Chapter 9 Creating Special Effects with Filters

Chapter Lessons Learn about filters and how to apply them Create an effect with an Artistic filter Add unique effects with Stylize filters Alter images with Distort and Noise filters Alter lighting with a Render filter Use Vanishing Point to add perspective

Understanding Filters Filters alter the look of an image by (permanently) altering pixels Use filters to apply special effects: – Realistic textures – Distortions – Changes in lighting – Blurring

Applying Filters Apply filters to any layer except the Background layer Use commands on the Filter menu or use the Filter Gallery Adjust filter settings and preview the filter effect in the Filter’s dialog box

Learn About Filters & How to Apply Them The Filter Menu sorts the filters into 14 categories and sub-categories Many filters are memory-intensive: – Use of them may slow down the computer’s performance Not all filters in the Filter menu are available in the Filter Gallery

Sample Filters 6 Original Motion Blur Stained Glass Twirl Cross- hatch Neon Glow

Filter Tips Distort filters: – Completely reshape an image – Highly resource-demanding Pixelate filters: – Applied when the command is clicked – Do not include a preview box Digimarc filters: – Notify users that the image is copyright-protected

Filter Categories Artistic Blur Brush Strokes Distort Noise Pixelate Render Sharpen Sketch Stylize Texture Video Other Digimarc

Applying a Blur Filter Select the layer to blur Click Filter on the Menu bar, point to Blur, then click Motion Blur Select Blur settings in the Motion Blur dialog box

Image in the Motion Blur Dialog Box

Create an Effect with an Artistic Filter Colored Pencil Cutout Dry Brush Film Grain Fresco Neon Glow Paint Daubs Palette Knife Plastic Wrap Poster Edge Rough Pastels Smudge Stick Sponge Underpainting Watercolor

Sample Artistic Filters Plastic Wrap Water- color Film Grain Original

Adjusting Filter Effects Use any of the functions listed under the Adjustments command on the Image Menu For example, modify the color balance or the brightness/contrast of a layer before applying a filter

Add Unique Effects with Stylize Filters Produce a painted effect by displacing pixels and heightening the contrast within an image Apply a stylize filter to an entire layer or to a specific area of a layer Use a marquee tool to define the area, then apply the desired filter

List of Stylize Filters Diffuse Filter: breaks up the image – Darken Only option: replaces light pixels with dark pixels – Lighten Only option: replaces dark pixels with light pixels Extrude Filter: gives a 3D texture Wind Filter: conveys directed motion Extrude Filter: converts the image into pyramids or blocks

Sample Stylize Filters Wind Extrude Glowing Edges Original

Reducing File Size Use filters to reduce file size For example, apply a slight Motion Blur filter to a grassy background: – Reduces the number of green colors that Photoshop must save in the image and so reduces the file size

Applying a Filter Flame area is selected Wind filter is applied

Alter Images with Distort & Noise Filter Distort filters create a 3-D effect or reshape an object: – Diffuse Glow – Ocean Ripple – Glass – Wave – Ripple – Twirl

Sample Distort Filters Glass Zig Zag Wave Original

Understanding Noise Filters Noise filters give an image an appearance of texture Apply to an image layer or to the Background layer Rasterize a Type layer to convert it to an image layer before applying a noise filter

Optimizing Memory Layer masks and filters can be memory-intensive To offset resource loss, free up memory: – Adjust settings in the Preferences dialog box – Lower the number of states in the History panel – Use the Purge command to free memory used to story Undo commands, History states, and items on the clipboard

Changing Memory Settings Windows: – Click Edit on the Menu bar, point to Preferences, then click Memory & Image Cache Mac OS: – Click Photoshop on the Menu bar, point to Preferences, click Memory & Image Cache, then change the amount of memory allocated to Photoshop in the Maximum Use by Photoshop text box

Alter Lighting with a Render Filter Use the Lighting Effects filter in the Render category to set an atmosphere or highlight elements in an image Options: – Select the style and type of light – Adjust the properties of the light – Texturize the light

Using Lighting Style and Type A dozen lighting styles are available: – Spotlights – Floodlights – Full lighting Lighting types include: – Directional – Omni – Spotlight

Understanding Lighting Types Directional lighting: – Washes the surface with a constant light source Omni lighting: – Casts light from the center Spot Point lighting: – Directs light outward from a single point

Adjusting Light Settings Adjust lighting effects in the Properties panel

Properties to Adjust Gloss property – Controls the amount of surface reflection on the lighted surfaces Material property – Controls the parts of an image that reflect the light source color

More Properties to Adjust Exposure property – Lightens or darkens the ellipse Ambience property – Controls the balance between the light source and the overall light in an image

Adding Texture to Light Use the Texture Channel to add 3-D effects to the lighting filter Procedure: – Select one of the three RGB color channels, then drag the Height slider to the relief setting required

Texture Added to a Lighting Effect

Use Vanishing Point to Add Perspective Vanishing Point command is on the Filter menu Lets you create planes which can be visually adjusted Paste one image into another

Use Vanishing Point