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Avoid the "paperdoll cutout"- Blur toolIn order to avoid that 'cut-out paperdoll' edge you sometimes get when masking out a model (or rather, the background they're on), I like to use the blur tool (NOT FILTER) on certain parts while leaving others untouched.  
For softer masking on the skin, I leave the blur tool settings to 100% strength, 50% strength on clothes, and leaving the hair untouched.  That's because those are my personal tastes (soft edge on the skin, semi-soft on clothes, and harsh edge on hair) and they're not the end-all of settings, so tell me which settings you like below :D
(This is only one method of helping blend your model and setting.  There's tons more in the journal archive for this group if this tip doesn't quite ... "cut" it.  *dodges flying objects*  I compiled all my favorite manip tips from this group here:  http://fav.me/d5hcdsz)
Goodbye? Not yet!Hi you all!
How are you? I know the title is a bit drastic but it's what is almost happening. I am not feeling comfortable anymore on this platform. Every day I have tons of notifications and I really can't keep up to comment, answer or fave everything. I feel like 'omg I have to go on dA and comment and fave...'. I know this is the feeling of many other artists here.
That's why I have to change my behaviour. I know it's always a pleasure to receive comments on our deviations but I also think if they're not real critics they are useless. I am also used to write random comments like 'beautiful', 'amazing'... and this is what I really think! But it doesn't help an artist to grow in my opinion. So, from now on, I will only fave your works if I like them and you can do the same with me. I will disable comments on my pieces. If you like them fave them, if not move on! I will keep up to do features, suggest DDs but I really have to reduce my activity here.
I hope you all understand! I know a
Brightening + keeping skin colorWhen you press CTRL+U, which is considered destructive editing FYI, a hue/saturation adjustment menu comes up.  (You can use an adjustment layer instead if you want.)  When you pick a channel, click the dropper tool under the sliders, and then click on the image you're editing, it selects that color group from the photo to edit.  
Try this on a model's skin, and then play with the Lightness option.  Bump up the SATURATION the same amount as you did the Lightness.  This way you can brighten their skin AND keep their natural color, and they won't wind up looking cliche-pale just because that's easier to edit...
Rinse and repeat.
Obviously this works for more than skin, but I recommend it for skin.
Fog: A new use for cloud stockEDIT:  Here's a newer entry on another way of adding fog and atmosphere - http://dark-etheria.deviantart.com/journal/More-realistic-foggy-effect-363176227
I was just messing around with a project I may or may not publish, and I wanted to add some effect to the already-cloudy sky, so I put a dark, stormy cloud stock on top of it and set it to Screen.  When I dragged it down over the model and the scene, it looked a LOT like fog, and not the fugly PS fog you normally get.  Playing with Curves on the clouds made the effect more realistic.  
Maybe it's something you can try too.
Lighting in PS (new video!)Try a hue/saturation adjustment layer with the -brightness- turned down a lot, then paint (with varied flow and opacity settings) in black where the lighting should be in the layer mask.  On a new layer set to soft light, paint in the harsh lighting detailing in white.
:new:
Video:  http://s1340.beta.photobucket.com/user/Dark-Etheria/media/Manip%20Videos/Darkness.mp4.html
Done with mouse
Let me know if the video works for you.  I want to double-check the privacy settings I set for my PB account.
Stock will be credited as soon as I get it from my collab partner.  This is our current project :3
PROPZ TO :iconMLArtistry: :D
EDIT:
Fixed video link
Add a dark night effect to very bright photosBlack and white adjustment layer set to Multiply :D  It's a good base to make a bright scene into something stormy, or with further editing, a night scene.
If you don't have adjustment layers, just duplicate the picture, make the duplicate b+w, and set that to Multiply.  It's the exact same effect :D
Two nifty tips: Outer + Inner Glow usesFire
Use this: http://www.obsidiandawn.com/creating-realistic-flames-in-photoshop-tutorial method of adding fire to your images.  Use Inner Glow with a really dark red, set to Overlay, then play with the opacity.  This should add additional depth to some flames :D
Rain
Use a white or light Outer Glow on something being rained on (roofs, trees, etc), and set it to a high Noise level.  This should look like rain hitting the surface.  Play with opacity and blending mode.
Easy beam of mystical lightUse the pen tool to make a beam shape (long upside down triangle)
Make it a selection and fill it with white on a new layer
Soft light
Outer glow, any settings, glow set to Overlay
Possibly add some dust particles around and make them brighter in the light to add atmosphere
Technique used here:
http://starlitnox.deviantart.com/art/Fairytale-Dust-318915151
(I'm tired of only using my own stuff as an example in this section of the blogs - send me your tips and results and I'll share them, credited, here~)
Videos - Youtube Tutorials and speed art:bulletpink:FAQS - Website - Commissions OPEN  - Blog Index - Shadowness -  Tutorials  -  Thumblr - My Daily Deviations - Resources RULES - Dark Portafolio - Touchtalent
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Kingdom Hearts - Step by Stepby =fiathriel

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For this deviation:-


I did a mini shoot for this Sora cosplayer at Animania Sydney 2010 and he had a photo on his mobile phone and said he'd like something similar, so at the end of our shoot we played around. The photo was only small so my lighting folk tried to help pose them once I got them into position and we played with a few shots and lighting changes. I then did up a basic composition to match the nighttime landscape in the little piccy and came up with this.

I know it's not accurate and the costumes aren't the same but we were only having a play and used the pic more so for the pose and lighting and it was a bit of fun!

Stock used:-

Mountains 8 by =night-fate-stock (deleted now I think) [link] [link] [link] [link] [link]

Kairi is :icontrelecoco:
Sora is :iconenigmaticdream5:

Photo and shooping by me :iconfiathriel:
Lighting assistant :iconjellyseagull:
©2010-2013 =fiathriel
Category: Resources & Stock Images / Tutorials / Other

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Submitted on
October 30, 2010
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:iconluthien-ikari:
~Luthien-Ikari Nov 8, 2010
Oooh!! It's so cool to see how you do it!!! You should make more things like this~
Reply
:icongonline:
~gonline Oct 31, 2010
XD I love these detailed explaination!!!
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:icondan2452:
*dan2452 Oct 30, 2010
nicely done :)
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