Lesson 3a: Filters and Blending Options

[SkySilver]

Please tell me if I'm going too fast for you guys. I don't want anyone to feel rushed or anything but at the same time, I want to make sure the free-trial users get the most out of their time with the software. For this reason, I haven't put any due dates on the assignments. So Photoshop owners, no rush... no worries... Free-trial users, simply pace yourself but also, no rush... no worries. Now with that said, here goes the next lesson:

Filters:

As you can see, there are many filters that can be applied to an image. Spend some time with filters and see what they do to your image, try the following:

Open an image file.
Go to “filter” and click on any of the filters there.
See what it does to your image.
Play with it for as long as you like.

Tip: One filter that is great for making a banner come “alive” is the “Lighting effects” filter. To get to this filter go to ‘filter’, ‘render’, ‘lighting effects’.

**Remember: If you want to undo any work that has been applied to your image, go to your “history window” and simply click on the previous steps. This is the easiest way to undo work. Remember this for all of your assignments.**

Tip: You can fade a filter once it has been applied. To do this go to Edit, Fade **filter**. This way, if you apply a filter and it doesn’t look right, you can always play with it by fading it to see what happens. If you don’t like it, just go to your history window and trace it backwards.

You also can apply filters to text. But before you do that you must Rasterize the text layer. To do this, make sure that the text layer is highlighted in the layers window. Then go to Layer, Rasterize, Type. Now you can apply any filter you like to your text. Just remember that when you do this, you can't go back and edit the text with the text tool.

Blending Options:

I’ve had a lot of fun with blending options. I love playing with it.

To apply blending options to an image or text do the following:

Go to “layer”, then “layer style” and then “blending options”

Be sure that the layer you’re working on in the “layers” window is highlighted and that it does not have a small lock on it.

**To get rid of the lock, go to “layer”, “new”, and then “Layer from background...” Then click ‘ok’. **

**I attached an example of the “blending options” window below.**
Tip: Drag the “blending options” window so that you can also see the image you’re working on. Click on each blending option and see what they do to your image. Also note that when a blending option is highlighted, you can adjust the settings for that particular blending option. In the image example that I attached, the drop shadow is selected. As you’ll see, there are a few settings that can be played with in that window.

Assignment:

A) Create a banner using one of the methods taught in lesson 2. This time apply a filter and a blending option to the image – at least one of each. Indicate in your post which filter(s) and blending option(s) you used.
B) Apply a filter to your text. Indicate in your post which filter you used.

[˘edric Špecter]

k, I just woke up and did this so I'm like half out of it and cranky. I got a bit confused and making a filter for the text, but I gave it my best shot.


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d143/JHutch008/Untitled-1.jpg


I used a lens flare and radial blur for the main picture. After I put in the text I used lighting effects to kinda focus on the lens flare.

Ehh not very good but the best I can do right now lol.

[argento_occhi]

Right, this is mine. Played around for ages, finding images and such. I was in a Sekhmet mood, in case you didn't notice. She decided to pay me a visit tonight.

Now to see if I can remember what the heck I did to it.

I discovered the wonders of the magnetic lasso tool. That made copying Her to the background much easier. Added a diffuse glow to Her, and the gradient texture thing. Added a floodlight circle thing of light to the background. Added the text with one of the styles added. Sorry if I'm not using the right words here, I did play around for ages so i've sort of forgotten which ones I did add. Oh, yeah, I added a lens flair to Sekhmet's brow. Kinda magick-like.

If I've forgotten anything, I'm sorry. Hope you like!

Argent

[SkySilver]

k, I just woke up and did this so I'm like half out of it and cranky. I got a bit confused and making a filter for the text, but I gave it my best shot.

I used a lens flare and radial blur for the main picture. After I put in the text I used lighting effects to kinda focus on the lens flare.

Ehh not very good but the best I can do right now lol.

Very nice! I love it.

I notice that your banners so far are different sizes. Is that intentional? or are you having a hard time sizing them to 300x105px...

Just curious. It's not a requirement to make them that size so no worries. I just want to make sure you weren't having trouble sizing the banner to the size you want.

As for applying a filter to the text, which part are you having a problem with? Maybe I can find a better way to explain it.

Oh, and I love the quote on your banner... it really touched me. :) Did you make that up?

