Preserved Topic: Phong Variation

Just thought you guys might want to try out a little tut i threw together, a couple of months back, it's sort of a continuation of phongs e-plastic tut,
There's no limit to what you can map onto , or rather under the plastic see-thu layers.
Hope ya like it
http://ramdesign.8k.com/erusttutorial/erust.htm <p>[This message has been edited by r@m (edited 27-05-2000).]

Clear!....Real clear!.....that's something else R@M...Yum, just makes you wanna lick it...
Gonna try that out....later

YO R@M-BO!!!<P>My man! Hoo-aahh...that's some slick stuff....d'oh! That's Phil's tongue!<P>No really, that's an awesome tute brother! I'm working on phong's stuff as we speak, just so I can get to yours...way cool!<P>Peace <P>

Glad you like it
Not too sure about the Rambo reference tho'....I know I'm knew to this, but I don't talk like I'm chewing a brick, and I'm far better looking
2winspap, your a bit lively tonight , are you on a prescription that we don't know about?

excellent r@m!<P>

Nah...they just upped the voltage on my shock treatment! heheh<P>

Real cool tut r@m...let me know what you think of my first efforts...... http://www.Scansped.btinternet.co.uk/Scansped/Clear.html <P>

Cool effects all round Phil, i think the spot on your glass ball background really adds to the effect.
I've just tried the effect again for the first time for a while, and remembered a few tweaks to get more depth.
Firstly, use italic and not bold italic ,
Increase the blur on the dodge layer by about 10%
Double the blur on the alpha channel.
I used 32, 16, 8, 4, 2.
And add an extra pole in the curves window almost in the middle, drag it down slightly for the extra sheen.
Actually this should look more like glass than plastic

I've tweaked this thing around a little...you're right r@m, I think that the lighting effects are a matter of taste, depending on the effect you want to achieve, also the number of blurs. I was reasonably happy with the first attempt, but a lot happier with this... http://www.scansped.btinternet.co.uk/Scansped/Crystal.html
what do you think?<P>Hey Doc!...I've borrowed a couple of your BG pics to emphasise the effects - hope you don't mind...TIA... <P><p>[This message has been edited by Phil (edited 29-05-2000).]

Looks nice and clear phil! I just wish that the action that r@m created allowed the user to use their own letter instead of just an "e" <P>I'll have to work with it until I'm satisfied with the results and create my own action.<P>The curves you created are spot on though r@m. Thanks!<P>

Just delete the transform layer step after the make text 2wins, I'm suprised you didn't realise this after looking at your chrome shapes and chrome text actions, they must have taken you ages to build.
You said you posted them here but i can't seem to find the archive.
Can you remember where it is?

Very nice phil! I'm gonna have to try this one out...looks good.<P> <P>

Thanks DL-44...must say I really like this, you can throw so much at it. I took r@ms advice of using just italic with the letter, F1-errors Adventure font would be pretty cool on this....there's a bit of a blur on it however, I think I'll try it one more time using a different letter and font. The emphasis is definately on the lighting effects & the curves... 'Phongs' tut is great for making plastic, but you gotta tweak, tweak & tweak to try and re-create the glass.
BG is all important for the effect/mood...Docs Night Sky Pic is the dreamiest...<P>Some of you other guys gotta try this one...it'd be cool to see some other pics... <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

Yeah r@m, but I would have thought that you would have built it that way to start with! <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif"><P>Nice work Phil....makes me more determined to perfect it now heheheh<P>

Interesting how you all go about the glass look.......really cool....myself i just airbrush the highlights then gaussen blur then use the hue/saturation filter set on colorize then play with the color and lightness then come back and airbrush the different color fades on different layers......you get a more custom feel....but i like the way you all are doing the effect........ill have to give it a shot...................im so airbrush minded and hands on that i forget we have filters that do that stuff as well..........looking forward to more stuff from you all..............nice work..........Cyber... <P>

