Picture softening tutorial in Photoshop Elements...

[flyingpigeon_SC]

I decided to do a little tutorial... Alyce and Sisaly explained it briefly to me, so I do not take full credit for this. I just went more in depth and got pictures :D This is if you have Photoshop elements (I have 4.0 but I don't think it matters)... I hope this helps :)

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/flyingpigeon/round13.jpg
Alright, we have this picture. I like it, but I think it'd look better with the warming effect.

First, we'll duplicate the layer...
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/flyingpigeon/tut2.jpg

Then we gaussian blur the top layer...
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/flyingpigeon/tut3.jpg

Choose a setting for gaussian blur around 2-5 (the stronger the blur, the stronger the sheen/shine)...
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/flyingpigeon/tut4.jpg

Next, use soft filter on the layer that you just used gaussian blur on...
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/flyingpigeon/tut5.jpg

Next play with the opacity (this step isn't necessary)...
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/flyingpigeon/tut6.jpg

Alright, hope this helped! You can try to tone it down by saturating the picture. Remember to use, not abuse, because overly softened pictures don't look good at all :| And sorry for stretching the screen! I wanted the pictures to be easy to read what I'm doing... if it bugs anybody that much, I can take it down :)

[flyingpigeon_SC]

If anyone wants to add to this, or say how to do it in a different program, feel free! Go ahead and post pictures using this techinique if you feel like it too :D

[Urbanique]

I'd just like to say that effects like "Softening" and "Sharpening" can be your bestfriend or worst enemy just like FP said.

Always try to keep the opacity low so it doesn't look too blurry/hazey. ;)

Great tut. FP! :D

[flyingpigeon_SC]

Thanks Urban :D

Even in my example, I over-did the softening... I usually set the opacity to 25-50%. Like in this picture...
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/pigeonator/Frankie/frankieheadsmall.jpg
I had the opacity at 20%.

I should ask DK if its okay to add a sharpening tutorial to this... it sounds weird, but a lot of people over-do sharpening too, or even don't get how to do it at all... :shrug: I could ask her if I could add something about burning and dodging too if anyone is interested... y'know, and a bunch of really simple techiniques to make a pretty picture. Like how to photoshop a background in...

[MagicBeans]

That would be great if you'd do that FP. :bow:

[flyingpigeon_SC]

I just PMed Discord about it, so... if she says go, I'd be happy to do it!

[discordkitty]

Go ahead :)

[summer_wine]

i'm eagerly awaiting the next installment for this tutorial, flyingpigeon. your pics always turn out really cool.

like in that example pic you posted the headshot, her skin looks so real. it's amazing.

[pixie_SC]

Thanks, this was useful!
I can add something from myself: for softening I use Filter-> Distort->Diffuse Glow (make sure the backgound color is set to white or any other light color you want the glow to be). It's very easy to over-do, though. It's a ps effect, but I think it is most likely in ps elements too.
And, if I feel I have gone overboard with softening or any other filter, I can tone it down with Edit-> Fade... It treats the filter as if it was a separate layer with adjustable opacity, so it's possible to tone the effect down without copying your picture to a new layer before applying a filter.

However there are things I would really want to know. Like, how to get the picture both soft and glowing and with clear, sharp edges at the same time. I have seen some pictures like that. (Your edges are clear, flyingpigeon, but your picture is not THAT glowing)

EDIT: here are some examples:

(background color set to white)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a353/moon_pixie/anna.jpg


(background color set to light green to create fairytale forrest effect)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a353/moon_pixie/trees.jpg

[flyingpigeon_SC]

Summer- thanks! I think I'll be able to make a photoshopping backgrounds tutorial tonight, and maybe even a burn and dodge one, so... stay tuned! :D

Pixie- you mean in my second picture? The one of the girl I have in my avatar? If thats what you are talking about...
1) get a decent picture on a plain background.
2) cut out your sim using the magic wand OR use the paint-bucket and set it to clear
3) duplicate the layer you just made
4) Gaussian blur the bottom layer
5) play with the opacity
6) merge layers
7) duplicate the layer you just merged
8) gaussian blur the bottom layer again, but this time, go to enhance- adjust colors and make the layer completely black (this adds the dark shadow around the sim)
9) play with opacity again

Hope this helped? I also used the softening techinique posted above but set the opacity pretty low...

Now, if you are talking about my first picture, I really didn't do anything besides what I said, and I have a pretty crappy graphics card so that couldn't be it.