[SkySilver]

Right, this is mine. Played around for ages, finding images and such. I was in a Sekhmet mood, in case you didn't notice. She decided to pay me a visit tonight.

Now to see if I can remember what the heck I did to it.

I discovered the wonders of the magnetic lasso tool. That made copying Her to the background much easier. Added a diffuse glow to Her, and the gradient texture thing. Added a floodlight circle thing of light to the background. Added the text with one of the styles added. Sorry if I'm not using the right words here, I did play around for ages so i've sort of forgotten which ones I did add. Oh, yeah, I added a lens flair to Sekhmet's brow. Kinda magick-like.

If I've forgotten anything, I'm sorry. Hope you like!

Argent

ooooo, very powerful... I like.

Ah, you discovered the wonderful lasso tool. You always go one step ahead of me... :p

I'll be covering the polygonal lasso tool in a later lesson. It's easier to control than the magnetic one. Sometimes the magnetic one can go a little crazy on you if your not careful.

[SkySilver]

Note for everyone: You do not have to go into a lot of detail to explain what you did to your work unless you want to.

If you use a filter or blending option... I would like to know which one you use. But this is also optional. I want to keep everything here as casual as possible and as little intimidating as possible. :)

[˘edric Špecter]

Oh, and I love the quote on your banner... it really touched me. :) Did you make that up?

I think I did. It just poped into my head one day a long time ago when I was thinking. I'm not sure if i saw it somewhere before or not. But yea I think I did just make it up. :)

[halfwaynowhere]

first i cropped the image down and resized it, then i used the lens flare filter (35mm camera setting). then i added the word "dream", and used the fragment filter (under pixelate). then i used the inner shadow option in blending options...

[TaysatWesir]

Image
Layer > Layer Style > Inner Glow (Hard Mix)
Layer > Layer Style > Inner Shadow (Exclusion)
Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options (Luminosity)
Filter > Distort > Diffuse Glow

Text
Caesar 18 pt & 14 pt Strong Center Yellow
Filter > Textur > Texturizer

Extra
Paint Brush > 15 px > Luminosity

http://mysticwicks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=56017&d=1132099031

[SkySilver]

first i cropped the image down and resized it, then i used the lens flare filter (35mm camera setting). then i added the word "dream", and used the fragment filter (under pixelate). then i used the inner shadow option in blending options...

I like the way you put the flare right next to the sun. :)

[SkySilver]

Image
Layer > Layer Style > Inner Glow (Hard Mix)
Layer > Layer Style > Inner Shadow (Exclusion)
Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options (Luminosity)
Filter > Distort > Diffuse Glow

Text
Caesar 18 pt & 14 pt Strong Center Yellow
Filter > Textur > Texturizer

Extra
Paint Brush > 15 px > Luminosity


I like!

[Storm Moon]

I went to Filter - Other - High Pass..., then faded and changed the blending options to Linear Dodge. With the text, I used a simple outer glow with the default settings.

And voila!

[SkySilver]

Another nice quote... This thread is turning inspirational... :D

[Storm Moon]

:lilangel: :floating:

[argento_occhi]

ooooo, very powerful... I like.

Ah, you discovered the wonderful lasso tool. You always go one step ahead of me... :p

I'll be covering the polygonal lasso tool in a later lesson. It's easier to control than the magnetic one. Sometimes the magnetic one can go a little crazy on you if your not careful.

Ah well, I had always wondered how to extract a selection like that from a background, PSP doesn't do it very well. I wondered what the lasso tool did, checked the help guide and off I went. :D

And I wasn't trying to get ahead of you, I just happened to find the tool for the job. :D You're a good teacher though. Good, clear simple explanations. Just what I need.

Argent

[SkySilver]

That's very good to hear... I was wondering what people thought about my teaching... being that its my first time and all. Thanks for letting me know. :bigblue:

[argento_occhi]

No problems. :) Keep going the way you are and you'll be fine. Much helpful in getting my head around a new program. Kudos to you.

Argent

[pheonix_soul11]

Ok here goes,
i applied a smudge stick filter, and then for my blend, i applid a satin light blend, only a soft one, withthe light as lilac, and then i also applied an inner glow with lots of noise to get the fuzzy border aroun the edge,
i find it quite appealing lol,
oh yes and i also cropped it to size lol.

[SkySilver]

Excellent job...

