How to Cheat in Photoshop

Steve Caplin wrote:
This was a surprisingly tricky Challenge, which of course is why I set it. But it does bring in a range of skills and techniques. I'll be explaining how it's done in the next edition of HotChiPs, featuring - of course - your entries.

First to spin was Garfield72, with a good attempt - I like the shape of the labels, which follow the shape of the bottle well. The main label needs to be condensed on the right, though, to follow the perspective as the bottle curves away. The remaining space is well filled with texture!

A neat solution from Josephine Harvatt!

A convincing entry from GKB, with the label neatly condensed at the edge - and a good attempt at that very tricky bottom label. I like the texture in the bottle, especially the distorted view of the dado rail behind. And something of a tour de force in the second entry - and again in the third entry, with the opened bottle. Watch the level of liquid in the glass: we need to see that more from above to match the bottle. A good fourth entry entry - Gordon, you really do need to know when to stop!

A well-turned label from James, who has wisely opted to leave the bottom label well alone. That signature should have turned with it, though. A whole series of label rotations in the animated version - what a lot of work you've put into this! I like the way the hand covers the liquid level... maybe unscrew the cap next?

A striking new background from tooquilos, featuring a pair of bottles - but why is the revolved label torn off at the corner? The animated reveals all, in an entry that's both sad and poignant... very emotional stuff!

I was intrigued by Sjef's attempt to wrap the bottle around a 3D bottle template - but even if you had managed to do this, it wouldn't have worked, since the image of the bottle is already wrapped around a bottle: you'd need somehow to flatten it out first. The real entry shows a thoughtfully moved label, with a good bottle texture where it's been removed. Just a couple of points: if you're going to make the bottle transparent then it really, really needs to distort the view seen through it; and - drinking whisky out of a paper cup? Not even a tartan one!

A novel entry from Frank, who - retired air traffic controller that he is - has rotated the bottle a precise 45 degrees, as instructed, rather than the 90 degrees everyone else chose (ahem, Gordon). And it's a very good fit, even that tricky label at the bottom... Just one thing - the extreme right side of the label needs to be more condensed, as it rotates away from us.

A good attempt at the tricky problem from Emy, with an extended bottom label and perhaps a slightly over-rippled bottle texture. The spider really adds something here - what a way to go!

A thoughtful and finely-detailed entry from Mariner, with very subtly rotated elements on the bottle. I like the new contents, but they need to refract the background very much more than that: I'd expect a distortion that would be far stronger than you have it here.

Clever work from Kathryn, with the bottle expertly rotated and rolled over on its side - and the liquid level inside the bottle matches the angle of rotation perfectly. A genius entry, Kathryn! This is really spectacular.

The label on Lorenzo1977's entry has rotated fairly well, although it does need to condense more on the right as the bottle turns away. But you must hide that original label more than that! I can still see it poking through. And make sure the new label doesn't blur off the bottle - a hard edged brush needed on your layer mask here, I think.

An interesting image from Darren, with the oversized bottle being turned into a space heater. A well rotated label, although the bottle needs to have some transparency to it if you're going to add a new background... and are the bottle and bagpipe player floating? Give them something to stand on! Ah, there you go - a fixed transparency in the second entry. Good!

A beautiful image from joeysala, into which the bottle has been neatly inserted. Good rotation on those labels, but the curvature of the bottom label is no match for the angles of the plates on the table. Since we can't see the bottom of the bottle, it would have been possible to adjust just that bottom label to make the whole scene fit together much better. Tricky stuff, perspective!

I'm not sure what's going on in Jota120's entry. I do agree that Laphroaig is a far superior tipple to Dewar's, but that wasn't the Challenge I set!

A brave attempt from puffin31939, with an extra whisky glass - and yes, it really is a tricky thing to do, whatever method you choose! I found it was easiest doing it all with Image Warp, which gives the best degree of control.

What does Linda Eckert have against Gerard Depardieu? Have to say, he is looking remarkably unattractive these days. We might have to use a Friday Challenge to improve his appearance.

Cleverly rotated labels from Deborah Morley - but watch those angles: the bottom of the main label needs to match the angle of the label beneath it. I really like the inclusion of the rear label, though, both the truly visible portion and the view through the bottle - very nice.

Very fine rotation from Artwel, with a neatly drawn empty top part to the bottle - and a photographed screw top, which really helps. The main label goes a little awry towards the bottom: I'd recommend turning it into a Smart Object before warping it, so it's easy to adjust later.

This was a really difficult Challenge - congratulations to all who attempted it.