How to make something liek this?

[randytamayo]

I was browsing and stumbled upon idcphotography.com

Saw this...WOW!!!

how was it done? thank you for any help you can provide.

http://www.idcphotography.com/assets/images/w_388_sit_H_72.jpg

[WFDesign]

Looks similar to a "technique" I've been working on. Check out this post (http://www.photoshoptechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=48761#post48761). Basically, you begin with a good photo (the one you posted was already a great pic - well lit, composed, etc.). The painterly effect can be achieved by using the smudge tool to move the pixels around much like you would paint on a canvas. Different brushes get different results. On the pic I posted, I used mainly a small, soft-edged brush with the "Strength" up around 80 or so.

It's just a matter of pushing pixels, bro. There's an entire thread devoted to different techniques here (http://www.photoshoptechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4504). You might want to look there for further advice, if mine example doesn't do it for you.

[randytamayo]

I hope I got your name right...

I like your 'technique' better since I want portions of the picture not affected by the effect (in the example, the face is pretty much untouched)...i could just 'smudge' the image, except portion which i still want to retain.

Thanks also for the other link you gave (the swan...mods)...

[Kevin Connery]

I know of a number of photographers doing this sort of work, and most of them are using Painter rather than Photoshop for it. The 'natural brush' approach Painter uses is apparently more well-suited for this kind of manipulation.

That said, the smudge tool and the liquify tools can do some of the same things, albeit with a less painted look.

The coloration could have been done via a toned monochrome setup (channel mixer or other conversion to black and white plus a sepia/warmtone adjustment) and selective recoloring.

It's done very well. and the effect works well with the original image--in some ways, it's just as difficult an artistic decision knowing WHEN to do it as is the HOW to do it

Another photographer who does a lot of painted photographs is Michael Campbell (http://www.michaelcampbell.com/). He's got some tutorials on
Zuga.net (http://www.zuga.net), both as online videos (for a charge), and in their forums. (His "Painter WOW (http://www.zuga.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=14924)" thread has accumulated over a thousand responses, and would be a good place to start.)

[randytamayo]

I tried going to that Zuga.Net forums, unluckily, the boards seem to be currently down, anyways, i'll just go back there once in a while to check...

Again, thanks.

[madster]

Looks to me like a judicious use of the Smart Blur filter, with the face either selected out or painted back in with the history brush.

[Scott W.]

I'd say it was actually done with Corel Painter. That effect can be achieved in a matter of 5 minutes with painter and the right brush settings.

[lokki]

It's interesting that they claim it's their exclusive digital technique... I've seen this effect quite a bit over the past few years, either with oils or acrylics on glass, or digitally. Heck, even Kinko's is offering to do your photos up like watercolour, oils, or pastels for a hefty fee, and all they do is drop on a filter in PS with very little manipulation. Naturally, it doesn't come out quite so nice!

While it's a beautiful and worthwhile technique, I'm a bit skeptical as to how they can claim a trademark on the phrase, and how they figure they can claim it's exclusive. However, they do seem to have pretty impressive credentials (it sounds also like they are more than happy to tell you just how impressive they are), and the work is gorgeous. I don't doubt the talent, but sheesh, do they lay it on thick...

[Sirius]

WFD that is a great effect... I missed that one!

randytamayo, my first post at this forum turned up some similar ideas to this. Check out the thread at
http://photoshoptechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4010&highlight=movie+poster

[Rob B]

I tried replying before but didn't see my post.

I stumbled on this site
http://www.image-designer.com/template/digitalalbum.htm

and thought this technique was interesting. does anybody know what it is?