctrl and click the combined layers image. This will create a dotted line around the text.

Now click the layer ‘light’ so that it is highlighter.

We now want to select and delete the inverse. To do this, use crtl + shift + I, then hit delete. This will remove the background image, but keep the bits covered with text.

Deselect the selection by using (ctrl + D), then hide the text layer by clicking the eye beside the icon.

Your image should look like this so far.

STEP 9

Repeat steps 3-7, this time using the ‘dark’ and ‘normal’ layers.

NOTE: don’t forget to overlap the text layers. It is ok to completely cover some layers!

This is how your image should look.

OPTIONALLY:

if you want your image to look more like a photograph, you can add in a little of the background.

STEP 10
Make a copy of the background layer (ctrl +J).

Select the rubber tool, setting the opacity to around 43%.

You want to create a gradient-like effect using the rubber – fully erase the top left hand corner of the background layer, keeping the bottom right. 

My layer looked like this.

Erase the layer to suit your image.

Comic Pop Art

This tutorial shows you how to turn your photograph into a Roy Lichenstein-style image.

Above is the original and final image.

The photograph I used in this tutorial can be found here:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celebritydesktopwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Hayden-Panettiere-009-1600x1200.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.celebritydesktopwallpapers.com/celebrity-wallpapers/hayden-panettiere-portrait/&usg=__JxDtKJwpZnxYnTIojCGXODSPmqE=&h=1200&w=1600&sz=398&hl=en&start=44&zoom=1&tbnid=SPJmE7dzJze_pM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=173&ei=7wIJTsqgDIWUOrjA9LoN&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcelebrity%2Bfemale%2Bportrait%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D677%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1066&vpy=114&dur=460&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=156&ty=152&page=3&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:44&biw=1366&bih=677

 STEP 1

Begin by duplicating your image (ctrl + J).

STEP 2

Change the levels of your image. To do this, go to image>adjustments>levels. Improve the levels of the image – the values I used can be seen above.

The difference in image can be seen above, with the original image on the left, and new image on the right.

STEP 3

We want to give an aged affect – in order to do this, we will apply a grain. To do this, go to filters>artistic>film grain. For this image I used: Grain – 6, highlight area – 2, Intensity – 6. If using a different image, experiment with these values to suit your image.

STEP 4

Duplicate this layer (ctrl + J), and rename it HALFTONE. To rename your layer, double-click the layer name.

STEP 5

Now, we will add the dots, giving a comic book-feel to the image. To do this, go to filter>pixelate>color halftone.

Change the max radius to 8, leaving all the other values as their defaults. Then set the layer style to darken.

STEP 6

To make it more cartoony, we want to make the colour of the image more vibrant. We will start with the eyes...

Start by creating a new layer – to do this use the new layer button at the bottom of the layers menu (shown above). Rename this layer EYES.

Click the colour selector box (shown by a red box at the bottom left of the image above), and choose a shade of green (as her eyes are green). You don’t want the colour to be too bright, nor too dark. Choose a middle shade. Then click ok.

Click the brush tool. As you can see from the image above, I set the size to 63, keeping the mode on normal and opacity at 100%. I chose 63px as it is close to the size of her iris.

Click over both of her eyes, making sure you are quite accurate.

Change the layer style to hue, and opacity 70%.

STEP 7

Now we want to change the hair.

Create another new layer using the new layer button, and rename it as HAIR.

Using the colour selector box again, choose a shade of yellow. Then click the brush tool. The settings will have remained the same as last time – the size of brush can be changed in order to fit the area. Try to be quite neat along the lines of her face.

Change the layer style to multiply ,with an opacity of 100%. Edges can be tidied up using the rubber tool.

STEP 8

Now we want to change the lips.

Create another new layer using the new layer button, and rename it as LIPS.

Using the colour selector box again, choose a shade of red. Then click the brush tool. I find it is best to use a small brush size for this, as it will give the most accurate finish.

NOTE: zooming in to this area will allow you to be more accurate in your painting.

Change the layer style to soft light,with an opacity of 75%. Again, edges can be tidied up using the rubber tool.

That is the image completed.

Tilt and Shift Effect

Tilt and shift photography makes the subject of the photo look as if it is miniature. Although this can be done using a special lens, Photoshop can create the same effect.

NOTE: as this effect gives the impression of a miniature model, it is best to use photographs that are taken from above. Buildings, cars and roads work particularly well with this effect.

Above, you can see the original and edited images. Additionally, a larger final image can be see at the end of the tutorial.

The image I used in this tutorial can be found here:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-2232423109-image/Countries_of_the_World/Europe/United_Kingdom/Northern_Ireland/Belfast_City_Hall-Belfast-Northern_Ireland-Ulster-image.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fotopedia.com/wiki/Belfast_City_Hall&usg=__p9qoxM34Jlkq1exsYS7r9Lhbbtg=&h=533&w=400&sz=118&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=psiOX-bOMRL-SM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=106&ei=YkYHTpjGO8qa8QPP-YzZDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlooking%2Bdown%2Bon%2Bbelfast%2Bcity%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D677%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=819&vpy=51&dur=257&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=81&ty=158&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&biw=1366&bih=677

 STEP 1

With your image open on Photoshop, enter the Quick Mask Mode, which can be found at the bottom of the tool palette (as shown above)

STEP 2

Select the gradient tool, choosing the reflective gradient.

STEP 3

With your gradient tool, draw a vertical line... the starting point will be the centre of the in-focus area, and the end point will be the end of the transition to out-of-focus. 

As you can see from my image, the line starts just below the white van and ends just above the green spire.

After you release the mouse, a red band will appear across your screen. This shows the area that will be in focus.

STEP 4

Take a look at the red band – the middle of the band will be in focus, gradually becoming out of focus where the red ends. 

If this is not where you want it to be, simply draw another line until the area you want is covered.

NOTE: the out-of-focus is not yet applied. This will be applied in later steps.

STEP 5

Return to standard mode by clicking the quick mask mode button again. The area that will be made out-of-focus will be selected by a rectangular box/boxes.

STEP 6

Go to filter>blur>lens blur

Experiment with the radius and other settings until you achieve the look you want. Once happy with the effect, click OK. This will bring you back to your image.

STEP 7

Use ctrl+D  to deselect the selected area.

STEP 8

As miniature models are usually painted bright colours, you may want to increase the saturation of the image to improve the effect. To do this, go to image>adjustments>hue/saturation.

Again, experiment with these values until you achieve the look you want.

This is the finished image.

ADDITIONALLY:

To improve the layout of the image, you can crop it down.

To do this, use the rectangular marquee tool to highlight the section of the area you want to crop. Then go to image>crop.