Photoshop Eye Effects #1

A reader from the Photoshop 911 forums writes in to ask about blending two images into one -- writing:

I'm trying to create a nice graphic with these two images: (samples provided) and I want #2 to go over the eye to create a cool eye-design effect but I don't know what the heck to do. I already know how to erase the background from the #2 image and everything but when I paste it over top of the #1 image all I know to do is try and change the blending options which does not work, it just looks crappy. Can anyone provide me with some help? I want it to look really neat, like the #2 design is actually part of the eye!

FX Cartoon Look Filter

Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, announced that a new Boris Continuum Unit, Cartoon Look, is now available. The Boris Continuum Cartoon Look Unit includes the Cartoon Look, Pencil Sketch, Charcoal Sketch, and Watercolor filters from Boris Continuum Complete 6:

* BCC Cartoon Look - BCC Cartoon Look simulates the look of cartoon rotoscope animation which was recently popularized with feature films such as "A Scanner Darkly" and "Waking Life" and may also be seen in memorable advertisement campaigns for The Charles Schwab Corporation. The filter includes many preset looks and styles, all available via the filter's preset pop-up menu. Users can even make their own presets and apply them to any other clip in any project. This filter is easy to use, yet provides parameter controls to achieve the right look with any source material.

Natural media painting on the iPhone

Gotow.net's latest iPhone app opens up a whole new creative space with a rich set of painting tools and the ability to create up to five layers in each drawing! Add a layer from a photo to trace your subject, or add multiple layers to separate different parts of your work. Each layer is fully transparent, and a unique 3D interface allows you to create and rearrange layers with ease. When you're finished, you can export your work to a Photoshop file with layers intact, or sync with the desktop viewer to generate a high-resolution copy or replay your brush strokes to show off your talent!

iPhone app can create up to five layers in each drawing

Layers offers a balanced set of painting tools that will appeal to seasoned artists and doodlers alike. With eight high-quality brushes, an eyedropper, and an eraser - Layers provides the tools you need to create great art. It's intuitive interface has been built around the workflows of popular iPhone artists. Toolbars on the screen hide as you work and can be brought back with a simple shake - so your tools are never far away. A full-screen color picker provides an infinite range of brush colors and transparency is fully supported throughout the app.

Backgrounds: Monochrome, Patterned

Fill layer background A reader in the Photoshop 911 Forums posted the image above asking how the effect was accomplished. It's a hockey scene with a player lifted from the background, highlighted with a white feathered rim-lighting effect. The background itself was covered with a blue and black pattern giving it a sort of vague looking venetian blinds sort of effect. This is fairly easy to do in all versions of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I'll show you the extended layers version, not using anything fancy so that it goes way back to version 4.

Isolating the subject

I don't have a hocky picture, but since the holidays are just around the corner, I'll use this nativity scene for my subject. First you'll want to isolate your subject. It doesn't matter if it's from the same image, or a different image, the steps are the same, you'll have to cut it out. Using the Lasso tool or the Pen tool, which ever your program has, get started.

 

Generate a Patterned Layer

In the interest of time, without a lot of precision measurements, I'm going to 'emulate' the pattern in the sample, rather than trying to duplicat it. So, we'll need a nice, uniform pattern for the "lines" in the background. Sizing the pattern will be seat-of-the-pants -- looks about like 12 pixels off and 12 pixels on. So I'll generate a pattern and fill a layer with it before blurring.