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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge
#2603241 - 04/26/04 12:53 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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Let's say you created an image that contains imagery with sharp, 'fake-looking' edges ... everything in life has a soft edge visually to some degree if you look around ... this is called a 'feather' ... so before i even start the tutorial, here is a starting image i created (not feathered) and the result (feathered) so you know what the fuck this tutorial is about: STARTING IMAGE: FINISHED: alright, now onto the tutorial ... Step One: the starting image as you can see, the lines of each letter are very crisp (choppy edges), which to me does not seem clean and flowing ... Step Two: create a new layer (highlighted) pretty straightforward ... Step Three: click back on the bottom (background) layer, and click the magic wand tool (highlighted) in every contained white space to select all of the negative area (the entire area not used by the letters) ... to do this, hold shift and click each white section ... NOTE: if you click twice on a section, it will no longer be selected ... when you select the areas with the magic wand, each area should have moving 'ants' around it: once all areas are selected at once do NOT click anywhere on the canvas again, or you may change the selections to what you dont want ... Step Four: click on the marquee tool and then go to Select --> Feather ... change feather to 1 pixel (or 2+ for an even softer feel, but i use 1 pixel the most for more sharp but soft images) and click ok now click on the new layer you created before and, using a paintbrush with a white fill, paint the ENTIRE selected area making sure to miss no spots at all ... im sure you can figure this out without a picture by now ... deselect using the marquee tool and clicking anywhere on the canvas, and your picture is now softer and more flowing ... FINISHED! and the 2 pixel Feathered version, so you can see the difference ... it almost looks like its glowing because its so soft but firm: there are millions of ways to use this to your advantage, and ive done almost all my best works using this technique to keep the picture not looking 'choppy' so you ask, why not just add a white glow instead, etc? well, if you are making a piece consisting of hundreds of things that need to be feathered, if you put glows everywhere it will only be obvious as a glow ... by feathering you retain the definition of the shape more than a glow while still being soft ... hope this helps, i'll be making lots of tutorials for MA&L to help people out ... comments/critiques, this is my first real tutorial i've made ...
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Middleman
Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2603397 - 04/26/04 01:37 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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RFO man!
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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: Middleman]
#2603470 - 04/26/04 01:49 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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i know i'm showing even the simplest of steps, but i want to get everybody on the same page with basics so that when i start discussing more advanced topics i don't have to explain every detail, and for example, all i'll have to say is 'feather this edge'
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Middleman
Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2603552 - 04/26/04 02:12 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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excruciating detail is the essence of a great tek. i really dig the screen captures... top notch.
there is So much to learn w/ these progs, thanx for bringing an attitude of shareablity.
i'm currently learning to use Illustrator, please post some tips when there's Time.
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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: Middleman]
#2603560 - 04/26/04 02:21 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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i will definitely be moving into illustrator topics soon, but i feel that photoshop is better to learn before moving into illustrator for most, as i feel vector is much harder to perfect than pixel work ... eventually, i will make tutorials about combining the programs for really intriguing effects (as i have done in many works)
so there is much in the future ahead, and i plan to compile it all at some point as an FAQ
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Blastrid
e l e m e n t al i t y
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2603631 - 04/26/04 03:03 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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Awesome, I'm reeally looking forward to more tut's. This tek is great HB, missing any small detail because it was left out or assumed can ruin a whole tutorial...but yours is clear.
high fiver, i'ma go mess with this
-------------------- Blas'?trid (bl?s tr?d) n. 3rd generation derivitave of a combination of 'bastard' and 'blasted'. Used as both an insult or an expletive. ex. Blastrid! Stereopattern <--My music.
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Annom
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Registered: 12/22/02
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2603647 - 04/26/04 03:09 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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This is great!
I always used PSP for simple image editing(slow PC). Always wanted to learn some more about photoshop. This is the right moment to start
THANKS!!!!
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MilkyMedia
Lost Soul
Registered: 06/11/03
Posts: 259
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2603757 - 04/26/04 05:09 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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awe man...I love hard, crisp edges. Now I have to try this. And the detail put into the tutorial....nice.
