Hey, all. I have a fun little photo trick for you. It adds pop to a photo and is really cool. Let’s get started.
This technique works better when you have a darker image on a light background. The photo I am using is really not a good one to start with. Confession time… I snapped this using my phone from inside an upstairs window as my son was playing the guitar and singing in our driveway. He’s a teenager and totally would not have approved of this behavior, but I’m banking on forgiveness once he finally notices the finished page. *fingers crossed*
So, here it is. A not-so-great (OK, terrible) photo that meets the requirements of a dark subject in front of a light background.
I did edit it in Photoshop to sharpen it a teeny bit, add contrast and overexpose it. So here’s a look at the photo as I start my process.
Step 1: Duplicate the Layer
Step 2: Choose Image > Adjustments > Threshold. Adjust the input slider so that most of the background disappears, leaving the shadows of the model in black. Here’s what I ended up with.
Step 3: Right-click on the top layer and choose Blending Options. While holding the Alt (PC)/ Option (Mac) key, drag the white input slider in the Underlying Layer setting towards the left. Click OK when done.
And here’s what it looks like now…
Step 4: Create a new layer.
Step 5: Click on the current layer and choose Blending Options, and again drag the white input slider from the Underlying Layer setting towards the left (holding the Alt/Option key). You won’t see anything by doing this, but it will help us see what we are doing when adding color in the next step.
Step 6: Add Color. Here’s the fun part. Paint the current (new) layer with any color you chose. Use a large brush with a hardness of 0. I used bright colors. As you paint, you will see your results!
After painting, you can go back and adjust the blending options again if needed.
This is what my painting produced.
After this, I took the brush again, and painted some white over the background. You can also paint on your Layer 1 (middle layer) for more variation. Just play with it! It’s super fun.
The end result…
Even my teenage son #2 (not pictured, LOL) said it was “artsy”. High praise, I tell you.
I took mine a bit further and added a few elements from Traci’s Pocket Life ’15: August Collection to turn it into a scrapbook page.
Very cool. Now it’s your turn. Give it a try!
Jen
About the Author: Jen Evangelista lives in Georgia with her husband and 4 kids. She is a Pediatrician and lover of art. She is also just nerdy enough to adore all things tech and really enjoys learning new things. Her scrapping style is constantly changing and she has recently discovered the joy of scrapping outside the album, creating fun hybrid and mixed media projects in addition to her tradition and pocket pages. There is no limit to creativity and Jen loves to see how far she can go. You can find her here: Portfolio | Facebook | Pinterest