Uncategorized | Graphix

Hello world!

July 4, 2009 at 5:41 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

Famous events in July

July 1, 1997-Hong Kong returned to China
July 2, 1964-Lyndon Johnson signs Civil Rights Act
July 3, 1863-The Battle of Gettysburg ends
July 4, 1776-The U.S. Declares Independence
July 5, 1996-First successful cloning of a mammal
July 6, 1942-The Frank family takes refuge (as in The Diary of Anne Frank, who was 13)
July 7, 1930-Building of Hoover Dam begins
July 8, 1960-Pilot Francis Gary Powers charged with espionage
July 9, 1877-Wimbledon tournament begins
July 10, 1925-Scopes Monkey Trial begins
July 11, 1804-Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in a duel
July 12, 1984-Ferraro named Vice Presidential candidate
July 13, 1985-Live Aid Concert
July 14, 1789-French revolutionaries storm the Bastille
July 15, 1971-Nixon announces visit to communist China
July 16, 1945-Atom bomb successfully tested
July 17, 1955-Disneyland opens
July 18, 1986-Video of Titanic wreckage released
July 19, 1799-Rosetta Stone found
July 20, 1969-Armstrong walks on the moon
July 21, 1861-The First Battle of Bull Run
July 22, 1934-John Dillinger gunned down
July 23, 1984-Miss America resigns
July 24, 1911-Machu Picchu discovered
July 25, 1965-Bob Dylan appears at Newport Folk Fest
July 26, 1775-U.S. Postal System established
July 27, 1949-First jet makes test flight
July 28, 1868-14th Amendment adopted (post-Civil War Amendment intended to secure rights for former slaves)
July 29, 1958-NASA created
July 30, 1945-U.S.S. Indianapolis bombed
July 31, 1975-Jimmy Hoffa disappears

Also in July:
1867-Canadian Independence Day
1898-The Battle of San Juan Hill
1916-Battle of the Somme begins
1775-Congress resolves to forge Indian alliances (American Revolution)
1862-Battle of Malvern Hill (Civil War)
1941-NBC airs first official TV commercial
1804-George Sand is born
1916-Dwight D. Eisenhower marries his “Mamie”
1776-The Liberty Bell rings
1853-Commodore Perry sails into Tokyo Bay
1950-MacArthur named Korean commander
1892-License plate designer born
1863-Surrender of Port Hudson, Louisiana (Civil War)
1954-Colonel Castillo Armas takes power in Guatemala
1958-Kevin Bacon is born
1918-Hemingway is wounded on the Italian front in World War I
1606-Rembrandt born
1806-Pike expedition sets out
1965-Mariner 4 studies Martian surface
1997-Versace murdered in Cunanan killing spree
1789-Lafayette selected colonel-general of the National Guard of Paris
1939-Indy founder dies
1862-C.S.S. Arkansas attacks Union ships (Civil War)
1918-Second Battle of the Marne begins with final German offensive (World War I)
1933-Wiley Post flies around the world
2003-Qusay and Uday Hussein killed
1991-Cannibal and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is caught
1947-Albert Brooks is born
1598-The Merchant of Venice is entered on the Stationers’ Register
1793-Alexander Mackenzie reaches Pacific Ocean
1862-Lincoln tells his cabinet about the Emancipation Proclamation
1588-Spanish Armada defeated by Britain
1778-French navy contacts Continentals (American Revolution)

Create an Awesome Grass Texture in Photoshop

June 20, 2009 at 8:22 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Tags: Create an Awesome Grass Texture in Photoshop

Bring up Photoshop and create a new document at a size that you like. I used 500px by 500px
The first thing we need to do is make a dirt background to show through from underneath the grass we will create. Set your foreground and background colors to black and white. A shortcut for this is to restore Photoshop’s color defaults by pressing ‘d’ on your keyboard

Colors

Rename the background layer you are working on, call it dirt, or something applicable. (We will be using a couple layers in this tutorial so this will help organize things.

Dirt Layer

Go to the toolbar at the top and click filter->render->clouds. This will give us a nice base to work from.

Clouds

Add some noise and interest to our dirt. Click filter->noise->add noise. Change the amount to 44%, the distribution to gaussian and make sure monochromatic is checked on. (All these types of settings are merely suggestions, it’s by tweaking these settings, that you will really begin to get a grasp on Photoshop filters.)

