Be Creative #78

[Bamagirl]

BE CREATIVE #78

Good Morning and welcome to Be Creative #78.

I searched through the old Be Creatives and it seems like it has been a while since we have done anything with soft focus or the Orton Effect. The Orton Effect is an old faithful process that I have recently rediscovered. I have been playing with it for the last two days and it’s been fun.
I would suggest doing all of your levels adjustment, sharpening, etc. to the image before you begin.

There are many tutorials on the web that deal with the Orton Effect, but this is my favorite way to do it:

1. Open the image that you want Ortonized.

2. Duplicate the background layer twice. Ctrl J (This is to leave your
background layer untouched.)

3. Change the topmost layer’s blend mode to screen.

4. Merge your screen layer down. Ctrl E

5. Duplicate the merged layer. Ctrl J

6. On your new top layer Go to Filters, Blur, Gaussian Blur. Don't be afraid
to blur! Blur until the shapes are still visible but the details are all gone,

7. Now change the blend mode on that layer to multiply.

8. If you do Ctrl, Shift, Alt, E all at the same time, it will combine your layers
non-destructively leaving the layers that you have worked on in case
you want to go back at some point and change things.

9. On the combined layer, do a levels adjustment. Ctrl L

You may, of course, tweak the layers any way that you want. You can erase or mask out the blur on any of the image that you want to. Or you can reduce the opacity on any of the layers.

Most of all --- Have Fun!


The small print for the challenge is ……

Everyone is invited to participate.
Please join in, share your images, ideas, imagination and inspiration. There are no rules - feel free to experiment and, if you can remember tell us what you did so others can benefit from your experiments.

Please post your images (as many as you like) below in this thread.

If you would like to comment or have a question, please post here. (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46979)

[Bamagirl]

Here's my image to get us started. On this image, I wanted to draw attention to the dice. So after I had finished with my Ortonizing, I created a stamp or combined layer. Next, I took the lasso tool and drew a circle around my dice selecting the area that I wanted accented. Then I
inversed the selection so that the areas I didn't want accented were selected. Then I added a sizable feather (around 75 px.) to the selection. I did Control J to put the selection on its own layer and changed the blend mode of that layer to multiply. Lastly, I reduced the opacity to my taste.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1puph3RGQwjGLh66i8J1KNQ6h0q1lO1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1puph3RGQwjGLh66i8J1KNQ6h0q1lO1)

[BJ!]

Clara, thanks for the tutorial. The effect really helps blah images, like the one I was working with. It definitely helped the background, but the flower still needs work. (The quality of the thumbnail is certainly disappointing.) I used high pass & brightened the flower quite a bit, but it still looks dull in the thumbnail. (I'll try working on another photo & I'm sure the results will be more pleasing.)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1a6fjF8W5V1RCWpYRjICvW2ZLLcc01_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1a6fjF8W5V1RCWpYRjICvW2ZLLcc01)

[Red Sky]

I'll play today, as I need any excuse to keep from working in the yard! I occasionally go looking for the Orton Effect instructions, since I like to use it once in awhile and can never remember it. Thanks for laying it out so clear and concise, Clara!

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/10wemalC8hiDtHVleNYzNE1yREss0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=10wemalC8hiDtHVleNYzNE1yREss0)

[mljrbg]

Thanks Clara, great tut!! I love Ortonizing!!

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1aliiQTQMfSMNva46XHR8KsyEzhzIh1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1aliiQTQMfSMNva46XHR8KsyEzhzIh1)

[Sepiana]

Clara, thanks for bringing back the Orton effect! It's always a lot of fun.

[pacfam]

Thanks, Clara! I will be using this method now! (Let's hope I can get the Pixentral right this time!) :)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1e4aGUZstlZffvZkqPaJZWhNVKKjr1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1e4aGUZstlZffvZkqPaJZWhNVKKjr1)

[TonyK]

Puerto Nuevo Beach House, Baja California


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1WqLxemTDdYt0FfftQrgRiGg3pzUDI_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1WqLxemTDdYt0FfftQrgRiGg3pzUDI)

[Chesney]

I love the orton - one of my favorites - so glad you brought it back!
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1aQnsF5mMvJpzyftEh6YIMNmsROlw80_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1aQnsF5mMvJpzyftEh6YIMNmsROlw80)

[victry1]

Thanks for this tut. I love this effect. Normally I like it best on nature scenes, but thought I would try something different.

This is from the St. Patty's day parade. This guy was something-about 7 foot tall!

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/4/6/9/6/be-creative-78-cw_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=12186&c=5)

& I think this one is from Chicago (my favorite second city):

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/4/6/9/6/be-creative-78-w_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=12187&c=5)

[victry1]

Alright, I went overboard tonight-couldn't get myself to move off the couch-so here's a nature photo.:D

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1I5xlB0JVqmAOJnpEganfzcEyjtvZ0_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1I5xlB0JVqmAOJnpEganfzcEyjtvZ0)

Thanks Clara!

[boblemon]

I haven't done one of these in a while. Had my nose stuck in CS4 books too long, need to come up for air.


