Table of contents for No. 147 in Photoshop Creative

Photoshop’s brushes are incredibly versatile and can be used to achieve a wide variety of results, but what we perhaps associate them with most is digital painting. This issue we explore some of the most common and also creative brushes that Photoshop has to offer. Whether or not digital painting comes naturally to you, there’s always something new to learn, so turn to p18 and check out our painting projects. This issue is also packed full of step-by-step tutorials on compositing creative portraits with layer masks, mixing media with filters, designing a logo and much more. Plus there are exciting advanced features as well as tutorials for Elements users. Remember to visit the FileSilo too, as you’ll find more than 1,000 free resources to download, including hundreds of brushes, in…

Sulaiman Almawash www.photoshopcreative. co.uk/user/suliman%20 almawash Image of the issue When I photographed this bird, I loved the overlapping colours of the feathers and the wings. The idea then came to me to use brushes and paint-stock photos to execute this look for a Photoshop project! Murilo Henrique www.photoshopcreative.co.uk/user/Murilo%20 Henrique I had the idea with this image to create a bear being carried away by the river, and to create a natural environment that was vibrant with adjustment layers. The movie The Jungle Book inspired this a lot. UillsamCavalcante www.photoshopcreative.co.uk/user/Uillsam This took six hours to complete. I merged multiple images from different angles, but with very similar lighting; I used Dodge, Burn, Color Balance and Unsharp to get the lightness, peace and tranquillity of this picture. Randy Monteith www.photoshopcreative.co.uk/user/Snowdog This project…

Arrive in 10:00 We arrive at work and have coffee and something to eat. This is just before the work really begins. Feedback from production 10:30 I ask the manager about what we’re working on and what the deadlines are. We go from table to table giving feedback about works that are starting or going to be delivered. Start work 11:00 If I’m going to work on an already-started job, I will search for music that helps me to concentrate and try to keep the previous day’s rhythm. However, if it’s a day to start a new project, I look for inspiration and references on Pinterest or from artistic communities. Lunch 13:00 It’s time to have lunch. Zombie is located in a region full of many restaurants and bars, and…

When it comes to Photoshop’s brushes, there are so many options available, it’s hard to know which brush is best for which style of art. Knowing when to use hard brushes instead of soft brushes comes with practice, and sometimes experimenting with brushes you wouldn’t usually use is the best way to discover their capabilities and produce unique effects. If you want to create a certain style, like a watercolour portrait or airbrushed effects for example, it’s worth exploring some of Photoshop’s more creative brushes. Over the next few pages, we’re going to showcase some of Photoshop’s most exciting brushes, in addition to teaching you how to master certain painterly effects. You’ll discover how blend modes can be crucial to bringing painted pieces together, and also how other Photoshop tools…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn Achieve a grainy texture effect and work with clipping masks Time taken 2 hours Expert Alena Tkach “I like experimenting with materials and using natural effects in digital illustration. I believe Photoshop is a really great way to combine a traditional approach with modern techniques. “I am a Ukraine-based freelance illustrator working mostly with children’s books and mobile games. My works are heavily inspired by nature since I am a great lover of animals and plants.” This tutorial will help you to learn how to apply a beautiful grainy effect to your illustration, and keep your style playful and fancy using only a few simple tricks. In addition to this, you’ll learn how to draw using several basic layers and apply clipping masks, which…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn How to create and edit compositions with filters, blend modes and brushes Time taken 2 hours Expert Daniel Sinoca “I really enjoy taking time to explore the Photoshop filters; they give me the ability to create wonderful effects. There are so many possibilities and they are very easy to learn. “I started to get involved in the digital world more than 10 years ago and have been working as a freelance artist ever since, creating all kinds of multimedia projects and tutorial guides.” In this tutorial, we’ll demonstrate how to apply different techniques to create an incredible mixed-media effect. We’ll show you how to work with brushes and filters, and combine images to get amazing results. You’ll learn an easy method to create a…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn How to create a zipped head effect using filters, layers and masks Time taken 3 hours Expert Mark White “What I like most about this tutorial is that the main idea may remain constant, but you can substitute your own photos. You could create almost any scene within the head, from something idyllic like this, a city scene or even a skeleton! “As senior staff writer on Photoshop Creative, I’ve learned all kinds of quick tips to help with even the most impressive-looking pictures.” Photoshop as a word has often had connotations with the surreal, and the Liquify tool is one of its most famous features for its use in the media for distorting bodies and retouching portraits. No matter its use, there’s no…