I use the airbrush alot myself. I usually use it to add what I feel the filters missed, or to take away from something the filter added. I do alot of "hand" work. Like you Cyber, I come from a non-digital background. It took me a long time to come around to filters and effects. I think that it's not about breaking the habit, but rather adding to it. <P>The nice thing about filiters is that I see things a little differently now, than before. Like the filter adds things I'd never thought of before. I tend to bring that to my real world / analog designs. I love it when I can see the world in a new way. I spent the better part of this weekend looking at natural shapes in old wood and roots. I've got some ideas i might try to translate into pinstriping.<P>

i too feel the natural urge to draw in photoshop, filters and layers are neat, you can come up some cool stuff just by experimenting and playing around with modes, i crave for an airbrush but enjoy the work it takes to tease the effect i'm looking for otherwise.
Glass without an airbrush is damn challenging.<P>2wins for some strange reason i couldnt get the font size big enough in photoshop that's why i has to add the transform layer step.....so just quit yer whining and delete it ! <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif"> <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif"> <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif"> <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif"> <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/tongue.gif">

F1.......i agree it has been interesting to take some of the 3d effects i get in Bryce and PS and add them to my airbrush projects......and speaking of roots .here is a cool digital airbrushing of an old stump in the back 40 ive been foolin with in PS............ www.doccyber.com/o.jpg ............nice chattin with you all.....Cyber<P>

I decided to do something a little different with this variant. I was trying for a kool-aid look and ended up with more of a melting jello look. Not quite what I was after, but nifty all the same.
It's at http://www.innerworld.com/F1_error/melting-jello.jpg <P>Cyber, I like that stump, have you ever done any wood carving?
I've got a really neat stump in one of my pastures. The roots grew around a rock and fractured it off into a nearly flat plane, with the rock still embedded into the stump. It's all weathered like yours is, so the character is there too. <P>

Great pics ...love the jello....I was trying melting wax, but it hasn't worked out yet <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/frown.gif">
Would either of you 2 guys (Doc or F1error), have any guiders on manipulating just certain areas of a layer, i've started to use small areas selected with the marquee tool and feathered to soften the edges..but it's hit and miss , just like using layers, and tends to leave traces.
A look in to the techniques of using an airbrush might give some good ideas for small adjustments, as a lot of the time a small part of the pic looks perfect but the rest seems to have a mind of it's own.
Any advice would be a help.<P>btw here's some more glass variants, I'm cheating by using colour and texture to hide the curves inaccuracies, but the effects not bad.
http://ramdesign.8k.com/glass/glass.htm <P>When adjusting the curves it's much easier on a black or dark back ground, after finishing the tut.... hide all but the screen layer, load the text selection, and repeat the steps for the screen layer, when you come to adjust the curves you can see the transparencies much better.

[This message has been edited by r@m (edited 06-06-2000).]

There are actually quite a few ways you can do this. The most common is masks.
However what I do 90% of the time is to use the lasso to select the area that I want to manipulate, copy it, and paste it into a new layer. I will usually alter the color, and the blending modes depending on what I want to do the selection (adding a texture to the selection and either cut out the hot spots, or the shadows does some neat things). Also if the layer you selected from already has a blending mode applied, you can place your selection layer under it, instead of above. Now if you the area you selected is not blending well, you can delete your selection on the original layer, and still have the new layer to play on.
I use tons and tons of layers, lots of blending modes, and lots of fade undo. Like my sig file had either 18 or 20 layers not counting the highlight animation. (Unfortunately I still haven't master miniaturized chrome.) The flames are 7 alone, I used the same gradient several times, each on a new layer, with the opacity lowered each time, it makes the gradient a little smoother.
When I am working, I try for "controlled happy accidents", I get my best effects that way. I know when I am getting close to the end of project because I am using the paint brush and airbrush more. I hope that helps you a bit, if not let us know what you are trying to do with your layer and we can be a little more specific. <P>

There was no specific problem, just layer manipulation in general...I use the marquee and lassoo tool too, but edit directly on the layer, rather than cut and paste to a new layer..I've tried it a few times already...and it works!..sure is less of a headache too <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">
This may sound daft but i've never actually watched anyone else work in photoshop (other than actions that is)....when i'm in the middle of an interface and i have the pic spread out over 30-40 layers i sometimes feel i'm doing something wrong and there must be an easier way <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">
This usually happens when i can't get a certain effect, and the doubts start to creep in.
I was more interested in the airbrush approach, if i could see how an artist approached the problem of say, glass, layer structure and modes etc, then see if there was ways i could tweak the techniques to work with layers and selections.<P>Thanks for the tip.

