Photoshop Tricks; SEMI-TRANSPARENT RIBBONS

ONE OF THE best ways to add dimensionality to your web layouts is to include 3D effects like drop shadows, beveled edges, and layered transparency. In this exercise, you learn how to draw overlapping bubbles and ribbons of color with the Ellipse and Pen tools and then modify the blending mode and transparency of each to create dynamic 3D effects for your layouts.

STEP 1 Select File>New to open the New document dialog box. Under Preset choose Web, set the width to 960, the height to 768, and click OK.

STEP 2 Select the Pen tool and use the Shape Layers setting on the Control bar to ensure that you’ll be drawing closed shapes with editable color fi lls. Using the Pen tool, draw a ribbon-like closed shape, like the one shown in Figure 4-1. Don’t worry too much about being perfect as you draw; you can always adjust the curves and anchor points using the Direct Selection tool (A) aft er closing the shape. With a shape layer, you can easily adjust the color of your new shape through the Layers panel.

INTERNET HINT: Need to brush up on your Pen tool skills? Try this resource: http://psdfan.com/tutorials/drawing/become-a-master-of-the-pen-tool-inunder-30-minutes/

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STEP 3 Next, draw a second, similar shape slightly overlapping the fi rst one. To see how this second shape interacts with the fi rst one, adjust the second shape’s opacity down to about 80%, as illustrated in Figure 4-2.

STEP 4 To create the 3D overlapping soft shadow effect, apply the Inner Glow Layer Style to the second shape using the Layer Style button at the bottom of the Layers panel. When the Layer Style dialog box opens, change the blending mode color to a dark gray, adjust the opacity down to about 50%, and set the blending mode to Multiply. To deepen the shadow effect, adjust the choke and size to your liking. For instance, you might set the choke to 23% and the size to 10 px.

STEP 5 To add further defi nition, give your shape a 1–2 px light gray stroke and add a gradient overlay using the Screen blending mode with an opacity set to about 40%. If desired, adjust the angle to set the direction of the gradient to your liking. Click OK to save these settings. Your image should now look something like the example shown in Figure 4-3.

STEP 6 Next, copy this layer’s style by right+clicking/+clicking on the layer’s Layer Style icon and selecting Copy Layer Style from the layer’s context menu. To paste this layer style onto your first shape, select the first shape’s layer and choose the Paste Layer Style option from the layer’s context menu.

STEP 7 Continue creating additional ribbon shapes as needed following this same method as well as circular shapes using the Ellipse tool, changing the color, blending mode, opacity, and other settings as desired, as illustrated in Figure 4-4. Feel free to improvise and don’t be afraid to speed things along by duplicating any existing shape layer and then adjusting the new layer’s attributes through the Layers panel.

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Photoshop Tricks; MAKING CUSTOM PATTERNS

YES, PHOTOSHOP’S PATTERN libraries include dozens of interesting patterns that you can use to fill selected areas of your designs. But what should you do when you need a different pattern that will precisely fit into your specific design? Make one yourself, of course! Designing your own patterns in Photoshop is super easy once you know the basics of pattern design and how to create seamless repeats using the Off set Filter.

Custom patterns can be created with either a square or rectangular layout. In this exercise you’ll learn how to create a simple square format web pattern from a preset Photoshop shape. Later, on your own, you can use these same steps to create custom patterns from your own designs.

HINT: Keep in mind that once you add a pattern in Photoshop, its attributes cannot
be changed. Th erefore, always save the fi le you used to create the pattern in case you
want to create new, similar patterns with diff erent colors, sizes, eff ects, and so on.

STEP 1 Press Ctrl+N/Ô+N to launch the New dialog box and create a new Web document
with the dimensions of 300×300 pixels. Once the document opens, use the Color panel to set your
foreground and background colors to any two colors you fi nd appealing. For example, you might
set your foreground to white and your background to a purple with the hex value of #632c82.