Noise Filter - Dirt

Add a gaussian blur to the dirt layer. Click filter->blur->gaussian blur. Set the radius to 0.9 pixels.

Gaussian Blur

Let’s add one more filter to this dirt layer. Click filter->brush strokes->splatter. Set the spray radius to 21 and the smoothness to 2.

Splatter Filter

Now we need to give the dirt layer it’s color. Click image->adjustments->hue/saturation. Make sure to check preview and colorize. Then change the setting to a nice brown. I used: Hue: 49, Saturation: 29, Lightness: -38. Click OK.

Hue Saturation for Dirt Layer

OK, we are now finished with the dirt layer. That gives us a nice texture and color underneath the grass we are about to create. Let’s start on the grass. Create a new layer and name it “Grass.”
Change your background color to a grassy color green, I used, #52782F. Hit ‘ctrl, backspace’ to fill your current layer (Grass) with the green color you selected.
Add some noise to your new grass layer. Click filer->add noise->noise. Choose 30% for the amount, gaussian for the distribution, and check monchromatic. Click OK.

Grass Noise

Blur the grass layer. Click filter->blur->gaussian blur. Change the radius to 0.9 pixels, click OK.

Gaussian Blur for Grass Layer

We are getting closer, but it still doesn’t look a whole lot like any grass I’ve ever seen. We can use a couple of wind filters to lengthen the grass and simulate the look of blades. Click filter->stylize->wind, and change the settings to: method, stagger and direction, from the right. Click OK.

Wind Filter for Grass Layer

That looks a little better, but grass doesn’t grow all in one direction. So we need to add a little more direction and interest to our layer. First click image->rotate canvas->90 CW. Click OK.
We are going to repeat the last two steps now, but go in the opposite direction. So go to filter->stylize->wind again and choose stagger, from the left. Click OK.
Now flip the image so the grass looks verticle. Click image->rotate canvas->90 CCW. Below is what I’ve got so far…

Grass Before Dirt

I think this grass could use a little more contrast. Change the levels by clicking image->adjustments->levels. Drag the white and black sliders towards the middle till you get the variance you are after. Click OK.

Grass Levels

This is already a pretty useful grass texture, but we are going to take this tutorial a bit further. If all you need is the grass, you may want to jump down to the steps on masking to reveal some of the dirt layer underneath. Otherwise, stick with these steps to add some lines to our field of grass to make it look like a football field. First off create a new layer, make sure you add it to the top of the layers (ie above Dirt and Grass), and name this layer Lines.
Grab the brush tool (’b’ is your keyboard shortcut). Open up you brushes palette, window->brushes. Locate and click on your watercolor loaded brush 63 (shown in the image below). This is a cool Photoshop brush with some rough edges.

Watercolor Loaded Brush

Change your foreground color to white. Start somewhere in the bottom left and click and drag toward the right side. You may have to try a couple times (if you are like me) to get a straight enough line. If you mess up just hit ‘ctrl, z’ on the keyboard to undo the brush stroke you drew.

Grass With Line

Use the same brush but scale the width down to about 45 pixels, either by pressing the ‘[’ on the keyboard or locating the size options in the properties box at the top for brushes. Make a line perpendicular to the first line you drew, going from that line to the bottom right hand corner.

Grass With Lines

Add noise to the lines. Click filter->noise->add noise. I used 11% for the amount.
We should make the lines look like they are painted into the grass so we are going to add a subtle inner shadow. Double-click next to the name in the layer palette (if you are following along it should be lines), this will bring up the layer style dialog box. Check inner shadow and change the opacity to 60, the distance to 4 and the size to 4. Click OK.

Inner Shadow

The lines are starting to make sense on the field, but let’s try to blend them even more so. Change the opacity to 90 and the fill to 95.

Opacity and Fill

Now we are going to put the 50 yard marker on the field. Click on the text tool and in the properties for the text tool at the top of the screen, change your font to a stencil type font. I used ’stencil std’ but you can use whatever you think works best. Just a quick side note, their are many really good free font sites out there, one of my favorites is www.dafont.com. Change the font size to something like 72 (we can adjust the size later) and the color to white. Now click anywhere on the field itself with the text tool still selected. This will create a new layer at the top of the layers for us. Now type 50.
Hit ‘ctrl, t’ on the keyboard to bring up the free transform tools. Hover over the middle of the 50 and click and drag it into the correct area. Then resize it to your liking by clicking and dragging any of the corners out (if you’d like to keep the proportions hold shift down while you drag). Finally, rotate the angle to the way you’d like. Hover over a corner until you get a double arrow with an arch for the curser, then click and drag.