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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: MilkyMedia]
#2604182 - 04/26/04 10:25 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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i'd say the best use for Feathering is when you are doing digital photo editing ...
here is a photochop done WITHOUT feathering ... if you look at the side of the shrunken head, the choppiness makes it look very unrealistic ... :
but in the vats of blood picture, the 1 pixel feather on the left head makes it look seamless, and on the right head you can notice that the 2 pixel feather was too much:
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Vats of Blood
Dude, what the heck??
Registered: 10/24/02
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2605156 - 04/26/04 03:10 PM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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this is pretty cool, cuz ive always wanted to play around w/ photshop and illustrator but i erally dont know what im doing
ps i cant believe you started this tutorial before you finished your potsmoking one!!
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TODAY
Battletoad
Registered: 09/25/03
Posts: 10,218
Loc: Metropolis City, USA
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2610331 - 04/28/04 02:07 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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damn HB...that's tight. how long did it take you to draw that out?
-------------------- ca'rouse (k-rouz) intr.v. To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking.
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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: TODAY]
#2610349 - 04/28/04 02:19 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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it took about 10 minutes
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TODAY
Battletoad
Registered: 09/25/03
Posts: 10,218
Loc: Metropolis City, USA
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2612855 - 04/28/04 06:41 PM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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BASTARD!! when do i get as good as you?
-------------------- ca'rouse (k-rouz) intr.v. To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking.
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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: TODAY]
#2613333 - 04/28/04 08:59 PM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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practice practice practice
the main reason why im so perfectionist about drawing is because i feel that i learn best by figuring out the absolute best way to do things
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TODAY
Battletoad
Registered: 09/25/03
Posts: 10,218
Loc: Metropolis City, USA
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2613566 - 04/28/04 09:40 PM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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did you read the instruction booklet or just mess around with the program until you eventually learned everything you know now?
its a frustrating process to learn a new program. i learned bryce 4.0 a while back by messing with random aspects of the program until i had it on lockdown. i made some killer images with that im really excited at becoming proficient at illustrator like you HB.
-------------------- ca'rouse (k-rouz) intr.v. To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking.
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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: TODAY]
#2613761 - 04/28/04 10:19 PM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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the best way to learn is through having no fear of doing something wrong, and just experimenting with all the tools ... which is easier said than done, but rewarding in the end ...
i STILL don't know everything about photoshop, for sure, theres a lot more to learn ... but i do just know exactly how to use the programs functions to draw what i see in my head
i never had the instruction booklet
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slime_R
The Good Doctor
Registered: 04/20/02
Posts: 858
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2613943 - 04/28/04 11:14 PM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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Great tutorial. Your style is very intriguing and I hope to pick up some tips from you. Going through endless tutorials is the only way to go if you ask me. One can pick up a small tip from each one. It gets to the point where you begin to think about images you've created and what effects and techniques you can utilize to make them better. I do this all the time when I'm getting ready to sleep.
Most good artists are real stingy about disclosing their secrets
Props.
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HB
Registered: 04/06/01
Posts: 42,528
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: slime_R]
#2614117 - 04/28/04 11:59 PM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Most good artists are real stingy about disclosing their secrets
indeed, i know that even if people try to emulate my style exactly, nobody will know exactly how to approach an image using my techniques to make it 'like mine' and so im not scared to share, and i enjoy sharing because helping others = k3y
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SkorpivoMusterion
Livin in theTwilight Zone...
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: HB]
#2615249 - 04/29/04 08:30 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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I had some fun with your picture, so I thought I'd share ..
-------------------- Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.
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Annom
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Registered: 12/22/02
Posts: 6,367
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Re: Adobe Photoshop Lesson #1: Feathering to Soften An Edge [Re: TODAY]
#2615268 - 04/29/04 08:38 AM (19 years, 10 months ago) |
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its a frustrating process to learn a new program.
I love it
i learned bryce 4.0 a while back by messing with random aspects of the program
cool! my avatar is a VERY simple bryce render. Now it's time to learn 3DStudioMax little harder...
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