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CREATIVE PROJWECTPASTEL PORTRAITDraw an oil http://bit.ly/12FXttzpastel sketchCreate an authentic-looking pastel portrait by modifying Photoshop’serodible brush tips to mimic the smudgy strokes produced by pastelsPROJECT INFO Sketching with oil pastels is an enables you to include some of the effective way to produce a subject’s more definitive features whileYou’ll learn flattering portrait. As you draw, leaving other parts of the canvas blank, the sticks gradually erode, creating the unfinished artistic look that How to modify brush changing the shape of the strokes in an you don’t get by simply slapping a filtertips and turn a photo into organic way. You can use a sharp piece of onto your photo.a pastel sketch pastel to sketch in delicate details such as the eyes, or turn the stick on its side and You’ll also learn how to delve into theYou’ll need sweep it to quickly fill larger areas (such Brush panel’s properties and modify as hair) in a stroke. Pastels also produce the texture of the Pattern Stamp’s tip Photoshop CS6 or CC a distinctive grainy texture that you can so that it can convert a photo’s colours smudge with your finger to add flattering and tones into realistic pastel strokes.It’ll take skin tones to your portraits. We’ll also demonstrate how to mimic the finger-smudged look common to 30 minutes If you lack the artistic skills required many pastel sketches, enabling you to to render a perfect pastel portrait, then create a more authentic-looking pastel YOUR fire up Photoshop CS6 or CC and follow portrait that has the human touch. We’ll GENIUS our step-by-step walkthrough. We’ll also show you how to use Photoshop’sGEORGE CAIRNS demonstrate how to turn a photograph erodible brush tips to mimic the varying into a pattern so that you can use the strokes produced by pastel sticks, so brush-based Pattern Stamp tool to sketch you can render fine details or cover in appropriate details on your virtual larger features with a swipe of your canvas. This pattern-based technique stylus or mouse. Pastels produce a distinctive grainy texture START IMAGE that you can smudge with your finger to add flattering skin tones to your portraits George Cairns, Photoshop expert Step-by-step Make a pastel sketch George has been using 01Define the pattern 02Select your patternPhotoshop since the very Go to File>Open and browse to pastel_before.jpg. Choose Layer>New>Layer. Label this layer ‘Outline’.start with version one, Click Open. Go to Edit>Define Pattern. Re-label the pattern Click OK. Select the Pattern Stamp tool from the Tools panel.and remembers the dark ‘Pastel Portrait’. Click OK. Choose Layer>New>Layer. Label It shares a compartment with the Clone Stamp tool. Clickdays when it didn’t have the new layer ‘Paper’. Click OK. Go to Edit>Fill. Set the Use the Pattern Picker on the Options bar. Here you’ll find thelayers! After a decade drop-down menu to White. Click OK. Go to the Layers panel ‘Pastel Portrait’ pattern that you created in step 01. Click theof teaching the joys of and reduce the Paper layer’s opacity to 75%. This enables pattern to make it active.creative image editing, you to see a hint of the original photo on the layer below.he extended his reach bywriting regular Photoshoptutorials for magazinesincluding Digital Cameraand PhotoPlus.52 PracticalPhotoshop August 2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
CREATIVE PROJWECT 04Edit the brush attributesPASTEL PORTRAIT To create a more convincing03 Choose a pastel stroke, click the Brush brush tip panel icon to the right of the Brush Preset picker onClick the Brush Preset picker the Options bar. Click theon the Options bar. The Texture label to edit the tip’spencil-shaped icons indicate properties. Set the Scale toPhotoshop’s erodible brush 163%, the Brightness to 0,tips. Choose the Square and the Contrast slider to –3.Pastel tip. Scribble the tip on This gives the tip a rougher,the Outline layer to reveal more grainy texture. Setsome of the detail of the Control to Off. Scribbleimage below. Despite the another test stroke on thebrush tip’s name, it doesn’t Outline layer.produce a very convincingpastel effect straight fromthe box. Choose Edit>UndoPattern Stamp to remove theineffective strokes. 05Edit the tip shape You’ve improved the texture produced by the tip, but it’s a bit blocky. In the Brush panel, click Brush Tip Shape and choose Erodible Round. Click the Live Tip Preview icon at the bottom of the Brush panel. Scribble a few test strokes. Notice that the Live Tip Preview becomes blunt quite quickly, and that the strokes get thicker as a result.GENIUS TIP! 06Set a harder tip 07Preliminary sketch Click Sharpen Tip. To make your virtual Start to roughly sketch in the stronger lines ofTOGGLE THE TOOLS pastel last a little longer without re-sharpening, the subject’s face. Mark in key features such as her nose reduce Softness to 25%. Set the tip’s Size to 30 and the curls of her hair. As you draw, the tip will begin to If you’re not sure which pixels. Choose Select>All and then Edit>Cut to erode, so feel free to tap the Sharpen Tip button every Tools panel compartment remove the test strokes from the Outline layer. now and then. This erodible tip produces subtle, butcontains the Pattern Stamp tool, Press Cmd/Ctrl+D to deselect the marquee. realistic changes in the pastel strokes, helping to producepress S to highlight the relevant Press Cmd/Ctrl+– (minus) to zoom out, so that more authentic-looking results.box. This will usually select you can see more of the image.the Pattern Stamp tool’s closecolleague, the Clone Stamp tool.You can then place the cursorover the active compartmentand hold down the mousebutton (or right-click the icon)to reveal and select the PatternStamp tool. Alternatively, pressShift+S to toggle between thePattern Stamp and the CloneStamp tools.54 PracticalPhotoshop August 2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
CeREtATIVE PROJECT PASTEL PORTRAITPhotoshop Anatomy PATTERNHere’s a look at the key techniques By turning the portrait photoused to create our oil pastel portrait into a pattern, we can paint back specific details using the Pattern Stamp tool. BRUSH PANEL This panel enables you to modify a wide range of brush tip properties, such as the textures that are produced by each preset tip. ERODIBLE TIPS Erodible tips change the shape of your strokes as you sketch, which enables you to mimic crumbling pastel sticks. You can sharpen tips in a click. LIVE TIP PREVIEW DIFFERENT STROKES This handy window gives Our pastel strokes were created you live feedback on your by combining erodible tips with brush tip’s behaviour. You’ll different patterns. Different see a sharp erodible point texture settings help produce becoming blunt as you draw. smooth or rough pastel strokes.08 Draw the mouth Use the Erodible Round tip to quicklysketch in the mouth. The Pattern Stamp toolautomatically changes the colour of the strokesdepending on the facial feature that you’recurrently sketching over. This cool techniquesaves you the hassle of constantly changingthe foreground colour in the Tools panel.09 Paint in the finer details 10 Save a preset Phraseology Create a new transparent layer and label it Your customised fine detail pastel tip might‘Eyes’. In the Brush panel choose Erodible point from come in handy later in this project. To save it, click the Tool tipsthe Shape drop-down menu. Set the Softness to 40% little flyout icon at the top right of the Brush panel and When you move the cursorfor a more quickly eroding pastel tip. Start to brush choose New Brush Preset. In the Brush name window over a command or a particularover the eyes to sketch them in. The sharp tip will take label it ‘Fine pastel detail.’ Keep the Capture Brush tool, you should see a littlea few strokes before softening enough to become Size in Preset box ticked. Click OK. You can access your yellow label appear. This handyvisible. Sharpen the tip to render delicate details such custom pastel tip at any time by scrolling down to the tool tip helps you to identify theas the eyelashes. bottom of the Brush Preset picker. tool in question, or describes the purpose of a particular slider, for example. If you can’t see any tool tips go to Photoshop’s Preferences and click the Interface label. In the Options section, tick the Show Tool Tips box. Click OK.www.practicalphotoshopmag.com August 2013 PracticalPhotoshop 55
