Cutting Tools

Thank goodness it’s Thursday, it means I have spare time for blogging.

I have decided to reshoot one of my 365 uploaded to flickr for blogging purposes. I like this more because the quality of lighting is far more acceptable.

Okay, I’ve been trying to use CUTTING tools (my favourite is the magnetic lasso tool so far).

To start with, never ever forget to duplicate your raw layers, that’s the first thing one should remember. It gives you the freedom to edit your images as far as you want without the worry of losing the original.

Editing, in my experience, is a process of trial and error. So please don't make the same mistakes  I had ~_~ (error- I mean losing all the original images, reshooting is kinda frustrating)

Then, using the magnetic lasso tool, select a part of the pic (in this case, my face) that you want to manipulate. Layer it via copy.

Using the lasso tool again (told you it's my favorite ~_~), select a part of your background that’ll fit to cover the face. Manipulate the layer to cover the whole face. I used the WRAP.

Then, we can start manipulating the face. Using the lasso tool, cut the face into two and layer it this time via cut.

Press CTRL+T (sorry I only know the shortcut) to transform the layers (face) to make them appear like it was being ripped off.

Sorry for the randomness but make sure you have your layers in their proper order.

Head 1

Head 2

White backgroud

Duplicate Layer

Background

Then make necessary retouch, erasing the white background etc.

Final image

The only thing I have for this is it looks flat, I am trying my very best to give some dynamics but my brain is shutting down.

HELP!

Adding Textures

Hi everyone, I’m Pin. Welcome to my first blog!

I bought an SLR five months ago but haven’t been using it until I started my 365 (which was a month ago). All of my shots were straight out from the camera at first, and then I learned about photoshop. The first thing I was fascinated about was adding textures. It took me days to learn how to manipulate one, which was really hard specially that I had no one to ask about the “this and that” of it.

What precipitated me to create a blog was that few of my flickr friends asked me about how I added textures to some of my posts. Then I remembered myself when I first had my photoshop installed, I wanted to do things but just couldn't because I didn't know how to do it. So I'd be very very happy to help the ones out there, who maybe cursing their computers at this very moment ~_~

I must remind you that this is for the newbie’s- very basic, and i don’t know much about technical terms, so if you spot corrections, please let me know ~_~

This was one of my first flickr posts wherein I dared to use textures.

Here we go.

First, I did jumping shots. Here are some of the outtakes.

Whoaaa, my legs were that strong!!

karate queen, i did punch the wall, and i was hurt.

Remote on my left hand

With the editing, I googled a stock photo (http://www.aviary.com/artists/Chelaine/creations/mistymarburg) for the background.

Then cut myself off from one of the jumping shots and pasted it on the background photo.

Mix and match the Color Balance of both the background and subject. I love manipulating towards cyan.
You may also add a Raster Layer.

When you’re satisfied with the color, then comes the texture.
I got this one from deviantart.com.

Adjust the Blending Mode and Opacity.

And tada, were done!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinpasol/4897318075/in/photostream/