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Posted on 01/08/10 03:55:46 AM
Marcel
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Posts: 13

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Mahogany Wood Texture
I'm quite new to the Photoshop experience and really appreciate the 100% Photoshop book.

I've reached a snag with getting the effects for the mahogany wood texture (Ch. 1, P. 25) and am seeking some advice on how the mahogany texture is achieved with the tools recommended in the text.

I am patient and have been messing around, but after a couple of hours I haven't gotten the knack for it. Not really even close. Anyone out there with a tip or two as to how they achieved it with some success?

Any advice is immensely appreciated! Cheers!

Posted on 01/08/10 8:06:30 PM
scoobyclub
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Posts: 29

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Re: Mahogany Wood Texture
When I did this I noticed the following.

1. Working on a big image helps ( I worked on about 2000x2000 pixels ) and generate a pattern with lots of detail. This way I could zoom in /zoom out, crop etc to get the pattern with the right "amplitude" of grain.

2. I think I darkened things more than is indicated.

3. I use a pen/tablet for the liquify effects as this, for me anyway, produces a more natural and organic result.

It did take a lot of experimenting though, which is really what this book encourages you to do and the best way to understand.

Posted on 02/08/10 01:34:56 AM
Marcel
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Posts: 13

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Re: Mahogany Wood Texture
Thanks, Scooby.

I have indeed been spending an immense amount of time experimenting--and I'm not going to give up. Last night I got some good results, but I can't seem to achieve the graininess of the textbook example.

I'm a texture hound and appreciate the time investment for best results. But with the tools thus far it seems I'll have to do plenty more messing around to achieve a similar look.

Posted on 03/08/10 07:56:23 AM
Steve Caplin
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Posts: 6823

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Re: Mahogany Wood Texture
The real key to the wood texture lies in the Wave filter settings. The problem here is that the preview is so tiny it really doesn't show what's going on.

So the only solution, really, is to keep experimenting - apply the filter, undo, tweak the settings and apply again, and so on.

When you get the beginnings of a decent texture with this filter, use a light touch with the Liquify filter. Delicate movements work best.

Posted on 03/08/10 1:01:48 PM
Marcel
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Posts: 13

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Re: Mahogany Wood Texture
Thanks, Steve.

While I'm new with the Photoshop, I really do enjoy creating textures in other mediums with my artwork, so I genuinely appreciate the notion that time, experimentation and a light touch are required.

While I cannot yet achieve the look myself, the detail of the wood texture you achieve is stellar. Something to aspire to, indeed!

Posted on 04/08/10 3:49:05 PM
rlmichael
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Posts: 10

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Re: Mahogany Wood Texture
I sometimes use a third party program for wood texture. Try www.spiralgraphics.biz. Wood Workshop is a free download. It is kind of tricky to get the texture into workshop. You have to copy and past. It took me a few tries, but it can be done. Good luck, Mike

Posted on 03/01/11 5:47:44 PM
greywidget
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Posts: 13

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Re: Mahogany Wood Texture
Marcel,

I can't really offer any advice, but have to say that I have been having the exact same problem (on CS1)

I can fairly easily get the grain effect (pine) on page 24, but have had very little success making the transformation from that to the mahogany.

I appreciate what Steve says about a "light touch" on the Filter>Liquify, but from my experimentation it seems there is quite a lot of work to go from Pine to Mahogany. I have been working with an image of 3200 x 2400 pixels and have tried brushes from 100 to 600 pixels.

I'm still not sure how to creat that tighter grain look, my attempts so far just seem to stretch and break up the grain rather than compress and tightening it as it appears in the mahogany.

so - no advice here sorry but some empathy at least!
Craig
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