01 Select a space You really need to work in a suitable space – such as a studio or spacious garage – in order to shoot product photography using glass. Don’t attempt to do something like this lightly. 02 Eliminate chance Trying to guess when to fire the shutter button in conjunction with dropping a bottle of aftershave, even with an assistant, is difficult, so use a sound trigger to set everything off when the glass shatters. 03 Trigger the lights A TriggerSmart device or similar will work in response to the sound trigger and ensure that the flash fires in co-ordination with the camera that is taking the image. 04 Experiment Don’t expect this sort of thing to work after just one attempt – it might take multiple drops,…

HIGH ISO PERFORMANCE The camera produces excellent results even at very high ISO sensitivities in low-light conditions. BLACK AND WHITE If you like to shoot files in mono, without worrying about converting them later, the Nikon D500 does a superb job in this department. CRISP RESULTS The D500 produces images with superb levels of detail, and there’s no need to worry about shooting with the sharpness turned up to its maximum setting. GRIP The Nikon D500 feels truly excellent in the hand, with a well-designed grip that enables you to keep a steady, comfortable grasp on the camera using just your right hand. MODE BUTTONS Most Nikon cameras of this kind feature a model dial, but here we find a set of four buttons, for white balance, image quality, metering…

“I’d say my technique has changed in Photoshop, and I guess I’ve developed a look and feel to my work,” says Jack Crossing. Jack is often involved with an array of projects in different styles, but just how has he evolved his distinctive visual look? We caught up with him to ask about influences, Photoshop tools and what he loves creating most. You’ve created a lot of artwork for musicians, Jack. Is there anything about album cover art that you particularly love? When I first got into design, my brother was getting into music, and I’d come up with ideas for album covers and visuals for his bands and other music projects. This, and also being a fan of my dad’s old records when I was younger, was where I…

We challenged you with these In Issue 145, we challenged you to get creative with these four images. You were allowed to use any or all of the pictures, and whatever other resources you chose. Here’s what you created. Challenge entries The best entries and overall challenge winner 1 Mark Furlong Archer at Sunset The archer from the supplied photos was given a new outfit for this image, and the bow and arrow was worked on. The sky was also used in the background behind the castle. 2 Alex Coleman Lone Survivor This image is of a survivor in a zombie apocalypse. The main images used are of course of the girl and the car behind, but the sky has also been manipulated and used in the background. 3 Brian…

1. Evaluate and decide on what you want to do before you start Before beginning work in Photoshop, it’s important to look at what you want to achieve. Make sketches and write down ideas of the direction you’re looking to go in. Think of the mood that you want to give and think of how you’re going to convey that. 2. For the best images, make sure you don’t forget to focus on light and shade Lighting and shading is often the most important aspect of a Photoshop composition. It’s really important to align every element in a picture to make sure that nothing is underexposed and that the light is consistent across the image. 3. Absolutely everything you do counts Time is never wasted when you’re working on a…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn How to use the Brush tool alongside adjustment layers and filters Time taken 2-3 hours Expert Jenni Sanders “I’ve always loved to draw with pencils and paper, but when I discovered the Undo command in digital drawing, I was converted. Painting in Photoshop holds almost no limitations and is very forgiving of mistakes! “From the moment I saw my dad manipulate photos as a child, I was hooked and have since worked entirely within the industry of photography and Photoshop.” Some of the coolest animals have fur, so it’s time to step up your skill level and have a go at creating realistic paintings of our furry friends. Unfortunately, there is no real ‘quick’ way of drawing fur. Fur brushes, plug-ins and filters…