STEP 2 Press U to select the Custom Shape tool from your toolbar (or press Shift +U until you have it), make sure that the Shape Layers option is selected on the Options bar, and then click on the Custom Shape Picker drop-down menu at the top of your screen. You need to access a shape from another shape library, so click the Pattern pop-up panel menu to view the list of available shape libraries. Select Ornaments and, when the dialog box opens asking whether you want to replace the current shapes with the shapes from ornaments, press the Append button. Scroll down in the Custom Shape Picker to the bottom of the ornaments and select the design called Floral Ornament 4, as shown in Figure 2-1.

STEP 3 Drag out a medium-sized fl oral ornament shape onto the center of your document while pressing the Shift key to constrain proportions, and then release your mouse. Press V to switch your cursor to the Move tool and reposition the shape so that it is centered inside your document window. If necessary, use the arrow keys, guides, rulers, and alignment tools to fi ne-tune the shape’s placement. Figure 2-2 shows an example of how this might look.

STEP 4 If you were to make a pattern of this design as it exists now, it would look nice but be a little boring, as the shapes would automatically line up in a neat symmetrical, grid-like fashion, like the example in Figure 2-3. To add a little more dynamism to the pattern, duplicate the shape layer by dragging the shape layer onto the Create a New Layer button found on the Layers panel.

STEP 5 Now comes the interesting part. Select Filter>Other>Off set to open the Off set dialog box. If you can’t see the Other menu option, click Show All Menu Items. The selected shape layer must be rasterized before you can use the offset filter, so when the alert dialog box appears, click the OK button. Make sure the Undefined Areas is set to Wrap Around and then set the horizontal and vertical fields to half the document’s dimensions. For example, this file is 300×300 pixels, which means you’ll want to set each of the fields to 150 pixels. If the Preview button is checked, you should now see how your rasterized layer has been quartered with each piece placed into one of the document’s four corners, while your original shape layer is still displaying in the center of your document window, as shown in Figure 2-4. Click OK to close the Off set dialog box.

STEP 6 Now you’ll add your pattern to Photoshop. Press Ctrl+A/Ô+A to select the entire document and select Edit>Define Pattern. When the Pattern Name dialog box appears, give your new pattern a name (such as Bloboids) and click OK. Your new pattern is now saved and can be used at any time! To see how your new pattern looks, open a new 600×600-pixel Web document, click the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button on the Layers panel, select Pattern from the top of the pop-up menu, and when the Pattern Fill dialog box appears, click the arrow on the Pattern Picker button to select your new pattern. Click OK and you’re done. Patterns can be used to fill an entire document window or any selected shape, like the heart in Figure 2-5.

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Photoshop Tricks; Beauty Retouch

In this tutorial we explore different ways to add a nice colorful touch to your photos, whether they are yours or stock images. Also we learn a basic way to add some lighting effects on images. This tut also teaches how to use layer masks and using adjustment layers. Adding textures, working with channels and dodging and burning is learned in this tutorial. Hope you enjoy this, once learned mix what you have learned to your own images and your upcoming projects.

Step 1
Open the image fashion_portrait_03_by_cybaBABE.jpg. Then press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[J] to duplicate the layer. Now change the blending mode to screen, and adjust the opacity to 50%. Name this layer Screen.

Step 2
Now go to your channels panel (Window>Channels) and click on the red channel. Drag it to the bottom of the panel into the new channel icon.

Step 3
Press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[L] to bring up the leveld dialog box. Drag the black triangle (under the histogram) to the right until it says 35 and click ok. Press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[A] to select all, then press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[C].

Step 4
Click back on the RGB channel, and go back to your layers panel (Window>Layers). Press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[V] to paste the red channel. Name the layer Red Channel. Drag it beneath the Screen layer.

Step 5
Now go to the bottom of the layers panel and click on the black and white button (Adjustment Layer) and select solid color, and color dialog box will pop up. Type in the # box: 2658ea, and click ok. Set the blending mode to soft light at 50%. You will keep this layer above ALL layers at ALL times.

Step 6
Now click back on the Screen layer, and create another color adjustment layer, this time choose black. Change the blending mode to Soft light and 70% opacity. Now go to Layer>New>Layer, name the layer Top Gradient and click ok.

