Organic Vignette Artistic Textrure Set – buy now…click here

]]> http://makelightreal.com/organic-vignettes/feed/ 0 http://makelightreal.com/a-snow-based-photoshop-toning-tutorial/ http://makelightreal.com/a-snow-based-photoshop-toning-tutorial/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:55:03 +0000 Neil http://makelightreal.com/?p=872 View finished images on Flickr

The Secret of KJ’s Processing!

Ever wanted to make those blurry lights in the back of dark pictures? Here’s a quick and dirty way of doing just that. It may not be the exact thing but that all depends on the talent and creativity of the person using the brushes (of which I have none obviously). 3 shapes (circle, hexagon, octagon), 9 brushes total: 6 Scatter brushes 3 Non-scatter If you guys come up with something cool with it, do drop a line and be like “Yo check this thing I made with your brushes!”.

THE REQUIREMENTS

If you’re planning on participating and having a chance at some of the awesome prizes, be sure to read the following requirements very carefully. I’ve provided some useful links to appropriate resources, so don’t overlook them!

1. CREATE AN ACTION OR PRESET
   The first important part of the project is actually creating the action or preset. The choice of software is up to you — whatever you happen to use. The action(s) and/or preset(s) that you choose to create and share are also totally up to you — they could be workflow timesavers, creative tweaks, or whatever else you can dream up. If you’re not familiar with creating these things, you can read up on creating Photoshop actions and Lightroom presets. And the creations must be your own — no swiping somebody else’s work!
2. MAKE YOUR FILE ACCESSIBLE
   This is the hard part, but we’ve got some options for you. You’ll need to upload your action/preset file to the web so others can download it. If you have your own blog or website, this is no problem and you can host the file yourself. Some forums also allow files to be attached to posts. But sites like Flickr don’t allow this, while they do allow you to link to external files. To accommodate those of you with fewer options, Neil has offered to host your project files on his site. You can email him at action@makelightreal.com with your file. He’ll upload it to his server and send you the URL so you can link to it in step 3.
3. WRITE ABOUT YOUR CREATION
   Once you’ve created your tool and made it accessible to others, you’ll have to write about it. There are many forms of self-publication, so don’t be intimidated. You should tell us what the action/preset does, how it works, and any special instructions for using it. You should also link out to your file from step 2 so others (including me) can download it and use it.
4. SUBMIT YOUR LINK AT EPIC EDITS
   When your written post is complete (with the link to your action/preset), fill out the form at this link. Just plug in your name, the location of your write-up from step 3, and your email address so I can contact you if needed.

THE PRIZES:

• 1ST PLACE: LIGHTSPEED WORKFLOW PACKAGE
  Valued at $290, this prize includes a Nostromo n52 left-hand keypad, “ONE” Lightroom/ACR preset, “ONE” Photoshop Action, and tutorials. This is an awesome package! This winner will also receive a $39 credit to use toward any additional items from Neil.
• 2ND PLACE: PHOTOSHOP LIGHT REAL VIRTUAL COURSE
  Valued at $250, this prize includes the “ONE ACTION” workflow scripts plus a 4 hour training course covering the workflow scripts and working in LAB color space. This winner will also receive a $39 credit to use toward any additional items from Neil.
• 3RD PLACE: ONE ACTION AND GOLDEN TOUCH PACKAGES
  Valued at $79 and $49, respectively, this prize includes the “ONE ACTION” scripts and presets for Photoshop and Lightroom, plus extra training materials along with additional Photoshop actions and 30 textures. This winner will also receive a $39 credit to use toward any additional items from Neil.
• 1ST AND 2ND RUNNER UP: $39 CREDIT
  The two “honorary mentions” will each receive a $39 credit toward the purchase of any item from Neil’s offerings.
• 5 RANDOM WINNERS: $39 CREDIT
  Just to shake things up a bit, we’ll select another 5 random winners to receive the $39 credit toward any item of their choice. So anybody could be a winner, you just have to participate!

So… basically we’re looking at over $1000 in prizes given out to 10 different winners. Not bad!

DEADLINE: JANUARY 12, 2009

Free Watercolour Brush Strokes: Hi-Res PS Brushes + Source Files | fudgegraphics | for lovers

This is already the 3rd Watercolour Photoshop Brush Set to be released on fudgegraphics. But if you’re anything like me you can’t get enough of them. This time I restrained myself to only produce actual brush strokes (with the exception of one blop). All 14 brushes are a extremely hi-res, with resolutions ranging from 1597px up to 2500px.
For all those who are using Photoshop versions prior to CS1 I threw in the source files as well. All 14 images are available in png format and measure a stunning 2500px by 2500px. And all this for free.

