Objective

To learn advanced Photoshop texturing and masking techniques by recreating the art below:

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Discussion

Although Photoshop can create many different kinds of textures, most of them tend to look digital and artificial. The ultimate marble texture will always be a photograph of real marble. However, a digital "marble" rendering can be used as an abstract texture to convey mood, especially if colorized.

Procedure

removing the green background

1. open "singer.jpg" in Photoshop
2. rename "background" layer "singer"
3. new layer "black", fill with black; restack below "singer"
4. select > color range: sample range of green (preview=black matte; invert=yes, fuzziness=?)
5. layer > layer mask > reveal selection
6. load selection (cmd+click on mask thumbnail)
7. select > modify > contract: 4px
8. select > feather: 1
9. layer > layer mask > delete, make new layer mask from selection
10. clean up mask
11. save as "singer.psd"

creating marble texture

1. file > new "marble.psd" (450 x 450px @ 150ppi; bg=white)
2. choose default colors (D)
3. filter > render > different clouds (cmd+F to re-render)
4. filter > other > offset (225px both directions)
5. spot healing brush tool: erase edges
6. filter > other > offset (-225px both directions)
7. retouch if necessary
8. edit > define pattern "marble"

creating the composite

1. file > new "singer+texture.psd" (9 x 9in x 150 ppi; bg=white)
2. edit > fill: pattern "marble"
3. retouch: brush tool: window > brushes: wet media (flyout menu)
4. duplicate "background" layer, rename "marble"
5. image > adjust > hue/saturation: colorize=yes
6. duplicate "marble" layer, rotate 45°, layer mode=linear dodge; scale larger
7. duplicate "background" layer, restack to top, opacity=50%
8. filter > blur > gaussian blur (3)
9. layer > new adjustment layer > levels: make less contrasty
10. new layer "spotlight" (layer mode=multiply)
11. edit > fill: 50% gray
12. filter > render > lighting effects: spotlight (pointing down)
13. move tool: drag "singer" layer into "texture+singer.psd"
14. adjust scale and position of spotlight

adding color

1. file > new "color.psd" (3 x 3in x 150ppi; bg=white)
2. window > channels
3. draw a different gradient on each channel
4. window > layers
5. move tool: drag color layer into "texture+singer.psd"
6. restack to below spotlight; opacity=25%
7. adjust scale and position

grading

1. print, submit b&w laser proof with your name on it for grading
2. file graded proof in your 3-ring binder for individual review

other textures

1. file > new "textures.psd" (3 x 3in x 150ppi; bg=white)
2. new layer "paper"; fill with white
3. filter > noise > add noise (25%, gausssian, monochromatic)
4. filter > blur > gaussian blur (.5)
5. filter stylize > emboss
6. new layer "fiber"; fill with white
7. filter > render > fibers (variance=high, strength=low, randomize)
8. new layer "wood"; fill with white
9. filter > render > fibers (variance=low, strength=high, randomize)
10. new layer, repeat with medium settings; layer mode=soft light
11. layer > merge down (cmd+E)
12. filter > liquify
13. new layer "weave"; fill with white
14. filter > render > fibers (variance=low, strength=high, randomize)
15. duplicate layer, rotate 45°; layer mode=lighten
16. new layer "rock"; fill with white
17. window > channels: new channel
18. filter > render > different clouds (cmd+F to re-render)
19. window > layers
20. filter > render > lighting effects (directional light, texture=alpha 1, white equals high=yes