Full Wallpaper-Stocks and Coloring
First, I open a new canvas (1280x768) because this is the size of my monitor, and always with a black background. I've actually been asked this question a lot, 'Why start with black?'. Well, the most practical answer is it's easier. It helps hide mistakes and helps to blend the images better. But my answer is, I can't stand the brightness. It hurts my eyes.
Now, I already know I want this to be a Sookie/Eric piece and from Eric's point of view. I also know it's going to be about his passion and desire, so I wanted his fangs out to illustrate the point better. I also know I want Sookie to have surprised, considering, look. Like she is just seeing these things...which I suppose she is. Both images are from Jenni Lou @ Daydreaming.
Since I am only using two caps, the composition is rather important. If it is done too simply, it will be boring and no amount of effects can help. I know I didn't want them looking towards each other because it was too expected and really limits the canvas. If they look away, the canvas is a playground. It doesn't have to be focused on one section. I also opted for a side composition, because I am not one who goes for symmetrics. I like slightly off center things, I think it adds something, but that's just me. I also think it helps with adding textures and stocks, as well as lighting. So, once the images are placed, I set both layers to Lighten and mask away the portions I won't be needing. I end up with something like this.
Next, I want to add some texturing in the form of stocks. In this case, some old stocks I've had on my computer forever. So, I begin with these:
I begin with the water lily. Because of the beautiful shadowing and angles, I put it just behind Sookie and mask out the portions I don't need. I set this to Lighten with 40% opacity beacause I don't want it to be too obvious. Next, the rose has lovely coloring and I want some of the reds in there. I set this over all the layers and set it to Soft Light at 80% opacity, just to give the coloring and some of the shapes from the image.
The piece is still looking a little dark, and the focus is getting drawn away from the two main images. I decide to use a soft edged brush, about size 300, and lightly brush around Sookie. I mask out the areas that overlap her and set the layer to 27% opacity. Again, I just want to draw attention to that area, not take it over. It's now that I also decide to add some more light, with some nice shadows. An image of an old gothic window works well for this, as does a light blur from an edge of a forrest.
I add the Window image to the top of the piece, allowing the light to flow down to the main images, also, the lighting leads away from the image of Eric, framing it in an odd way that I like. I set this to Lighten at about 15% opacity. I then add the light blur below Eric, balancing out the light play.
Still, I want a little more detail. So I add this texture by Amber at Reflection. It adds some nice feathering and light. I mask away the portions that overlap the caps, and the areas that are too strong. I set this to Lighten, 30% opacity, because again, I just want some nice detail.
Now, for the coloring. I begin by brightening the piece, this brings out the main images and balances the contrast. For this piece, I used these settings:
But, it wasn't as bright as I wanted, nor were the shadows as crisp. So, rather then do another layer with different settings, I simply duplicated the one I just made.
Now, time for a gradient map. I wanted something that worked with the pink/red coloring from the stock I already placed. I chose one from Daydreaming. From here, I set the layer to Soft Light and lowered the opacity to 20% because I wanted it to be soft. I also masked around the main images, because it made their coloring too red.
Now, I wanted to try something new after reading a wonderful tutorial by Bre at Primordial Souls. So to begin I added a layer filled with #9B8958, and set it to Soft Light. This upped the color to a more peach hue. I then added a layer filled with #645978 and set to Soft Light as well. Next, I added a layer with #09524A to Overlay at 60% opacity, otherwise it was too harsh. I also masked away from the faces of Sookie and Eric because I didn't want to change their skin tones too much. Next, another layer of #5E6432 set to Soft Light, again masking around the faces. And finally to bring back some of the reddish coloring I added a layer filled with #7B0B05, set to Lighten at 20% because I didn't want it to be too strong. But, this washes out the shadows in the piece. So I add one last layer filled with #000000 and set it to Soft Light 20% opacity. Again, otherwise, it will be too dark.
Now, I wanted Eric to be the focal point, and one of his greatest attributes are his eyes. I needed to bring them out a bit and make them stand out. So here, I duplicated the entire piece (Ctrl+Shift+C) and pasted it into a new layer on top. Using a hard edged brush, in this case a size 2, I use the Dodge Tool, set too 100% opacity, Range: Highlights. I take the brush and highlight the irises of his eyes, brightening them and thus bringing them out.
I also wanted to bring back the blues. So with the paint brush, set to a small size brush, I simply paint onto a new layer.
I set this layer to Color, 61% opacity, because I don't want it too be too unnatural. Next, I duplicated the entire piece again, pasted it onto a new layer and with the Sharpen tool, I brighten and sharpen both Sookie's and Eric's eye areas.
I then duplicate the entire piece again, and go to Filter>Paint Daubs set to Brush Size: 1, Sharpness: 1. I duplicate the entire piece again, and go to Filter>Stylize>Diffuse and set this layer to 50% opacity. This lightens the harshness of the paint daubs filter. Next, since I want to bring more shadows into the piece, I duplicated the entire piece into a new layer again. I then go to Image>Adjust>Threshold. Since the effects of this can be noisy I also went to Filter>Blur More to help soften it a bit. I set this layer to Overlay, which helps brighten the colors while bringing in some shadows, and set this to 5% opacity. Mainly because I just needed a little help.
Now all that remains is to add your text and you're done! You can view my finished product, here.
