Adobe Photoshop Tutorials - Touch Up Old Photos

Do you have any old photos of your grandparents that needed to be fixed? Good! Here are some of the easy steps to get that done.



Step 1

Scan and import the old photo into the photoshop. Next go to Image> Adjustments> Hue/ Saturation and adjust the Saturation slider to 40 and click OK.

Step 2

After you done that, go to Image> Levels. Set the input levels to 0, 1.00, 236 and click OK.

Step 3

Make a new layer. Choose a suitable color and spray around the photo. This is to hide the dirt surface of the photo. Adjust the Fill opacity to 90%, so that you can actually still see the bottom layer of the photo.

Step 4

It is time to erase that color that you've just sprayed around the photo. Use the Eraser tool and erase the highlighted red area as shown above.

Step 5

Use the same step as above to remove the color on the props.

Step 6

Once you've done erasing all the overlapping color, its time to touch up the photo. Use the Smudge tool to smudge around that person's face to give it a smoother feel/ look. You can adjust the strength to 40%, so that it doesn't look like over smudged.

Step 7

Use the Stamp tool to hide teared/ pealed surface of the photo. Simply hold the "Alt" key and click on the area that you want to copy from, then brush the area that you want to hide. It's that easy! Do the same process all over the photo and you're done!

Step 8

If you think that the photo looks dull, no worries, you can add colors on it. Simply create new layers(set the layer style to "overlay") and start coloring on the photo.



Download the PSD sample here : http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/oldphoto.psd

That's all folks! What do you think? :)

Submit your Requests & Suggestions now!

Hi all,

It's time for you to submit your requests and suggestions to me. I will then check your submitted requests and come up with the tutorial. Do bear in mind that, your requests must be useful not only for you but to others as well :).

Thanks,

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials - Car Reflection

Reflection is pretty hard to do sometimes but not if you know the right technique! Here's the simple way to get it done.



Download the source image here.

Step 1

Create new document and make a gradient on the background just like above.

Step 2

Cutout the car image and place it on the document.

Step 3

Duplicate the car image and flip vertically (see above sample)

Step 4

Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool, cut out the tyre parts like above.

Step 5

Paste it in between the car photo. Now go to Edit> Transform> Skew. Adjust the tyres so that it touches the main car image.

Step 6

Do the same for the back part of the car.

Step 7

Once you've done that, merger the layers (Press Shift button and click on the layers and then press Control - E)

Step 8

Erase the reflection part of the car using the Eraser tool or mask it if you want. Set the Fill opacity to 50%.

Step 9

Make a layer above the reflection. Select the Rectangle Tool and make a box just like above.

Step 10

Now go to Edit> Transform> Distort and adjust the rectangle.

Step 11

After you've done that, go to Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur. On the popup set the slider to 3.5 and you're DONE!

Download the PSD file here : http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/reflection_sample.psd

This same technique can be applied to full portraits, product shots etc. Do give it a try ya!

Thanks!

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials - Photo Manipulation 3

I got few emails and msn messages from some of my friends, who wants me to put up tutorials on "Incomplete Rames". Here you go guys. Spent sometimes finding back one of archive photoshop work to share with ya all. (one of my personal fav!) More here : http://www.ramesstudio.com/magazine/v1/

SECRET REVEALED!



Download the photo here or you can even use your very own photo.

Step 1

Open the photo in any drawing software (you can use Photoshop, Flash or Illustrator) because we need to trace the outline of the leg. In this tutorial, I'm using flash (I use pencil tool to trace).

Step 2

Now open the photo in Photoshop and remove the faded part of the leg.

Step 3

Right after removing the leg, import the outline into Photoshop and place it on top of the photo.

Step 4

Make another copy of the photo, then go to Layer Style. Choose the Color Overlay option and select black color (#000000)

Step 5

Next, go to Edit> Transform> Distort. Distort the photo just like above using the edge points of the transform tool.