01 Select the heart Click on the Playing Card layer. Grab the Quick Selection tool (W) and select the heart. Press Cmd/Ctrl+J to duplicate and then drag it to the top of the layer stack. 02 Add some style Go to Layer>Layer Style>Bevel & Emboss. Set Style to Inner Bevel and adjust the settings to create a nice effect. Now add the Drop Shadow to create a subtle shadow. 03 Duplicate and merge Duplicate the layer then use the Free Transform tool to resize and rotate the image. Repeat this step a few times. Then hold Shift, select the layer and merge (Cmd/Ctrl+E). 04 Paint with the Splatter brush Create a new layer. Grab the Brush tool (B). Choose the Splatter brush. Hold Opt/Alt to select the colours and start…

Adam Spizak Don’t over-rely on filters “Every professional Photoshop designer uses filters. Filters are great at helping you make fantastic work and speed up the process [but] they won’t do the work for you.” Amar Kakad Ensure you master the Lens Correction filter “The Lens Correction filter is among the most powerful filters. It fixes distortions caused by the camera lens, such as barrel and pincushion distortion, vignette and chromatic aberration.” Edmond Yang Save photos from blur “Captured the perfect moment, but annoyed by the blur caused by camera motion? Fine-tune it with the advanced controls in the Shake Reduction filter. You can really save your photo with this one.” Mario Sánchez Nevado Make your filters editable “Create a merged copy layer (Cmd/Ctrl+Opt/Alt+Shift+E), turn it into a Smart Object and…

Usually we want to remove noise from images, particularly in photo editing, so you may wonder why there is an Add Noise option (under Filter>Noise). Illustrator and designer Adam Spizak is one artist who uses it in a lot of his work, as he explains: “One of the issues when working with 3D renders (or many stock images) is that they are often too perfect and can look over-sharp and unnaturally smooth. The Add Noise filter adds imperfection to your work that makes it more natural for the human eye to look at. Create a new layer, place it on top of your layer stack and use a black fill colour. Apply the Add Noise filter to the black solid layer (the Amount will vary depending on the image resolution),…

There’s nothing more inspiring than surfing the internet and seeing what other artists are creating, and we encourage you to do so. Here are some of our favourite pictures that caught our attention recently, from some of the world’s most exciting artists and designers. Adam Spizak www.spizak.com Adjustment layers and colour correction in Adobe Photoshop were key for this image; I was able to add contrast and correct imperfections, resulting in a clearer and sharper image. All the particles and dust were also created using brushes, set to the Screen mode. Christi du Toit christidutoit.co.za This was created as part of a group project where each illustrator was given a letter of the alphabet to interpret however they liked. Photoshop is my weapon of choice; this was drawn from the…

ABOUT THE STUDIO Zombie Studio www.zombiestudio.com.br Zombie is a creative studio that integrates several disciplines in the production of images and animations for clients around the world. The studio has been awarded at many festivals throughout its existence. There’s nothing uncommon about artists and designers seeking perfection, and the best pieces of artwork are often the ones that take longest. In a studio though, it’s only natural that most of your career is spent working against the clock, and the meticulous nature of an artist can be compromised. This is something Zombie Studio fights against. “We pursue perfection, trying to do everything better than the briefing we receive,” says Paulo Garcia, co-founder of Zombie Studio. “Our beliefs and values have helped Zombie Studio to achieve the recognition that we have…

01 The 3D render After the 3D development of the monster and skin, this is the result that we achieved in rendering before the image was even brought into Photoshop. The idea behind the image was to dramatise what could be happening beneath your skin. 02 Curves and correcting Here, using correction curves, we were able to reach the result we wanted on the skin, especially with the lighting of both the elements and the background, as well as inserting a shadow of contact between the skin and the floor to support the objects in the image. 03 Working on the monster In this picture, we noticed that we had carried the corrections applied in the previous stage on the skin to the monster, thus changing its light and exposure.…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn Enhance a portrait with nature using masks, filters and blend modes Time taken 2 hours Expert Andre Villanueva “Layering images and textures onto a portrait are the top two things I like to do in Photoshop. I’m drawn to visuals of humanity infused with nature. I’m strapped to technology for most of my waking hours so I daydream of a tech-free world. “I discovered Photoshop when studying web design. I’m now art director for a tech company, soothing my inner instructor by sharing techniques with readers.” Imagine a world stripped of technology, swirling with mystical power and overrun with fauna and flora. The human natives have been subjected to so much nature that they are actually merging with it. Take the majestic specimen here.…

