Paths, masks and Paths, masks and blend modesblend modes

Where to start ?Where to start ?► Find a photo that you Find a photo that you

want to use, and please want to use, and please make sure it is a high make sure it is a high resolution pictures resolution pictures (because you’ll need to (because you’ll need to zoom in to do some zoom in to do some effects)effects)

► So for my project, I So for my project, I chose a picture of a chose a picture of a random lady off the random lady off the internet.internet.

► And open the picture And open the picture in Photoshop as a new in Photoshop as a new document.document.

Step 2: Use the Pen ToolStep 2: Use the Pen Tool

► Use the Pen Tool and the Path optionUse the Pen Tool and the Path option► Be sure to choose all the options as Be sure to choose all the options as

the graph shown above. the graph shown above.

Step 3: Zoom in & DragStep 3: Zoom in & Drag

► Zoom in your photo, Zoom in your photo, and use the Pen Tool and use the Pen Tool to drag the shape of to drag the shape of the edge of the the edge of the photo.photo.

► You can always You can always come back to fix come back to fix your line later. your line later.

► At the end, make At the end, make sure you’ve sure you’ve completed the frame completed the frame of the shape.of the shape.

Step 4: Rename the PathStep 4: Rename the Path

► Go to your Path Go to your Path Tool on the right, Tool on the right, and you can see and you can see the outline edge the outline edge that you just Pen that you just Pen tool of. tool of.

► Double click on Double click on the “Work Path”, the “Work Path”, and rename. and rename.

Step 5: Refine EdgeStep 5: Refine Edge

► Load the path as a Load the path as a selection by clicking selection by clicking on the icon in the on the icon in the Path panel.Path panel.

► Go to Select > Go to Select > Refine Edge and set Refine Edge and set the Radius, Contrast the Radius, Contrast …etc, as the way …etc, as the way you think the photo you think the photo might look better. might look better.

Step 6: Create a new layerStep 6: Create a new layer

► Create a new layer Create a new layer above your original above your original background. background.

► Hold down the Alt key Hold down the Alt key and click on the ‘ Add and click on the ‘ Add layer mask’ icon in the layer mask’ icon in the Layers panel.Layers panel.

► Then select the layer Then select the layer image and go to Edit > image and go to Edit > Fill and choose black as Fill and choose black as the contents. Select the contents. Select OK. OK.

Step 7: AdjustmentStep 7: Adjustment► This step will create the This step will create the

effect of a backlight behind effect of a backlight behind the subject that slowly fades the subject that slowly fades to black in the corners of the to black in the corners of the image. image.

► Press Control, and click on Press Control, and click on the layer mask to load the the layer mask to load the mask as a selection. mask as a selection.

► Click on the ‘Create new Click on the ‘Create new fill/adjustment layer’ icon. fill/adjustment layer’ icon.

► Select the Blue channel and Select the Blue channel and drag the adjustment point drag the adjustment point sitting in the bottom left-sitting in the bottom left-hand corner of the diagonal hand corner of the diagonal line until the output value line until the output value reads 90 or more. reads 90 or more.

► Also change the Red, Green Also change the Red, Green and RGB channel. and RGB channel.

Step 8: Gradient ToolStep 8: Gradient Tool

► Select the Gradient Tool in the Tools panel. Select the Gradient Tool in the Tools panel. Select the Foreground to Transparent and Select the Foreground to Transparent and Radial Gradient options with black selected as Radial Gradient options with black selected as the Foreground color, set to Opacity to 100% the Foreground color, set to Opacity to 100% (as the graph above)(as the graph above)

► Click and drag from a position in the center of Click and drag from a position in the center of the picture out past the top right-hand edge of the picture out past the top right-hand edge of the image window to create the backlight the image window to create the backlight effect.effect.

Step 9: Find images to blend and Step 9: Find images to blend and dragdrag

► Find an image that you Find an image that you want to blend in.want to blend in.

► In my case, I choose an In my case, I choose an American Flag. American Flag.

► Open and click and Open and click and drag the layer drag the layer thumbnail of the thumbnail of the blended image into your blended image into your main photomain photo

► Hold down the Shift key Hold down the Shift key as you let go of the as you let go of the drops thumbnail to drops thumbnail to center the image in the center the image in the new window.new window.

Step 10: Blend Step 10: Blend ModeMode

► Hold down the Alt Hold down the Alt key and drag the key and drag the layer mask from layer mask from Layer 1 to Layer 2 to Layer 1 to Layer 2 to copy it.copy it.

► Set the blend mode Set the blend mode of the drops layer of the drops layer (Layer 2) to Soft (Layer 2) to Soft Light or Overlay. And Light or Overlay. And adjust the opacity as adjust the opacity as you want.you want.

Step 11: Adjustment-CurvesStep 11: Adjustment-Curves

► After experimenting After experimenting with the opacity and with the opacity and blend mode of the top blend mode of the top layer you can adjust layer you can adjust the tonality of the the tonality of the underlying background underlying background layer to suit the blend. layer to suit the blend.

► Select the background Select the background layer and select a layer and select a Curves adjustment Curves adjustment from the Adjustments from the Adjustments panel. panel.

► Expand the contrast of Expand the contrast of the underlying layer by the underlying layer by creating an S-curve creating an S-curve

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally, you get your finished Finally, you get your finished

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