Software:  PhotoImpact 12, X3 

Title:   Off The Wall Masterpiece

Originally written for previous versions by Debbie Hardisty which can be viewed here  

Author: Updated Version Written by:Maureen Eves-Lavis

Level:   Intermediate/Advanced

Tools:   Hue & Saturation, Levels, Colour Replacement

Materials:    Ulead Classic Car Photo (optional)

MODES and WORKSPACES

Versions 12 and X3 has the ability for customised workspace modes, choose your own personal settings or Full Edit providing you have all tools available for this tutorial.

STEP 1

Start by opening your coloured photo in PI. 

Duplicate your image twice by clicking on Ctrl+D two times and then close the original photograph. The reason for this is so that you don't mistakenly save changes to a photo that you'd rather keep in it's original condition.

Miminize one of the duplicates, you will require that one later.

Working on the photo that's still open on your workspace, right click and select Copy. Right click again and select Paste.

STEP 2

Click on Photo/Colour/Hue & Saturation and move the saturation slider down to -100. This will cause your photograph to become a monochrome one.

STEP 3

Right click, Copy then right click and Paste.

Menu bar, Adjust, Invert - now your image looks like a negative!

STEP 4

Right click and select Properties. Change the merge type to Addition - You should now have a plain white image but the next step will change that.

Click on Menu bar, Photo, Blur, Gaussian Blur. Click on the Options button and select to blur by a radius of 20.

Click on OK

 

STEP 5

Right click and select to Merge All.

Your image will have a hazy look about it which isn't quite appropriate for our needs and still looks nothing like a sketch of any type, but we'll fix that...

 

STEP 6

Click on Menu bar, Photo, Sharpen, Emphasize Edges. Click on the options button and select to Sharpen by 3.

Click on OK

It's looking a little better but it's still not quite right, so you will have to work on this image a little more.  

STEP 7

Click on Menu bar, Photo, Light, Level

Using the Classic Car image and working on the Master Channel, first you need to click on the Equalize button and then move the white slider to an input level of 112, move the grey slider to an input level of 1.29 and leave the black slider on an input level of 0.

Click on OK.

If you are using an image of your own, you may have to tweak the settings a little more by moving the black, grey and white sliders. Move the black slider toward the right to bring out the black lines in your image and move the white slider toward the left to enhance the white areas. Finally adjust the grey slider if you feel it necessary. Remember you can always click on the Reset button and start again if you're not happy with how things are going.

STEP 8

Your image should now have the look of a pencil sketch.  You can further enhance it by by clicking on Menu bar, Photo, Light, Level to tweak a little more.

When you're happy with the results right click and select to Copy.

STEP 9

Open the copied colour image of the car that's been sitting down below hidden on your workspace, you will now work on that photograph.  

Minimise the black/white sketch image as this is not required any further.

Right click on the coloured photograph and select Paste.  What you have now done is pasted on top of the coloured photograph the sketch image you copied from step 8.

TEP 10

Click on the Lasso Tool. 

On the attribute bar ensure that there is a tick in the smart lasso square and set the Detection Scope to 33, Soft Edge to either 0 or 1.

You also need to click on the Select on Object icon

You are now ready to slowly click around the object you wish to bring out in your image until you get back to the starting point. Once back at the starting point, you'll notice that the selection will change to show you some pink nodes and green lines that can be moved around when you hold your left mouse button down on them. Carefully check around your image and make any adjustments that may be necessary before clicking the finish (Generate Lasso Selection) which is denoted by the tick icon on the attribute bar.  

To make adjustments, simply move the mouse pointer to the green line or node and click, hold and move.  When done, click on the Generate Lasso Selection finish tick.

Press the Delete key on your keyboard to clear the selected area.

Press on the Enter key to deselect the pencil-drawn background.

There should still be a selection line around your object.

STEP 11

The Classic Car object is still looking a little on the dark side, so I have chosen at this point to Click on Photo, Light, Levels, then click on the Equalize button and moved black slider down to 35. If you're using a different photograph you may not need to tweak the levels at this stage.

Deselect by hitting enter key.

 

STEP 12

Now to have a little bit of fun and change the colour of the car.  

With your mouse pointer, click on the red car and go to the Menu bar, Adjust, Colour Replacement and choose dual view.  Below the car image you'll see a row of icons, click on the eyedropper with the plus sign.

You can choose the settings below, but if you wish, you can experiment and make the colour whatever you desire.  Move the sliders and see the different colours you can achieve.

For the Classic Car choose Similarity 133, Hue   (minus) -155, Saturation 30, Lightness 0 this will produce a nice blue.

When you are happy with your colour, click OK.

STEP 13

Select the pencil-sketch part of the image.

Click on the Menu bar, Photo, Colour, Colour Balance and change with the 'preset view'   You can choose, Highlight, Midtone, Shadow or Auto. Experiment a little with the different settings by clicking on the thumbnails until you're happy with the colour in your image. 

Click on OK.

                                                            

STEP 14

Right click to select Merge All. Right click to select Copy.
Right click to select Paste.

Right click to select Properties and then change the Merge to either Soft Light or Multiply, whichever you prefer. The image to the right is created using Soft Light.

Right click to select Merge All and then admire your masterpiece!

 

The image below was created following the above steps of the tutorial, but completed prior to Colour Replacement.  This tutorial shows what great images you can create.  -  Thanks to Debbie.

Site created and maintained by Maureen Eves-Lavis

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Terms of use for this tutorial are simple....What you create using this tutorial is yours to do with as you please. A link back to this tut is appreciated but is not a requirement. The tutorial itself along with the images herein are copyrighted to me and all rights are reserved.

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