Craig,
…but I would like the final result to be a "3d"-like photo quality portrait of the person.
How would this differ from what you could get from a single well-lit photo of the person? By "3D" are you indicating that you want to produce a stereoscopic picture? Can you explain in more detail what it is that you want?
— Burton —
Can you explain in more detail what it is that you want?
Or show us an example?
I’m thinking of historical figures. I want to take portraits already created (paintings or photos) and create a composite image. By "3d" I mean 2d with the appearance of lifelike depth, such as is created by high quality computer animation (as seen in LOTR, for instance). However this would be a still image portrait to be framed and hung, etc.
show us an example of what you’re looking for…
Maybe he just wants the colors to POP!!!
The closest thing I could find:
<
http://www.lib.uconn.edu/about/exhibits/seydel/seydelworks.h tm>
HOWEVER, I want the final product to be a serious portrait not the odd stuff this guy is doing. I expect that I will be taking the composite (i.e. two or more portraits superimposed over each other) and then manipulating the image almost completely with new color, texture, etc. to create a new image, using the composite as a foundation, which I would like to be close to photographic in quality. And, yes, with colors that POP. Can I do it with photoshop, or any other Adobe product?
things like find edges, extrude and bevel and emboss when combined with layers and layer styles and blend modes might be where you’re looking to go.
LOTR, a motion picture, used a camera moving around an object to give 3 dimensions. Are you looking to make a single frame or are you animating? Nothing makes sense here. What does LOTR have to do with this?
such as is created by high quality computer animation
This was not created by high quality computer animation. This was created by skilled artists who happened to use computers. High quality computer animation does not look like computer animation. Get your analogies in line so that we can better understand your intent.
Forgive me for being unclear. I’m thinking of the realism of a movie still from one of the current movies such as LOTR. I want to create a still image, not animation. I am just wondering if the process of superimposing images onto each other and then changing colors, textures, shading, highlights, etc. to create a unique composite image is possible with Photoshop or another product from Adobe. I am not able to describe clearer, other than to refer to the above link from a previous posting showing something similar, due to being an amateur in the use of this type of software. Sorry.
I’ve got to say, "3-D" is not an expression I would use to describe those. Yes, composites like those can be done in Photoshop. Superimpose two images in two layers. Put a layer mask on the upper layer. Click on the layer mask and paint with white and black (or grays, etc.) to get the effect you want.
do you mean like the backdrops of rivendell in the movie version of lotr? they were painted by an artist but looked pretty real. i suspect that’s what you’re getting at, but i’ve been wrong in this thread before. 🙂
and yes, as mike says it CAN be done in photoshop, but it’s not easy. you have to know your way around the interface for starters and then you need to have the artists eye and hands.
Google for ‘photo cubism’ for samples and details.
Yes, Photoshop is ideal for this. I used to teach photo-cubism projects to introduce layer masking techniques. You can read the 2-3 pages in the manual about layer masks and pull these cubist portraits off quite easily.
The only way that you can see this as ‘the appearance of lifelike depth’ is if you are Pablo Picasso or on drugs. 😉
erm, Pablo, is, forgive me for pointing this out, dead.
The other alternative doesn’t seem worth considering.
So, I guess the best thing to do is to learn how to use layers. It’s easy peasy when the skills are gained
Selecting from one source and incorporating it into another is a doddle too.
In all of this there is one and only one major pitfall (make sure to respect copyright of any images you did not create yourself)
Thank You, kindly. I believe my question has been answered.
