Photoshopping Pics...

[pikkonoloidlee]

I've been asked quite a bit how I photoshop my pics, so here's my method:

I always resize first as I've found it looks better if you do than then sharpen rather than the other way around.

Original Picture:


Then I use Topaz Sharpen and Clean to sharpen my pics. You can always sharpen the usual way, but you may not get the same effect. (Left sharpened)



I then go about messing around with the colors a bit. I usually saturate the picture between 10-15, up the contrast between 10-20, and then brighten as needed. For this particular picture the values were saturate: 15, contrast: 20, brighten: -20



Note: Sometimes I may also mess with the color balance if I need to correct the lighting or create an effect, but that is rare.

I then like to use the blur effect because I think it adds a nice touch.
I first duplicate the image, then I set the opacity of the duplicate to 30%. finally I use gaussian blur.


I set the duplicate layer to either soft light, multiply, or normal. The left is soft light. It saturates the colors a bit and can help to brighten them. The middle is normal. The right is multiply which can help to darken the colors a bit.

For this picture I settled on normal and flattened the image:


As you can see, the change is not drastic, but you can up the values or decrease them to your liking.

Hope this helps, sorry for taking so long! :knuddi:


--I actually don't have a graphics card. It's an integrated device that came with my laptop. (Intel Calistoga Graphis Controller)

[Jonesi]

Thanks Pikkon, I was wondering how you get those gorgeous colours and effects!

[Nicole]

Thank you Pikkon for the tut! Which photoshop do you have? I have CS3 and I had no clue about the topaz tools...off to download them :-)

[pikkonoloidlee]

no problem! yes, I have cs3

[Hunii]

Thanks for the tut pikkon,

[jenille313]

I need help...I installed the topaz vivacity and it is written on the istallation notes that

Topaz Vivacity installer will automatically detect and install the plug-ins for the following software:
• Photoshop 7, CS, CS2, and CS3
• Photoshop Elements 1.x, 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.x, 6.x

Depending upon your host, Topaz Vivacity™ filters can be found in different ways. Refer to the host program’s documents. Here are a few examples:
• Photoshop: under menu: Filter->Topaz Vivacity
• Paint Shop Pro: under menu: Effects->Plug-in->Topaz Vivacity

But when I opened photoshop cs3....I cheked the filters...I wasn't there,
did I do something wrong??
Sorry if I put this in the wrong section,I don't know where to put this post...

[pikkonoloidlee]

That happened to me once. I uninstalled then re-installed and it showed up the second time. see if that works for you.

[ez2ciamaprincess]

awesome..thanx for the tut !! very helpful

[jenille313]

That happened to me once. I uninstalled then re-installed and it showed up the second time. see if that works for you.

I did it again but it won't show up,I don't know what the problem is

[Linacherie]

thank you hon for this lovely tut!