Ambrotype-ish?

[foxor]

So I'm new to the whole photography post-production thing even though I've been playing around with cameras, and in photoshop for years. I know in general I've always liked the look of this one particular old fashioned/artistic type image which I just today learned is called 'ambrotype' (I think!)

This was my attempt to replicate that effect in photoshop. Criticisms and comments are welcome!

Before:


After:


The process:
-Cropped image
-Converted image to black and white trying to maintain high brightness and contrast
-On separate layer created vignette (lasso to select an ovalish area, feathered ~100px, inverted selection and filled with black)
-Duplicated background, applied gaussian blur ~30px, changed blending mode to luminosity; reduced opacity to ~35%
-Duplicated background, applied gaussian blur ~30px, changed blending mode to overlay; reduced opacity to ~60%
-On new layer, used watercolour brushes from http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free...oshop-brushes/ to create a black border
-On new layer, used splatter brushes from http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free...oshop-brushes/ and watercolour brushes to create black and white texture, reduced opacity to whatever seemed appropriate; changed blending mode to soft light
-Created new layer and changed blending mode to 'colour'; picked a neutral greenish-brown colour and filled the layer

[mrpolitics]

I love this effect, nice job!

[Glayva]

Excellent result - very well done and thanks for the process details

[foxor]

Thanks, glad you like it!