A Watercolour Tutorial

[fdlite]

Here is the Watercolour tutorial.

FYI - I am using Photoshop Elements 5.0

1. Open image
2. Ctrl J (dup the image)
3. Rename this layer Dry Brush
Go to Filter -> Artistic -> Dry Brush (I made my setting 2, 10, 1)
(Note: Good idea to play with other Artistic options.)
4. Ctrl J (dup) the Dry Brush layer and rename to Smart Blur
- Go to Filter -> Blur -> Smart Blur (these settings are high, but play around with them, anyway what I being using are 15.6, 51.2, low and Edge Only). This will make the layer Black with white lines.
- Crtl I to Invert to black lines on white
- From the Layer Palette, Blending Mode -> Soft Light
- Enhance -> Adjust Color -> Adjust Hue/Saturation to 0, +70, +5 (want to lighten the colors a little.)

Ok the fun part, one more layer.
5. New layer that is created using the Create Adjustment Layer (round button that is half black, half with in the layer palette) and select Solid Color and pick white as the background (rename layer to paint) . Everything should appear white (until you start 'painting').

Make sure that your Color Picker is Black for painting.

Now select your Brush, I've been using the Wet Media Brush -> Heavy Flow and Size first to around 125-150 and the Brush Opacity low around 9. Go over the this layer (paint) starting around the center and going out. The more you go over the more of a build up there will be.

. Thru out the 'painting' change the Brush Opacity (but not going over 23 or so) and brush sizes (max I have been going is 175 and low end is really low). Remember to use short strokes ...

Zoom into the paint layer and in different areas darken some of the shadows (this is were I lower the size of my brush a lot). If you darken to much, remember that by changing back to white will lighten (just remember to change back to black )

Once you are happy go to Filter -> Texture -> Texturizer ->(pick the one you like) Canvas is what I being using and set the settings to 61, 9, top right.

Ctrl F to apply the texture again.

You may want to paint a little after the texture is apply in a few areas, this will 'soften' some of the texture.

Framing is left up to you and what you like.

Have fun!


Thanks,
Dane

[Cmcburnett]

Dane, thanks. I've used your watercolor tutorial quite often and find it to be a great tutorial. Thanks so much;)

[mikecox]

Make sure that your Color Picker is Black for painting.

Now select your Brush, I've been using the Wet Media Brush -> Heavy Flow and Size first to around 125-150 and the Brush Opacity low around 9. Go over the this layer (paint) starting around the center and going out. The more you go over the more of a build up there will be.Ok, I managed to make it to this point, then the rub.

Note: I've never used brushes before.

I guessed I should click the icon with the wavy brush symbol but I clicked B to be sure. I guessed that in order to get a Wet media Brush I should click the drop down arrow; which I couldn't see because of the black background in v6. When I found it I couldn't see the options, again, because of the black background :mad:!

Am i looking in the right place?

How do users get around this black background issue :confused:

ps

Ok, mousing over the options revealed the name of the options; clumsy, time consuming, but it worked.

My results were spectacular! :D

[photoshopsusieq]

Your watercolor turned out nice, Michael. It's a fun technique, isn't it?

[mikecox]

Your watercolor turned out nice, Michael. It's a fun technique, isn't it?

Yes, though I'm not sure how it works :confused:

But now that I have done it I can play around with it some more and see if I can figure it out.

Now, if I could just figure out how to animate those Avatars!

[Diana]

Yes, your watercolor turned out great, Mike! I'm going to have to try this effect. Thanks, Dane.

Mike, Graffi has a tutorial on creating animations here:

http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=236&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Diana

[mikecox]

,
Mike, Graffi has a tutorial on creating animations here:

http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=236&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Diana

Thanks for the link :)

Yes, your watercolor turned out great Thanks :rolleyes:

[uniqcrafts]

I am trying to figure out your tutorial and I'm having problems with #5.

