If you just updated photoshop to the new version via creative cloud which is Photoshop 2015.5, there are some big changes especially as it relates to Refine Edge and Masking. I’m just now starting to review these changes and naturally it’s slowed me down a bit. I’m sure I’ll get used to them eventually lol.
Here’s an article that explains the changes and how to modify your preferences. Also the video below explains the major changes. To go right to the changes related to masking, skip to 13:56.
Change is always difficult and it annoyed me that I had to learn something else but seems it’s the way of the world these days!
For those of you who don’t know this challenge, it consists of everyone editing the same photo taken by one person. Below you’ll find my image as well as the original image provided by Julie Powell. Thanks to Julie in more ways than one. Not only did she provide this month’s image but I’m using her techniques for distortion she shared with us a few weeks ago plus an additional three of my own effects at the bottom of the list below.
Please check out Stacy’s blog when you have time to see everyone’s submissions. It’s always fun to see everyone’s edits!
One Photo Focus May – Edit by Laura Macky
Original by Julie Powell
Process:
Opened image in Photoshop and applied a different color palette via Topaz Restyle
On the same layer select Filter > Pixelate > Mezzotint, mode to “Medium Lines” then click ok
On same layer select Filter > Blur > Radial Blur with amount 100, Blur Method zoom, Quality best, then click ok
Repeated the radial blur 4 times
Create duplicate layer
On original layer, and select > Filter > Distort > Twirl > 200
On duplicate layer select > Filter > Distort > Twirl > -100 and change Blending Mode to Luminosity
Applied Gradient Map to the top layer for more color (naturally lol), reduced opacity & fill, and blending Mode to Multiply
Applied Emboss Layer to give the image depth
Applied blurring to edges and kept detail around the heart shape.
Yes I can! I can’t help it…over and over again lol. Even though I’m not a tourist, for some reason I absolutely LOVE taking pictures of this bridge! Well this one and the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge. 🙂 The other night when I was at the Presidio (see my previous post if you have no idea what I’m jabbering about), I took a few different pictures and thought I’d share them over the next few posts.
This one is not the zoomed out version of my previous image. It’s a separate click all together and was taken slightly earlier than my last image while there was still blue in the sky. I really love images where my eye wanders across the image. Two things I did to make that happen was to get the shoreline in the lower left-hand corner so that it’s a leading line and the second was to include that sailboat so the water isn’t just there as a big empty space. It would’ve been fine with the empty space but I think the boat provides a bit of interest and makes the eye dart across the image.
Now I can’t get the Star Spangled Banner out of my head. Ugh! I need to listen to some American Idol songs hahahaha.
Laura Macky Photography 