50 Free Transform

Convert the 50 layer to a smart object by right clicking (ctrl click on the mac) on the layer and selecting convert to smart object. This will allow us to handle this layer just like the others, in this case we need to add a filter. Keep in mind that once you convert a text layer to a smart object you lose the ability to change the text.

Smart Object

Now we add the same amount of noise to this layer as we did with the lines. Because the last filter we used was noise, all we have to do is click filter->add noise
Next up, we need to put the inner shadow on the 50 layer. Right click on the Lines layer and choose copy layer style. Then right click on the 50 layer and choose paste layer style. This will copy and paste the same layer style properties to the 50.

Copy Paste Layer Style

That looks pretty cool, but their are a couple more things we can do. First off, we still have a dirt layer underneath, that we’d like some part of showing through. Let’s put all the layers besides the ‘Dirt’ on their own. Click on the 50 layer, then with the shift key held down click on the grass layer to highlight everything but the dirt layer. On the keyboard hit ‘ctrl, shift, alt, e’. This will place all these layers on top by itself. Rename this layer ‘Field’. Then hide 50, Lines and Grass layers by clicking on the eyeball icons near each one. All that should be showing now is ‘Field’ and ‘Dirt’.

Layers

Add a layer mask to the ‘Field’ layer, by clicking the mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette.

Layer Mask

Now we will paint on the layer mask to reveal some of the dirt layer underneath. Change the foreground color to black. (Black reveals and white hides).
Grab the brush tool again and open up your brushes window. Now click on the small arrow shown below to reveal all your brushes you have. Grab your favorite grunge brush set and click OK. If you don’t have grunge brushes, you can play around with what may work. However, I would suggest you head on over to bittbox, deviantart or brusheezy to find some grunge brushes you can use, they will come in handy often. Then place the brushes into your Photoshop brushes for use, you can learn some more about that and creating your own in this article.

Load Brushes

Now that you have a grunge brush you like begin painting black on the mask of the ‘Field’ layer to reveal the dirt layer underneath. Subtle dabs here and there work best, don’t overdo it, however if you do, you can always paint white back on the layer mask (which is the joy of using them :))

Field with Grunge

Their is one more thing I did on mine to help the overall feel of a field with lights, and that is a nice lighting effect. Click back to the field layer, not the mask, and click filter->render->lighting effects. The defaults for spotlight aren’t bad, but play around with the sliders and the spotlight thumbnail on the left side. When you like the preview click ok. Below are the settings I used.

Lighing Effects for Field

Grass Tutorial Finished

Stylish Vector Flower

May 12, 2009 at 6:38 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Tags: Illustrator 8+, Stylish Vector Flower

Stylish Vector Flower

stylish flower

Learn how to create stylish vector/line flower with Illustrator Blend Tool. This Adobe Illustrator tutorial is great for creating background and large print illustration.

Version: Illustrator 8+

1. Flower petal

Create two stroke paths: one yellow and one blue.

petal

2. Blend Options

Go to Object > Blend > Blend Options and set it to Specified Steps = 10. Specified Steps basically tells how many step to blend from 1 object to another.

blend options

Blend

Now select the 2 petal paths, go to Object > Blend > Make or press Ctrl + Alt + B and you should get something looks like the image shown below.

leaf

3. Duplicate more petals

Duplicate more petals to form the flower by Copy & Paste or Alt + Drag.

more petals

4. Stem

Create a stem by using the same Blend technique as in the previous step. Here I set the Specified Steps = 8.

stem

5. Leaf

The leaf is formed by 2 parts, top and bottom. I use Specified Steps = 5 here.

leaf

6. Put them together

Now put them together to create a beautiful flower.

full flower

7. Right long leaf

Create a long leaf with Blend step = 3.

right long leaf

8. Left long leaf

Repeat the previous step to create the left long leaf.

left leaf

Final

Your final image should looks like the image shown below:

final

More…

Play around with the stroke color, stroke weight, Blend step, Transparency and you might get unexpected nice result. Here is a sample I did in Photoshop, with different Blend Mode, Multiply and Darken. This image style is good for creating website header, banner, wallpaper, background, large print, etc.