Street Corner Technique

This variation is a fun way to turn a single location into one Overlay collage. Pick one location to go and shoot. A street corner works well. Shoot four distinct photos from this one location. For instance, for the example in the post above, I shot a tree, a face, a building and a texture. When you get home, overlay those four images you took and go through the “basic technique” steps above.

Show some of your Photo Overlays! in the Overlays Flickr Group for your to upload your final images.

Take a creative exercise where you simply respond to what interests you in the moment….

here’s our finished image for this discussion:

Now you’re right that’s not the EXACT same image, but there’s just a moment’s difference – I couldn’t find the un-retouched version.

I did find a smaller resolution version – again the point of contention is the vanishing point in the composition.  You may compose this while you’re shooting – and it may be proper as you’re composing the environmental elements in your image – but what is the compelling ‘moment’ of the image?

His EYES!

So the main point I want to communicate to you when processing your images in Photoshop is to FOCUS on the best elements in the pictures you’ve shot and highlight them using both the known principles of design & art – as well as keep your tools from distracting your heart of personal inspiration.  I’ve designed the ONE ACTION set as a professional grade retouching workflow for creative expression

The difference between ‘toning’ an image and expressing it is that toning comes from a preset outside your image (applied into it). The goal of toning is to reach into your image and pull more expressive power from it with the inspired use of tonality. The emotional element of the photograph is emanating from the groom’s eyes – the environmental element of the strong line created at the ceiling corner is drawing our attention away from those eyes.  Let me refresh your memory:

As I say, I understand the darkness to experience the light.  The light of love is emanating from this groom’s eyes and I have darkened the distracting elements of the frame with a vignette from  the Veritas Vignette texture pack found in the Create Cart.    

The vignette accentuates two design principles: 1. Light colors attract our attention 2. Continuity (of the background line and window lines) is broken leaving the remaining in-tact shapes as the highlight of our attention.  Notice the gentle darkening of the groom’s collar – by no means an accident, quickly and simply controlled with the ONE ACTION’s automated layer masks and an Wacom tablet.  I restrained all the highlights in the image except for the ones accentuating the groom’s facial expression using the texture file as a vignette and basic adjustment levels in photoshop.

So what do you understand about the suggestive power of darkness?

Darkness says: “There’s nothing to see here”, “Nothing going on round here”, or “Maybe something beneath the surface, but nothing you can see”.  So darkness is your assistant when it comes to hiding elements that are distracting!  That is why we ‘Hear the Shadows‘ to listen to our creative impulses.

The classic B+W printing process called a Platinotype produced a very long-scale, rich photographic print.

The Photoshop Action to mimic this look uses the power and flexibility of L*A*B* colorspace to bring your image the classy craftsmanship of the platinum style print.

Silvery grey highlights and and a detailed contrasty midtone and shadow area are the characteristics you will find accentuated in the Platinum Tone Photoshop Action by Neil Cowley.  If you’ve purchased the One Actionset – the Platinum tone curve is already available for you to use.  If you’re looking for a classy variation on your usual Black and White workflow, this action will give you a slightly antique or vintage feel to your image style.  If you have been looking at the print style favored by Lenswork magazine, this action will help get you close to that traditional classy fibre based B+W style print!

The Photoshop Action will harness the power of L*A*B* color mode to tone and refine your images, while fitting into your standard RGB workflow and can be activated with one click as a button, batch processed as an action, or made into a self starting droplet. 

What is the Light touch texture set?  Let me ask Lao Tsu:

Tao 46

There is no greater calamity

Than not knowing what is enough.

Have you ever applied a texture to your image(s)?

Have you no idea where to start or how?

Then this set is designed for you

How can one become a master without taking the first step?  But with this set you can be guided by a master on your first step…

You will find these textures/tones an easy and rewarding first step into altering your images for deeper creative effect. To start, paste, place or apply one of these images to your photograph using the soft light, overlay, or multiply layer blend mode in your favorite image editing application. The images are in two general categories: TEXTURES, have fine grains and sharper details to add another dimension of grit and abstract texture to your images. TONES, have only soft effects, but can be very useful for applying a natural lighting effect like a vignette, or adding a touch of color variation to enhance the perception of your image.

Beginner’s bonus! There are two photoshop tutorial documents included in this set.

The first is a layered photoshop file for you to learn the effects of combining border edges to give you a richer or antique/vintage feel to your images as if they were printed in the chemical darkroom. http://makelightreal.com/realistic-border-tutorial/ has more information. The second photoshop document with tutorial layers is a “Through The Viewfinder” (TTV) tutorial. A popular alternative digital process is to shoot through the focusing screen of a Twin Lens Reflex camera. You can duplicate this effect using a layer mask, border and your own normally captured image. The key is how to blur it, and it’s shown in the photoshop layers. Enjoy your new creativity!!

Here are thumbnails of what’s included: