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 !

Am i looking in the right place?

How do users get around this black background issue

ps

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

My results were spectacular!

[photoshopsusieq]

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

[mikecox]

Originally Posted by photoshopsusieq

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

Yes, though I'm not sure how it works

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....rder=0&thold=0

Diana

[mikecox]

Originally Posted by Diana

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

http://www.graficalicus.com/modules....rder=0&thold=0

Diana

Thanks for the link

Yes, your watercolor turned out great

Thanks

[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.