CREATIVE EFFECTS
5
Mask the leaves
Hold down Cmd/Ctrl and click the image thumbnail on the
uppermost face layer to load a selection of its shape.
Highlight the leaves layer below, then click the Add layer mask icon
to convert the selection to a mask. Next, hold Alt and drag the mask
thumbnail to each of the other leaves layers to copy it over, so that
every leaf layer has a mask attached to it that is the shape of the face.7
Colour the effect
Next we can add colour to the effect by turning each leaf layer a
shade of green. First highlight the top face layer, then click the
Create adjustment layer icon in the Layers panel. Set Hue +61, then
hold Alt and click the line between the Hue/Saturation layer and the
face layer below to clip the layer to the face. Hold down Alt and drag
the Hue/Saturation layer above the next face layer to make a copy, then
clip it again. Double click the layer thumbnail to change the Hue setting
slightly for some subtle variation to the colours.6
Add the drop shadows
Highlight any leaves layer and go to Layer>Layer Style>Style
Settings. We can add depth to the effect with drop shadows.
Check Drop Shadow and set Angle 40, Size 18, Distance 6, Opacity 90.
Click OK. When you add any Layer Style effect such as a drop shadow,
a little FX icon will appear on the highlighted layer in the Layers panel.
Hold down Alt and drag the FX icon to another leaves layer to copy it,
then copy it to every other leaves layer in the same way.8
Drop in the background
Finally we’ll drop in another graphic as a background for the
effect. Go to the Graphics panel, search for ‘leaves 02’ and bring
it in. Hit Cmd/Ctrl+T, right click and pick Flip Horizontal.
Add a Brightness/Contrast layer set to 10, 100. Finally, darken the
corners of the background. Add a Solid Color adjustment layer filled
with black. Grab the Brush tool, set the colour to black and 30
opacity, then paint on the layer’s mask to hide the black and reveal the
green underneath.