convert photo to painting

[phortay]

One thing that I have noticed is that most of the techniques on the net to convert an image to something that looks like a painting are pretty useless. You end up getting an image that looks totally artificial and "photoshoppy"!

Does anyone have a realistic technique?

i have tried to create one from scratch and quickly realized that I didn't like most of the artistic brush filters...maybe it was just the way I was using them. anywayz...using alot of smudge...here is my current attempt:

clicky click (http://www.eleveight.com/sean/beach.html)

comments on ways to improve this image...please...

Phortay

[jonbalza]

Try this thread out, You'll have fun there.

http://photoshoptechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4504

[phortay]

nice thanx for the link jon

[Stroker]

Stroker method starts with something like this:

http://www.playfiddlelearn.com/stuff/painterly.jpg

Real quick job and needs some more mussing up.
Interested?

[Stroker]

Man, I feel rusty at this kind of thing. I mean, my texture just plain sucks. But it was fun to play with for a bit. Thanks for that.

http://www.playfiddlelearn.com/stuff/painterly2.jpg

[phortay]

nice stroker...did you brush/paint it yourself, or did you use a filter combination...?

spelling really bad when I'm sick:O

[Stroker]

Mostly painted with a hint of filter.

Start with your photo.
Copy it and Invert and maybe some Gauss. I call this the Clash layer. Turn it off.
Start a new layer on top and start painting away with your finger on the trigger.
Okay, I'll clarify that last bit a bit.
Pick a brush size. Set hardness to 100%, opacity to 100%, and spacing to 1%. Keep a finger on that alt key to sample colours from the photo. Paint a bit, hold alt + click to sample a new colour, paint some more, and so on.
When you think you are happy, turn on the clash layer real quick so you can see the holes. When you see some holes you want to paint in, turn off the clash layer and paint some more. Now, you don't have to paint in the whole thing, but you do want decent coverage. Also, when filling in holes, you might want to set the brush's blending mode to behind.

That's how I started that photo of the guy on the beach. Now, I wanted a little bit more detail in the guy himself, so I made another quick pass.
Did this by setting the brush's opacity to 50% and keeping my finger on the trigger (see above) while painting some more. This is just to soften the transitions a bit more.
Make sense?

Then I copied the original photo layer and gave it some Gauss. This is a quick-n-sleazy way of filling in the remaining wholes while getting rid of the rest of the "photo look" between said holes.

Then, sometimes, I'll make a crazy brush just to beat things up a bit. Tonal variation is good, and so is edge variation. Know what I mean?

Ah, then comes canvas texture.
For a thin medium, I use a single canvas texture for the whole thing.
I almost always do this on a seperate layer filled with 50% grey and set to hardlight. Then I give it some Texturizer and Level to taste (a clipped Adjustment Layer). Or, foregoing Texturizer, I get crazy with Clouds/Difference Clouds, Noise, Motion Blur, Mezzotint, and a few things.
For a thicker medium, impasto(?), I make two different texture layers and using some masking tricks.

It might sound like a lot of work, but it's fun and worth it. For one thing, filters just can't duplicate a human's slightly chaotic touch. Another thing is that it's much easier to create a focal point for the piece by beating up "negetive space" parts more. Things like that.

I've said more than enough.
I'm going back under my rock.

[WFDesign]

Nice technique, Stroker. Thanks for sharing that.

[Stroker]

No problem.
For a tech head like me, this aspect of PS has been a frustrating journey. Turns out my biggest mistake was over-complicating things. As soon as I took a "screw it" attitude and kept things simple, things started to fall into place so much easier.

Anyways, I dug up one of my masking techniques that I had quickly babbled about over at PSG.
See: Base for Better Borders Beyond Blurring (http://www.photoshopgurus.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3313).

I'm going to hit that other thread and then disappear under my rock again.
I mean it this time.

[Ammar Midani]

Stroker, that pice is amazing really i looked at it and it made more relaxed.