CREATIVE PROJWECTPASTEL PORTRAIT11 Import new tip patterns 12 Sketch in the skin To create a texture for sketching in the skin tones, set the tip’s One of the imported patterns is called Pastel Paper. Double-clickShape to Erodible Triangle. Click Texture. Click the triangular Pattern this one to make it the active pattern for the tip. Set Scale to 163%,Picker fly-out icon to see the currently available patterns. To load new Brightness to 61 and Contrast to 14. Set the Opacity on the Options barpatterns, click the little gear-shaped icon. Choose Erodible Textures, then to 70%. Set Size to 175. You can now click and spray to reveal the skinclick Append to add the new textures to your original collection. tones as pastel strokes. Where the translucent strokes overlap you’ll get stronger colours. 13 Addthehair Create a new transparent layer called ‘Hair’. Choose the Triangle Pastel tip from the Brush Preset picker. In the Brush panel, click Texture. Choose the Fine Grain pattern from the Pattern Picker. Increase the pattern’s Scale to 185%. Set Brightness to 13. Increase Contrast to 45 for a rougher, more broken up pastel texture. Set Size to 100 and make rough strokes to sketch in the hair. Vary the Size for more variety.Phraseology 14 Smudge the skin Create a new transparent layer called ‘Smudge’. Use the same tip you used to sketch in the hair in thePatterns previous step to smudge some of the skin texture. The current brush tip’s texture pattern is smoother than the Photoshop is packed full of skin tip’s texture, so it creates a smudged effect. When you’ve finished, restore the white Paper layer’s Opacity patterns you can use in a variety to 100% to hide traces of the original shot, then switch to a small, normal brush and sign your new artwork! of ways. Patterns tend to be square texture files that are designed to tile together to create larger textures. The Texture section of the Brush panel enables you to load a pattern into your brush tip. The textured brush stroke can then mimic various artistic media such as our pastel. You can also turn a photo into a pattern and then paint back various details using the Pattern Stamp tool.56 PracticalPhotoshop August 2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
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G.et in touch... Seen a great image and want to know how it was made? Our experts are on hand to show you how — just send your questions to [email protected] Visit us on our website… www.practicalphotoshopmag.com Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/practicalphotoshopWHERE THE PROS SHARE THEIR SECRETS Follow our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/pracphotoshopFEATURED PHOTO EDITINGARTISTS… A while back you promised a tutorial on Steve Caplin recreating a Pure Evil painting? A digital artist and asks Maz Shuker, via email author from London, Steve has had his Steve Caplin be a smooth shape, rather than an Dark Balance of 46. Once you click satirical photomontage replies…work published by newspapers Pure Evil is the nom de outline that includes every bump OK, the portrait will now be halfand magazines worldwide. This plume of a British artistissue he recreates a Pure Evil who, after designing and stray hair. We’re after a very way there: the dark areas will beNightmare-style artwork in just street clothes in California,a few simple steps. returned to the UK to produce his stylised effect. in your chosen colour, the lightwww.stevecaplin.com iconic, Warhol inspired portraits of film stars. His style is instantly Choose the colour you want areas pure white. But there may Rod Lawton recognisable for its stark, simple Rod is a freelance design, flat colours and for the for the hair as your streaming tears that characterise photographer and his output. foreground colour, Start image writer who is To create an artwork in the then choose currently technique style of Pure Evil, first find aneditor on our sister title, appropriate image. We used this Filter>Filter Gallery,N-Photo magazine. This issue he public domain shot of Audreyreveals how to adjust key Hepburn sourced from Wikipedia, and navigate tosettings in Photoshop to speed but you may want to choose aup everyday work. photograph of a friend or relative. the Sketch section,www.photo-facts.com Make sure it’s well contrasted, and a close up portrait: the body is where you’ll find the Rob Carney irrelevant here. Rob Carney has Load the image into Photoshop Stamp filter. This and cut the head out, using the worked in Future Pen tool if you’re sufficiently converts images Publishing’s Digital confident with it because this Design Division for over creates smoother curves, which is to pure black and12 years. He is now working on ideal for this style of illustration.special projects within the division. If you’re not comfortable using the white (or whateverThis issue he shows how Adobe’s Pen tool, refer back to my tutorialfree Kuler app is used to create in issue 23, or simply trace around foreground colourcolour swatches. the head with the Lasso or Quickwww.computerarts.co.uk Selection tool, and use Refine you’ve selected), and Edge to increase the SmoothnessClaire Gillo value this will give you a very works in a similar Claire is the smooth edge. Don’t be too precise with the cut out: the head needs to way to the Threshold technique editor on PhotoPlus magazine, adjustment except and is a fountain of knowledge when it that with the Stampcomes to shooting techniques.Claire is most at home shooting filter you can varystill lifes and portraits. This issueshe reveals how to shoot and the smoothness ofprocess a focus-stacked macro.www.photoplusmag.com the result as well as the brightness. There are only two controls in this filter. Go for a medium Smoothness setting, and adjust the Light/ Dark Balance so that the features of the face are clearly outlined, but aren’t too highly detailed. I’ve chosen a Smoothness setting of 18, with a Light/ Pure Evil is the nom de plume of a British artist who, after designing clothes in California, returned to the UK to produce his iconic, Warhol-inspired portraits of film stars58 PracticalPhotoshop August 2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
PURE EVILStep-by-step Audrey’s Nightmare01Prepare the image 02 AddtheStamp 03 Paint the features Refine Edge Choose your starting The Stamp filter converts Use a different colour for A dialog used to enhance aimage and cut it out from its the image to just stark light and the features. Paint on a new layer selection, such as when cuttingbackground, rotating it if necessary dark, with two sliders. Adjust these set to Color mode, so your painting out hair from a background. Thereso that it sits well within the image until you get the best-looking will be visible only where it overlaps are several viewing modes. Blackarea. Cut it off at the neck line. result: keep it smooth, with no the darker colour beneath. and White shows the selected fiddly detail. area in white, the rest in black. When you increase the Feather be a few inconsistencies, such as amount, the selection becomes bright patches in the hair. Paint softer and smoother. Increasing over these in the same colour if you the Contrast as well will tighten want them included, or paint them up the fuzzy, feathered edge, in white to hide them. helping you to produce a smooth yet crisp version of your original To pick out the features, make a selection. Keep the contrast new layer and set its Blend Mode below 90% to avoid raggedness. to Color at the top of the Layers panel. When you paint on this layer Color mode in a contrasting colour, it will only A layer mode in which the area show up where it’s over the colour you paint only affects the colour in the layer beneath: the white of the underlying layers, not areas won’t be affected. the brightness. If parts of the underlying layer are white, then To draw the tears, make another those areas will stay white when new layer, and using the same you paint on the new layer in contrasting colour as before, draw Color mode. straight lines from the eyes to the bottom of the canvas (hold down GENIUS TIP! Shift to draw them straight down). Then paint the tears spreading CRY ME A RIVER out to join the eyes, keeping the painting as smooth as possible (see Drawing the tears can be the Genius Tip on the right). the hardest part. To make Finally, fill the background with a a smooth effect, first draw them colour that’s closer to the hair than on a new layer, using a small, the eyes, so that the eyes stand out. hard-edged brush, then load the layer as a selection by holding The figures you need to use down Cmd/Ctrl and clicking its in the Stamp filter dialog will thumbnail in the Layers panel. depend entirely on your image, so Use Refine Edge, set to Black & you’ll need to experiment to find White (K) to smooth the result by adding some Feather and the optimum settings increasing the Contrast. This will smooth out any bumps in your original painting, and will return a selection that you can then fill with the same colour on another new layer. The result will be much smoother.QUICK TIP If you’re starting with a colour photograph, turn it to black and white and increase the contrast before applying the Stamp filterwww.practicalphotoshopmag.com August 2013 PracticalPhotoshop 59