Valentines Day Card

April 22, 2009 at 10:03 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Tags: Background, inevitable, Texture, Valentines Day Card

Step 1 – The inevitable ‘New Document’

Open a new document (size and dimension, that part is up to you).
For the purpose of this tutorial, I’ve gone with my personal favourite, 750 by 500 pixels. Remember though that you might want to print this so a larger size would be more appropriate.

Step 2 – Background

Create a new layer and fill it (colour here is not important).

Go into the properties of that layer and apply the following radial gradient:-

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

Colours to use: #990000 & #660000

You should now have something like this:-

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

Step 3 – Texture

Create a new layer and fill it.

Pressing ‘D’ to revert back to black/white, apply fibers (Filter > Render > Fibers…)

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

Set the later style to Soft Light, opacity 3-5%.

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

Step 4 – Originality

Okay, so a heart is perhaps not original but give it your own twist or go with a graphic of significance to the recipient-to-be:-

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

As you can see above, I drew my own path for a more unique heart but you could alternatively use Photoshops ‘Custom Shape Tool’ and the ‘heart card’ path or a nice fancy brush.

Once you have selected your chosen design, fill your path using #990000 apply the following ‘Bevil and Emboss’ settings:-
Valentines Day Card, 2009

You should now have something to a similar the effect:-

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

Step 5 – “I LOVE YOU”

Write something… and try to make it nice.

My first attempt was “Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, I take two in my coffee thank you” …so, for the protection of your own future love lives, I’m not going to help you with this bit.

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

Font: I chose Delicious (italic & bold italic) for its elegance and light weight but font choice is up to you. Use a font that best suits your design.
Skulls, cross bones or nudie wingdings might not cut it here!

Step 6 – Final Touches

Using the pen tool, create a shape. This can be something of significance to the other person, or something which ties nicely into the design.

I have chosen blossom petals as my otherhalf loves Cherry Blossoms and they remind her of her being back home in Japan.

Once you are done, fill your path and create a brush ( Edit > Define Brush Preset… )

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

If you are struggling or for ease of following this tutorial, you may download and use my brush here.

Next apply the following brush dynamics:-

Tutorial Valentines Day Card, 2009

Using a light shade of pink ( #FFCCFF ) create 3 different layers and set them to the following opacity levels:-

Layer 1: 5-10% Opacity
Layer 2: 10-25% Opacity
Layer 3: 25-35% Opacity

Start brushing over these layers until you have your own desired effect.

Step 7 – The Final Step

Save as a JPEG, quality 10 – 12 and mass mail that mother out to every girl/boy you have ever had a crush on!
Ain’t BCC technology great! 😉

Email Valentines Day Card, 2009

Gunshot Through a Glass

April 12, 2009 at 10:06 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Tags: Gunshot Through a Glass

Stock photos

You will need a photo of a person pointing a gun and a photo of a window with a bullet hole on a dark background. The images used for this tutorial are stock photography from Dreamstime but you can use your own. If you like to use the same images used in this tutorial, click on the image below to purchase them.

Step 1 – Open the image of the shooter

Begin by opening the photo of the agent with a gun.

Step 2 – Place the photo of the bullet hole on a glass

Choose File > Place, browse for the image of the bullet hole on a glass, then click OK. The image is now placed onto your current document with the transform tool activated.

Rotate and enlarge the image like shown in the image below. The bullet hole should be positioned near the gun. Press enter on your keyboard to apply the changes.

Step 3 – Set the layer blend mode to Screen

In the layers palette with the top layer selected, change the blending mode to screen.

The image looks complete already but we’re not exactly done yet. When zoomed in, you can see that the glass doesn’t distort the image behind it. In the steps ahead, we’ll use the displace filter to create a distortion.

Step 4 – Prepare the layer for the displacement map

To distort the image behind the glass, we’ll be using the displace filter. Before we can use the displace filter, we have to create a displacement map which will tell the displace filter how to distort the image. First, we’ll prepare a new layer to create the displacement map on. Select the top layer then press Ctrl+J or select Layer > Duplicate to duplicate the layer.

