The skull

[windrider86]

Kind of blah. First thing, first. Duplicate layer and adjust shadows and highlights. Merge and duplicate again. On the duplicate layer destaurate and convert to negative image. Next apply gaussian blur at level 45. Looks scary now however when the blend mode is changed to overlay it brings out more of the detail. Merge layers and duplicate again. Apply a sepia tone to the top layer and merge layers. Use the dodge and burn tool to darken midtones and highlight the bright areas. Sharpen. Create a fill layer and flood fill with black, lower opcaity to 65% (so you can see what you are doing). Create a mask layers and set paint colors to black and white for the background. Ont he mask layer begin painting with brush, I ususally start out with 0 hardness and then go back later with 50% hardeness to sharpen up the details. Continue painting until areas are covered to liking. Bring the opacity back up on layer to 100% (or what ever you like) and then merge all layers. the end results:

[gh patriot]

The after is awesome. It really seems to jump off my monitor. Great detail in your isolsation.

[Erick67]

Very cool...so much more dramatic and has a serious WOW factor in the after image.

[xxpinballxx]

neat image Michelle.
I like the after and think that first image can be used as a texture for alot of other images and in different ways.....

[anthonybeard]

i love how the textures on the horns really pop out in the edit. nice!

[private]

you are the master of making some BLAH into something WOW!

[DigitalCamerasAustralia]

Wow! Fantastic final product. Very death-like

[simplyjoed]

Nicely done. Very interesting result. Love it.

[WooD]

Too Nice!

[G0mez]

Thanks for sharing this Windrider, it's very good to know...