I think I am doing everything correctly, but when I start painting nothing appears. I do notice on the bottom layers the picture either starts to disappear or erase. Not sure if I should have it on Add Selection or Delete from Selection. Also not exactly sure what I'm doing wrong.

Can someone help me? Or know what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks.

[Tina_B]

It sounds like you are using the wrong brush. It is not the selection brush but one that is farther down on the tool list. They are easy to confuse if you do not use them all the time. Try the one just below the eraser tool and click on the first one of the choices. Then in the drop down menu select wet media brushes and from there try.# 22 , I think that is the one to use you can set the size to what ever you want and then makesure the opacity is set very low. Give that a try if it makes any sense to you. Maybe someone else has a better explanation or can explain a little clearer.
Tina B

[joaby]

I am an infrequent poster, but really enjoy reading the forums and must say that I have learned almost everything I know to date about PSE from the members here.
I just did Dane's watercolour tutorial and thought that I would try to post it in the Gallery. This is a first, so hope I have done everything correctly and that you will view and crititique it for me. I am planning to print it when it is finished. Thanks.
Joan

Edit: Obviously I did something wrong as "My Gallery" is not clickable.

[joaby]

Trying again.

[joaby]

One more try.

[joaby]

Will try one more time.

[joaby]

Think that I have it this time.
Joan

[uniqcrafts]

Tina B. Thank you so much for your response. That was exactly the problem I was having. Everything works great now.

Thanks again.

[Aud]

Hello, Mine was looking great until I got to texturizer and all I had was a white background with the rough shape of my 'painting' but just in black not colour. Gone wrong somewhere??

[Edalisse]

This tut was easy to follow and I loved the results. It was simple yet very effective. Thank you!:D:D:D
http://edalisse.smugmug.com/photos/247050422_K4Yx8-Th.jpg (http://edalisse.smugmug.com/photos/247050422_K4Yx8-L.jpg)

[laulley]

Thank you so much for this tutorial!

I just upgraded from pse4 to pse6 & registered here to find some help.

This is my first post - after trying your tutorial I had to say thanks!

Laurie

[justbill]

Here is the Watercolour tutorial.

FYI - I am using Photoshop Elements 5.0

1. Open image
2. Ctrl J (dup the image)
3. Rename this layer Dry Brush
Go to Filter -> Artistic -> Dry Brush (I made my setting 2, 10, 1)
(Note: Good idea to play with other Artistic options.)
4. Ctrl J (dup) the Dry Brush layer and rename to Smart Blur
- Go to Filter -> Blur -> Smart Blur (these settings are high, but play around with them, anyway what I being using are 15.6, 51.2, low and Edge Only). This will make the layer Black with white lines.
- Crtl I to Invert to black lines on white
- From the Layer Palette, Blending Mode -> Soft Light
- Enhance -> Adjust Color -> Adjust Hue/Saturation to 0, +70, +5 (want to lighten the colors a little.)

Ok the fun part, one more layer.
5. New layer that is created using the Create Adjustment Layer (round button that is half black, half with in the layer palette) and select Solid Color and pick white as the background (rename layer to paint) . Everything should appear white (until you start 'painting').

Make sure that your Color Picker is Black for painting.

Now select your Brush, I've been using the Wet Media Brush -> Heavy Flow and Size first to around 125-150 and the Brush Opacity low around 9. Go over the this layer (paint) starting around the center and going out. The more you go over the more of a build up there will be.

. Thru out the 'painting' change the Brush Opacity (but not going over 23 or so) and brush sizes (max I have been going is 175 and low end is really low). Remember to use short strokes ...

Zoom into the paint layer and in different areas darken some of the shadows (this is were I lower the size of my brush a lot). If you darken to much, remember that by changing back to white will lighten (just remember to change back to black )

Once you are happy go to Filter -> Texture -> Texturizer ->(pick the one you like) Canvas is what I being using and set the settings to 61, 9, top right.