SECRETS OF THE PROS Graphics cards SOFTWARE Dedicated graphics cards are designed specifically for How can I make Photoshop run faster? manipulating image data. They’re not built into every computer, but asks Bethan Kane, via email they are becoming increasingly important for Photoshop. Rod Lawton architecture, Photoshop will state (SSD) drive. These are more Originally needed for the 3D replies… only be able to access 3Gb RAM expensive, but much faster. tools in Photoshop Extended, If Photoshop is running directly. You need a 64 bit dedicated graphics cards can slowly it could simply computer and operating system to If you can’t add another drive now be now be leveraged by be down to the size and take advantage of larger amounts (often impossible with laptops, for Photoshop for some everyday 2D complexity of the images you’re of RAM, so that’s step one. And example), then make sure there’s tools too, such as canvas rotation working on and the power of your when you do invest in extra RAM, plenty of space on the drive you and the Liquify and Adaptive computer. But the interaction make sure you allow for your do have. You don’t set the size of Wide Angle tools. These still work between Photoshop and your system software’s requirements the scratch disk in Photoshop, but without a dedicated graphics hardware is complex, and there and those of any other software it will tell you when it’s full. In card, but they will be much faster are a number of ways to check and you want to run at the same time. general, once your available hard if you have one fitted. It needs boost its efficiency to make sure drive space drops below a few tens to support the OpenGL standard that you’re getting the best speed When Photoshop runs out of of megabytes, you may start to see and have at least 256Mb of RAM, possible out of your computer. RAM it uses it’s ‘scratch disk’. things slow down, including the although Adobe has said that You should always compare This is an area of your hard operating system itself. future versions of Photoshop will your computer’s hardware against disk, which it uses for ‘virtual need cards with 512Mb of RAM. Photoshop’s system requirements memory’. It’s slower than RAM, Adding more RAM makes most but remember, these are a bare but sometimes unavoidable when difference when you’re startingGENIUS TIP! minimum, and they don’t tell you you’re working with very high from a low level, such as 2 4Gb. the relevance of each component, resolution files with many layers. Similarly, if you’re consideringRAM FOR the effects of upgrading, and But it’s possible to make your upgrading your computer, theIMPROVEMENT? which is the most important thing scratch disk run more efficiently. processor speed (GHz) is a factor, to fix first! Ideally, you’d set aside a drive but multi core machines are the In the bottom-left corner What Photoshop craves most solely as a scratch disk. The faster way to go. A dual core machine of the Photoshop window of all is RAM, but before you fit the disk drive the better you can is a given by today’s standards,is a pop-up menu (look for the more, check your computer’s use the rotation speed as a guide. but more cores mean more speed.right-facing arrow) – click this hardware and operating system. 7,200RPM drives are usefully The Radial Blur tool, for example,and select Efficiency from If you’re using older 32 bit faster than cheaper 5,400RPM is optimised for multi corethe list. Now carry out some drives. Better still, use a solid processors, but file opening andordinary image-editing tasks closing is a single core process.and watch this Efficiency value.If it drops below 100% it meansPhotoshop is having to usevirtual memory, which meansit’s time to buy more RAM!QUICK TIP Adjustments in Photoshop create copies of the image on the scratch disk – try reducing the number it stores (the default is 20)60 PracticalPhotoshop August 2013
COOLER COLOURSStep-by-stepCheck yourpreferences01 CacheandTiles Kuler is an iPhone app for Photoshop uses Caches capturing and saving colourand Tiles to speed up screen themes on the go. You canredraws. If you routinely work with import the swatches intovery high-resolution files with few Photoshop from thelayers, try swapping to the Big and accompanying websiteFlat option. KULER APP02 Howtoallocate What is the Kuler app and how can I more RAM use it with Photoshop?You can allocate more RAM to asks Deb Nessa, via email small icon bottom right). Just take a picture (or choose one fromPhotoshop in the Performance tap and the app works out your photo library) and select apanel, but make sure you allow Rob Carney complementary colours for you. colour theme that way.enough RAM for your operating replies… The second way is much moresystem too, or your computer will Colour couldn’t get fun it takes a live feed from By signing in using your Adobeslow down, not get faster. much cooler than your iPhone (or iPod or iPad ID in the app, your themes will with Adobe’s Kuler Kuler isn’t a native iPad app, but automatically get uploaded to03 EnableOpenGL iPhone app. It enables you to it still works) to create a scheme. the Kuler website. Simply sign Drawing make colour schemes using the As you move your iPhone in at the site, and hit My Themes iPhone’s camera, which you can around, the app in live mode in the top navigation bar. If youPhotoshop should detect and tweak using the Kuler website (the small eye icon bottom hover over the theme previewenable your computer’s graphics at https://kuler.adobe.com. right) generates colour schemes you can choose to edit it, copycard automatically, where fitted. The Kuler website is also used automatically, picking colours the link to share with a colleagueNot all computers have dedicated to get them into Photoshop for out of what you’re seeing through or collaborator, or best of all,graphics cards, but those that you to use. the camera. To freeze the view download it as an .ase file (Adobedo should meet the minimum So how does it all work? and the scheme, simply tap the Swatch Exchange), which you usestandard. Make sure Enable OpenGL Well, on opening up the iOS screen. You can then use the to get the swatch into Photoshop.Drawing is checked. app, you have two options for swatches at the top to edit your creating a colour theme. The scheme, or simply tap on one If you need some colour first is the usual method of the dots on the live view and inspiration whatever your picking points on an analogous drag it to a new place to switch project Kuler is a fun tool to colour wheel (you can change to a different colour. There’s also play around with that can be very it to monochromatic, triad, a standard mode where you can useful when back at your Mac complementary, compound, determining colour palettes for shades or custom using the your next big idea.QUICK TIP You can share your theme to Twitter from the Kuler app – select your theme and hit the share icon (next to the rubbish bin) August 2013 PracticalPhotoshop 61
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FOCUS STACKINGFocusing distance FOCUS STACKING On the top part of your lensthere are a series of numbers that How can I photograph macro subjectsrepresent the focusing distance so they are sharp from front to back?of your lens, up to infinity. Youcan shoot your focus stack ‘blind’ asks Ted Ingram, via emailby simply using these numbers,taking an image at each setting Claire Gillo replies… Start imagesalong the line. Macro lenses are great for photographing smallAperture subjects close up, but In conjunction with the shutter because you get so closespeed and ISO setting, the to the subject, the depth of fieldaperture in your lens controls you have to work with is razorhow much light is let through thin. This means you’ll only be ableto the sensor to control the to focus on a very narrow plane,exposure. Most lenses have an with the rest of the image blurredoptimum aperture setting (the by degrees, even if you use asweet spot) where the image narrow aperture such as f/11.quality is at its highest. Usually, Focus stacking is a photographicthis is between f/8 and f/11. technique used to extend theShoot your stacked images apparent depth of field in a scenearound these aperture settings so that the whole subject appearsfor the best results. sharp. You do this by taking a succession of shots that focus onAuto Blend Layers different parts of the subject. Set Photoshop can blend your up your camera on a tripod andimages together automatically switch to the manual focus setting.using Content-Aware technology It helps if you use live view. Findand layer masks, which you can the first point of your subject youtweak to perfection. want in focus, then take a photo, nudge the focusing ring a little to alter the focus, then take another shot, and so on. You then merge the images together in Photoshop. Step-by-step Merge the images togetherGENIUS TIP! 01 Open in Bridge 02 Blend them 03 Finaltouches In Adobe Bridge together Edit the layer masksBRING BACK navigate to your starting files further if needed using the BrushSOME BLUR and highlight all the images. Go to In Photoshop line up the layers by tool, then press Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+ Tools>Photoshop>Load files into highlighting all the layers in the Shift+E to merge the layers. Add The idea of focus stacking Photoshop Layers. Photoshop will layer stack and choosing Edit>Auto- a Gaussian Blur, and use a brush is to get everything from open automatically and combine all Align Layers. Click OK. Crop the to mask the blur from the subject.front to back in focus, but it the layers for you. unwanted edges, then merge the Finally, add a vignette (Filter>Lenshelps the image if you soften layers together via Edit>Auto-Blend Correction) and a Curvesit around the edges with a blur. Layers. Select the Stack Images adjustment to boost the contrast.Merge the layers together and option and click OK.add a Gaussian Blur, then simplyadd a layer mask to the blurredlayer and use a black brush tobring back the sharpness of thesubject. Using a blur draws theeye to the main subject.QUICK TIP If you don’t have a macro lens, a good alternative is to use an extension tube on your standard lens August2013 PracticalPhotoshop 63