It kinda looks like it's raining in there. And I love the way you did the inner glow border. Nice touch.

[pheonix_soul11]

lol it does kinda look like its raining doesnt it lol,
i wonder if it would look any good if i smudged the text aswell lol, i'll have a go with it tomorrow,

[Briana]

Okay....here goes:

Sized the photo using the constraint so I could have more of the pic in the banner. Used marquee to place in banner. Then used Lighting Effects, Blending Inner Glow and Bevel & Emboss. Added 1st line of test, made top to bottom, colour green. Then Raterized it. Used Lens Flare and Lighting Effects/Directional. Then added 2nd line of text, sized, green. Raterized it. Then used Pattern Overlay and Stroke (Outside/Colour & Pattern). I may have forgotten something...I was playing around with a bunch of things.

Cheers,
Briana

[SkySilver]

Very pretty, nice work. :)

[LyraDragonStar]

I'll get to this as soon as possible. Since I have photoshop, I can always come back..and you havn't set due dates. So, I will catch up on other classes I am falling behind in and then come and get to this asap. How's that? :)

[SkySilver]

That's perfectly fine. :)

[Faery-Wings]

eesh, I wish I wrote down what I decided to do with this. I had so much fun playing around with all of the filters and blending options. :)

Ok, opened image. Eventually I used ... three down spotlight/lighting effects. Then I added text, rasterized the layer and used the emboss filter. For the blending I used inner glow over that.

[SkySilver]

Very nice... it seems like you're getting the hang of this! :thumbsup:

[Faery-Wings]

:woot: I feel like I am getting the hang of this (a little bit at least!)
I spliced a bit of the wings which is now across the top.

Oops! Wrong thread!

[SkySilver]

I should have done this earlier... but here is my assignment.

On the image I applied the following:

Filter - Artistic - Rough Pastels

Edit - Fade Rough Pastels

Blending Options: Inner Shadow & Inner Glow

On the Text: I first rasterized it by going to Layer - Rasterize - Type

Then I add a filter by going to Filter - Brush Strokes - Ink Outlines

[Dragonsheart]

Well I finally finshed. I used a pix if some dragons I was going to use for a tattoo.Frist I resized it, then used the paintdabs filter. Then made a text layer and liquifed it abit. Then copied the bacground, texture it with sandstone then apllied an ocean ripple. Set the blending mode to multipy and opacity to 63%.
56212

[SkySilver]

Very nice... I like :)

[Shatril]

I decided to continue with the first banner, and this is what i did:

Rastisized the text.
Applied outer glow filter to bottom two text lines
3D Transform on "Banner Class Student"
Embossed my name and "Banner Class Student"
Saber Colorized Filtered "Banner Class Student"

[SkySilver]

Very good. It's a lot more easy to read now.

Note to everyone: I just want to specify that "outer glow" and other options in the blending options menu are not filters. I notice that a lot of you used blending options for your text instead of using a filter. Although it is perfectly okay, I just want to make sure you all know the difference.

[Luminessence]

Here's mine. I used the Sumi-e filter, and faded it to 50%. Then I used "Inner Glow" under Blending Options. For the text, I used "Fragment," faded to 20%. I was going to emboss the text, but I couldn't seem to do that without the text turning gray...

[SkySilver]

Very pretty! It goes very well with the quote too. :)

[GothicNymph]

ok i finally have 5 days out of school which is really strange for me but i now have time to get fully caught up.

i used the neon lights filter as well as the clouds filter and faded the clouds to 36%
for the blending options i used the inner glow, changed the blend mode to color burn then added satin at 20% in purple.

finally i added my text and filled it all in and used dark strokes filter. i'm the worst judge at any of my work so i'm not sure how it looks.....

56448

[SkySilver]

It depends on what you're trying to make it look like. I think it looks kinda cool. Like some sort of a neon world. I like it.

[purple dragon]

for my first i used the watercolour filter and my second accented edges and plastic wrapping

56462

56463

[SkySilver]

Those look pretty cool. :)

[Geministar]

Ok for this I used an angeled strokes filter on the pic under brush strokes, and beveled and embossed the edges. The text besides my name has the overspray style on it with an outer glow, and my name is the same except without an outer glow. Thats all!

[SkySilver]

That is lovely! I see you're catching up with everyone... ;)