Ctrl F to apply the texture again.

You may want to paint a little after the texture is apply in a few areas, this will 'soften' some of the texture.

Framing is left up to you and what you like.

Have fun!


Thanks,
Dane


What is ctrl I without the keyboard short cuts? I see no change! I assume that is a upper case i. Thanks Bill

[fdlite]

Bill,

Step 4. Ctrl J (dup) the Dry Brush layer and rename to Smart Blur
- Go to Filter -> Blur -> Smart Blur (these settings are high, but play around with them, anyway what I being using are 15.6, 51.2, low and Edge Only). This will make the layer Black with white lines.
- Crtl I to Invert to black lines on white
- From the Layer Palette, Blending Mode -> Soft Light
- Enhance -> Adjust Color -> Adjust Hue/Saturation to 0, +70, +5 (want to lighten the colors a little.)

Do all of step 4 on the same layers, you should see a change. I'm not at home, but you I think (?) that you can go to the menu bar, Edit -> Invert??? Again, I'm not at home and can't confirm this.


The Ctrl I converts the black background with white lines to a white background with black lines. You do this right after you do the Smart Blur.

Dane

[justbill]

Dane: I think I got it! Thanks Bill

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/4/0/4/5/Light-House.jpg

[fdlite]

Bill,

That look really nice. Turned out really well.

Dane

[90volts]

thanks for the tut. i've been wanting to try it out for awhile now. first one was a disaster, but the next try i got the hang of it better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/90volts/photoshop/framedbridge.jpg

[Vesta]

You all finished with great results... This is the best tutorial Dane thanks again for sharing it.
Vesta

[landofoz]

Hi i would love to try this will it work with v6
thanks
maggie

[fdlite]

G'day Maggie,

It should as it just layers and filters. I use 5.0 so I can't be 100%, but see no reason why it wouldn't work. If you have problems with it, just drop a line and someone will be by to help you out.

Thanks,
Dane

[Edalisse]

Hi i would love to try this will it work with v6
thanks
maggie

My pic was done in v6. I found it easy to follow and I loved the results.

[landofoz]

Hi , i did the tutorial , and it was not too bad considering i didnt use the correct brush?
where can i get a freebie as i have none (WET MEDIA BRUSH FOR THIS PROJECT .
this is my first attempt, please bear with me.

maggie

[landofoz]

Hi , i did the tutorial , and it was not too bad considering i didnt use the correct brush?
where can i get a freebie as i have none (WET MEDIA BRUSH FOR THIS PROJECT .
this is my first attempt, please bear with me. I have v6 elements

maggie

[O2BNGdHope]

Question: Is there a way to do this without the "smoke"? All of the photos I see done with this tutorial have this "smoke" or "clouds" in the picture.

[oniska]

I found this site a couple of months ago but haven't posted. it looks like everybody is doing a good job. this is hard for me but I saw this tut. and I wanted to try. It took me several hour but this is what I came up with. would you critque this for me

[mljrbg]

This tut is awesome!! I forgot I bookmarked it a long time ago and just came across it. I LOVE it!!

Thanks Dane!!

[fdlite]

Glad you all enjoy. I am also in the process of updating, hope to be done in the next few ... ?


Dane

[elwoodsusanm]

I found this site a couple of months ago but haven't posted. it looks like everybody is doing a good job. this is hard for me but I saw this tut. and I wanted to try. It took me several hour but this is what I came up with. would you critque this for me
This is beautiful :)

[Lucysmith]

Thanks actually i was trying to do it but failed and after that i started searching on it and finally got it here, thanks once again

[BoosAngel]

I am using cs3 and trying to follow this tutorial. I do not know what to do when I get to enhance I cannot find it.

Can someone help me? Please!!

Angie

[fdlite]

Sorry Angie, I was out and missed your question.

CS3 Hue/Saturation.

Go to Image -> Adjustment -> Hue/Saturation.

Again sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

Dane