If you are using Photoshop CS2 or newer, your layer should be a smart layer. You can tell if it’s a smart layer by looking for the icon on the bottom right corner of the the layer thumbnail. If your layer is a smart layer, right click on the layer then choose Rasterize Layer. You can also access this from the Layers > Rasterize > Layer menu item.

Now that your layer is rasterized, you won’t see the icon in the layer thumbnail. And because it is rasterized, we can apply filters and adjustments that aren’t available for smart layers.

Step 5 – Create the displacement map

First we’ll use the levels tool to add contrast to the layer. With the top layer selected, press Ctrl+L or choose Image > Adjustments > Levels to access the levels tool. In the levels tool, drag the black input slider towards the right to increase the contrast until the background is black like the image below.

Now we are going to use the emboss filter to turn it into a displacement map that can be used with Photoshop’s displace filter. Choose Filter > Stylize > Emboss and use the settings as shown in the image below.

Here’s what the displacement map looks like:

Step 6 – Clean the displacement map

The displacement map looks great so far, but there are many errors on it. Shown in the image below is one of those areas where the bump map created a bump for a smudge that isn’t a bump on the glass. In this step, we’ll clean up those areas.

Start by changing the blending mode of the displacement map layer to overlay. This will let you see both the displacement map and the layers behind it and give you a slight preview of what the results will look like.

Set the foreground color to a 50% gray. Start by clicking on the foreground color in the tools palette. A color picker window will appear. Enter in 808080 in the # field to get a 50% gray.

Select the brush tool and paint over the areas that you want to remove the bumps from. The bumps in the areas you paint will be removed.

Here are the before and after results.

Step 7 – Save the displace map as a file

Change the blending mode of the current layer to normal.

Choose File > Save As and save the file as “displace map” on your desktop.

Step 8 – Delete the displacement map layer and convert the background layer into a smart object

Before we use the displace filter, delete the layer with the bump map texture then select the background layer.

If you are using Photoshop CS3 or newer, convert the background layer into a smart object. This will let you

apply filters as smart filters so that you can go back and adjust the filter settings anytime. To convert a layer to a smart layer, right click on the layer then choose Convert to Smart Object. You can also do this by choosing Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object.

Step 9 – Apply the displace filter

Choose Filter > Distort > Displace and start with the default settings shown in the image below. Click OK.

Browse and select the displacement map file that you saved earlier then click Open.

Your image should be displaced. Here’s what mine looks like so far. It is not strong enough but we’ll edit this in the next step.

Step 10 – Readjust the displace filter

Because the displace filter doesn’t give us any live preview feature, you’ll find that you need to readjust the settings once or more to get the results that you like.

Photoshop CS3 or newer: If you’re using Photoshop CS3 or newer, you can easily readjust the displace settings.
Photoshop CS2 or older: If you’re using Photoshop CS2 or older, you’ll need to undo and use the displace filter again. Choose Edit > Undo to undo then choose Filter > Distort > Displace to use the displace filter again.

This is what our image looks like after using better displace settings.

Here’s a comparison of the before and after effects of using the displace filter.

Step 11 – Add a reflection in the sunglasses

Select the layer with the bullet hole and duplicate the layer.

Choose Edit > Transform > Scale and resize the layer by clicking and dragging on the corners of the transform box. Make the layer a lot smaller like shown in the image below. Press enter on your keyboard to apply the changes.

Step 12 – Rasterize the layer with the reflection

We’ll be using the levels tool next but before we can access that tool, the layer needs to be rasterized. If you are using Photoshop CS2 or older, your layer is already rasterized and you can skip this step. If you are using Photoshop CS3 or newer, your layer is currently a smart layer. The levels tool doesn’t work on smart layers so we need to rasterize it. Right click on the layer (not the layer thumbnail) then choose Rasterize Layer. You can also do this by choosing Layer > Rasterize > Smart Object.

Your layer should be rasterize and you can tell it’s rasterized because it does not have the icon in the thumbnail.

Step 12 – Blend the reflection into the sunglasses

Now that your layer is rasterized, you can access the levels tool by pressing Ctrl+L or choosing Image > Adjustments > Levels. Use the levels tool to make the glass blend into the frames behind it. To do this, drag the black input slider towards the center until only the cracks are visible.

