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Posted on 22/03/09 7:10:43 PM |
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Scott
* Posts: 40 Reply |
Dream like blurred horizons
Hello HTCIP Forum There is a technique I would like to learn how to do. It is the blurring of the horizon with a white dreamlike effect. I think it is most likely used where a separate sky is stitched to a separate ground, or indeed, it could be a photosgraph of ground and sky and the effect added later. The effect is roughly explained in the CS3 edition of the book (by use of the fradient tool), but it is this specific effect I am after. A set of images by Michal Giedrojc is what has inspired me and it is the effect he uses that I am after specifically. Here are some examples by Michal of what I mean. Michal's Flickr page is... http://www.flickr.com/photos/28711308@N05/ In particular the images, Bicycle, Cat, Goal, ..., Fly, Bicycle II, & Trailer If anyone can offer a step by step tutorial, or post a link for a tutorial I would be very grateful. I would like to use this effect to enhance my own long exposure BW (ND110) Many thanks Scott |
Posted on 22/03/09 9:17:06 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 104 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
I really have no knowledge of how he did it, but have a guess on what you might try. It would be easier if the image of the landscape was separate for the cat or bicycle, which would be added later. Take the landscape picture and make a layer with a gradient from light to dark at the horizon (both above and below). Then do a gassuan blur of this. Combine the two. This should give you a similar dreamlike effect at the horizon. |
Posted on 23/03/09 00:01:57 AM |
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Scott
* Posts: 40 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Thank you Cy. Yes the subjects (cat, bicycle etc) are added later. Michal is a good BW matte artist. I love the long exposure skies, which I can do with the ND110 filter. The thing is, I am so new to Ps that unless I'm shown or given step by step instruction I am lost. What you say is a start for me to concentrate on, but I feel this would fail me to get the 'white' blend I need? But any help is welcomed so Thank You. I really need to work this one out  
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Posted on 23/03/09 01:59:32 AM |
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cy98
** Posts: 104 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Scott - there are usually 47 ways to do anything in PS. You will only get better with experimentation. I am by no means an expert, but usually have some hairbrain idea. Here is one. But before you try experimenting, take the picture you are working on and save under a different name and work on that one. That way if you screw up you will not ruin the original, and that should reduce your anxiety level. Try this - find a picture with a straight horizon. At the horizon use the rectangle marque tool to draw a narrow rectangle from the horizon up a little ways. Use Ctrl C to copy and Ctrl V to paste. You will have a new layer. With that layer selected go to Image/adjustments and you can change the brightness of that layer (among many other options). Then take the eraser tool and set it to 25% opacity and erase the top edge of the box to blend it in with picture. Then do the same with a box drawn from horizon down a little. You will probably have to fiddle a little where the two boxes overlap at the horizon. The end result should be a horizon with a light band on either side. You may want to blur it with the gausian blur (in filters). Just select the layer you want to work on first. This is a low tech start, but at least a start. Hope this helps. |
Posted on 23/03/09 06:56:36 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Drag a selection with the marquee and feather it with refine edge, (or feather in versions earlier than CS3). Create a brightness and contrast adjustment layer with the selection still active. Push up the brightness and reduce the contrast. I have found that it is best to use the old default version of the tool. This was particularly useless at adjusting B&C when compared with Curves, but it's great for this technique. Finally paint with black or white on the Adj Layer mask to tailor as appropriate. Nick |
Posted on 23/03/09 12:06:39 PM |
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Scott
* Posts: 40 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Thank you Nick & Cy Cy, thanks I will start experimenting as soon as I get a better idea of exactly what to do. I think I understand the process you mention and will try. Nick, I know how to drag a selection with a Marquee tool, that bit is easy, but how do I feather it with refine edge? Apart from that bit I understand the process you mention and again will also try. I have just recieved a message from Michal, unfortunately his English is not so good. His reply on how he does it was... "I draw white line in horizont and use gaussian blur, thats all." As I want to follow his process more accurately, can you say what it is he does exactly? There's obviously more to it than drawing a white line and blurring it. I'm guessing the gradient effect he gets is by layer masking and reducing opacity on the brush? 
Many thanks for the advice so far. Scott |
Posted on 23/03/09 12:56:29 PM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Once you drag the 'box', go to Select feather, or with CS3 and later go to Select Refine edge. Alternatively, enter Quick Mask and paint with Black as the foreground colour. When you leave QM a selection will be returned. Nick |
Posted on 23/03/09 1:11:47 PM |
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Luis
Six-String Synthesist Posts: 236 Reply  |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Is this the type of effect you are trying to create? If so, try this. 
Please keep in mind I'm using Photoshop 7.0. I have a picture of here which was originally in Color. What I did was desaturate it (Image > Adjustment > Desaturate) or (Shift + Ctrl + U). 2. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and create a selection. For this picture, I created a selection of the top half. Now go to Select > Feather. A Feather Selection window appears. Type in a number for the Feather Radius. The Higher the number, that softer the selection will be. 3. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur 4. Create a new layer. Choose White for the Foreground color and select the Gradient Tool. In the Menu Bar click on the little triangle (circled in red) and select the Foreground to Transparent and also select the Reflected Gradient (red Arrow). NOw great the gradient start below the horizon and end just bove the horizon. Just experiment. NOw adjust the opacity. I hope this helps some. |
Posted on 23/03/09 1:19:02 PM |
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steve hill
Brain Basher Posts: 228 Reply  |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Just had a quick play your right it seem a little more complicated. Basically you can paint draw or use the gradient tool to place a white area on a new layer, add blur and change the opacity. its one of those methods that trial and error to produce the result you want |
Posted on 23/03/09 1:41:51 PM |
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steve hill
Brain Basher Posts: 228 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
luis great as always whens the book due out |
Posted on 23/03/09 3:47:01 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 104 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Scott Steve Hill gave you the hints for the technique Michal sent. To make it a little clearer try these steps. Open picture, go to Window and make sure you have Layers checked. In the layers window click on next to last icon on bottom to create new layer. Stay in this layer to draw. Select white color, and a soft large brush and paint the white line at the horizon. In the layer box you can vary the opacity for the correct effect. You can then select filter/gaussian blur and adjust the blur. Done, to Michal's standard. |
Posted on 23/03/09 3:57:22 PM |
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cy98
** Posts: 104 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Luis Thanks for the instructions and the screen shots to back it up on the gradient tool. I learned something today. Have not played around much with the various options on how the gradient tool can be modified. Always something new to learn. |
Posted on 24/03/09 08:26:26 AM |
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Scott
* Posts: 40 Reply |
Re: Dream like blurred horizons
Cy, Steve Luis Nick. Many thanks guys. I believe there is enough information here to kick me off to a good start. The only thing for me to do now is to experiment and get feedback. See if I get a thumbs up from Michal. Thanks again Scott |