Using Photoshop

[The Fallen Angel]

I just do what I know works but there are some good tips here. Next I want to work with layers and simple lighting effects.

 

[messaline]

Well, I try to follow this learning but I do first translate and my technical language is limited; however, I've PSP4 ultimate (in french) and I'ld want to know if it is useful for this version; I've started to study it, but only some
"splutters"

 

[Fantasmo]

So far the functionalities used are "common ones", found in any picture manip program. They may be slightly different in function and also of course where you find it.
I'll be glad to ofer help in language and finding the function in Paintshop, and so would others, I am sure.

 

[mermaidhunter]

Thanks for this tutorial, I learned a few new tricks. It will take me forever to get really good with these photo shop programs, they have a lot more capability than I can ever learn.
I have taken the liberty to post my "result" from this lesson. I have never done a lot of photo manip type work,because I didn't understand the lasso function sufficiently. I have a better grasp of it now. In my example I altered the saturation of the girls source pic in an attempt to match the lighting and atmosphere of the background better. I put the shadow dirctly beneath her, because I was thinking that she is not in the direct sunlight and is only being illuminated bu the diffuse light around her. I just painted in the shadow freehand. I couldn;t help addding a few stripes to her back.

Again thanks for the lesson.

 

[Fantasmo]

I couldn;t help addding a few stripes to her back.

That would be another chapter, your's look pretty realistic!

 

[The Fallen Angel]

That looks very effective!!...we haven't finished yet.

 

[messaline]

Thanks to you Melissa (and Fantasmo): at last, I've understood how using of
my PSP4 ultimate...Yet some errors to correct, but the principle is acquired.

 

[Fantasmo]

Mmmm, nice! (The second image especially)

 

[The Fallen Angel]

They are very good. I'll look out for some more backgrounds before continuing.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Here's a background we've used before. It's from Gladiator. The arena was based on the oil painting used in the first pic. It's 1.04 MB so it would be good as a background. It started off at 125Kb but you can always increase the "size" in pixels of a pic in photoshop by clicking on Image then Re size from the menu. I increase or decrease by a percentage which I guess.

 

[admihoek]

A pdf book about the layers in photoshop
Here's the link to this file:
http://www.yousendit.com/download/TEhVbGtITkFveE0wTWNUQw

 

[thehangingtree]

Here's a background we've used before. It's from Gladiator. The arena was based on the oil painting used in the first pic. It's 1.04 MB so it would be good as a background. It started off at 125Kb but you can always increase the "size" in pixels of a pic in photoshop by clicking on Image then Re size from the menu. I increase or decrease by a percentage which I guess.

Me thinks she likes the ...umm.. big things...

Well, I try to follow this learning but I do first translate and my technical language is limited; however, I've PSP4 ultimate (in french) and I'ld want to know if it is useful for this version; I've started to study it, but only some
"splutters"

...while this ol' tree still sticks with Corel (too much invested to swap) it is practice that makes it easier. I still screw up with layers. But never be ashamed of what you try.

I've seen there is 9000 members and probably less than 8,800 have posted a picture, much less 'worked' on.

Tree

 

[The Fallen Angel]

USING AND SAVING LAYERS.
Sometimes you may want to use a character in more than one pic. It can be time consuming using the lassoo tool again so it is a good idea to save your layer on a transparent background as soon as you create it. Here's how..
I'm going to use the three attached pics. First download the pics. Use the lasso tool to cut out Janina then Edit/Copy .

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Now click on File/New and make sure you select a transparent background as shown.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

You will now see a chequered rectangle. Now click on Edit/Paste and you will see Janina appear.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Now click on File/Save as and save Janina as a PNG file in your folder, selecting none on the interface option.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Your layer has now been saved and can be used later on any pic. Now use the lasso tool on the four corners of the rectangle then Edit/Copy. Bring up the background pic then Edit/Paste. Use the move tool and make any other adjustments you wish on the layer.

 

[admihoek]

Now click on File/Save as and save Janina as a PNG file in your folder, selecting none on the interface option.

but be sure that you save it as a PNG or GIF file because you don't want a background behind Janina

 

[admihoek]

Your layer has now been saved and can be used later on any pic. Now use the lasso tool on the four corners of the rectangle then Edit/Copy. Bring up the background pic then Edit/Paste. Use the move tool and make any other adjustments you wish on the layer.

missing the beam.............................

I know!!!!...I'm coming on to that thanks Hans.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Now bring up the untitledz pic and use the lasso to Edit/Copy and Edit paste a suitable lump of wood onto our background pic. The lump of wood layer is now at the front.