Aug 30
Deep and Moody
by: Neil Duerden
Right time to go into Photoshop and create a "simple" moody image using loads of simple effects to create an image with depth and composition. This is simpler than you think but can demand a lot from your system. You will be switching between Illustrator, Photoshop, Painter and throwing a few hand rendered elements in just for good measure so put the kettle on, sit back and get ready to begin!
Step 1
Obtain a mono shot which has good deal of contrast, the shot can have a background or be on an infinity screen, each will give a different feeling to the final piece. Your main task here is to find a shot you like as you will be staring at it for some time.
Step 2
Mask off the subject as tightly as possible, do this by creating a duplicate layer and adding a layer mask set to reveal all. Next select the mask itself and draw around the image you wish to keep. You can use feather edge brushes to allow semi transparent edges. Alternatively use a piece of masking software like Ez mask, a lot easier!
Step 3
Now add a layer in between your two existing layers and add a splash of colour, simply add a gradient of your chosen colour to create a little contrast and simply use the hue command in the layer effects. Don’t make this too obvious as the effect should be subtle.
Step 4
Now switch your image into Illustrator. Just open up the image and begin to draw vector lines over the top. Remember to place it on a separate layer and lock it down before you start as to move the image and continue to draw your vectors is not good! Draw whatever you fancy and is fitting with your chosen image as this is where you stamp your mark on the piece.
Step 5
If you have kept the original the same size in Illustrator all you need to do is paste it in and it will be the correct size in photoshop. Also if you are not happy with the colour simply adjust the hue via the Hue and Saturation command in the Image > Adjustment > Hue and Saturation
Step 6
Now highlight vectors using the burn brush, use this to give added depth and vary the brush size to get the best possible result. You want to make this in between looking real and plastic false to help it stand out from the original layer. This will obviously differ depending on what you used as a base image.
Step 7
Dupe up the top layer of the subject and then adjust the Hue and Saturation as in step 5, find a colour that matches the composition of your piece. Then add more sections to your layer mask to hide areas and give more interest to the viewer. Use your own personal judgement here and don’t be shy!
Step 8
Now freehand draw a shadow beneath the model and using the layer effect multiply place one below at 100% opacity and one above at around 50% opacity to hide the joint between the model and the background.
Step 9
Open up the file splats.ai and paste onto your image and multiply the layer down. Place this image behind the main masked subject layer and experiment with the layer opacity to get the effect level you think is right. Then repeat this process numerous times until you get the complexity you desire.
Step 10
Next get out your pen and paper and do a few hand rendered drawings, scan these in and place them behind your subject image. The image then needs to be again multiplied down and also use the Edit > Transfer > Perspective function in photoshop to get it to match into your composition.
Step 11
Right time to swap programs again. Open your layer file into Painter and dupe the master layer of the girl, then apply the Effects > Fill > Pattern filter and choose the rose design. Then apply thelayer over the top using the Gel layer effect and reduce the opacity to around 15%.
Step 12
Next get a picture of an item that complements your image and clipped out then place the image behind the main image, then add a slight drop shadow, not too much but enough to boost the contrast. You then need to dupe this layer and resize and change the opacity and layer modes in random to get a mixed effect. There is no science to this just experiment!
Step 13
Now dupe up the splat effect and flower layers, change the Hue and Saturation to fit in within with the composition. This will give an overall more blended feel to the image as a hole, again multiply these layers down using layer effects in various fashions. I can’t stress enough just experiment!
Step 14
Now introduce some other elements using the same effects as with the flowers in the earlier step, don’t be shy here just pile them up and work on your composition. You can take this as far as you want. Remember this is all about experimentation and making it different so try to get a good selection of items in at this stage! Drawing vectors and importing them can be a good idea to add more depth.
Step 15
Now continue experimenting in this way adding layers until you are happy. Then just flatten your image and hey presto you are done!
About the author
Neil is a self confessed Mac monkey based in a rural miners cottage 20 miles north of Manchester. He creates pieces that combine elements from mixed media, photography that are interlaced with complex vectors to create pieces that always hit the brief for clients all around the world. Visit Neil’s website to see his works.
Elliot Jay Stocks Free Texture Stock Photos
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108 KR
June 11th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I’m a little lost - do the vector images end up being on a different layer than the woman or on the same one? I got lost in the switching from photoshop to illustrator and back again for the first time.
other than that, this is a great tutorial and I like how you give suggestions for how and where, but not telling us exactly what to put, leaving space open for creativity. thank you!
107 Nigahiga
March 27th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
that girl has a nice body and really nice tits
106 ramya
March 13th, 2009 at 7:13 am
the tutorial is good, but should not have used nude kind of photos since these kind go into other category. so better avoid these kind and can present any other photos that depict this tutorial..
Please avoid these kind in future
105 Kristina
February 12th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Great tutorial. Great results.
If you have issues with a naked woman.. you don’t have a body below the neck (therefor aren’t aware what a body looks like and seem to be amazed that people take photos of them); have not looked at paintings of the past in which many, many were portayed nude. (Even men. Famous statue?); don’t even have to stare that hard at a tutorial to be offended and can just click ‘x’ to get out; OR use a NON-nude picture. Yeesh, it’s not like it’s a hardcore pornography photo.
Personally I think the results are great, it gives off a fantasy style, like a fairy (faerie) or the like. It’s really beautiful
104 Claudia
January 29th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Hey! i love your posts and all, just a recommendation, it would be nice that the links open in an external window so as not to have to go back on the browser after viewing the link, just close the window and continue on your website!
103 dhhdd http://www.up-0.com
January 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
thank you
102 5reeef http://www.5reeef.com
January 19th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
thanx body
gr8 lesson
101 Kovy Rinzler
January 8th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
i love seeing the naked girl
thats the only good thing about this picture
100 Tina Turner
January 8th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
i love seeing a piece of art like this! it deffinatly shows the real beauty of a naked woman and how perfect they really are!
p.s.
i love the flowers!
99 kadın http://www.kadinsaglik.net
January 8th, 2009 at 11:45 am
because women, nice health women