WHERETHEPROSRATEYOURWORK S.end us your images Want feedback on your Photoshop work? Our experts are on hand to give you their tips and advice — just send your images to [email protected] Visit us on our website… www.practicalphotoshopmag.com Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/practicalphotoshop Follow our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/pracphotoshopTwo Steps From Expert verdicts Steve Harnell says…Nightmare Ali Jennings says... I really like theJoanna Jankowska, Poland background of this Joanna’s technique has composite, in particular About my image… enabled a seamless join the intense red of the I’m a 24-year-old between the four images, leaves and the cool mist. photographer from Poland, simply by having only the In fact, I think it’s so strong that and a devoted user of subject move within the it overpowers the subjects. My Photoshop. I read the image and therefore making the blend eye is drawn straight away to thePolish version of Practical Photoshop between layers very quick and easy. delicate branch coming in frommagazine to improve my skills. Using the tripod has not only helped the left, rather than to the figures, This image was inspired by Alice in to ensure that each image aligns which I think are too small in theWonderland and fairy tales in general. perfectly, but has also meant that she frame, too dark and too similar.I had a concept to create a surreal and was able to keep the sensitivity low, To improve the composition Icreepy thing that would be more like resulting in a low level of noise, even would remove all but one of thea scene from a nightmare. To achieve in the low-light conditions. figures from the scene, which forthis effect I made a simple landscape While the image works well, me would make a much creepierphoto very early in the morning in reflecting the surreal world of Alice, picture. The waving figure and theNovember. I took a tripod, set the I think the midtones could do with one sitting down just don’t do it forsharpness and made four different being lightened slightly to draw out me! With a little more work, thisshots of a model with a bunny mask, detail, and I’d also be tempted to pull image could be really stunning.who was moving around in different back the saturation and remove theposes in the same scenery. The overly cool toning. Midtones are too dark, and thepost-production was very easy. First leaves are a little overbearingI cropped the image to the square Great use of layers and masks toformat, then I put photos with models stack and blend the sequence The multiplicity effect workson four different layers and with against the mood of the backgroundlayer masks I extracted the figures. The stunning background image wasThen I changed the colours using the well worth getting up for!Selective Color tool.Why not try… Adjusting the finer details01 Lighten the midtones 02 Subdue the reds 03Remove the cool hue Duplicate the background Create a new Hue/Saturation Select the background layer.layer with Cmd/Ctrl+J and use Free adjustment layer and reduce the overall Choose the Sponge tool with a largeTransform to straighten the image. Use Saturation slightly, then using the soft-edged brush, select Desaturatea Curves adjustment layer with two Channel drop-down menu select Reds and set the Flow to 30%, then brushpoints to lighten the midtones, but keep and reduce the Saturation just a touch over the trees to reduce the blue.the shadows as they are. to take some of the warmth out.64 PracticalPhotoshop August2013
IMAGE REVIEW ADJUSTING DETAILMEET YOUR EXPERTS...Ben Brain James Paterson Steve Harnell Angela Nicholson Ali Jennings Practical Having worked Practical Our head of Ali has used Photoshop’s as a studio pro, Photoshop’s testing, Angela, Photoshop for Editor Ben has our award- Operations Editor is au fait with a over 10 years, and used Photoshop winning Steve has been a huge range of is the imaging lab since the early Technique Editor journalist since photographic manager for1990s, finding it vital during has been using Photoshop on the mid-1990s, and has used equipment, and has used Future’s photography titles.his previous career as a a daily basis for the past Photoshop in his newspaper Photoshop since version 4 He’s been helping readers toprofessional photographer, decade to enhance portraits page design work and on to get the best possible improve images in Practicaland for his art photography. and create original imagery. personal photo projects. results in her images. Photoshop since issue one. JOANNA’S ORIGINAL Send us your own Photoshop creations and our team of experts will add a few professional touches PracticalPhotoshop 65
IMAGE REVIEWLab ratChrissy Schaefer, Australia About my image… I’m a self-taught freelance photographer. I had a vision of becoming a wedding photographer, but my lovefor Photoshop and my creative sidesoon outgrew that vision. I love thefreedom of turning an everyday photointo a work of art. I love steampunk,gas marks, and the dark side. I mashedall this up with a crazy home scientist.She’s looking at the rat, but more intothe rat’s mind. They are mesmerisedby each other’s thoughts, and bywhat will happen next. I adjusted thebrightness and contrast with Levelsand Curves, and what I call ‘paintedwith light’. I also gave it a highdynamic range treatment.Expert verdictJames Paterson says… I love the consistency Chrissy’s however, is the rat. I can hardly see Well-styled steampunk image with you’ve managed to retain steampunk rat is a him! I would have lightened the sumptuous detail everywhere in this composite, Chrissy, little too dark for background behind the animal quite and the subtle HDR effect my taste! a bit, or lightened the barely visible The rat could be lit and posed better. works really well. I’m not highlights of its fur. Ideally, though, It’s too dark and staticconvinced about the placement of I’d choose a different rat image in thethe foreground clutter, however. first place, better lit, and with a moreThe watch, the mask and the lantern dynamic pose.appear to be hovering a bit. The partof the image I’d most like to change,Frozen Blood Drops Expert verdictWojciech Zwolinski, Poland Ben Brain says… About my image… Wojciech has created a I’m a fantasy and dark art wonderful atmosphere in enthusiast so almost all of this beautiful, yet haunting my images are influenced image. The colour palette is by something either sublime, and complementsmagical or unnatural. The presented the subject matter perfectly. I’m notillustration is a soft mix between normally a fan of selective colour,Japanese culture and fantasy/gothic but in this instance it works a treat.influences. I used my own photos It’s also great to see that Wojciechalong with two brushes and textures. has acquired his own assets too. ForAchieving the milky white skin took me this really completes the creativeless than five minutes. I duplicated process. My one criticism is that thethe base layer with the original photo finger nails seem a little incongruousand then made the lower one black and over dramatic.and white, then mixed both layersusing the Soft Light Blend Mode. Beautiful atmosphere creates a haunting portrait The white skin took less The long finger nails are a little toothan five minutes prominent in the image66 PracticalPhotoshop August2013
