Photoshop Tutorial - Painting On Canvas

1. Introduction

After nearly a year, I've revisited watercolour effects and following much permutation with the filter gallery I've come up with this effect for 2011.

As with all effects its essential to start off with an image that exhibits good, composition, technical execution and impact.

2. The Effect

2.1 Click here to see the original image and click on the original image to return to this page.

2.2 Click here to see the Painted on Canvas image and click on the Painted on Canvas image to return to this page.

2.3 Click here to return to the main Photoshop page.

3. Keystrokes

3.1 Open the image.

3.2 Check that the default colours in the toolbox are set to black and white, for the foreground and background respectively.

3.3 Copy the background layer and rename it 'effect'.

3.4 Working from the 'effect' layer, resize the image to the finish size, say 690 pixels high, as in my case.

3.5 Image>Adjustments>Vibrance, setting vibrance = 20 and saturation = 20.

3.6 Filter>Sharpen>Unsharpen Mask, setting amount = 150%, radius = 1, threshold = 0.

3.7 Filter>Filter Gallery>Artistic>Dry Brush, setting brush size = 4, brush detail = 7 and texture = 2. Save the effect by clicking on 'new effect layer' icon.

3.8 Click on Cut Out filter, setting number of levels = 6, edge simplicity = 5 and edge fidelity = 2. Save the effect by clicking on 'new effect layer' icon.

3.9 Close the 'artisitic' folder and open the 'texture' folder and click on 'Texturiser' filter, setting texturizer = canvas, scaling = 100, relief = 4 and light = top. Save the effect by clicking on 'new effect layer' icon. Click OK.

3.10 Click on the blending mode drop menu in the layers palette and select 'luminosity'

3.11 Click on the opacity drop menu in the layers palette and set the slider for 60%

3.12 Carry out any final presentation editing and save the effect.