Creative Effects Challenge No. 193 - the Smart Blur filter
Jan 21, 2023 21:02:22 GMT
Lillias likes this
Post by tonyw on Jan 21, 2023 21:02:22 GMT
The Smart Blur filter has been around for a while and rarely gets used but, as I recently discovered, it can create some interesting effects. Basically it's a filter that blurs similar pixels within a set radius and threshold but to use it you don't need to know those details! Just experiment. It has a normal mode and an edge only mode that we'll be taking advantage of in the following example of its use.
In picking an image to work on be aware that Smart Blur results depend on image size - I usually work with an image between 1500 and 2500 pixels so with larger images you might want to downsize first. Also as one of the older filters it only works with 8 bit images so if the filter is greyed out it maybe because you need to convert from 16 to 8 bit.
For a Painterly/Sketchy type effect start with an image and duplicate it. Apply the Smart Blur filter - the effect of adjustments is only visible on the small thumbnail. Set the Quality to Medium and the Mode to Normal and adjust the Radius and Threshold sliders (I had both in the mid-30's but I haven't experimented much with other values). Look to smooth out the details of the image. When done hit OK and the effect will be applied to the image (it may take a few seconds).
Now add a second copy of the original image above that layer and apply the Smart Blur filter again but this time set the Mode to Edge Only and adjust the sliders to adjust the level of detail shown by the edges. This will give you white edges on a black background and you need to invert it (Ctrl-I) to give black edges on white. Then set the blend mode of this layer to Multiply.
Finally Merge Visible in a new layer (Ctrl-Alt-Shft-E) or hold Alt or Option while selecting Merge Visible in the Layer menu and make adjustments to this layer to lighten up the image (typically Levels or Shadows/Highlights works and you can also use the Texturizer to add texture.) . From then on it's up to you.
If you want to go further you should check out the video tutorial by davrodigital Duffryn Paint Effect . This gave me the idea to use Smart Blur although for the second step he uses Glowing Edges instead of Smart Blur and then goes further with layers and brushes to create the final result.
Here are the layers I used and a before and after example:
It's also a quick way to create a cartoon effect as in one of the clowns from this weeks EP challenge
Have fun playing with Smart Blur
Tony
In picking an image to work on be aware that Smart Blur results depend on image size - I usually work with an image between 1500 and 2500 pixels so with larger images you might want to downsize first. Also as one of the older filters it only works with 8 bit images so if the filter is greyed out it maybe because you need to convert from 16 to 8 bit.
For a Painterly/Sketchy type effect start with an image and duplicate it. Apply the Smart Blur filter - the effect of adjustments is only visible on the small thumbnail. Set the Quality to Medium and the Mode to Normal and adjust the Radius and Threshold sliders (I had both in the mid-30's but I haven't experimented much with other values). Look to smooth out the details of the image. When done hit OK and the effect will be applied to the image (it may take a few seconds).
Now add a second copy of the original image above that layer and apply the Smart Blur filter again but this time set the Mode to Edge Only and adjust the sliders to adjust the level of detail shown by the edges. This will give you white edges on a black background and you need to invert it (Ctrl-I) to give black edges on white. Then set the blend mode of this layer to Multiply.
Finally Merge Visible in a new layer (Ctrl-Alt-Shft-E) or hold Alt or Option while selecting Merge Visible in the Layer menu and make adjustments to this layer to lighten up the image (typically Levels or Shadows/Highlights works and you can also use the Texturizer to add texture.) . From then on it's up to you.
If you want to go further you should check out the video tutorial by davrodigital Duffryn Paint Effect . This gave me the idea to use Smart Blur although for the second step he uses Glowing Edges instead of Smart Blur and then goes further with layers and brushes to create the final result.
Here are the layers I used and a before and after example:
It's also a quick way to create a cartoon effect as in one of the clowns from this weeks EP challenge
Have fun playing with Smart Blur
Tony
so I may try this again sometime.
