Project 3. Amongst the GreatestHave you ever had presidential aspirations? What about just wanting your face to become a national landmark? You can picture your face sitting amongst the greatest presidents in history by putting yourself on Mount Rushmore.
For this project, I'm using a stock image of Mount Rushmore (see Figure 7.21) and the same face we've used and abused in previous projects. The angle of his head is perfect to replace George Washington (see Figure 7.22). You can, of course, use your own face to replace George or any of the other presidents. You can even use the following steps to add a fifth head to the right of Abraham Lincoln. If you don't have your own images for this project, just download the ones I'm using here from the website and from www.shutterstock.com (image 20535). Figure 7.21. One of the most popular landmarks in the United States.
Figure 7.22. Could this man be one of the great persidents of all time?
Carving a Place in HistoryOur new president's head is in position, but it's a bit too lifelike. We want it to look carved into the mountain, just as Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln are. Fortunately, Paint Shop Pro X has effects filters that can convert the face of Rushmore's newest resident into rock in just a few steps.
Blending InOur president is starting to take form, but the color is still a bit off. The granite of the mountain can be very challenging to duplicate without losing the detail of the face. Paint Shop Pro X has a tool that helps. Note The Change to Target Brush changes the color of an area without changing its luminance. You can also set the brush to Hue, Lightness, or Saturation mode to change those values without affecting the other attributes. The target color is based on the Foreground color in the Materials palette.
Finishing TouchesAfter applying the sandstone effect and matching the color, it has become more apparent that the size and angle of the head aren't quite right. Because the head is still on its own layer, we can use the Pick tool to scale it down and rotate it into perfect position.
For even more fun with Mount Rushmore, try replacing the faces with those of your family pets. Tip This is another project where attention to detail can really up the realism. The Dodge Brush can lighten the highlights on the new president's cheeks and forehead. The Burn Brush can enhance the creases along the jawline, inside the ear, and around the nose to increase the chiseled appearance. The final result is subtle, but that's the idea (see the accompanying figure). If you go overboard, you'll find yourself toggling between the Burn Brush and Dodge Brush well beyond the point Dodging and burning enhance the carved effect.
|