Rasputin's Texturizer Variations

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:16 am

Not sure if this is the right forum, but Mods will move if not!

OK, it seems several people are interested in the texturing techniques I've been experimenting with. Initially, I was hesitant to post details, because I learned this at a seminar, for which the speaker is paid. However, the information went to hundreds of people, and other speakers there independently touched upon it, so it's not a huge secret. Also, I feel that I've taken what I learned and modified it enough to call it my own, so I think it's OK to share details.

I've never really done a tutorial before, so this is likely to lack clarity and proper organization, but I'll do my best!

First, the starting photo, just a random "candid" during a shoot last November:

I started by making a loose selection of the background. I feathered it by 40 pixels, then radically raised the Levels, so the back got lighter, but left a diffuse shadow around the subject. To see the selection along with the Levels adjustment, click HERE.

Next, I pasted in a crappy, blurry snapshot of the hose connected to my showerhead.

I changed the blend mode of that layer to Vivid Light, which gave me THIS.

I dropped the opacity to 6%, and added a layer mask, and masked out the edges, and anything over the faces of my subjects. In this and all subsequent steps, the masking was done to taste, using the brush at various opacities, so that sometimes I masked parts of the layer entirely, and other times I left just a hint of the texture in places.

I added the same showerhose, moved it to the right a little, and used the Color blend mode at 100% opacity, then masked it over the corner subject's face.

Next, I added a picture of a city alley, taken from my ninth floor hotel window last weekend. See it HERE.

After changing that layer's blend mode to Darken, reducing opacity to 22%, and masking, I had THIS.

Now comes a nasty, leaky wall in the corner of my basement's utility room.

Change blend mode to Color Burn, Opacity to 45%, mask, and then add a dartboard.

Blend mode to Lighten, opacity to 12%, mask, and had THIS.

Next, I wanted some weird text stuff, so I went to the web. What I found was a recent letter the SEx Pistols wrote in refusing their invitation to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

After opacity and blend mode changes, and some masking, I had THIS.

OK, at this point, I had all of the textures I felt I needed. I duplicated the image, and made the copy into a quick Photoshop tritone.

I pasted the tritone as a separate layer onto the color version, and reduced opacity to 67%. I then did some masking. Mostly I masked to background to bring back the full colors, but I painted over a little, here and there, onto the subjects. And here is my finished product:

Also, I will show my layers palette BEFORE doing the tritone. Each layer is named after its blend mode and opacity, and from the thumbnails, you can sort of see where I masked each layer.

This might be an unwieldy way to present this, but since I'm not supposed to post that many images into a thread, I figured this way was best. I sure hope this is helpful to someone!!

Premium Member Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 2020

Perfectly explained Rasputin! Thank you for taking the time to post that. With you and DrPablo, we'll all be better versed in Photoshop.

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 3:05 pm

Very excellent! Thanks for the tutorial. Very clear and concise! I'm always looking to learn more about Photoshop and what it can do. Thanks!

Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 1875 Location: BRISTOL ENGLAND

Excellent and thankyou for sharing.

Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 484 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Effort and time must have went into this. It gives me something to work with. What a great forum. It's easy to see why of the several I visit I only visit 'them' but actually come here 'every' day.

Thank you for going to the trouble for others.

I got a D70s today. I have had a D70 for about 8 months or so. It was easier to double up than to go for the D200. I figure within a year someone will feel that the D200 is more than they need and will be willing to trade down to one of them. :)

Gene

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 5:07 pm

thats really something. at first i just kinda laughed at whatever you were doing but after seeing the final product im impressed. im gonna have to start some experimentation.

Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 36 Location: IRVINE, CA

i want to say THANKS to you for sharing that with us. After reading your entire tutorial with layers, masking, opacity, blending modes, I now understand the potential of Photoshop! this has been a life changing moment for me. =) I am going to take advantage of this to the fullest extent.

Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 14

Thanks a lot Rasputin !!!!
I wish there are more photogs/artists like you......Thanks for sharing.