ItMAGE REVIEW TWEAKING COLOURSSunkissed Glow Blemishes were removed andVanja Vucnic, Croatia the skin was softened using high-pass About my image… smoothing I’m a 26-year-old photographer and physics professor from Zagreb. I love to shoot imagesinspired by magazine-style portraitsand make everyday women feelbeautiful and glamorous. This imagewas shot in one of the parks inZagreb. Natural backlight highlightedHelena’s hair, and using a reflectorI bounced light back into her face.I used Photoshop CS5 to increasethe warmth and contrast and add abit of haze. Blemishes were removedusing the Spot Healing Brush tooland the skin was softened using high-pass smoothing.www.vanjavucinic.portfoliobox.netExpert verdictAli Jennings says... Putting your model at ease VANJA’S ORIGINAL Vanja’s image shows her is essential when it comes to in-depth understanding great portraits, and Vanja’s Well shot portrait with a good, of photography image of Helena reflects natural pose this. The natural expression The added warmth takes the hueand pose, along with the backlighting a little too far towards the redsaround the hair have really helped herto recreate this very stylistic image.The Photoshop work has helped toreinforce this look, and while thebeauty retouching to remove spotsand blemishes is excellent, I’d betempted to tweak the colours slightly,reducing the warmth and adding a littlemore depth to the tones with moremidtone contrast.Why not try… Tweaking the colours01 Correct the colour balance 02 Improve the midtones 03 Adjust the colour balance Zoom the image to 100% and move Add a Black & White adjustment layer, Add a Color Balance adjustmentthe canvas so that you can see the eye. Create a select the Green Filter preset, switch the layer layer and reduce the Cyan and Magenta in theLevels adjustment layer, and then with the grey Blend Mode to Soft Light and reduce the layer midtones, then switch to Shadows and reduceeyedropper selected, click the white of the eye Opacity to around 30%. the yellows, then reduce Cyan and Magenta.to correct the cast.www.practicalphotoshopmag.com August 2013 PracticalPhotoshop 67
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70 On test... PLUS 70 Sony A58 BOOKS! We thumb through Our experts put the new SLT the best new from Sony to the test. Has the reads on p75 EVF finally come of age?HELPING YOU SELECT THE BEST PHOTOSHOP KIT 72 Topaz Adjust 72 17031 Add effects to pictures quickly with this Photoshop plug in This cleaning kit from Just Ltd will scrub your SLR’s grime clean away – for a tidy price 73 Just Ltd DSLR Maintenance Kit 73 The ultimate cleaning kit for your SLR and lenses 73 Vanguard GH-300T A tripod head and remote shutter release in one 74 DxO ViewPoint 1.2 Correct common problems such as keystoning and stretching caused by shooting with wide angle lenses with this plug in 75 Strobelite 2 Light Kit Studio lighting kit complete with positioning guides and instructional DVD Our scores and awards explained Practical Photoshop is passionate about gear and all products are tested rigorously under real world conditions. If we’re impressed with a product we’ll say so if we’re not, you can trust us not to pull any punches. Our scores explained Forget it Below average Good for the money Very good in all areas An amazing product The Gold AwardApply categorised preset effects to your images with Vanguard’s pistol-grip tripod head makes Only five-star products receivethe latest Photoshop plug-in from Topaz Labs capturing level panoramas a breeze the coveted Practical Photoshop Gold Award www.practicalphotoshopmag.com August2013 PracticalPhotoshop 69
FILTER EXPOSURE COMPENSATIONPHOTOSHOP GEAR RATED BUTTON Use the exposureFN BUTTON compensation buttonThis button brings up a when in fully manualquick menu that gives mode to switch betweenyou access to the most altering shutter speedcommonly used settings and aperture.on the A58.AF BUTTONThe A58 doesn’t have atouchscreen, so hit thisbutton, then use thedirectional keys to movethe AF point as required. EVF SENSOR A sensor placed on the electronic viewfinder automatically detects when the camera is lifted to the eye.DSLT Price £399 Web www.sony.co.ukSony A58Sony has replaced two of its entry-level DSLTs with the A58, which has an impressivehost of features considering the price. We find out if it’s worth upgrading…THE SPECS It’s been a few years since Sony the image pops up in the viewfinder, other settings while still using the introduced its first DSLT, or helping you to determine whether effects, whereas in the dedicatedSensor 20.1-million pixel translucent mirror, camera. The you’ve nailed the shot. mode, everything is automatic.Exmor APS-C CMOS company generally updates itsMemory SD/SDHC/SDXC entry level cameras once a year, but Build and handling A number of the most interestingMaximum video this time it’s streamlining the lower options available on the A58, such asresolution 1080p (full HD) end of the line up by replacing both The A58 has a large, chunky grip, Auto Object Framing, Clear ZoomISO range 100-16000 the A57 and the A37. which is particularly useful when and Picture Effects, can’t be usedMax burst rate 8fps The Sony A58 features a newly shooting one handed, and is when shooting in raw format. NotLCD screen size 2.7 inch, designed 20.1 million pixel sensor, reasonably weighty enough to give it only is this pretty annoying in termstilting, 460k compared with the Sony A57’s 16.1 a quality feel. of keeping a clean image to workWeight 492g million pixel device. with, but it also requires a prettyDimensions 128.6x95.5 An improved electronic On the top of the camera is a dial tedious faff, delving in and out ofx77.7mm viewfinder (EVF) has OLED for switching between various the main menu to switch to JPEG technology for improved brightness modes, such as fully automatic, only shooting. So you may be better and contrast. As DSLTs, the Alpha semi automatic and fully manual. range can only use electronic viewfinders, and Sony has been The A58 goes a long way to convincing working hard to improve their the dubious that EVFs are not the terrible performance. Although some people compromise they once were don’t favour EVFs, there are a couple of distinct advantages to using them. One new addition to this dial is off simply sticking with raw format It’s helpful to see changes made to Picture Effects, which could shooting and refraining from the settings, displayed in real time via previously be accessed via the main JPEG only options. the viewfinder, and you also spend menu. Picture Effects can also be less time removing the camera to accessed when shooting in other Like its predecessor, the A58 has a glance at the LCD screen because modes, such as aperture priority. movable screen, which is handy for This allows you to keep control over shooting at awkward angles. However, Sony has chosen to make70 PracticalPhotoshop August 2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
eCAtMERA REVIEW SONY A58TEST SHOT FOCUS Images captured with the Sony A58 1 1 The A58’s automatic 2 their first camera of this kind. If white balance tends to you’re already a Canon or Nikonthis a tilting, rather than a fully warmer temperatures does a good job in the majority of user, it’s unlikely to tempt you, butarticulated, device, making it less 2 It’s worth conditions. However, in high for those without any previoususeful when shooting images in experimenting with the contrast situations it can struggle a loyalties (or kit), this is a veryportrait format. A58’s Picture Effects, but little, and you’ll need to switch to tempting proposition. you’ll be unable to shoot either centre weighted or spotPerformance in raw format when using metering, depending on the Many people will be put off by the this shooting mode situation. Similarly, automatic white EVF, but the one on the A58 goes aJPEG images straight from the balance generally performs well, long way to convincing the dubiouscamera are pleasing, although in erring towards slightly warmer that EVFs are not the terriblesome circumstances the camera has colours under artificial lighting. compromise they once were.a tendency to slightly underexpose.General purpose metering, called At high sensitivities, such as WE LIKE… The EVF. It’s so good, it’s almostmulti segment metering on the A58, ISO3200, the A58 is impressive, possible to forget it’s not optical with good detail and noise wellMEET THE COMPETITION controlled, but there’s smudging if WE’D LIKE… More flexibility with rawHow the Sony A58 fares against its rivals you zoom in to 100%. format shooting, especially when using digital filtersNikon D5200 Canon EOS 650D Sony A57 The A58’s screen is fairly lowPrice £550 Price £500 Price £ £400 resolution at 460k, but it doesn’t OVERALL VERDICTA high-resolution sensor With a fully articulated If you prefer a fully suffer too badly from glare. Theand excellent AF make touchscreen, the 650D articulated screen, most notable improvement to the The A58 represents great value for money,this a solid choice is an excellent choice consider this instead camera is the EVF, which is and is a worthwhile purchase for anybody significantly brighter than the looking for their first DSLT camera previous version, and is very easy to use with barely any lag. Our verdict Sony has once again produced a capable DSLT that should find favour with anybody looking forwww.practicalphotoshopmag.com August 2013 PracticalPhotoshop 71