Select the eraser tool from the toolbar. Right click anywhere in the document window to bring up the brush settings for the eraser tool. Set the hardness to 0%. This will give you a soft edge as you erase.

Erase around the bullet hole so that only the cracks from the bullet hole are showing.

To complete the reflection, reduce the opacity to about 30%.

Step 13 – Prepare a new layer for a vignette

Add a new layer (Layer > New Layer) then position it as the top layer.

Fill the layer with white. To do this, choose Edit > Fill, apply the settings shown below, then click OK.

Your layer should now be a blank white layer.

Change the blending mode of the layer to Multiply.

Step 14 – Add a vignette

Instructions for Photoshop CS2 or newer

If you are using Photoshop CS2 or newer, you can easily apply a vignette by using the lens distortion filter. Choose Filter > Distort > Lens Distortion. Adjust the two vignette settings (amount and midpoint) to your likings then click OK. If you don’t get the effect that you like, you can undo and use the lens distortion filter again with different settings.

Instructions for Photoshop CS or older

First, make sure that you have snapping and rulers enabled. Open the view menu then ensure that the snap and ruler features are enabled.

Click and hold on the left ruler then drag your mouse towards the center. A cyan guide will appear. Drag the guide near the center and it should snap into the center. Drag a second guide from the top ruler towards the center to create a crosshair like the image below.

Choose View > Snap To and ensure that the guides option is enabled.

Zoom out so that you can see the entire image. Select the circular marquee tool. While holding the alt and shift keys, click and drag from the center where the guides intersect then drag out until your circular marquee is the length of your image.

You should now have a selection like the image below.

Choose Select > Inverse to inverse the selection.

Choose Edit > Fill and fill the area with black. Now choose Select > Deselect to deselect the selection. Your vignette should look like the image below.

We’re done using the guides. You can remove them by selecting the move tool and dragging the guides back to the ruler. Choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur to blur the edges. If you are working with a high resolution document and the gaussian blur filter isn’t strong enough, you can apply the filter again until you get the results that you like.

Here is what my vignette looks like after applying gaussian blur filter with a radius of 250 pixels two times.

Step 15 – Position the vignette layer below the glass layer

If you like your vignette to be softer, you can reduce the opacity of the layer with the vignette or you can position the layer below the layer with the bullet hole for a unique effect.

Here’s what the image looks like so far.

Step 16 – Cool the image with a photo filter

Select the top layer then choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter. Set the filter to cyan and density to 100%.

Change the blending mode to soft light. If you find that the photo filter is too strong, you can reduce the opacity of the photo filter adjustment layer.

Final results and PSD

Rollover the image below to see the before and after effect. It may take a few seconds for the image to load when you first rollover the image.

How to Create a Flaming Photo Manipulation

March 5, 2009 at 12:00 am | Posted in GrApHiX, PhOtOsHoP, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Tags: How to Create a Flaming Photo Manipulation

Step 1

For this project, I used two nice images that suits for the manipulation; image1, image2. I would like to thank the author of this two great pictures, which is thiquinho and huibidos from sxc.hu. And before we continue with the steps, I need to inform you that this tutorial is written using Photoshop CS3.

Step 2

Let’s start with image1,
open and duplicate this image by using the Image > Duplicate command
from the menu bar. In the Duplicate Image dialog box, you can name it
anything you like, but to follow this tutorial reference, name it
“PassionFire” and hit OK. By doing this, we kept the original image. Be
sure to save.

Step 3

With the “PassionFire” image active, duplicate the “background”
layer. Set the foreground and background color to black and white by
pressing D on the keyboard. Click the “background” layer again and fill
it with the foreground color ~ which is set to black. See the images
below.

Step 4

Reactivate “Layer 1,” then press Command + Shift + U to apply
desaturate command. Now invert the color by pressing Command + I. Your
image should look like a film’s negative now.

Step 5

Duplicate “Layer 1,” then apply the find edges filter from Filter
> Stylized > Find Edges. Next, invert the color by pressing
Command + I and change the Blending Mode to Hard light. There, your
image now has contrast white line and a very dark background.

Step 6

To give the white line more contrast, duplicate the “Layer 1” copy then change the Blending Mode to Screen.