I haven't tried diffuse glow... I think I might mess around with it later. Do you have any pictures of what the result looks like? Thanks for explaining it :) And yeah, most filters are pretty easy to abuse :lol:

[pixie_SC]

Uh no, flyingpigeon, I wasn't talking about your pictures - I should make myself clearer :lol: I meant the really blurry/glowing ones I have seen around but with clear, sharp details (like, overall soft and glowing pic, but the sim's eyes and other important features still look sharp and stand out) But your explanation was still useful!:)
Speaking of what I asked, I guess it can be done by playing with the eraser and/or copying another (not softened) layer on top of the picture and leaving only the black channel to accent details. Have yet to try it out..
And I will post an example for diffuse glow.

[flyingpigeon_SC]

Oh... I gotcha. I misread that :laugh:

Can't wait to see your example :D

Edit: I think I know what you mean... like how Essa does it?
http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=757537&postcount=479
If thats what you mean I'll PM her.

[pixie_SC]

Edit: I think I know what you mean... like how Essa does it?
http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=757537&postcount=479
If thats what you mean I'll PM her.
Kind of... and also like here:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=223411
and here:
http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=839037&postcount=606
(third and second pic)

...now that I look at them I think it might be that they are using your technique alone *shrug* not sure anymore. Yes, it would be nice if you asked ;)
I posted the examples above.

[flyingpigeon_SC]

I like the looks of diffuse glow... I think I'll mess around with it later.

Anyway, do you mean how the pictures glow, but they don't turn orange-ish? Just use the softening tutorial and then play with saturation.

Or do you mean something else... ?

[pixie_SC]

I like the looks of diffuse glow... I think I'll mess around with it later.

Anyway, do you mean how the pictures glow, but they don't turn orange-ish? Just use the softening tutorial and then play with saturation.

Or do you mean something else... ?

Orange-ish?? ... I think I'll better try out your technique and then ask questions if I will have any, because then I will know what exactly I'm talking about :D :lol: This has just got too confusing, lol

[flyingpigeon_SC]

I'm sorry Pixie... English is my first language and I still can't speak it well :lol:



Can somebody do me a huge favor? I need a picture on a plain background, preferably full-body, and nothing on the sim can match the background. Could someone post a picture that I could use? Its for a new tutorial I'm planning on making...

[Annelae]

Just found about this, and thanks! I have Elements 4.0 too, but nobody really seems to have that. And I'm really dumb at applying techniques so this was right up my alley!

[Kahlia]

I just found this too! Hehe! I'd love it if someone would continue on fp's work.

I've always wondered how to get this (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=877539&postcount=80) and this (http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=909810&postcount=31) sort of effect by Essa. The pictures look so warm!

I know all about the Gaussian Blur and Soft Light, i use it, but her pictures look a bit different...hmmmmmm..

[alexasrosa]

Kind of... and also like here:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=223411
and here:
http://forums.sims2community.com/showpost.php?p=839037&postcount=606
(third and second pic)

...now that I look at them I think it might be that they are using your technique alone *shrug* not sure anymore. Yes, it would be nice if you asked ;)
I posted the examples above.

I could be wrong, but it looks to me that the porcelain filter was used. :einstein

And thanks so much for all the tuts. I'm learning a lot and looking forward to more and more !

[pixie_SC]

Kahlia - could this be this technique flyingpigeon described above? It differs from that in the first post and should give a darker, warmer effect (...I don't know as I haven't tried it myself, just guessing :mute: )
Pixie- you mean in my second picture? The one of the girl I have in my avatar? If thats what you are talking about...
1) get a decent picture on a plain background.
2) cut out your sim using the magic wand OR use the paint-bucket and set it to clear
3) duplicate the layer you just made
4) Gaussian blur the bottom layer
5) play with the opacity
6) merge layers
7) duplicate the layer you just merged
8) gaussian blur the bottom layer again, but this time, go to enhance- adjust colors and make the layer completely black (this adds the dark shadow around the sim)
9) play with opacity again

[JanePstar]

I love this! I don't use Photoshop Though! *sigh* :) This was a great tut. though. I give you 2 thumbs up. If I had more thumbs, I'd give you even more thumbs up.

Wow that has to be the first time in my ENTIRE life that I said thumbs 3 times in a sentance.

[Cat_SC]

Amazing!
This works well in paint.NET as well! :)

If anybody wants to do it in paint.NET heres how I did it following the instructions flyingpigeon gave:

Layers>Duplicate Layer
Effects>Blurs>Gaussian Blur
Effects>Photo>Glow (How I did the Soft Light)
Layers>Layer Properties (Then play around with the opacity's)

That's how to find the editing on paint.NET (or how I did it anyway)

Thanks so much! :)