FILTER FINISHING TOUCHES For that final flourish why RANGE OF EFFECTS not add a vignette or a Adjust isn’t just about simple border? It’s basic HDR. Make your shots stuff, but still nice to have. stand out with analogue film effects, or try some NOISE REDUCTION of the more outrageous Lifting shadow areas psychedelic looks. usually reveals image noise, so Adjust includes a simple but fairly effective noise reduction system. LOCAL ADJUSTMENTS Don’t want an effect to take over your whole image? Dodge, burn, smooth it, or just brush it out completely. PLUG-IN Price $50 Web www.topazlabs.com EDGE AWARENESS Localised edits are quickTopaz Adjust and easy using the edge detection brush. It worksCan this plug-in really produce HDR images from a single photo? beautifully, and even has variable sensitivity.THE SPECS If you want a photo containing to sample each effect by simply Plenty of other plug ins can do this, a high dynamic range (HDR), hovering over it. You also have the however, as can Photoshop givenPlatforms Mac OS X you need to combine several option to save and load your own enough experimentation, but Adjust10.5-10.8, Windows XP- different exposures, right? Well, custom presets. makes the process effortless. If youWindows 8 (32 and 64-bit) Topaz Adjust has other ideas. It have a high volume of shots toSystem requirements claims to be able to give you the Once you’ve settled on an effect, process regularly, then Adjust might1GB RAM (2GB+ appearance of HDR from just one customisation controls such as be just the tool you need.recommended), Photoshop photograph, which means no Adaptive Exposure and Detail BoostCS3-CS6, Photoshop messing about with camera have the most power over how far WE LIKE… Whether you want to replicateElements 6-11, Lightroom bracketing, multiple exposures or the image jumps off the screen. Get it an HDR look or try some of its many other2-4, Aperture 2 or 3 the dreaded tripod. right and a bland washed out shot effects, Adjust delivers attractive results The effect works quite like can be given a new lease of life with Photoshop’s own HDR Toning enhanced contrast, detail and WE DISLIKE…Adjust won’t match the feature, lifting shadow detail, saturation, but overdo it and you’ll dynamic range of real HDR, and its other holding back highlights and end up with a cartoony mess, no features aren’t unique saturating colours to make images matter how good the original image. ‘pop’. However, Adjust spices things OVERALL VERDICT up with plenty of ready made So how good are the faux HDR presets and customisation options, features? The undeniable fact is, It has some stiff competition, but Adjust’s including some useful controls for Adjust can’t conjure up dynamic ability to transform a bland shot with ease localised editing. range out of nowhere. Sure, it will makes it good value To get you started, around 100 hold back highlights and pull out a preset effects grouped into six good deal of shadow detail, and it categories offer everything from even offers some decent noise subtle tone and detail enhancements reduction, but in a real high contrast to headache inducing contrast scenario, there’s still no substitute boosts. A preview pane enables you for taking multiple exposures. What Adjust is best for is adding some wow factor to a bland shot.72 PracticalPhotoshop August2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
SENSOR CLEANING KIT Price £146 Web www.cameraclean.co.ukJust Ltd DSLRMaintenance KitThe ultimate collection of cleaning tools fora spick and span sensor, mirror, and lensTHE SPECS If you have a DSLR, sooner you’ll need to ensure the battery your camera’s sensor. All come with or later dust and debris will is fully charged, because power is a storage case, but unless you’re aKit includes Sensor loupe, accumulate on the sensor. Cleaning needed to keep the mirror at bay regular dust demon, you could easilyblower, Dust-Aid Platinum it is easier than you might think, while accessing the sensor. You’ll then get by with less equipment.dry sensor cleaning especially with one of these kits, be able to see what you’re doing withsystem and extra cleaning because it includes just about the aid of the kit’s basic but useful A wise buy if you shoot in dustystrips, 10 ultra-soft everything you could need to deal adjustable loupe with LED. And if environments or change lensesswabs and liquid solution, with all kinds of muck. that’s not enough, you can use the frequently. Otherwise a blower and wetlens cleaning brush, 50 Use the jumbo blower to puff microfibre wipes with liquid cleaner cleaner combo are more cost-effectivemicrofibre wipes, large away loose dust, or switch to the to remove dust from the mirror andmicrofibre cleaning cloth, convenient Dust Aid Platinum smudges from your lenses.storage case cleaning wand with its sticky pad to lift off more stubborn specks. Any Three versions of the kit are grime that still refuses to budge can available, each containing different be wiped away with a drop of liquid sized swabs to suit the dimensions of cleaner on a swab. Getting at your sensor is as simple as activating the camera’s mirror lock up function. Before you do this,TRIPOD HEAD Price £159 Web www.vanguardworld.co.ukVanguard GH-300TA tripod head and remote shutter release in oneTHE SPECS Pistol grip tripod heads are great for making fast andWeight 850g precise adjustments to a ball head, butCompatibility Most Vanguard’s GH 300T goes one bettercurrent Canon, Nikon and incorporates a remote shutterand Pentax digital SLRs. release button into the handle.Separate cables available The result is that you only need onefor Sony and high-end hand to simultaneously move and fireCanon and Nikon cameras your camera, making this an ideal platform for shooting fast action. Two connecting cables are included for take the strain of the bulkiest SLR This is certainly a clever tripod head, compatibility with entry level and and lens combinations, and thanks to but consider whether the trigger release mid range Canon, Nikon and Pentax variable resistance you’ll get precise is really worth the extra expense for SLRs, with extra cables available control over any camera, no matter your photography separately to link other models. As an how heavy it is. A separate 72 click added bonus the trigger button can point pan base also makes capturing also be locked down for taking long level panoramas a breeze. exposures in bulb mode. The head’s motion is impressively Shooting one handed while smooth, with 360 degree pan and tracking a subject is certainly fun, but 90 degree front, back and side to side at nearly twice the price of a standard tilt. Its maximum load of 8kg will Vanguard pistol grip head, the novelty doesn’t come cheap.www.practicalphotoshopmag.com August2013 PracticalPhotoshop 73
FILTERPHOTOSHOP GEAR RATED ANAMORPHOSIS Diagonal volume anamorphosis correction works best, but it causes more bending of straight lines, so you may need to use the horizontal correction instead.HORIZON KEYSTONINGAdd a horizontal or Use these controlsvertical line to the to place lines on thepreview by clicking image that you dragone of these icons. into position to makeThe line can then be converging linesdragged onto an edge parallel. The slidersthat should be level. enable you to make subtle adjustments. PLUG-IN Price £59 Web www.dxo.com PREVIEW BEFORE This can be toggled AFTERDxO between a singleViewPoint 1.2 preview or a before and after adjustment comparison.Correct problems such as keystoning and stretching caused by shooting with wide-angle lensesTHE SPECS As the name suggests, between the two problems. Filter, but if you open the controls ViewPoint aims to help you ViewPoint’s diagonal correction after the filter has been applied, thePlatforms Windows XP, correct some of the distortions that works best, but it introduces more settings are returned to their defaultWindows Vista, Windows occur as a result of shooting 3D curvilinear distortion, so horizontal values and you have to start from7, Windows 8; Mac OS X objects with a wide angle lens from correction can sometimes be a better scratch. Owners of the original10.6-10.8 certain viewpoints. It stretches close choice when the image has straight version can upgrade for free to theSystem requirements 3D subjects towards the edges of the lines in it. latest version.Photoshop CS3-CS6 or frame and fixes the keystoning orLightroom 3 or 4 converging lines that result from As in Photoshop, ViewPoint WE LIKE… The way adjustments are shooting at an angle to the subject. enables horizons to be levelled by made quickly and easily with a few clicks The stretching of close up subjects drawing a line along them. Similarly, towards the edged of the frame is keystoning is corrected by WE’D LIKE… ViewPoint to work as a called volume anamorphosis, and it positioning lines along problematic Smart Filter in Photoshop and allow the can make people on the outside of a edges. Alternatively, a box can be adjustments to be tweaked group look wider than those towards dragged around a trapezoid that the middle. ViewPoint’s volume needs to be made rectangular. OVERALL VERDICT anamorphosis correction is made by ViewPoint automatically interpolates eye you just need to select which and crops the image as necessary to ViewPoint’s strength is its volume option (Horizontal or Diagonal) and retain as much of the original image anamorphosis correction, which enables then tweak the strength of the as possible. much more natural-looking images to be adjustment using the sliding control. produced from wide-angle shots Reducing volume anamorphosis ViewPoint 1.2 can be used as a causes straight lines to bow, while standalone package or as a plug in straightening the lines causes for Photoshop and Lightroom. This volume anamorphosis, so it’s a latest version enables you to step question of finding the right balance backwards, so the adjustment can be undone. ViewPoint’s adjustments also appear to be appliable as a Smart74 PracticalPhotoshop August2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
