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Post by Tpgettys on Dec 10, 2022 6:10:52 GMT
My last Creative Effects Challenge was the Wood Burning Effect. Generously, Lillias sent me a link to a tutorial for creating a Woodcut Effect for consideration as a companion tutorial. It is for Photoshop, but she showed me how to modify it to work for Elements. We collaborated on it further, and not only was the process a delight, the result is a rather more efficient, fun, and easy distillation of the initial source. Here is but one of several images I made using the written instructions below: (Click image for full-size view)
- Use a wood texture as your background layer (see links below)
- Open an image you wish to convert into a woodcut
- Make a selection of your subject (the quick selection tool usually works well, but see the note below)
- Copy your selection to a new layer (Ctrl+J) and hide the original image layer
- Click Photo Bin in the lower left corner
- Click the wood texture, then drag your subject image onto it
- Reposition and resize your subject using the Move tool (V)
- Set the default colors (D)
- Click Filter | Filter Gallery... | Sketch | Photocopy (I set the Detail and Darkness sliders to their max value)
- Choose the Quick Selection Tool (A) and click inside a white area, then Click Select | Similar (this should select all the white)
- Delete the selected white area (Del), leaving just the black regions
- Set the blend mode to Soft light. You can heighten the blend mode effect by duplicating the layer (Ctrl+J)
- On the task bar click Styles, then Bevels from the drop-down menu and click the Simple Inner bevel
- On the task bar click Layers, then the effects icon (fx) of the top layer. Set the Direction of the bevel to Down and the Bevel Size to about 8
- Lower the opacity of the layer beneath the top layer to make the effect more realistic
Tips & Tricks In step 3, if you end up with a mask, Ctrl-click on the mask to make a selection of your subject, then continue on to step 4.
After creating the black on transparent image in step 11, I would sometimes simplify it by erasing some of the busy parts to make a cleaner subject image. After creating the black on transparent image in step 11, I would sometimes add a stroke to the selection to increase the black area (Edit | Stroke Selection).
Additional resources Step 3 says to "make a selection of your subject", so here is a tutorial on how to make a selection. It is overkill for this tutorial, as your selection needn't be very precise, but this skill is central to many projects: How You Can Use Photoshop Elements Selection ToolsI am looking eagerly looking forward to your results, and of course if you have any suggestions or questions I am all ears!
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Post by Lillias on Dec 10, 2022 21:36:54 GMT
Your example is a nice clear cut Tom of this interesting technique. For mine I used an image from HiClipart... The wood background is supplied by Blue Lightning.  |
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Post by Tpgettys on Dec 10, 2022 22:30:08 GMT
Thanks for trying out this challenge Lillias. I really like the incorporation of clip art and text; a clever extension to the base technique!
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Post by hmca on Dec 10, 2022 23:05:37 GMT
Tried a few of these, Tom. Like every tut so much depends on finding the right image. My favorite of the ones I tried so far. Both images from StockSolo.....I used the wood texture you supplied. I hope to try again with one of my own images.   I like your introductory image a lot, Tom. I like the oval you added, Lillias. |
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Post by Lillias on Dec 10, 2022 23:34:52 GMT
These are both great Helen. I particularly like the second one with such a lot of detail.
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Post by Tpgettys on Dec 11, 2022 0:53:46 GMT
Like every tut so much depends on finding the right image.
That is certainly true! I found that adjusting the angle of the bevel can help quite a bit in making the cutout realistic. Also, starter images with a lot of detail can be made to work better by using the eraser tool to remove some of the detail within the subject. A real wood cut would probably not have a great amount of intricate internal detail. However, like you said, some starter images just don't work well.
Thank you for trying it out; I also like the 2nd one quite a bit.
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Post by hmca on Dec 11, 2022 2:33:56 GMT
Thanks, Lillias and Tom. I will try again tomorrow......it's fun. Where did you find your starter image, Tpgettys ? Do you have an recommendations for a good source? |
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Post by Tpgettys on Dec 11, 2022 3:43:32 GMT
Do you have an recommendations for a good source? I don't, really. I got the starter for my image on Pixabay; searched for Celtic knots, I think. PNG images also work really well. I think that is what I used for this one:  |
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Post by Lillias on Dec 11, 2022 9:05:57 GMT
Oh that worked well Tom.
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Post by hmca on Dec 11, 2022 19:04:12 GMT
Your ship looks terrific, Tom! Tried again with a png file Image by rawpixel.com The second one is with a H/S layer adjusting the reds.   |
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Post by tonyw on Dec 11, 2022 20:46:46 GMT
Tried this with my owl . Pretty much followed the tutorial but did do some levels and colour adjustment at the end as well as tweaking the layer style. Thanks for the Challenge!  Tony |
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Post by Tpgettys on Dec 11, 2022 21:22:24 GMT
That worked out pretty well Tony; good job!
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Post by Tpgettys on Dec 11, 2022 21:27:39 GMT
a png file Image by rawpixel.com
Nice subject Helen; it worked out well!
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Post by Lillias on Dec 11, 2022 21:30:28 GMT
Another one...image from Pexels.  |
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Post by hmca on Dec 11, 2022 23:26:33 GMT
Your owl is very impressive, Tony.
Tom and Lillias you have definitely mastered this technique and provided us with some great examples.
I especially like the look of deep cuts that you have achieved with your dog, Lillias!
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