Self-Doubt is a part of creativity, don't let it bother you. As long as you (and sometimes your client) like the out come, you are doing things right. And you are right there may be an easier way, but that is not always the best way. You can do inset bars with a filter, but Ozones Hands-On is much better, though harder at first. I often take the long way of doing things so that I have more control over the final result. <P>As far as Airbrushing goes, Airbrush Action magazine has lots of good tips. And there are tons of books on the basics. All of which will translate to Photoshop with little or no modifications. If you really want to watch an Airbrush artist in action, go to your local sign maker and hang around. Sign artists know more tips than any other airbrush artist that I've ever known. (They will also know about brushes, pinstriping, lettering, colors, varnish. A sign crafter wears many hats.)<P>

I'm trying to grab that action and I'm getting an access error. I'd love to get a rust action!<P>Pat Richard
Web weenie

Hi!<P>I was trying out Phong's E-plastic tutorial listed at:
http://phong.com/tutorials/eplastic/ <P>and I got stuck at step 2. After finishing exactly what the instructions called for(Select, Modify, Contract[16 pixels]), my photoshop comes up with the reply: <P>Warning, no pixels selected<P>[OK]<P>Can anyone shed any light on why this is happening? Thanks!!<P>Dreaen<P>

Hmmmmmm........Worked out fine for me. Did you make sure that you rendered the text layer or that you didn't try to do something like copy it. Wait...you didn't create the new layer, and then click on it with control held down instead of the text leyer did you?<P><P>
Lepricosa...The Leprosy Ointment. For when your not half the man you used to be.

Dreaen.....I't's difficult to say, if you don't have a selection, the contract option will be grayed out, .sounds like your font size may be too small, if you contract beyond the size of your selection, you'll get the error you described.
Is the canvas 800x800 and did you size the "E" to fit most of the canvas area?
Hope this helps<P>Pugzly, I've just tried the rust action link, and it seems to be working ok. I can mail it to you if you still can't get it.<P>

Hey!

Guys, thanks for all the help and info that pointed me to the source of the confusion: the font/text being too small.

Which brings me to my second problem. When trying to include an image in my signature for the forum using the link:
http://www.angelfire.com/on/grandharbour/dreaen/dreaen.gif

[when you click on this link, you will find that it brings up an angelfire image, but if you memorize the exact address (or copy it) and startup a new browser window and then type/paste the URL, you will get the appropriate image]

in the UBB code tag, weirdly enough only the Angelfire image comes up with my post, replacing the image that should come up. Can anyone shed any light on this problem??

Thanks,

Dreaen
(Lakshman's Web)


And here comes the signature:

That's becuase AngelFire are malicious bastards who have set up their site so that if you link to a picture externally, it will come up with the AngelFire Logo. None of the sigs for people who stores them on AngelFire are coming up. I say, go somewhere else to store your ifo, like I-Drive, who will allow you to have a directory that you can access with out having to log on, yet it is still read only so that no one can alter the info (in this case your signature) in it.




Lepricosa...The Leprosy Ointment. For when your not half the man you used to be.

OK...I finally got the layer order straightened out and made a rollover...pretty "clear" what this is all about <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

http://www.hypersolutions.com/plastic.html

he ..he ....clear! ...he ....he, this inspires me to do some buttons, photoshop ...you gotta love it .......this program is endless....now i want to put little bubbles in it <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">
Nice one 2wins <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

An attempt at amber......have to try this on an irregular shape <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">
http://ramdesign.8k.com/amber/amber.htm

Pappa, nice rollover. I got a question tho, wouldn't you see the drop shadow through the clear K?

Dat's Some Funky Stuff There PaPa. <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">




Lepricosa...The Leprosy Ointment. For when your not half the man you used to be.

Awsome Papa, I would preload the gif's though... it was scary when I mousedovered and the pictured colapsed to load the image.

Skaarjj,

Thanks for the info., now I know what the bug is in that link.

Amazing that amber, papa. It's mmmm,mm good.

Dreaen
(Lakshman's Web)

I took what F1-Error said to heart and included more of a shadow this time...


http://www.hypersolutions.com/plastic.html

Nice stuff guys. Like the K papa!
Kick ass amber there r@m <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">