(http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/2/2/2/6/8/p7131735edit01.jpg)

[dspec01]

Great tutorial. I really like this technique. This is one I did earlier this week. I liked and it and decided to include it.


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1vV3ck1RNoqBu68UH0pgwUMopIyRT0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1vV3ck1RNoqBu68UH0pgwUMopIyRT0)

[boblemon]

Another try, scene from Arizona trip last month.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/2/2/2/6/8/p3290123edit01_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=12197&c=5)

[Sepiana]

Who can resist Orton? I can't. Here's another one.

[kimmer]

All submissions are wonderful, here is my try....

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1zKQh7dOjFML8seegD7YCAIJ9E50_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1zKQh7dOjFML8seegD7YCAIJ9E50)

This is one of my favorite flowers-my big Brugmansia.

[swalkr]

I agree with everyone else. I love the Orton effect and this version is the best I've tried yet.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1cMjphsdaqmsJ7Q4U7VmEXTLRtF8hs_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1cMjphsdaqmsJ7Q4U7VmEXTLRtF8hs)

[dsfisher421]

Orten is one of my favorite. A boat of Chihuly glass balls from the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/19BS1UaDyBGMCpqpSM7QmiE7o8xx_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=19BS1UaDyBGMCpqpSM7QmiE7o8xx)

[billz]

Thanks for the great tut Clara ... I think this is one of everyone's favorite techniques.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1tbY5bMxEm9ifvtMJRF1Xac5Hmw8_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1tbY5bMxEm9ifvtMJRF1Xac5Hmw8)

For the curious, this is a Chrysler Crossfire.

Bill

[Martha]

I really do like the Orton effect! Here is a photo I took this afternoon
Martha
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1MdLhqRN5EdHyIMXW4Htyu8TpHhSdA0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1MdLhqRN5EdHyIMXW4Htyu8TpHhSdA0)

[Aussie Nan]

I am so surprised at how orton works so well with so many different images. Clara your instructions are so simple, clear, and precise, thank you.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1tmviNOGeQhWMT5wnZIAMNV3zOGhOw1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1tmviNOGeQhWMT5wnZIAMNV3zOGhOw1)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1onuWBPZSIX8EmmKRLB9NyehtDrBb_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1onuWBPZSIX8EmmKRLB9NyehtDrBb)

[LauraE]

My first entry to "Be creative..."

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1XZrUwuhZLW9InFssANQdnMKhH0G4_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1XZrUwuhZLW9InFssANQdnMKhH0G4)

[Bamagirl]

Welcome, Laura. Your flowers are fabulous.

[patkc2000]

I love the Orton effect on flowers.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1IaaAYxSrGZ8tBCclSxVhnouctwld_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1IaaAYxSrGZ8tBCclSxVhnouctwld)

[dspec01]

I just love this effect!


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1m2NQnodZyc3OiSGp7WFgxPxOnJ7E_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1m2NQnodZyc3OiSGp7WFgxPxOnJ7E)

[bekster]

I'm kind of new at this but want to give it a try - using PSE6 - how do I "change blend mode" to screen or multiply as in steps 3 and 7. I tried the help function and didn't find anything under blend, multiply or screen that would assist.

Thanks much!

[Sepiana]

Hi Becky, welcome aboard!

The blending mode menu is at the top of the Layers palette. Click on the arrow next to "Normal" and when the menu pops up, select the blending mode of your choice.

[bekster]

THANKS MUCH! I looked just about everywhere but there.

[mljrbg]

It's so nice to have new Villagers playing. Welcome!!

[dspec01]

I am officially addicted. Great day to be outside.


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1XpIRFRg62Xu30Svoa0dlwqJOwvZqG1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1XpIRFRg62Xu30Svoa0dlwqJOwvZqG1)

[Martha]

Dspec01-It does look like a nice day to be out (except for this awful POLLEN!!). I really like both of your entries.

All of the images are so lovely-this effect really enhances a lot of different types of photo.

Here is another. My mother-in-law had such lovely peonies--I just had to pick a few.
Martha
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1LUn0f1jaKQN2JRJnNk9XCnUAAekSO0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1LUn0f1jaKQN2JRJnNk9XCnUAAekSO0)

[dspec01]

Martha

Thank you. Love your peonies! The past week it rained every day. So yesterday, with the sun shining, it was wonderful!

[mariangela]

A late submission. Thanks for the tutorial--it was very clear and easy to follow. I played around with levels and added a little more blur.
agg

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1y5wPd6b5ssrShOQwVpK2465yqSoCX_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1y5wPd6b5ssrShOQwVpK2465yqSoCX)

[emkayess65]

Hi Clara, thank you for the tut.
Orton revisited was fun - once I found a picture I liked.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1MOuhLtTY4UMg2NDgTSTyedunuC1N0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1MOuhLtTY4UMg2NDgTSTyedunuC1N0)

I kept the foreground sharp - just ortonized the back.
mks

[margie46]

After a day at the Zoo I thought I would try this Orton effect...all I need to do is work out how to upload the photo.4255

[Bamagirl]

Welcome, Margie. That is a wonderful picture.

[boblemon]

This was a lot of fun. I have to squeeze in one more.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/2/2/2/6/8/p3290120orton_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=12298&c=5)