Mystic Reflections tutorial

[christellf]

Mystic Reflection

(Using PSE5)

Open photo.
Duplicate photo. (Ctrl J)
Photo can be cropped for a more close-up finish.
Add light coming in from the area you want.
Go to Filter>Render>Lighting effects.
Select a Light type & size. Choose Omni or spotlight & adjust size.
Make a reflection of background copy photo. (Create your own reflection) or
I made reflection using the FLOOD filter from Flamingpears.com. (Very easy)
If Flood filter is installed,
Go to Filter>Flamingpear>Flood. Create reflection.
After creating the reflection layer, click on B&W circle to left of trashcan and
make an adjustment layer. Go down to Solid color, & use black as color.
Use soft brush,(See EDIT below) lower opacity to around 10% & brush the area you want to show through.
Raise opacity as you go if you want more to show through.
When it is how you like it,
Create a new blank layer above Adjustment layer.
Make the foreground color white for the brush. (The default B&W color squares on bottom under tool selections).
Click brush tool & use grungy or foggy type brush. (See EDIT below)
Set opacity about 30-50%, & enlarge brush the size to cover area you want.
Highlight Layer copy & Stamp brush 1 time across the part showing through.
It will make it look foggy or misty. This should be very subtle & not outstanding.
Add Inner Glow to the foggy layer (Special effects>Layer styles>Inner glow>Simple>Apply)
& set size & opacity of glow (Dbl. click on starburst or fx on right side of layer & a box will pop up to adjust size & opacity).
Inner glow effect does not seem to show on all brushes so try Outer Glow & lower opacity to give a slight subtle glow.

Christell

(Thanks to AngelicKim (Kim) for coming up with the title)

EDIT:
For the soft brush I use Default 300 Soft round brush.
If you don't have grungy or foggy type brushes these Default brushes will work:
14-splatter
17-chaulk
32- oil medium wet flow

Examples below:
Original
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1c2JHhrGvSOHQeopXhYhthvgYcGXa0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1c2JHhrGvSOHQeopXhYhthvgYcGXa0)

Tighter crop
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1cd292SnyzZXaOyJcLzHWKhHnqdUi0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1cd292SnyzZXaOyJcLzHWKhHnqdUi0)

[efarnstrom]

Hi,

This looks like a great exercise, so I thought I would try it. Leave it to me to jump into something without reading it through!:p

So I went looking for the flood filter at flamingpears.com and decided that they didn't have what I was looking for, so I looked at a previous download I had made and it turns out that it is flamingpear.com.

Here is my DGS with her puppy.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1yQgELhjdguKirY2KrazzJGjyGVEw1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1yQgELhjdguKirY2KrazzJGjyGVEw1)

[CarolLHB]

Christell-

Wow-I went to Flaming Pear-had to force myself to stop! What an amazing website-thanks for the tip. I am looking forward to trying the tut!:)

[Storm1]

I am using Elements 4 on XP. Will this Flood filter work in 4 & where should I put it ?
Beautiful photos -thanks for the tut Christell.
Storm

[christellf]

Thanks everyone. I love the Flood filter. When my 30 day trial period ends I think I am going to purchase it.
Storm, I am not sure about PSE4. Maybe you can PM Wendy. She has most of the Elements installed on her computer.
Hope you can get it.
Christell

[Oscar D]

Hey folks, where do you download the Flood Plugin on PSE 5? I only download the free demo. Will it still allow me to try this tutorial or do I need to purchase flood plugin?

Thanks for you help.

OSCAR

[efarnstrom]

Hey folks, where do you download the Flood Plugin on PSE 5? I only download the free demo. Will it still allow me to try this tutorial or do I need to purchase flood plugin?
Thanks for you help. OSCAR

Be sure that Elements is closed. I used the demo copy just fine.
Download the demo and unzip it. Copy the folder and place it here:
Local Disk C:
Program Files
Adobe
Photoshop Elements 5.0
Plug-Ins
Flood

After you start Elements Editor it will appear in the filter drop-down menu.

[christellf]

Hey folks, where do you download the Flood Plugin on PSE 5? I only download the free demo. Will it still allow me to try this tutorial or do I need to purchase flood plugin?

