3 Replies Latest reply: Nov 23, 2014 8:09 AM by Mark Sand RSS

    How do I create this affect???

    spweave Community Member

      Hi Everyone,

      I'm back to this forum to ask for some help on something I know I should know how to do, but for the life of me I can't seem to get this effect to work.  It's a matter of working with the layers and I just can't seem to get it right.  I have attached a photo from pinterest and absolutely love the effect.  At first glance, it looks very easy to do.  I tried to make a duplicate of that layer, the photo, and then bring the opacity down and then take the eraser tool to bring out the center of the subject.  Not working.......Please help

       

       

      mobile-7221-1392248769-3_resized.jpg

        • 1. Re: How do I create this affect???
          Mark Sand Community Member

          Try this:

          Add a blank layer and fill with white. Lower the Opacity to get the fade you want. Use the Eraser to restore the original.

           

          As an alternative to the Eraser, add a layers mask to the white layer. Click on the mask to activate it. Set the Foreground/Background color swatches to their black/white default values. Activate the Brush tool and paint with black to restore the original. In this example I chose a soft brush to "feather" the edges. If you restore more than you want, paint with white to bring back the fade. You can type "X" to toggle between the black and white. The obvious advantage of the mask is that, unlike with the Eraser, you can fine-tune the result all you want.

           

          sshot-1.jpg

          • 2. Re: How do I create this affect???
            spweave Community Member

            Hi Mike,

            Thanks for your help!  I followed your instructions, unfortunately, I still didn't get the effect I was looking for.  Maybe it's the picture I'm trying to use.  I also looked more closely at the picture I attached, and it appears that the subjects opacity was turned down as well, as I can see through them in certain spots.  I do appreciate your help, thank you once again.

            • 3. Re: How do I create this affect???
              Mark Sand Community Member

              It wasn't clear if you actually wanted to have some of the subject's opacity reduced as in your example. If so you will have to have 2 pictures, one with the subjects and another with a background you want to place them on.

               

              1. Select the subjects and copy the selection to the clipboard (Edit > Copy).

              2. Open the background picture and paste from the clipboard (Edit > Paste). The subject will be on a new layer with transparent background (Layer 1 in my example below)

              3. Duplicate this layer (Layer 1 copy).

              4. Temporarily turn off the visibility of Layer 1 and lower the Opacity of the copy layer to get the faded look you want.

              5. Add a layer mask to Layer 1 and fill with black. At this point Layer 1 and its copy look identical.

              6. Activate the Layer 1 mask and paint with white the portion of the subject you want restored to to the original. Paint with blade to restore the portion you want faded.couple.jpg