STUDIO FLASH KIT Price £360 Web http://fjwestcott.comStrobelite 2Light KitAn easy introduction to studio lighting Good portraiture relies but available as an extra), there’s However, the picture isn’t This is a great kit for learning the art of on flattering light, yet pretty much everything you completely rosy. The flash heads studio lighting, providing you can livethis isn’t really where the could want included in this kit. come with user replaceable with its relatively basic flash headshumble flashgun’s strengths lie. Two 300Ws flash heads come flash tubes and modellingFortunately, you don’t need a equipped with stands, a pair of lamps with proportionallarge budget and a photography small spill kill reflectors, brollies, brightness, but the flash itself isdegree to graduate into the and a storage case. Even the controlled by a very basic dialworld of studio lighting, because build quality is respectable for with just four power settings.this educational kit makes the the price. More annoying is the lack of ‘autotransition painless and cost dumping’. When you decreaseeffective. Apart from a dedicated To ensure you get the best the flash output, you have tobackdrop and softbox (pictured, out of the kit, a two hour DVD test fire the head to dump the clarifies technical considerations excess stored power before it willTHE SPECS such as light levels and camera operate at the correct level. setup, plus there’s a floor mat thatFlash power 300Ws (x2) shows exactly where to arrange The Strobelite 2 kit is certainlyRecycle time 1-2.5 seconds each element of your home studio a refreshingly intuitive entryColour temperature 5500K for optimal results. It all helps into studio lighting, but itsUser-changeable flash tubes Yes to make this one of the most auto dumping and power levelKit weight 12.4kg informative beginner studio flash limitations could mean you kits you can buy. outgrow the kit quickly.Media library 60s and 70s counter culture, to containing 13 hours of videoSteven Raynes takes a flick the innovative and influential tutorials that serve as a completethrough some of the latestnew book releases designs of the modern day. introduction to Photoshop. Finally, we had a look at FromIf you’ve been experimenting Continuing our mid 20th century If you’re looking for somethingwith colour using Adobe’s new theme this issue, British Design Here on: Postphotography inKuler app (see page 61), you’re from 1948: Innovation in the more hands on, and you’re a new the Age of Internet and the Mobile perfectly primed Modern Age by subscriber to CC, you may be Phone by Joan for Interaction Head of Research more interested in Adobe Fontcuberta of Color by Josef at the V&A (£22.50), which Albers and Christopher Photoshop CC: explores the Nicholas Fox Breward Learn by Video Weber (£11.99). (£25.00) presents opportunities explored by artists This new edition 350 examples of by Adobe of former significant British design created worldwide to take pictures on Bauhaus and Yale between the post war ‘Austerity Certifiedlecturer Josef Albers’s Games’ of 1948 and the 2012 Instructor Kelly mobile phones and circulate theminstructional guidebook features Olympics selected by Breward and McCathran60 diagrams that illustrate the other curators of last year’s British (£41.99). This 48 page book in non traditional ways.concepts the authors impart about Design 1948 2012 exhibition at the accompanies a video disccolour relativity, intensity, and V&A. The book documents thetemperature. Originally published shifting nature of British design in READ OF THE MONTHin 1963, the book remains a the last 60 years, from thestandard text for art students in reconstruction of post war Robert Frank’s ‘The Americans’:American universities. Britain, through the subversion of The Art of Documentary Photography by JonathanDay(£24.95) In The Americans Robert Frank documented the chasm between the ideal and the real in 1950s American culture using a photographic style that many at the time considered naive. The book was eventually recognised as a cultural landmark in American photography, and propelled Frank to worldwide fame in art circles. Documentary photography lecturer Jonathan Day revisits Frank’s seminal work and adds his own critique in the context of contemporary cultural works.www.practicalphotoshopmag.com August2013 PracticalPhotoshop 75
YOUR PHOTOSHOP QUICK-START GUIDEIntroducing PhotoshopJust getting started with Photoshop? Discover exactlywhat it can do, why it’s so powerful and which versionis right for you with our guide to the essentials… I f you find the whole idea you to create complex and highly START IMAGES Photoshop’s most basic tools provide of using Photoshop to creative digital works of art such as quick, easy and fun ways to improve edit or enhance images the Magritte-inspired composite any kind of digital imageslightly daunting, or you just don’t in the annotation on the right.know where to begin, then you’ve PHOTOSHOPPEDcome to the right place. As you’ll see when you flick Over the next six pages, and on through this issue of Practicalthe accompanying videos, we’ll Photoshop, how creative you cangive you an overview of what be is really only limited by yourPhotoshop can do, and show you imagination. You might be temptedhow to master some of its most to get stuck into a tutorial straightuseful tools in a way that’s really away, but you’ll get more from theclear and easy to understand. features and articles in this issue if Photoshop essentially you take the time to first read theenables you to edit, enhance and essential information about themanipulate images, seamlessly Photoshop interface on the rightcombine multiple images and add and over the following two pages.any number of creative effects. At its most basic level it can be On the final two pages of theused to fine-tune picture elements Essentials section you’ll find oursuch as exposure, colour and easy-to-digest infographic on allcontrast in digital images, but delve the products currently availablea bit deeper and you’ll discover in the Photoshop family, fromall kinds of features that enable the brand new Photoshop CC subscription to the iPad and iPhone companion apps.DID YOU KNOW? With the basics mastered, you can start exploring Photoshop’s otherLayers help to preserve your original image tools and really get creative One of the features that makes Photoshop such a powerful Photoshop enables you to edit, creative tool and sets it apart from other image-editing enhance and manipulate images,programs is that you can apply enhancements and effects to layers. combine multiple images and addLayers enable you to edit your image without affecting your original any number of creative effectssource file — changes you make are layered on top. Without layers, anychanges you make will be applied to the actual pixels of your sourcefile, and once you save and close it, these changes will be permanent.76 PracticalPhotoshop August2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