Step 6

Now go to Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur. Set the slider to 5.0 pixels and click OK

Step 7

Adjust the Opacity to 30%.

Step 8

Finally, you need to erase the highlighted part of the shadow so that it looks like as if its coming out of the surface!



That's all folks! Easy? Indeed! Now give it a try and post your link here for me and others to see ya! :)

Any comments appreciated!

Adobe Creative Suite 4 : Special Features

Hi all,

Today, I'll be showing you some of the special features of the all new Adobe Creative Suite 4! You gonna love it!




Discover new dimensions in digital imaging
Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 Extended software delivers all the features in Photoshop CS4, plus new features for working with 3D imagery, motion-based content, and advanced image analysis.

Revolutionary 3D painting and compositing
Now paint directly on 3D models, wrap 2D images around 3D shapes, convert gradient maps to 3D objects, add depth to layers and text, get print-quality output with the new ray-tracing rendering engine, and enjoy exporting to supported common 3D formats.

Adjustments panel
Simplify image adjustment by easily accessing every tool you need to nondestructively adjust and enhance the color and tone of your images; on-image controls and a wide variety of presets are also included in the new live and dynamic Adjustments panel.

3D object and property editing
Edit, enhance, and manipulate 3D images in a streamlined interface without dialog boxes. Adjust lighting, meshes, and materials. Easily orient objects and position the camera using 3D axes and a ground plane.

Industry-leading color correction
Enjoy dramatically enhanced color correction with reengineered Dodge, Burn, and Sponge tools that now intelligently preserve color and tone details.


Create and deliver rich interactive content
Adobe® Flash® CS4 Professional software is the industry-leading authoring environment for creating engaging interactive experiences. Deliver to audiences across platforms and devices.

Object-based animation
Gain complete control over individual animation attributes with object-based animation, which applies tweens directly to objects instead of to keyframes. Easily make changes to motion with Bezier handles.

3D transformation
Animate 2D objects through 3D space with exciting new 3D translation and rotation tools, which allow you to animate along the x, y, and z axes. Apply local or global transformation to any object.

Procedural modeling with Deco and Spray Brush
Turn symbols into instant design tools. Apply symbols in a variety of ways: Quickly create kaleidoscope-like effects and apply fills using the Deco tool, or randomly spray symbols across any defined area using the Spray Brush.

Motion presets
Jump-start your project with prebuilt animations that can be applied to any object. Select from dozens of presets or create and save your own. Share presets with others to save animation time.

Inverse kinematics with the Bones tool
Create chain-like animation effects with a series of linked objects, or quickly distort a single shape using the new Bones tool.


Design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications
Build world-class websites and applications with one of the industry's leading web authoring tools. Adobe® Dreamweaver® CS4 software is ideal for web designers, web developers, and visual designers.

Code hinting for Ajax and JavaScript frameworks
Write JavaScript more efficiently with improved support for JavaScript core objects and primitive data types. Put the extended coding functionality of Dreamweaver CS4 to work by incorporating popular JavaScript frameworks, including jQuery, Prototype, and Spry.

Related Files and Code Navigator
Click any included file shown in the Related Files bar to see both its source in Code view and the parent page in Design view. The new Code Navigator feature shows you the CSS source code that affects your current selection and allows you to access it quickly.

CSS best practices
Implement CSS best practices without writing code. Create new CSS rules in the Properties panel, and get clear, simple explanations of where each property fits in the cascade of styles.

Adobe Photoshop Smart Objects
Insert any Adobe Photoshop® PSD document in Dreamweaver to create an image Smart Object tightly linked to the source file. Make changes to the source image, and update your image in Dreamweaver without opening Photoshop.


Explore new paths with the essential vector tool
Adobe® Illustrator® CS4 software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment with new transparency in gradients and multiple artboards that invite you to explore more efficient ways to design.

Transparency in gradients
Define the opacity of any individual color stop in a gradient. Reveal underlying objects and images, and create rich color and texture mixes using multiple layers, knockouts, and cover-up fades.

