Have you ever wanted to take a photograph of a client, friend, or loved one, and make that person appear to emerge from water, in Photoshop? Like that she or he is looking at you from inside some sort of very happy natural hot springs? Well, sure you have.
And if not, at the very least, today’s technique includes a comical intro.
Here’s the official description from lynda.com:
This week’s free Deke’s Techniques demonstrates how to take an otherwise land-locked model and make her appear to emerge from water. The key to this deceptively simple technique is to create a reflected version of the model, properly aligned, that is based on a common smart object so that any changes to the original are reflected in the duplicate.
After you flip the duplicate upside down, you must create a soft transition between the two images. In the video, Deke shows you how to set up a gradient transition in the intersection between the rightside-up and upside-down versions, so that no seams are visible between the two. Once you reduce the opacity of the reflection and add a water layer (adjusted to taste with a color overlay), you’ll arrive at the refreshing effect on the left below.
To make the properly wavy reflection on the right above (look closely, right below the shoulders), members of lynda.com can watch this week’s exclusive movie in which Deke shows you how to create a progressive ripple pattern that you can use for any Photoshop image.
Deke will be back next week with another versatile reflective technique.
Titled “Creating Progressive Water Ripples,” that aforementioned members-only follow-up movie shows you how to design a logarithmically progressing displacement map that you can apply to any reflection, regardless of the context. Seriously, those of you who aren’t yet members of lynda.com, this one members-only movie is by itself worth the price of membership. Unless you don’t like logs or rithmics, in which case, the chances of you having made it this far into this post are roughly the same as you having won seven back-to-back lotteries and then getting struck by a meteorite attached to a bolt of lightning.
Meanwhile, next week’s technique might be the kookiest ever.
\“Hey gang…\”
You know, I’ve only just realised that those immortal, opening words: “Hey gang…” fill me with an immense feeling of joy. I really do feel like a part of a gang - and Deke is a great leader! Just saying…
Not as good as it could have been…
Just saying….
This one just isn’t up to your usual standard. The model looks like she is standing behind something holding the water. I think it’s the white background and the fact that the water doesn’t show behind her shoulders even a little bit.
I love your techniques but I read your article on the Pitsburgh paper before I watch this movie. It’s good but not a good as they usually are.
I have usual standards?
Not true! I have unusual standards. ;-)
You’ll have to let me know what you think of the upcoming techniques. Next week’s is just plain kooky. Then there’s a really great one. Then we’re back to kooky.
Honestly, I’m looking at my course outline and I’m thinking: Sometimes I’m a solid educator. Sometimes I’m a nutless monkey; seriously, a nutless monkey could do my job.
But you wouldn’t understand him. And the sad strains of his melancholy ooh-ooh ah-ahs would depress you.
(Much as some have said is the case with my Photoshop CS6 training.)
I love your kookiness!
I have a big imagination, so big that I thought ‘That’s it?’ when I first saw the Rockies in person. I just can’t get my head around the fact that the model was supposed to emerging from the water but there was no water behind her.
Off to watch your newest movie and can’t wait to see next week.
BTW - loved the skeleton snowflakes.
Model/Stock Image
Ever since I saw this video tutorial on lynda.com, I’ve been interested in who this model is. Or at least where did you get your stock photo? Thanks a bunch!