Photoshop Creative

Below are the main steps I used to create the final image of Melissa with Flourish.

1. Original Image - taken with white sheet in background

2. Touch-up Skin, Eyes, Started to add in Hair Hilights using Dodge Tool, Used Levels to adjust exposure, Cropped

3. Deleted surrounding white (many ways to do this) Sampled lip color to create a radial gradient background. Stretched background so the white middle was mostly from top to bottom, rather than a circular pattern in middle. Gradient Background was placed below main subject's layer.


Final Steps in next post...

Note: At each step I would often tweak exposure, slowly add in light, and make minor misc. adjustment.

4. Here I added in the Flourish using the Brush set called "Fresh Foliage". Each corner was on its own layer so I can easily modify as needed. I believe someone provide a link to these brushes a while back. Do a search for Fresh Foliage PS brushes

5. Created depth by adding drop shadow for each of the Flourish layers. Again adjusted exposure.

6. Made final misc. adjustments, For example decided the hair needed to be cleaned up on the right side. Copied Main Subject to new layer. Used Topaz Simplify 2 Preset Buzsim - reduced Simplify Size to about .2 from default. Overlaid simplified result over previous non-simplified copy at opacity of 70%. Repainted back in - Lost Catch-Light in each eye and beauty marks on chin and cheek.

Larger image can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skyfisher/ ... 7/sizes/o/

Great job Tom. Thanks for sharing how you achieved it. You should do a tut for the newsletter sometime. Can always use submissions for the 2nd anniversary issue next month if you have something else you can share with us that you haven't posted on the forum already.

Great, clear explanation. I find it especially interesting how you sneaked up on your final adjusted exposure. I find myself doing the same thing sometimes.

Rusty

Very nice creation, skyfisher. And your daughter is lovely.

Thanks for the interesting step by step instructions.

Courtney

AngelicKim wrote: Great job Tom. Thanks for sharing how you achieved it. You should do a tut for the newsletter sometime. Can always use submissions for the 2nd anniversary issue next month if you have something else you can share with us that you haven't posted on the forum already.

Thanks Courtney, Kim and Rusty. I have a little project I recently did for another photo that I think would make a nice little tutorial - I'll work on that to submit.

That would be awesome. When you have it ready e-mail it to PCECNewsletter at gmail dot com. Then send me a PM that you sent it.

AngelicKim wrote: That would be awesome. When you have it ready e-mail it to PCECNewsletter at gmail dot com. Then send me a PM that you sent it.

Okay I'll add it to my projects. What is a good deadline for you to receive submissions?

Skyfisher, Your well-done presentation is greatly appreciated. The image is very pretty -- love the effect created with the brushes!
Looking forward to the tutorial !

Great creation,Skyfisher.
Am really looking forward to your tutorial.
Chas