Thanks for you help.

OSCAR
When you get the free one downloaded it will start counting down every time you use it until you get to zero. Now mine is showing 26 left.
Christell

[Oscar D]

thank you folks for the info. Another question when I unzip I have folder title flood presets with files ending with .q8r and I have a file title flood-120.8bf. Do I load the folder or the file.

[efarnstrom]

thank you folks for the info. Another question when I unzip I have folder title flood presets with files ending with .q8r and I have a file title flood-120.8bf. Do I load the folder or the file.

I copied the whole folder.

[CarolLHB]

Hi Storm-

I installed it 4 with no problem, put it in the plug-ins folder. I'll be buying it as well-does interesting things on lots of types of photos.

[swalkr]

I went to Flamingpears.com and all I found were advertisements for "flood insurance", "water filters (the real kind)", and all advertisements. Can someone post the whole path to the website? What am I missing here?

[efarnstrom]

It is flamingpear.com.

[swalkr]

It is flamingpear.com.

Aha! Me thinks I goofed. Thanks!

[efarnstrom]

Aha! Me thinks I goofed. Thanks!

The original link given here was as you used it.....with the 's'. I know, because I went the same route as you did.

I knew, however, that I had already downloaded something from them, so I went back to my files and found out that....there is no S!:eek:

[90volts]

having probem installing the plugin. did superblade pro from the site with no problem.

tried putting the whole folder in and tried just putting the plugin (flood-120) itself in. closed and restarted photoshop several times. using pse 5.
any ideas?

[90volts]

well, i see it now. it is not showing in the graphical menus to the side, but it is showing in the drop down menu. cool filter! thanks for the tut!

[jjvera00]

Here is my try at the Mystic Reflection tutorial. I don't have the flaming pear FLOOD add-in, so I did something else for the reflection. I created the aquatic background from the tutorial in issue Vol 4 Num 8. I then used it as a displacement map to create the watery reflection.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/2/8/1/4/MysticReflectionErica_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=2834&c=2)

[christellf]

Hi Johnny,
Just wanted to comment how nice your photo came out. The tut really worked well with this photo. Nice reflection & lighting.
Christell

[ladybug]

i did not have the flood filter so i used molten lava effect. Hope you like it.1920

[scrappingmel]

I have a question about the tutorial. I have downloaded the plugin.

I am using PSE4

When i get to this step

Create a new layer above Adjustment layer.
Make the foreground color white.


I have lots of problems.

When I create the new layer, should the layer be white? I just have the little layer that has alll the little checks on it (you can tell that I am new to this and that I haven't wuite got the hang of the tech jargon)

All I have is the picture from the previous step.

Can someone please help me before I go insane and throw my computer out the window!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[scrappingmel]

Ok. I have not thrown the computer out the window but I am still stumped!!

I cannot get past the step with the new layer, make foreground colour etc


Is the layer a duplicate layer of the previous adjustment layer, a blank layer....

Please help me:)

[jjvera00]

When you create the new layer, you should get a checkerboard pattern. This means it is transparent, so you should see everything below it.

Then press Shift+BackSp and a Fill Layer Box should appear. Under "Use", select White, and it will fill the layer with white.

Hope this helps.

[scrappingmel]

So, when I use fill colour, should the preserve transparency boxed be ticked or not?

Ok.

I think I get it...finally.

Thankyou for putting the explanation into basic terms for me.

I will post once I have finished so I can get some feedback.:)

[CarolLHB]

Although, I don't think you need to fill the layer-just create the new, and Johnny's right, it will be transparent hence the checkerboard, and then look to the tool bar on the left, at the bottom is the color picker-just make sure the top color there is white:)

[scrappingmel]

Ok.

final question.

The tut says

Add Inner Glow to the foggy layer & set size & opacity of glow.

I am using PSE4. Can someone tell me how to do this please.

Ta
Mel

[scrappingmel]

Ok.