Gradients exposed
Interact with gradients right on your object. Set gradient angle, position, and elliptical dimensions. Add and edit colors using sliders — all with immediate feedback where you work.

In-panel appearance editing
Edit object characteristics directly in the Appearance panel, eliminating the need to open fill, stroke, or effects panels. Work with shared attributes and control display for faster rendering.

Separations Preview
Avoid color output surprises such as unexpected spot colors, unwanted overprinting, overprints that don't overprint, white overprinting, and CMYK blacks in text and placed files.


Rapidly prototype and design for the web
Rapidly prototype websites and application interfaces with Adobe® Fireworks® CS4 software. Create and optimize images for the web more quickly and accurately than ever before with an enhanced toolset.

PDF export
Generate high-fidelity, protected PDF documents from your Fireworks comps for client communication. Help safeguard your designs with password protection — separate passwords can be created for viewing and other tasks such as printing, copying, and commenting.

Customizable and reusable assets
Jump-start your design process with the Common Library, a repository of graphic symbols, form elements, text symbols, and animations frequently used in web and software applications, interfaces, and websites. Expand your collection with your own custom symbols and styles for continued rapid design.

CSS export
Design complete web pages in a robust graphic environment and then export standards-compliant, CSS-based layouts, complete with external style sheets, in one step. Integrate foreground and background graphics with new slice types.
Styles panel upgrades
Work more efficiently with the enhanced Styles panel. With the click of an icon, choose between default Fireworks styles, current document styles, or styles from other libraries. Multiple style sets can easily be accessed.

Adobe Flash Tutorials - Vectorize Car

Usually when it comes to vectoring, Adobe Illustrator is the first choice but for me, Adobe Flash comes first in mind :D



Here's the simple tutorial on how to vector a sports car.

Download the Car photo here : http://the-pit-monsterstock.deviantart.com/art/Car-stock-29-59811242

Step 1

Open Adobe Flash and go to File> Import> Import to stage. Locate the saved car photo and click OK.

Step 2

We need to make the photo look transparent for easier tracing later on. To do this, click on the photo and press F8. Choose the graphic option and click OK.

Step 3

Select the photo and on the properties bar (Ctrl-F3), change the Color bar to Alpha. Set the opacity to 38% - 50%.

Step 4

You can now use the pencil or pen tool to start draw the outline of the car. You might want to set the "Smoothing" to 60 and the option part (below the tools) to "Smooth" for better tracing :)

Step 5

Once you've done with the outline, it's time to color the car. Use the paint bucket tool to fill in the color you prefer. You can even use the gradient colors!

Step 6

Remove the photo layer and you're done! Try export the image to JPG or any other format for various usage.

The Vector Car fla available for download, here - http://www.ramesstudio.com/adobetuts/car-vector.fla

Thanks and hope its useful for you.

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials - Photoshop Actions

Hi all,

Today's tutorial is about Photoshop Action. I'm sure some of you already know how to use this but for those who don't, here's the simple way to get it done. I've selected 3 different actions (my personal favorite!) to share with you guys!

PS: Photos from my personal photography collection.

Here's the sample



Step 1

Download the photoshop action to your PC (see below for the download links). Next, open Photoshop and go to Window> Actions. You'll see a small popup like above. Click on the small arrow and select "Load Actions". Locate the Photoshop actions that you've downloaded.

Step 2

Select any numbers (each numbers has its own actions) and click on the "Play".

You're done!

Now, let's see some of the Photoshop Actions from Deviantart.com which I've selected for you guys to play around. Simply click on the download links to get the photoshop actions!


Download this photoshop action here : http://www.deviantart.com/download/75604193/photoshop_actions___color_12_by_night_fate.zip


Download this photoshop action here : http://www.deviantart.com/download/84766938/photoshop_actions___33_by_night_fate.zip


Download this photoshop action here : http://www.deviantart.com/download/83216940/photoshop_actions___25_by_night_fate.zip