Aug 11
11
HDR Efex Pro.
Hey there. I want to show you a Plug-in for PhotoShop called HDR Efex Pro, by Nik Software. In image processing, computer graphics, and photography, high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) is a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range of luminance between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than current standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods. This wide dynamic range allows HDR images to more accurately represent the range of intensity levels found in real scenes, ranging from direct sunlight to faint starlight.
The image below is the User Interface for HDR Efex Pro. It’s very simple to use, using simple sliders or the preset settings on the left.
It can greatly enhances an image of you chose. Below is an image my father took whilst on his trip to america.
Now below is the image after it’s been edited with HDR Efex Pro.
Personally i think its adds so much to the image, and just at a touch of a button. it gives the image life, Rather than looking, a bit flat.
i highly recommend HDR Efex Pro to any Photographer or to anyone that want’s to add to there image’s. Some images taken by camera’s don’t really have an feeling, the image can seem very flat, lifeless almost. So give it a try. There is a 15 Day trial you can download over at NikSoftware.
Posted in Resources by .
Aug 11
11
Making IOS Icons in PhotoShop
Hello Everyone. Recently a friend of mine from University asked me how he could make a IOS Icon for a project he is doing. So I thought I would make a tutorial on how to do exactly that.
First of we want to make a new file in Photoshop with PX at 1024 x 1024. We want to make it a large size so that when we need to change the size you will not lose any detail when making it smaller.
First make a new layer for the shape. Second we’re going to use a tool called the Rounded Rectangle Tool. You can find this on the tool bar to the left.
Before we make the shape to our icon, we need to change the radius option at the top to 172 PX.
Now you need to make the selection on the canvas in the top left corner, and drag down to the bottom right corner to get our shape.
Now we’re going to add the color right click on the layer you have your shape on, Select Blending options, and go down to the Gradient Overlay. You can add whatever colors you like. I’ve gone for a light blue at the bottom and a darker blue at the top.
Next we add the inner shadow to the same layer. Use the values as I have in the image below to get a nice effect.
Now we’re going to add a glossy look to the icon. Where the Rounded rectangle tool is, go back into that same menu and select the ellipse tool.
Before you do anything else you need to make sure you have the rulers on your Photoshop open. To do this at the top go to View and towards the bottom if not already selected please do so.
Once you have the rulers, drag the left ruler to the center of the canvas. It should clip itself directly in the center of the canvas. Make a new layer, and now with the elipse tool set the color to white and make large circle, the circle will go off the canvas, but what you want is a nice rounded half of the icon we’re making as you can see the below. Once you’ve done that. Set the layer to Overlay and the opacity to 20% to get that glossy look.
Now between the layer we just finished and the shape layer, make a new layer.
We’re just going to add a little more detail. Get a soft brush and use the settings as I have in the image below. 1000px and 0% Hardness.
Now we’re going to add a little more gloss. In the area’s I have poorly highlighted in the image below Take the large brush and just Click 3 times at the top and once more at the bottom.
Next for the icon obviously you need a logo of sorts.
Here’s a nice logo I have already made up. But it’s looking a bit light, almost though its faded. To fix this on the shape layer right click and go to Hue/Saturation.
Now you should get a mixer. Just mix the Colors around including the Lightness, To get It looking good with the Logo.
This is what I’m left with and its look pretty neat if I do say so myself. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!
Posted in Photoshop tutorials by .
Jun 11
9
Displacement effect in PhotoShop
So today I’m going to show you how to create a very nice effect called the Displacement effect. This is Basically an effect that makes an object or person look like there Disintegrating.
So I just opened up this stock image of a dancer. You can find a link to this at the top of this post if you wish to use it.
First make a new player called “Break Apart”.
Second your going to need the lasso tool this can be found over to the left on the tools bar. At the top as you an see in the image, change the Feather to 100Px.
Make a selection around the part you wish to make Displace.
Next it’s time to use a Debris brush, I will also put a link to that in the top of the page, so you can download it. Once you download it, just open it up in Photoshop and you will see it in your Brush panel all the way at the bottom. With the debris brush you will want to use a color that matches the background. Now once you’ve got the brush. Just brush over the selected area to get the effect you are happy with.
Once you are happy with the selection, you need to duplicate the Break Apart layer with Ctrl+J and then invert the color with Ctrl+I. Now get the eraser tool whilst using the same brush you used to get the effect, now use it to get rid of some of that clunky black as you can see in the image.
You should now be left with something like this.
Next to get a better finish we are going to use the transform tool. Use Ctrl+T and then right click the selection and select warp. Now I’ve done mine to the particles are flowing away from the person.
You will be left with something looking like this. It’s a nice effect that works well with glow effects and colourful backgrounds so give it a try!.
Posted in Photoshop tutorials by .
Jun 11
2
Topaz Labs
Hey everyone. Today im just going to be talking about a tool i use quite often when i’m working with Photoshop. and thats Topaz labs. Topaz labs is a Photoshop Plugin that allows you to edit you photos in many different ways, and perhaps help you get that clean finish you want but are just struggling to get. Here’s a list of What Topaz labs can do.