The Photoshop CS interface PANEL GROUPS This is where you’ll find the variousThe Photoshop interface can look daunting at first. Find your information panels, such as Layers,way around the tools and commands using the guide below... Channels and Paths, which you’ll need while editing images. TheOPTIONS BAR DIALOG BOX Layers panel is the most useful,For every tool in the Tools panel, there A dialog box is a window that pops up when and the one you’ll tend to have openare options that enable you to control certain tools or commands are selected. It most of the time, given that layersmore precisely how it behaves. For provides additional options that let you dictate form the basis of all advancedexample, the Brush tool has options the parameters of that particular tool or image editing. To open new panelsthat enable you to set brush parameters adjustment. Most of the drop-down commands choose Window from the maincovering everything from size and have their own dialog boxes, and these often menu and select a panel from thetexture to Flow and Opacity. have extra options and drop-down menus. list in the menu. Panels that are already open are ticked.http://bit.ly/KknuuN TOOLS PANEL MAIN EDITING WINDOW THE LAYERS PANEL This is where you’ll find the tools you need to interact The main editing window is where your The best way to edit images is using with the image. Options range from basic tasks such image is displayed, and any changes Adjustment Layers. The Layers panel as zooming and cropping, to more complex ones such you make to the image using the tools or enables you to understand and change as selecting and painting. Most of the icons offer drop-down menus are visible here. You can the way all the layers (whether they multiple similar alternative tools. For instance, the press Cmd/Ctrl+0 to fit the image in the are adjustments or graphics) in your Spot Healing Brush tool slot also contains the Healing window, Cmd/Ctrl+1 to zoom to 100%, and edited image work together. You can Brush, Patch, Content-Aware Move and Red Eye tools. the space bar to move around the image. re-order layers by dragging them up To access any of these, you need to right-click the Spot To zoom incrementally, hold down Alt and and down the layer stack, adjust their Healing Brush icon and then left-click the desired tool scroll the mouse wheel, or hold down Cmd/ translucency, and change the way the from the fly-out menu. Ctrl and press + or –. layers blend into each other.www.practicalphotoshopmag.com August2013 PracticalPhotoshop 77
Advanced Photoshop CS power featuresimage editingIf you want to apply heavy manipulation to EXTRA CREATIVE OPTIONSyour images or create digital art, you’ll need Photoshop CS6 and CC featurethe power Photoshop CS or CC provides a number of advanced graphics and web options that are absent in Elements 10, including Curves and custom actions. P hotoshop is the software artists to build up increasingly PEN TOOL of choice for most complicated and sophisticated One of the key professional and images in much the same way as differencesnon-professional photographers, a painter might build up colour, between CS/CC andbut using it simply to edit and texture and detail with oil paints. Elements as far asenhance individual photos is only digital artists arethe tip of the digital iceberg. The difference is that digital concerned is the Beyond the standard photo- artists don’t have to wait hours for Pen tool, which letsediting features, it boasts a vast pixels to dry, and more importantly, users make morearray of more creative tools and the layers in Photoshop files are precise selectionsfilters. As with photo editing, layers independent, can be turned on or and cut-outs thanare the key. Being able to generate off or moved up and down, and are the standarddozens of different layers – and editable, even if you close a file selection tools.mask out selected parts of these down and return to it at a laterlayers – is what enables digital date. Let’s look at the additional features available in CS6 and CC… The difference between traditional ADVANCED TEXT EDITING and digital art is that you don’t have Elements has a basic text tool, but it’sto wait for pixels to dry and layers not flexible enough to satisfy seriouscan be independently adjusted illustrators. Features like kerning (adjusting the space between letters)You’ll needPhotoshopCS and other advanced formatting optionsor CC if you want to create… are not possible in Elements.BEAUTIFUL MONOCHROMES TIME-LAPSE FILMSThere are many ways to make monochrome images in Photoshop. Modern cameras have made shooting time-lapse sequences easyOur tips feature starting on page 20 reveals one of the least-known and virtually cost-free. And the techniques you use to process the– applying a Gradient Map adjustment layer. We also show you how to sequences in Photoshop are essentially the same as those you use ondodge and burn without clipping highlights and shadows, how to add stills. Turn to page 32 to find out how to set up your camera for time-realistic-looking grain, and how to add a classy keyline border. lapse, and how to turn the series into a short film in Photoshop.78 PracticalPhotoshop August2013 www.practicalphotoshopmag.com
http://bit.ly/KknuuN GENIUS TIP! MORE LAYER OPTIONS CONSIDER A Photoshop CS6 boasts three Fill Layers GRAPHICS TABLET and 16 Adjustment Layer options, compared with three Fill Layers and A mouse is fine for editing eight Adjustment Layers in Elements and enhancing photos, and 10. The options that are missing from can even be used to create basic Elements include Black and White, Colour composites of multiple images Balance, Channel Mixer and Curves. (when combining two or more exposures, for example). However,DIGITAL DRAWINGS for those who want to get more creative, a tablet is a worthwhile investment. A tablet is essentially a touch-sensitive digital sketch pad that comes with a stylus. With the help of the Pen and Brush tool settings in Photoshop, the stylus can be used to create an infinite variety of lines, strokes and textures. It even behaves like a pencil and brush in that the harder you press, the more definite the mark on the screen. The industry leader is Wacom (www.wacom. com), which produces a range of tablets of different sizes. Prices start from about £40 ($65) and go up to over £1800 ($2900). CREATIVE ARTWORKSPhotoshop can be used in many ways to create digital artwork. Here, Creating art based on the work of well-known painters in Photoshop iswe’ve used the Pattern Stamp tool with erodible brush tips to make not only a great way to learn new tools and techniques, it’s also a greata digital oil pastel sketch from a photograph. Each month in Practical deal of fun! In the tutorial on page 58 you’ll discover how deft use ofPhotoshop we provide digital painting tutorials and advice to help you selections and the Stamp filter can be used to create a stunning graphictake your artistic skills to the next level. painting based on the work of Pure Evil.www.practicalphotoshopmag.com August2013 PracticalPhotoshop 79
THE PHOTOSHOP FAMILY CREATIVE CLOUD PHOTOSHOP CC SUBSCRIPTION SUBSCRIPTION £46.88/$49.99 £17.58/$19.99 PER MONTH PER MONTH Photoshop CC, Lightroom and all 20GB online storage the other Creative Suite applications Behance Prosite 100GB online storage Constant updates as new features are introduced Behance Prosite Subscription model saves large initial outlayMore than most photographers might need Monthly subs not everyone’s cup of teaPERFECT FOR PROFESSIONAL CREATIVE TYPES PERFECT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERSCOMPANION APPS FOR PHOTOSHOP COLOR LAVA NAV EAZEL KULER £1.99/$2.99 £1.49/$1.99 £1.99/$2.99 FREEUse your iPad to create colour Turn your iPad into a second A basic but fun painting app Capture colours using the cameraswatches to use in Photoshop. screen for tools and open for tablets. Create your artwork on your tablet or smart phone, It’s not an essential tool for documents. You’ll need a network and beam it directly into and then use the Kuler extension photographers, but it’s fun, connection, but it creates Photoshop using a wireless in Photoshop to make handy useful extra screen space colour swatches cheap and easy to use network connectionTEACHER AND STUDENT EDITION FIRST YEAR SAVINGS Students and teachers can save Current Photoshop CS (CS3 and above) users can save on 65% on the complete Creative their first year of Creative Cloud membership and get the full version for £8.78/$27.34 per month. This will increase to the Cloud package and get it for £15.88/$19.99 per month standard rate after one year
THE PHOTOSHOP FAMILY PHOTOSHOP LIGHTROOM 5 PHOTOSHOP CS6 ELEMENTS 11 £102.57/$149 £660.51/$699 £78.15/$99.99 Bug fix updates No monthly subs No new features added PERFECT FOR Outstanding image- Excellent value and no subs PHOTOGRAPHERS processing features AND CREATIVES Camera Raw 7.1 doesn’t include any WHO DON’T WANT No layers or masks, selective or gradient adjustments, A MONTHLY so compositing and is limited compared with SUBSCRIPTION multiple images isn’t an option Lightroom 5 or Photoshop CC/CS6 PERFECT FOR PROFESSIONAL No Curves adjustment AND ENTHUSIAST PHOTOGRAPHERS PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS AND PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS TOUCH APPS FOR TABLETS AND SMART PHONES PHOTOSHOP PHOTOSHOP TOUCH EXPRESS £6.99/$9.99 TABLET FREE £2.99/$4.99 PHONE Ideal for on-the-go quick and limited A surprisingly powerful and versatile image editing and sharing from a range image-editing app for mobiles and of mobile devices tablets. It’s even got layers and Curves APP VALIDATION With a Creative Cloud or Photoshop CC subscription the software is installed on your computer’s hard drive and you don’t need to be online to use it. However, Adobe will need to verify your subscription every now and then. For annual subscribers this is once every 99 days and for month-on-month subscriptions once every five days
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