I have nearly given up on this tutorial but I'm like a dog with a bone:mad:

Here is my 'attempt':confused:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1dncFfCEaFmdgwlfZwk8Ka7PGoA89A_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1dncFfCEaFmdgwlfZwk8Ka7PGoA89A)

Can someone please give me some advice. Mine looks nothing like the others and I am not sure what I am doing wrong.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Mellinda

[christellf]

Hi Mellinda,
Glad you are jumping right in trying out the tut & asking questions. Your attempt looks great. I don't have PSE4 & some things may be different. The only difference I see in yours compared to mine is I have more reflection going a little higher & I stamped across with a grungy brush to give it mystic look. It looks like you have the concept down on this one.
Have fun learning more on this forum.
Christell

[scrappingmel]

Thanks for your kind words.

I would like to know how to get that foggy look though.

Thanks,
Mel

[christellf]

Mel, where it said to make foreground color white...that is for when you stamp using a grungy or foggy type brush in white on the new blank layer at top. This will be in white. The inner glow is to make the white kind of glow to bring it out. Look good at photo in tutorial & you can see the white fog over his face. Gives a mystic look.
Christell

[CarolLHB]

Right-the glow pops the brush a little to give the fog some depth. When you apply the flood filter, play with the settings within the filter-you can make the water more ripple-y and change the amount or height of the water among other things. When I first got the filter I opened a picture I had taken of a glass globe and played with it forever-this is a rather complex tut-you're almost there-hang in and keep messing with it-you'll get it:)

[scrappingmel]

I haven't given up yet!!

I'm about to have a go again.

Anyone suggest a good grunge brush to use for this. Obviously the ones I have don't do the trick!

Thanks,
Mel
xx

[scrappingmel]

Ok,
This is the finished product...finally.

Not 100% happy but for someone who has only been using elements for about 3 weeks, not a bad attempt.

Feedback please, constructive critiscism appreciated.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/11Ht4PxTYafLwvaeRkZs4GH2jTnBq4_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=11Ht4PxTYafLwvaeRkZs4GH2jTnBq4)

Mel
xx

[scrappingmel]

I am on fire tonight!!!

I just love this tut and the flood filter is awesome:D

Here's another one which I really love


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/19IJuZMz0eeVGUGCPMdKQCGm7NbtS_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=19IJuZMz0eeVGUGCPMdKQCGm7NbtS)

Woohoo I love elements!!!!

And you guys are just great. I have learn't so much in the last couple of weeks.

Thankyou
Mel
xx

[scrappingmel]

Just bumping:D

[christellf]

Mel,
Great job! I love the baby. The main thing in learning is to try & not give up. Ask questions when you don't know what to do & it won't be so frustrating. Someone usually can help with a step when you are not sure. Try the baby one in color & see what the result will look like.
Have fun learning.
Christell

[swalkr]

Mine does not look anything like everyone else's. I'm not sure what I did wrong. Christellf did a great job in a PM walking me through some steps, but it didn't turn out the way I'd hope it would. Any comments will be appreciated.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1rTKlJe8Zpz98ipOdwLkdqFaw8ad6n_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1rTKlJe8Zpz98ipOdwLkdqFaw8ad6n)

[christellf]

Suzanne,
Very nice. Not everyone will turn out the same. It is all in your own creation of how it turns out. The only thing I would maybe try is raising the opacity of the reflection a little more so she is not showing through the water but rather reflecting on top of the water. But it is a really nice photo.
Christell

[christellf]

Suzanne,
Here are a couple I did to show you what I meant as examples. The 2nd one I resized the canvas and added more to bottom to give more room for water since she went all the way down in photo.
Christell
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1pBeutr5YXGg6a8OPEi0oZjLxz9_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1pBeutr5YXGg6a8OPEi0oZjLxz9)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ikxEJ3Jmbob1rbdkwSCi8ERLKOMFZ1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ikxEJ3Jmbob1rbdkwSCi8ERLKOMFZ1)

[swalkr]

I really like the bottom one you did. It is much better than the way I had it. Mine just looked like she was sitting in the water.

[Bamboos]

Nice tutorial. One question. Where would I find the special effects? I'm using elements 5.

[christellf]

Hi Bamboos,
The Special Effects is on the right side of screen under Artworks & Effects. Ask if you have any more questions.
Christell

[Bamboos]

Found it, Thank you!