Step 7
Select your gradient tool [G], if you don't see it, click and hold the paint bucket tool. Make sure it is set to foreground to transparent, and Linear, also make sure that reversed is not checked. Now select your eyedropper tool. Many people could not find it directly and click on some blue somewhere on the image, then select the gradient tool again.

Step 8
With the Top Gradient layer and the gradient tool selected, click and drag (while holding shift) from the top to the near middle . If you are not happy with it, try it again, or take the move tool [V] and move the gradient upward.

Step 9
Now with the top gradient layer selected, turn off the blue color fill layer. Then press [Shift]+ [Opt.]+[Cmnd.]+[E]. This merges all the layers into one, on a seperate layer, name this layer High Pass,now turn your color fill layer back on.

Step 10
Now with the High Pass layer selected go to Filter>Other>High Pass, and set the radius to 8.0. Change the blending mode to Soft Light, at 70% opacity.

Step 11
Go to Layer>New>Layer, and name it Dodge and Burn. For the Mode, select soft light and check the box at the bottom. Press D to reset your colors to black and white. Select a soft nice sized brush and change the opacity to about 30%. Paint with black to darken different areas of the face( i.e. cheeks, neck, forehead,eyebrows). Paint with white to lighten other areas (i.e. Eyes).

Step 12
Ok create a new layer and name it cheek light. Press [D] to reset your colors .Take your eyedropper tool and sample some blue, now you have blue and white as foreground and background colors. Take a large, soft brush (about 500px) and click in the center with blue. Now press [X] to switch to white and click in the same spot.

Step 13
Now press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[T] to get in Free Transform mode, drag it to the left cheek, now go to Edit>Transform>Warp and try to wrap it around her cheek. When you are satisfied, press enter. Now press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[J] to duplicate the layer. Go to Edit>Transform>Flip Horizontal, press enter, and have it on her right cheek.

Step 14
Ok, now go to the bottom of the layers panel and click the new adjustment layer icon, and select Exposure. Bring the exposure to 2.00, Press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[I], it inverts the mask to hide the exposure. Now take a white, soft brush(set the brush opacity to 100%), about the size of her eyes, and click on them, see what happens? You can turn down the opacity if you want to.

Step 15
Create a new layer and name it Full Gradient. Now take your gradient tool, set to foreground to transparent, and choose radial gradient option, and have reversed checked. Click and drag from the center to the top left corner. Now you can play with the opacity if you want to.

Step 16
Create a new layer, name it The light Above, and select the polygonal lasso tool. Click at the top and create a triangle shape.

Step 17
Take your gradient tool, set it to foreground to trasparent, linear option, and make sure reverse is unchecked, and white is the foreground color. Now click and drag from the top to the bottom of of the triangle. You should now have a nice light source, press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[D] to deselect. You may have to move it up a bit with the move tool. Now go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur, and set it to 65 or to your liking.

Step 18
Ok now for some bokeh texture... I used some I found on DeviantArt, they have some real good textures. I used the bokeh texture found here at this link: http://isostock.deviantart.com/gallery/#Bokeh. I used Bokeh 007. Now when you have some bokeh, open it and drag it into the document you are working on. Drag the layer to the very top, but keep it below the blue color fill layer. Change the blending mode to Soft light (or whatever blending mode suits you) at 80%. You may want to make the texture bigger, so go to Edit>Free Transform, grab the edges to enlarge, and press enter when satisfied.

Step 19
MORE BOKEH!!! Now the other bokeh effect I did was created using custom brushes.I used a technique I learned a while back. The tutorial can be found at Abduzeedo.com, the link to the tutorial is: http://abduzeedo.com/awesome-digital-bokeheffect-photoshop. The effect is very simple. When you create the bokeh and paint it, make sure to use white as the color. I paint each bokeh on a seperate layer, and grouped them, then dragged them beneath the blue color fill layer, and beneath the bokeh texture. Also add some slight blur to some of the bokeh, to give the image some depth.

