Christmas postcard

[saskeltxu]

This is my first post in the forum (hope I doing ok) and my first photoshop work.

Nikon D80
f/7.1
1/13s -0.7
ISO 1000
95mm
4.4
No flash

Prossesing:
I used neat image to enhance the noise level. I deleted the handle. I manipuled the color balance to try to give a vintage sepia aspect. I used 3 different textures and lots of brushes at different texture levels.

Hope you like it.

[barladeanca]

I absolutely LOVE this. You did an awesome job! Can you post your step-by step on how you achieved the final results? I'd really appreciate it.

Andreea

[GeorgiaPeach]

Great job!

[saskeltxu]

Thank you very much.

First of all, sorry for my english.

I would try to describe the step by step how to but it is my first photoshop work and also my first how to ;-)

It was really difficult to shoot the photo.... my babies are 3 years old and 1 year old. They wanted to play, and obviously they didn´t want to play in the window. But suddenly the older began to try to blow out the candle but the window was between him and the candle and the younger baby was looking at him. It was beautiful.... good for a christmas greeting card.

Then I changed the white color balance in photoshop to Tungnsgeno, and deleted the handle of the window using clone tool. Some noise in the photo... removed with neat image. It was no really important but at that moment I didn´t know what was going to be the final result... so better if the photo was ok.

Next I tried to give a vintage look to the photo. I don´t really remember all the steps, but I will try:
I duplicate the backgound layer and changed to soft light. I duplicated it, multiply and 50% opacity. I modified the layer1 front color HSB huge:307,8º, saturation: 87,45 and brightness: 63,9 and background color HSB huge:41º, saturation: 5,5 and brightness: 98.
Next a new Adjustment Layer and play with color level and opacity (actually I don´t remember the options). Then a new layer with some brown color and overlay the layer and used different duplicate of the layer and options like multiply. Play with it.

Once it looked some like vintage, I began to play with textures. I downloaded lots of them but I really love those from

Shadowhouse Creations

I used 2 textures in three layers (different opacities) and used different vintage and grunge brushes (at different layers, playing with opacity, colors, deleting....):
Free Adobe Photoshop brushes | In obscuro
Typographic Grunge Brushes by ~Scully7491 on deviantART

I used other free brushes but I deleted them from my computer so I can´t give you the information.

I used underexposure tool to give light to children faces.

I wanted to use a frame to look like and old photo. I tried some vintages ones, but no good result. So at the end, I enlarged the textures.

Well I'd tried to do my best.

I attach also the back side of the greeting card.
Thanks

[bethard728]

Looks great! When I first saw the thumbnails I thought I'd like the first better because it seemed warmer and more colorful. But when I enlarged them I could see they both have totally different looks and I like them both! Great job on the vintage effect! That looks really nice!

[sjlarue]

Nice job! Real creative.