Having Fun with Filters


In this section, I show you how to apply several filters and techniques that you can use to create interesting filter effects. Even though I don’t show you how to use all the filters that are available, you can apply these techniques to any of the filters that Photoshop provides — they all work in basically the same way.

Embossing an image

Embossing gives an image the look of pressed metal. The edges of the image appear in relief, and the other areas turn silvery gray.

When you choose Filter→Stylize→Emboss, Photoshop displays the dialog box, shown in Figure 11-6.

Enter the angle of the light shining on the metal into the Angle text box, or rotate the spoke in the Angle circle to adjust the light’s angle. Then, use the Height slider to set how high the edges of the emboss will be; a higher setting makes edges that appear to be raised higher. Finally, use the Amount slider to set the contrast. A higher setting adds more contrast, making the embossed image appear brighter.

In Figure 11-7, I applied the Emboss filter to the image on the left and ended up with the image on the right, which almost looks like real metal.

click to expand
Figure 11-7: The original image on the left was embossed using the following settings: Angle was set to 129 degrees, Height was set to 17 pixels, and Amount was set to 141%.

Giving an image the appearance of motion

Using the Motion Blur and Radial Blur filters, you can give an image the appearance of motion. The key to making these filters do your bidding is to select the part of the image that you want to stay “still” while the rest of the image is blurred. This simple trick gives the impression of motion.

Take a look at Color Plate 11-2. There I took an image of a kayaker and blurred the background to give the impression of motion. Then, I applied different filters to the blurred background to show the different effects you can create.

Open an image of a car or another object that moves and give the following steps a try:

  1. Use the selection tool of your choice to select the area of an image that will remain still.

    For example, in Figure 11-8, the entire car is selected. I’m going to add a Motion Blur to the background and later a radial blur to the tires.

    click to expand
    Figure 11-8: This car isn’t moving yet, but it will be.

  2. Feather the selection.

    Choose Select→Feather or right-click (Control+click on a Mac) and select Feather from the context-sensitive menu. In the Feather dialog box that opens, enter a value of 10 pixels, and then click OK to close the dialog box.

  3. Choose LayerNewLayer via Copy.

    The pasted selection appears on a new layer exactly on top of the original selection. (Turn to Chapter 10 for details on copying and pasting a selection.)

  4. Click on the original layer in the Layers palette to make it active.

  5. Choose FilterBlurMotion Blur.

    In the Motion Blur dialog box shown in Figure 11-9, set the blur’s angle to correspond with the direction the object is moving in. Use the distance slider to set the amount of the blur.

    click to expand
    Figure 11-9: The Motion Blur filter has two settings, Angle and Distance.

    Figure 11-10 shows the Motion Blur effect applied to the car picture from Figure 11-8. Notice that while the background is moving, something still looks wrong. When a car moves, its tires rotate. The next step is to add a radial blur to the tires.

    click to expand
    Figure 11-10: The car appears to be moving, but the tires look wrong because they appear stationary.

  6. Make sure the copied layer is selected, then select the tires (if you’re making a vehicle move), and choose FilterBlurRadial Blur.

    In the Radial Blur dialog box, set the Amount of the Blur, the Blur Method (which in this case is Spin), and the Quality. Click OK to close the dialog box.

    Remember

    This dialog box doesn’t have a preview window, so you may need to experiment a few times before you get the right setting. Before you try a new radial blur, just undo the previous one by pressing Ctrl+Z (z+Z on a Mac).

  7. Figure 11-11 shows the car moving right along with both a motion blur and a radial blur.

    click to expand
    Figure 11-11: With a Radial Blur applied to the tires, the car appears to be moving very fast.

Creating a lens blur

Photoshop CS

The new Lens Blur filter was created to mimic camera optics. The filter uses an Iris setting to create the effect. The iris is the window inside the camera lens. Depending upon the type of opening or aperture selected for the camera lens, the iris forms a different shape (such as a polygon or octagon). The effects you create using this filter mimics those created by the lens aperture.

An image with some bright light source, such as a sunset or bright sunbeam, works best with this filter. For instance, if you apply this filter to an image with a sunbeam and apply an Octagon Iris setting, the sunbeam takes on an octagonal shape.

To use the Lens Blur filter, choose Filter→Blur→Lens Blur. The Lens Blur dialog box shown in Figure 11-12 opens offering iris, highlight, noise, and focal distance settings.

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Figure 11-12: The Lens Blur dialog box lets you create effects that mimic the shape of a camera lens opening.

Here’s some information on using this powerful filter:

  • Use the Blur Focal Distance slider to set where the image goes out of focus, nearer or farther away.

  • In the Iris area, use the Shape drop-down list to select the shape of the iris, the Radius (amount of blur), the Blade Curvature (how wide the camera lens opening is), and the Rotation (the amount of light entering the lens). The shape of the Iris setting changes the way the light source in the image is reshaped. The Blade Curvature and Rotation settings affect the brightness of the light in the image.

  • Use the Specular Highlights area to set image brightness, and the threshold (contrast).

  • In the Noise area, set the amount of speckles added to the image to imitate film grain.

    Photoshop CS

    This new filter creates some interesting effects. Take a look at Figure 11-13. On the left is the original sunset photograph and on the right is the image after the Lens Blur filter has been applied. Notice that the sun’s circular shape has been changed to a more octagonal shape. Also, the light reflecting off the clouds has been brightened. The filter Iris settings I used for the photo on the right are Shape: Octagon, Radius: 51, Blade Curvature: 77, Rotation: 144.

    click to expand
    Figure 11-13: The Lens Blur filter adds an interesting photographic effect.

When you take pictures with a camera, you can dramatically change the color and tone of an image by attaching colored filters to the lens. You can use simple colors such as red, yellow, or blue, or you can use more complex filters that create specific effects, such as a warming filter that is an orange-brown shade, a cooling filter that is an intense blue, or a brownish sepia filter that creates the effect of a sepia-toned photograph.

Photo Filter adjustment layers

Photoshop CS

Using Photoshop CS, you can now create interesting photographic effects using a Photo Filter adjustment layer. An adjustment layer is a special kind of layer that you can use to try effects without permanently changing the image. (For more about adjustment layers and how to use them, turn to Chapter 8.)

Open an image and try out a Photo Filter adjustment layer. You’ll be surprised at some of the interesting results.

  1. In the Layers palette, click the Create new fill or adjustment layer button, and then choose Photo Filter from the menu.

    The Photo Filter dialog box shown in Figure 11-14 opens, offering preset color filters. Or you can use the Color picker to create a custom filter.

    click to expand
    Figure 11-14: The Photo Filter dialog box offers preset color filters.

  2. Use the Filter drop-down list to select a preset color filter or click the color square to select a custom filter color.

    Click the color square to open the Color picker. Use the Color picker to select a new filter color, and then click OK to return to the Photo Filter dialog box. (To find out more about the Color picker, turn to Chapter 4.)

  3. Use the Density slider to set the intensity of the color filter.

    Remember

    The higher the setting, the more the filter affects the image.

  4. Click OK.

    The new Photo Filter adjustment layer appears in the Layers palette, as shown in Figure 11-15. If you want to change the Photo Filter settings, just double-click the adjustment layer’s thumbnail to access the Photo Filter dialog box.

    click to expand
    Figure 11-15: The new Photo Filter adjustment layer appears in the Layers palette.

    Tip

    You also can set a blending mode and opacity for the adjustment layer. These settings can dramatically change the effect of the Photo Filter. Turn to Chapter 8 for details about blending modes and opacity settings.




Photoshop CS For Dummies
Photoshop CS For Dummies
ISBN: 0764543563
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 221

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