photoshop-how-to-blog

[photoshop-how-to-blog]

Double Exposure

I found an easy youtube tutorial to learn how to create a double exposure. Here is the link to the video > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-19z_ldzPes&ab_channel=EyeStocker

The major steps

- You need a portrait picture and a landscape picture

- First, open the portrait you want to work with.

Then, if its background is not white, do as followed:

> use the pen tool (see previous article) to make a selection of the figure. when it is done right click and choose ‘make a selection’.

> create a ‘layer mask’ (right bottom of your page) to cut out the background. Then you want to change the background color to white. In order to do so, go to ‘adjustment layer’ (bottom right, next to layer mask), and choose the ‘solid color’ function. Select the white color. Drag the background color layer, underneath the portrait layer.

> Add a black and white adjustment above the portrait layer

> open the landscape picture in a new document, select the move tool and drag the landscape to your first document.

> keep the landscape layer selected and choose the ‘screen blending’ mode on  your right side menu.

> create contrast in your landscape and turn it to black and white. To do so add a new black and white adjustment layer

> then move your landscape until you find the best position for it, by using the move tool.

> to make adjustment on the layers, if some part of the pictures are still visible, add a new adjustment layer. Link it to the black and white layer by clicking right on the layer and choosing ‘create clipping mask’. Then play with the levels until your image looks good to you.

> If you feel like the image is still not perfect keep playing with the contrasts.

Here is my result!

[photoshop-how-to-blog]

The Pencil Tool

In many photoshop tutorials you can encounter the pen tool which appears as a very difficult tool to use. It exists several options of the pen tool: the pen, the freeform pen, add anchor point, delete anchor point and convert point. This article will provide you with a quick summary of its functions and some tips on how to use it.

Functionalities

- the standard tool pen: use it to draw with precision.

- the freeform pen: it draws contours and if you use the magnetic pen option, the contours will snap to the edge of the object you want to draw a path of.

- the pen tool also allows you to create anchor points or to delete anchor points.

- the convert anchor point convert your anchor points into lines.

- It is a useful tool when it comes to selecting an object or to cut an object out.

> Good to know: whenever you use the pen tool, it will create ‘paths’ which will allow you to go back to a previous version of your work.

How to use it

- the pen:

 > draw straight lines: select the pen tool and click to define the first anchor point, click again without dragging to define the second anchor point. A first straight line will appear. Continue clicking for new anchor points until you have reached the shape you want.

> draw curves: position the pen tool where you want your curve to begin and hold down the mouse button. You have a first anchor point and the pen tool pointer changes into an arrow head. Drag to set the slope of the curve you have created. If you want to constrain the tool to a multiple of 45°, hold shift. Then position the pen tool where you want your curve to end. Repeat the operation as many times as needed.

- The freeform pen tool: With this pen the anchor points are created when you draw. There is no need to place them. You can define the sensitiveness of the tool by clicking on the invert arrow in your tool box.

> Drag the pointer in the image and as you drag it, a path will be created. To continue the first path, position the pointer on an end point of the path.

> to convert the free pen tool into a magnetic pen tool select the magnetic mode in the options bar. The magnetic pen will function the lasso tool but it will create a path directly

- Cutting an object out:

> First select the object by using the pen tool. Then turn your path into a selection by going to window and then path. The path will be selected. Then go back to layers and click on the layer mask icon on the bottom right menu of your desk. Your selection will cut out from the background. Create a new layer underneath your subject and fill it with the color you want.

For more detailed informations you can visit these three websites:

-https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/drawing-pen-tools.html

-https://phlearn.com/use-pen-tool-photoshop

-http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/selections/pen-tool-selections/

If you want to visualize all the tools here is the Adobe webpage where you can find them and their icons: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/tools.html

[photoshop-how-to-blog]

Change an element from a picture

To delete an element: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb3LNnx1Bjc&ab_channel=STSExperts

- Duplicate your picture

- Use the healing brush tool and choose the patch tool → select the object you want to see disappear then find a clear spot to replace the object with the empty spot. You’re object has been erased from your picture.

To change the location of an object:

- Use the healing brush tool and choose the content aware tool →  select the object you want to move. An arrow will indicate the different directions to choose in order to move your object and the result you can get from it.

To change the color of an object: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVIpwxlhd0A&ab_channel=ShadowTutorials

- Use the quick selection to select the object you want to change the color (you can improve your selection by clicking right on your selection and choose the option 'refine edge')

-  Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation: here you can adjust the colors. 

- Use color balance to change the shadows, mid tones and highlights.

With these tips you can remove unwanted objects, change the position of an object or change its color. 

I have used these tips to create a “spot the differences’ game

[photoshop-how-to-blog]

Face Swap with Photoshop

I have found 2 very useful websites that explain step by step the process of adding a new face to an already existing face. 

The first one is in english: https://www.clippingpathindia.com/blog/2014/07/14/how-to-swap-faces-in-photoshop/

The second one is in french: http://fr.wikihow.com/échanger-des-visages-sur-Photoshop        (The version of photoshop is a bit updated but it is quite easy to adapt it to a more modern version of it)

The main steps of the process are the following:

- draw a selection of the face you want to paste with the lasso tool

- when adjusting, change the opacity to 50% to make sure the faces are set up.

- if you want to change the size of the face, you want to convert your image to a smart object and then press ctrl + T.

- after these first steps, you have to blend the layers. To do so, select your layers, and in the “Edit” menu, click on “auto-blend layers”.

Here is the result of the “face swap” I have created with photoshop.

[photoshop-how-to-blog]

Photoshop basic tools

Having never used photoshop before I needed some basic facts about this tool. The software in itself doesn’t give much clue about how to use the different tools at your disposal. 

In order to find some tutorials on the internet I simply wrote on my browser “how to use photoshop” and found a youtube video explaining in 10 minutes how to use the most basic tools of photoshop. (You will find the URL below the text)

Here are the main elements:

-use the tool ‘place’ in the ‘file’ section in order to add an image to your document (it avoids to open a new file and to copy/paste it)

-To center your image you should go to ‘layer’ and select ‘alignment’. then you can choose how to display your layer

-You can also use filters to change the main look of your image.

-you should always open a new layer when adding content to your original image -> it will be easier to modify it

-The lasso tools will help you cutting your image (regular, polygonal, magnetic)

-The eye drop tool allows you to find a color present in your image

- With the brush tool you can chose different sizes, softness, motifs, brushing effect, etc. To change the opacity, look for the tools on the right side of you board

-You can use the eraser tool to erase some of your drawings

-If you lose a tool, you can find it by going on your ‘window’

-The tools on your right are for the general settings of your tools, here you can change the opacity, the font, the colors, bleedings and so on.

-Good to know: you can copy paste your settings from one layer to another one. Also always remember to save your layers once you are satisfied with them.

Here is the URL of the youtube video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekOH5ESLAPs&ab_channel=Ziovo