When I saw the challenge posted, I knew right away what I wanted to do. For the first time, I planned ahead, gripped my mouse and didn't let go until I got the results I was determined to achieve. It's not perfect, but it came to 98% of my "vision".
I went back to "basics" and I used PSP5.
STEP 1: (for the newbies)
As I'm sure most of you do, I separated her from the white background first. Perhaps there's a better/easier way, but this is the only way I know how.
Open a transparent canvas the same size as the image.
The image: Select/All/Copy
Paste into the blank transparent canvas and defloat.
Magic wand: click on the background.
Modify/Expand by 1
Hit Delete Key
By using Modify/Expand, this seems to grab all the white "lint" and
you're left with a clean image.
Resize at 90%. I find when I do this, it softens the edges.
I use the Magic Wand a LOT.
STEP 2: THE MERMAID:
SKIN: Foreground Color: 214, 190, 171; Background Color: 210,
219, 202
(I have this saved as a "skin palette")
Select each section of exposed skin with magic wand set at 23 (which
is what I normally use) and flood fill using Linear Gradient set at 85%
Opacity.
While it's still floating, apply Mardi's "soft bevel".
HAIR: Applied my own preset "LLD-cocoacrisps"
and Mardi's "soft bevel".
Because I knew I would be layering over the whole image, I did "sharpen
more", so her hair wouldn't get "lost".
TAIL (exclusive of the fins): Grab your lasso (freehand) tool,
set on point-to-point. Moving just outside the outline, carefully
click around until the tail is all selected.
Here's where I had to experiment. Using Spectrum Glass Irrid1,
I flood filled at 80% Opacity. Then applied the "soft bevel" and
did "sharpen more".
FINS: Magic Wand/Selection/Modify/Expand/1
Using Spectrum Glass 3152s (SemiTrans), flood fill at 100%; then "sharpen
more".
I didn't like the black lines around her body; using the "color replacer"
set at Size 3, I just carefully went around with a color a bit darker than
the darkest color used on her skin.
She was ready!
STEP 3: The background and layering:
NEW LAYER: Using Spectrum Glass (WaterGlass) 1308w, flood fill at 70%. Duplicate this layer because you'll use it a few more times for flooding, and keep it handy.
Now, here's where the fun came in.
RETOUCH TOOL: Set on SMUDGE
Tool Controls Tab - Paper=None;
Brush Tip Tab: Size=50; Hardness=39, Step=1; Opacity=39; Density=54
(it took me 20 minutes just to come up with the right settings)
Slide that brush side to side smoothly til you've covered that whole
new layer and achieved the desired affect; you can actually see the "water"
move while you're doing this.
STEP 4: Select the mermaid and drop her onto this new layer; I right-rotated her by 20% and did "sharpen more". While she was still 'selected', I applied Eye Candy's motion trail (you'll have to figure out your own settings), then I deselected her.
Give her a quick pattern flood fill with the layer you had put aside, using Opacity of 39.
STEP 5: I placed the dolphins, rotating 2 of them; I used sharpen more on only 1 of them; I did the same with the fish (these are all tubes, obviously). "Sharpen" the whole image".
I placed the rocks and using the lasso to select, I used that same pattern to flood twice on the left rock and only once on the right rock. My delusional vision was to create depth.
I dropped the conch onto her hand and adjusted the brightness/contrast and gave it a rather heavy drop shadow.
I made my own pearl, but logically, I knew it would lose it's "sparkle" before I was finished.
STEP 6: I did one more pattern flood fill, then applied Greg's "pool shadow". Because the pearl faded a bit, I added a couple of the white sparkles to it.
Going back to my attempt to achieve depth, I altered the sizes of the fish tubes, a few I sharpened and a few I didn't.
STEP 7: To finish: I just added a white border, selected with magic wand and pattern flood filled with that original WaterGlass by Spectrum at 100%; I applied Mardi's soft bevel.
I hope this helps some of you. I truly am no good at writing a tut, so if I've been unclear, please feel free to give me a holler.
You noticed that in actuality, I did not use "layers" - I didn't really feel it was necessary in this case.
Thank you all for your wonderful compliments. I value each and every one of you for your fellowship and your willingness to teach and because you're all so damn much fun.
Happy Creating!!
Teddy aka Larkspur
LLD'zines
