Using layers and adding texture

[dlaf]

My only qualifications for a tutorial is that I can do these steps and wanted to hopefully help someone not familiar with layers how they can be used, and give back to this site that has taught me so much. My post processing was done using Paint Shop Pro XI. Enjoy!

Here is my original photo:

From DPS Posts

Nice flowers, but a little ho-hum. Here’s what I did:

1. Cropped to take out unneeded brick and leaves.

2. First I duplicated the background layer and did a couple of gentle unsharp masks.

3. I then made a copy of the sharpened layer and applied a nice Gaussian blur of 8. Since I wanted that largest rose to be the focal point, I then used my eraser brush and erased the corner rose from the blurred version so the sharpened rose would be peeking through. Here’s what that layer looks like:

From DPS Posts

4. I then made a copy of the blurred layer and did yet another Gaussian blur of only 5 this time. I didn’t want the right rose to be the blurriest, so once again I used my erase brush and let the right rose that wasn’t as blurred to peek through. Here’s that layer:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...gYNpIWfPl-3GBA

Remember the layer I duplicated already had the left corner rose erased. So then I had my three roses with three different accentuated levels of blur. Still not done.

5. I went to flickr and did a search for “texture” in group names and found a couple of folks (actually there are lots) with free textures to be used as you like. The one I used here is from jaiel and it’s called “honey.” I pasted it in as my next layer set to “Darken” and applied some Gaussian blur. The layer opacity is set to 73. Here’s what it looks like:

From DPS Posts

6. This was nice, but I wanted more. So I took the texture layer, duplicated it, “flipped” it, set the layer to “Hard Light” and the Opacity to 26. I also erased a bit of the texture on the left because it just became too dark when combined with the layer below. Here’s what it looks like:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...SIa84e_2eDSYuw

7. One final step to “Merge All” and the project is complete! A fun time in post processing and an interesting treatment to some simple roses.



Hope my instructions are easy to follow. Please feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

Debbie

[Saralonde]

Thanks Debbie! There are a lot of different ways to do textures and tons of free textures out there to try. Maybe some people will post more examples here.

[jiminyClickit]

dlaf,

From Ho-hum to Hotchachacha! Good work is well-rewarded.

[private]

WOW! I cannot wait to try that!

[lissykeeper]

Nice tutorial. Your instructions were easy for me to follow. And I really like your finished product.

[dlaf]

Sara, jiminy, Pat, and lissykeeper,

I'm glad you understood the tutorial and liked the result. I hope it serves as an inspiration for those that haven't worked with layers yet.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Debbie

p.s. jiminy, was that a bit of Jimmy Durante I spied in your post?

[Nathan deGargoyle]

I've never worked with layers but I'm definitely going to have a go soon. Great tutorial Debbie!

However it looks like you gave your rose a touch of Black Spot in the process. Better get the sprayer out!