Thanks.


Ammar

[phortay]

stroker...u da man...

thanx for sharing your technique...i agree...nothing beats the human touch...except maybe...the "artist in a click" filter which I'm sure will be added to the next version of ps...

the bad side is that my job is looking for a 'quicky' technique that has the look and feel of the indepth route.

finaly...a question...do you ever try different ps brushes or setting to imitate real brushes or painting medium? I am especialy interested in trying to create a oil painting feel. Even when using techniques like yours it is hard to imitate the way oil pain can build up on the canvas.

thanxNadvance

[Stroker]

If you really want a filter, the only one I have ever used with satisfactory results is Impressions. Does a fantastic job, and has tweaks galore. Not to mention dropping brushes and paper textures for a more customized result. At least, I think it was Impressions. I'll have to dig through my archives to verify.

Then again, I haven't done any filter shopping and testing in quite some time.

When I finally upgraded to PS7, I did do some playing with trying to mimic traditional. So far I've only gotten chaulk and crayon that I'm happy with. Every other medium I've tried has been pure bunk.

Give Painter a try. It's not a magic bullet solution, but it's great for mimicing traditional. I've got Painter 6, and it rocks.
I kick Painter in da nuts!

edit:
Impressionist by Microsoft. It was part of a bundle that was a part of Frontpage 98. If you can find it, it is well worth it.

[phortay]

okey dokey...heres my version...definitely choose the long route but...well..tel me what you think:

here (http://www.eleveight.com/sean/bedroompaint.html)

Phortay

[Stroker]

Holy smokes! I'm liking it.
I give it three thumbs up.

[The Iconoclast]

It's very good, but reminds me of the "This Page Cannot Be Found" error on many other websites...

[jonbalza]

I think he might have taken it down after a month... Check the dates, Iconoclast... ;}

[sPECtre]

Wasn't the impression filter a part of Frontpage?

[signalsoldier]

Here is one i did last month sorry about the sizes pics are rather large. Im a n00b in training so its now as good as you guys' works

http://www.critical-x-mass.co.uk/killapimp/jamaicaresize.jpg
http://www.critical-x-mass.co.uk/killapimp/jamaicaoldresize.jpg

[theGuest]

Originally posted by phortay
it is hard to imitate the way oil paint can build up on the canvas. There an old method i came across waaaay back in PS3, than can actually still hold up today.

It's not perfect in all cases, because it's digital after all, but i can help get you close to that "paint build up" look you're seeking phortay. My example here isn't the best, as it could use more detailed tweaking... but you'll get the idea. ;}

Add a new layer above your photo.
Fill it with 50% grey.
Go to your channels and dupe the green channel. Apply Auto-Levels.
Back on the 50% grey layer, open the Lithing Effects Filter and use the "Green Copy" channel as the bumpmap.
Change the light source to "Directional" and move the end point inward until you see definition in the image.
Intensity = 40
Gloss = -50
Material = -100
Exposure & Ombients = 0
"White is High"
Height = 25.

Apply.

Try these settings to start but play around with them also to suit your own likes/dislikes.

Back on the layers palette...
Set this layer to Multiply @ 65% Opacity.
You'll need to raise the levels now so add a Levels Adj. layer and set it to Screen mode.
And now from here, you can make the original photo (a copy to be safe) look slightly more "painted" to extend the look. Use any filter(s) that strike your fancy. And you can be subtle with them. They don't need to look overdone.
In the below example i just used "Ink Outlines".

As a last step, try merging all layers to a blank one and applying the Unsharp Mask: 100% / 0.5 / 0.
Now "FADE Unsharp Mask..." and set the mode to Luminosity.
Apply.

TIP: if you only want the build-up effect to appear in specific spots in the painting, then simply paint with 50% grey over the areas in the "Green Copy" channel that you want left looking normal.

Hope this helps to at least put some ideas in your head.
Good luck! %/