Essentials Works with What you’ll learn Use the Pen tool, layer styles, blend modes, Smart Objects, shapes and text Time taken 1 hour Expert Moe Hezwani “Logo design is a big aspect of my day-to-day work. I’m often asked to create a number of styles and type, and am very grateful for the techniques and tools I can use in Photoshop to help me design all these logos. “I’m a professional graphic designer/illustrator, and Photoshop is my go-to platform for my designs.” Every great company needs a brand logo to stand out from others, and it’s essential for it to be original and eye-catching. Most logos use typography, but it would be too ordinary to just use a standard font; you want to find the right font for your brand…

The Oil Paint filter is one of the ‘creative’ filters that has a bad reputation due to overuse, however it can give amazing results when used sparsely, explains visual artist Edmond Yang (www.edmondyang.com). “When I am satisfied with the portrait, I create a Merged Copy layer on top of everything (Cmd/Ctrl+Opt/Alt+Shift+E). I apply the Filter>Stylize>Oil Paint filter, turn up the Stylization and Scale sliders, keep the Cleanliness to about 5 and Bristle Detail to 0. The values depend on the size of your image. The Lighting option is off, or else it creates highlights I don’t need. Click OK. Add a Quick Mask and use a black brush to paint back the details underneath.”…

Essentials Time taken 1 hour Expert Matt Bennett “I’ve often found myself needing to retouch product shots and make them look more appealing. Photoshop is a huge part of what it means to be a modern digital photographer and, provided it’s used carefully and honestly, it should be used to its full potential to enhance images and make them the best they can be. Product-photography retouching perhaps focuses particularly on corrective retouching, but there’s also room for some more creative work, too. “I am the Deputy Editor of Digital Photographer magazine. Before joining the team, I worked as a portrait photographer for five years and before that as a full-time retoucher and colour corrector for a professional printing lab.” Product photography and Photoshop have long enjoyed a close relationship. Stunning…

Final touch-ups 01 Quick colour trick An easy way to deepen the colours in the final render is to create another copy of the render layer and set the blending mode to Soft Light. 02 Hand-painted grunge Create a selection based on the render by Cmd/Ctrl-clicking that layer and use the selection as a layer mask on a new layer. Then use the standard painting tools to roughen the surface. 03 Wood texture overlay The wooden texture map is a good overlay for some additional interest. Layer it above the render and set blend mode to Soft Light. Use selections and layer mask to control the appearance. 04 Dodge and Burn tools Add a layer filled with 50% gray and set the blend mode to Overlay to render the grey…

HOW CAN I CREATE REALISTIC RAIN IN A PHOTO? Changing the weather in your photos can prove to be tricky, but using the filters available in Elements makes it possible to produce a rain effect that looks both realistic and subtle. Start by creating a new layer above your photo, and select black and white in your swatches. Go to Filter>Render>Fibers; choose a Variance of 50 and a Strength of 25. Hit OK, go to the Fill Layer icon, hit Levels, then Alt/Opt-click this adjustment layer to clip it to the Fibers layer you’ve just made. Move the stoppers on the histogram to darken the layer and create white specks over the photo, then turn this fibers layer to Screen. Go to Filter>Blur>Motion Blur to redirect these raindrops at a…

Tarek Hakeem describes himself as a self-taught digital artist, and works for an advertising agency in Cairo. “I started playing with Photoshop about seven years ago, but really got into it about two years ago. I was fascinated by its ability to make art,” he told us. But what tips and techniques has he picked up in his Photoshop discovery? We decided to find out. How does an image start for you? Sometimes I will make a couple of rough sketches, then I start collecting the stock images and begin compositing right away. I start with the background, work on the sky and adjust the atmosphere until I can add more and more to the image. So what do you think makes a good Photoshop composition? Your eyes should be…