Step 7

Now we move to the second image. Drag image2
into “PassionFire” document image window using the Move tool. If the
Paste profile mismatch dialog appears, just click OK to fix it.

Step 8

The fire image from “image2” should be in “Layer 2” now. Change its
Blending Mode to screen, this will hide all the black colors in “Layer
2.” If done right, your image should be similar to the one below.

Step 9

Duplicate “Layer 2” by pressing Command + J. Make sure you use the
Screen Blending mode, same as the original “Layer 2.” Next, make “Layer
2” become invisible by hiding it from the layers panel.

Step 10

Click the “Layer 2 copy” to make it active, then use the Free
Transform command ( Edit > Free Transform) to rotate and resize the
fire image like shown below. Don’t forget to press Enter when you’re
done transforming.

Step 11

Still in the same layer, now use the warp command (Edit >
Transform > Warp) to bend the fire image – so it following the hair
flow. Press Enter when done. See the example below as a reference.

Step 12

If you feel the result is not quite good enough, simply use the
Liquify filter to fix it. I assume you already know how to use the
liquify filter; the Forward Warp tool and Twirl Clockwise tool is the
only tool I used to get this result (see image below).

Step 13

Duplicate the “Layer 2” copy, then use the Free Transform command to
resize and rotate the fire image in the current layer. Don’t forget to
reposition the fire image too. Once you get this composition (see image
below), hit Enter.

Step 14

Repeat the previous process to get the hair covered with fire. Just
duplicate and modify the layer until you get all the hair part covered.
If needed, use the Liquify Filter again. The end result of this process
should look like the image below, notice how many layers are used.

Step 15

Okay, now activate “Layer 2” and make it visible again. Then Change
the Blending Mode to Vivid Light. This step will colorize only the
white line in the layer below it.

Step 16

Still in “Layer 2,” apply the Free Transform command to resize and
rotate the fire image like shown below. The purpose is to cover up the
girl’s body and hair with the fire texture. Press Enter when you’re
done transforming.

Step 17

We’re gonna blur the fire image in “Layer 2,” To do so, apply the
Gaussian Blur filter from the Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur menu.
Fill the Radius around 10 to 15 pixels, then click OK when done.
Blurring the fire image will cause its texture to blend smoother with
the layer below it.

Step 18

Now add a layer mask to “Layer 2.” Then use a soft round Brush tool
with Opacity at 100%. Set the brush size according to your need, then
just mask until the fire outside becoming hidden. See the process below.

Step 19

Sure we will remove the white line shown in the image (marked in red
rectangle below). First, add a new blank layer below “Layer 2.” Then
simply paint it with black using the soft round brush tool.

Step 20

Now go to the top most layer (mine is: “Layer 2 copy 6”), add two
adjustment layers which is Hue/Saturation and Brightness/Contrast.
Careful not to change the layer adjustment order, or the color effect
will be wrong. Below you can see the setting I used to complete this
step, also pay attention to the adjustment layer order.

By adding a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, we unify all colors.
The Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer brings more color contrast and
makes sure the image color’s looks like real fire.

Step 21

I’m sure you notice the fire sparks effect. I create it using the
Brush tool with this simple setting. No special brush needed, but if
you have one that will be useful then feel free to use it. Below you
can see all the settings I used within the Brush palette, of course you
can change the setting as you like. Just make sure the brush spatter
enough and vary the size.

Step 22

Now to use the modified brush, create a new blank layer below the
adjustment layers ( mine is named “Layer 4”). Choose 50% gray from the
swatches palette, then you can start creating the fire sparks. Remember
not to be monotone, resize the brush size if needed. I start using a
big sized brush, then reduce it to smaller size (you can change brush
size faster by pressing the bracket keys on the keyboard ).

If you’re not sure how to do this steps, just imagine where and how
the fire sparks will flow if it was real fire. For me, imagining stuff
is very helpful.

Step 23

To make it more interesting, create a new layer and change the
Blending Mode to Screen. Then use a normal soft round brush (not the
one we modified earlier), with an Opacity of 50%. Just click in the
part of body, neck, and hair. I’m not sure how to explain this, but you
can see the difference between the above and below images.

Conclusion

And that’s all of it! Hope you learned something new and had fun. You can view the final image below or view a larger version here.