[Periadam]

Now, if I have anyone who feels the need to criticize me on my filter use on this pic, stop now.

I'm not going to say how talented I am for having done it because it's SO hard to do. I don't do these pics often, cuz there's really nothing to them at all. It's just a neat combo of filters and gradients I thought of doing one day.



It could make a cool part of a background or something. Anyone want to know the exact method, ask. I don't feel the need to keep it a big secret.

-Peri

[Icannon]

cool coulds. i like it.

[g:tech]

I really like that!

Normally someone can easily spot filters and go "eww... wussed out and used a filter instead of actually drawing it", but this one doesn't suffer from "filteritis".

Very cool!

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[kig]

colorized difference clouds, twirl and a lens flare?

[]|V|[ERLIN]

awesome!

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"I will show you where to stick your magic wand!"

[[Shizo]]

Bah whatever.. i see that "effect" every time in the end of each flight that i experience while jumping into the well.

[the_monkey]

Very nice!
so, how did u do it?

[eclipse]

I agree with g:tech. It doesn't look like you used filters. I think you used them the way they were designed for - to enhance an idea with creative execution of the tools available. Not just use the standard setting which usually screams FILTER!

[Sergenth]

The only way I can tell filters were used is with the highlight on the edges on most of the twirls. The width of the highlight is VERY even as it goes along. What should be happening is that the glow changes in depth as thin sections of cloud reflect less light and broader slopes of cloud that face more towards the light should be reflecting a wider band of light.

Besides that one effect... I don't see how those were difference clouds, but then, I haven't played too much with the lighting effects. Either way, they look very 3d, lots of internal shadow and stuff (visible in that lower right fluffy cluster).

It would be really cool if you could emeulate some of the Hubble Telescope Nebula pics with this technique... especially the very famous Eagle Nebula pic (the one with the three pillars of smoke and little "rising" smokelettes).

[Periadam]

I have Photoshop 5.5, and I'm pretty sure this can also be in 5.0. Anything earlier than that, and it'd be a lot harder to do.

Anyhow, all you 5.0 and 5.5 users have it easier.
1. Make a new gradient in the colours you want to use for the vortex.
2. Set the gradient tool to the diamond gradient option and make one in the center of the picture. (black is the best bg colour for it I think, but you could use anything)
3. Then in the distort filter menu, choose twirl and twirl it as much as you want (I like around 500 for it)
4. Make a new file the same size as your other one and just make it a black and white cloud filter. Save it.
5. Go back to your original file and to the distort menu. Then choose 'displace' and put about 15% for in both horizontal and vertical. (more or less if you want it)
6. Choose your cloud filter file in the menu that comes up.
7. THEN you add your flare.

So that might seem a bit long but it isn't complicated.

Thanks for the compliments.

-Peri

[bloodsugar]

On filters:
Maybe the lens flare is an overused tool; but I don't think there's anything wrong with the use of filters anyway if it's tastefully done... to me it's a waste of working smart.


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On carpeted lace of emerald jags; skin to skin a tangle of blacks.