Step 20
FINAL COLORING: Now for the different colors I used a really simple method. Remember how we did the solid color adjustment layer, same method I used for the final coloring. To better explain: Go to the new adjustment layer icon and select solid color, select your color and click ok. Play with the blending modes until you're happy. Now press [Cmnd/Cntrl]+[I] to invert the mask (just like how we did for the exposure in step 14). Now paint with white on the mask, use different brush opacity settings too. I used different colors and blend modes to get a different look. Also to brighten different areas I used the exposure adjustment layer and did the same thing in step 14.

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Photoshop Tricks; Remove colour casts

Don’t let annoying colour casts blight what is an otherwise excellent image.  Foil their evil plans by bringing the Levels palette into play.

One advantage of living in  a world where the light is  always sunny and bright  is that colour casts would  be practically non-existent.  But an album full of photos taken in the  sun would make for a very boring photo  collection indeed, so there’s something to  be said for risking an odd colour cast here  and there.

Colour casts occur when one of the  RGB colours is stronger than the others  and usually happens when photos are  taken under artificial light. With fluorescent  lights this is often green and with tungsten  lighting it will be yellow. If the flash is  involved, you’re looking at a blue cast.  However, as this example shows, you can  also suffer from colour casts even if the  photo is taken outside. Natural daylight is  far from consistent and changes depending on location and time of day. For example, photos taken early in the morning will  appear more ‘bluish’ than those taken at midday. As the day ends, colour will become redder and warmer. But in addition to the natural light, you have to think about location. Photos taken under a canopy of trees, for example, can suffer from a green colour cast.

Photoshop provides the perfect tools for  removing these colour casts and bringing  back your neutral, natural colours. We’re going to use the Levels palette here to restore this photo to its rightful glory, by neutralising and defining the black, white and middle grey points. Use this tutorial on colour faded or old pictures; you’ll be amazed what it can do.

COLOUR CAST BEGONE

01 First things first  Copy the ‘before.tif’ file from the CD onto your desktop. Open it up Photoshop and take a good look where the problem areas are situated. The most obvious problem is the white in the car that has a yellow, greenish cast. Duplicate the layer by going to Layer>Duplicate Layer. Name the first layer Original and call the duplicate Retouch.

02 Prepare the workspace  Pick the Eyedropper tool and set the Sample size to 3 x 3 Average. Bring up the Info palette and go to View>Fit On Screen. Now we’re ready for optimising the image

03 Levels  In the Image>Adjustment menu, bring up the Levels palette. In this dialog box, beneath the Auto button are three eyedropper tools; these are used to set the black, grey and white points of the image. Double-click on the Eyedropper at the left to set the black point..

04 Setting the back point  After clicking on the left Eyedropper tool, the colour picker box will appear. Click in what seems the darkest, most black part of the image and look at the RGB Values. Here we have: R: 4, G:9 and B: 2. Set all the values to ‘4’ and click OK to conform. Click with the Eyedropper once more in the darkest area.

05 Set the white point  We will do exact the same thing for the white neutral point. Double-click on the right Eyedropper tool to bring up the colour picker. Set the eyedropper on a white part that has colour cast. Set all of the RGB values to 246. Click OK and click with the white loaded Eyedropper inside the image. You’ll notice that the cast disappears.

06 More white  The white in an image is one of the most important values; we don’t want to make it too white. The minimal white shouldn’t be less than 5% colour and the black shouldn’t be more than 95%. Check with the Eyedropper tool and see what values crop up in the Info palette.

07 Hue/Saturation Go to the Select menu and choose Color Range. Select the white of the car with the Eyedropper and set the Fuzziness to 95. Bring up the Hue/Saturation box and set the Saturation to -14 and decrease the Lightness to -3. This will remove the last bit of colour cast from your image.

08 Sharpen  Click out of the selection from the Color Range and examine your image. An Unsharp Mask on top of this would be useful. Go to the Filter menu and choose Unsharp Mask in the Sharpen menu. Set the Amount to 50 and click OK.

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