Topaz Lens Effects simulates filters, lenses and speciality cameras, allowing you the flexibility and convenience of creating bokeh, vignettes, color tone balance, motion blur and more to your digital images after the shot. With 20 styles and over 140 presets your creative vision is unlimited.
Topaz Adjust is the easiest way to make your photos pop. Adjust optimizes image exposure, color, and detail strength for stunning image results. Quality exposure adjustment in Photoshop is cumbersome and sometimes frustrating. Topaz Adjust makes this process simple, fun, and highly rewarding.
Topaz Simplify provides creative simplification, art effects, and line accentuation for easy one-of-a-kind art. In contrast to built-in artistic filters in Photoshop, which are limited to certain specific effects, Topaz Simplify creates a wide range of stunning artistic effects in a simple, intuitive, but powerful interface.
Topaz Detail gives full control and precision over all aspects of detail manipulation without creating any edge artifacts or halos. Unlike Photoshop’s detail enhancement techniques, Topaz Detail effectively accentuates three levels of detail without the slightest trace of artifacts or haloing.
Topaz DeNoise offers a complete noise reduction solution that removes far more noise and preserves far more detail than other solutions. Noise reduction is one of our core competencies, and DeNoise displays that brilliantly. Use state-of-the-art noise reduction abilities to make your formerly noisy photos clean, clear, and crisp.
Topaz ReMask is the fastest way to mask and extract your images. ReMask harnesses the latest in image extraction technology to make masking intuitive and powerful. Unlike Photoshop’s sometimes clumsy and hard to use extraction tools, Topaz ReMask makes photo extraction and masking easy and sizzling fast
Topaz InFocus is the comprehensive solution for your sharpening and deblurring needs. Infocus recovers lost detail, refines with micro-contrast enhancement and restores clarity to blurry images. Unlike unsharp masking, Topaz InFocus sharpens without distracting high-contrast edges.
Topaz Clean provides unique smoothing and edge stylizing capabilities not found anywhere else. It can quickly add interesting flair to photos and can be used to both smooth out detail and stylize edges. Use Topaz Clean for exceptional results on portraits, weddings, and other people photos.
Topaz DeJPEG drastically improves the quality of web images and other compressed photos. Although Photoshop includes a simple JPEG fixer, it doesn’t preserve as much quality as possible. Topaz DeJPEG makes sure that any compressed image looks as good as it possibly can.
Topaz Labs offers a lot for Photoshop, And although expensive i would highly recommend this Plugin, it will make working with Photoshop a lot simpler.
Posted in Resources by .
May 11
25
How to make clouds in photoshop.
Today I’m going to show you how to create a fluffy cloud in Photoshop, Using shapes and blending options.
First were going to use the gradient tool, you can find this on the right hand side on the tool bar.
You can change the colour with the setting on the top bar.
Change the colour to what you like with the 2 highlighted points in the image. I’ve gone for a nice sky blue and white.
My canvas now looks like this.
Now to make the clouds go to the right hand side again and select the Ellipse tool to make circles.
Use the ellipse tool to make a cloud shape as shown in the image. Once you’ve done that select the layer you have yours clouds on and go to blending options. And use the settings as I have, you can see these settings in the next 4 images below.
And you will be left with this, a nice cloud shape. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!
Posted in Photoshop tutorials by .
May 11
18
Picture’s within text
yesterday i was asked on a forum i visit how i made my Signature, which looks like this:
So today im going to show you how to make one of these. You can use this technique in a lot of ways, And not just for forum signatures.
First we create a new document. now instead of making one layer for the text go ahead and make a layer for each letter. once you’ve done that go to the layers panel and hold down Ctrl and select each letter. Now right click any of the layers whilst there highlighted and select Rasterize Type in the menu, You’ll no longer be able to edit the text once you’ve done this so make sure you happy with it first. While all the layers are still highlighted right click any of the layers again and select merge layers.
Your layers box should now look like this.
Next step is to add stoke effect to the layer. Right click the text layer and select Blending Options right at the bottom you will see the Stroke option. select that and as i have in the image above, next to Size change the number to 2px and then hit OK. next go ahead and Duplicate the text layer by right clicking and selecting Duplicate layer.
Now on the Duplicated layer change the Fill option and make it 0%
Now were going to add the image. Take your time in finding the perfect image that you like. Once you’ve found it Copy it into Photoshop between both layers as i have in the image. next on the image you’ve just put in, Right click it and select Create clipping mask now the image should only be visible within the letters. drag it around a little to the the image itself into a good place. next if you look in the image above, you will see in the layers panel that i have hidden the very bottom layer so that i only have a checkered background go ahead and do this your self. Last thing to do is to save it, and you will want to save it as a PNG file.
you can use this technique in many ways when working with Photoshop! i hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Posted in Photoshop tutorials by .
Photoshop Guides- HDR Efex Pro. August 11, 2011
- Making IOS Icons in PhotoShop August 11, 2011
- Displacement effect in PhotoShop June 9, 2011
- Topaz Labs June 2, 2011
- How to make clouds in photoshop. May 25, 2011
- Picture’s within text May 18, 2011