Advanced_Photoshop_Issue_138_-_2015_UK_

CREATE SHINING SKIN EFFECTS TECHNIQUES

AUGMENT A MODEL WITH A METALLIC SHEEN USING

FILTERS, ADJUSTMENTS, AND NONDESTRUCTIVE

DODGING AND BURNING

CREATE SHINING

SKIN EFFECTS

A

ltering skin is a great way to give your

portraits an interesting and eye-catching

twist. Learn how to ensheath the starting

model in fresh and futuristic metallic lustre.

Filters, blend modes, and adjustments will be key

to creating the effect. The Median filter will be

employed to smooth the model’s skin, sweeping

away minor details and paving the way for a

statue-like look. Some dodging and burning will

follow to boost highlights and shadows. To stay

non-destructive, you’ll be painting black and white on

50% gray layers set to Overlay instead of using the

traditional Dodge and Burn tools.

PREPARE THE MODEL

GET THE MODEL READY FOR A METALLIC MAKEOVER

For a liquid metal look, the Plastic Wrap and

Chrome filters will be utilised. To make the effect

more convincing, follow with the Displace filter. You’ll

merge layers and save the snapshot as a new

grayscale PSD. A bit of Gaussian Blur will reduce

abrupt transitions. After saving the map, you’ll return

to the main document and apply the Displace filter.

Referencing the displacement map created will help

mould the textures more snugly into the contours of

the model.

To finalise the piece, you’ll run it through a battery

of adjustment layers and several applications of the

Camera Raw filter.

01

SITUATE THE MODEL

Open Start.psd from the FileSilo. Go to File>

Place Embedded and grab Model.psd. Confirm the

place by clicking the check mark in the options bar or

hitting Return/Enter. Press the Add Layer Mask

button at the bottom of the Layers palette. With the

Brush tool and a soft-edged brush at 80% Opacity

paint black in the mask to fade the sides.

02

CREATE MELTING SHAPES

With the Pen tool set to Shape, create and

stack some melting shapes using white and

#d5b5b3. In the Styles palette, click on the palette

menu and choose Load Styles. Grab Melt.asl. Use the

two styles on the melting shapes. Lower the Opacity

of some of the upper shapes to 40-60%.

03

DESATURATE AND MERGE

Click the Create New Fill or Adjustment

Layer button in the Layers palette and choose Hue/

Saturation. Drop Saturation to -100. Paint black in the

mask to remove from the eyes, lips, and in a few

areas here and there. Merge the layers by pressing

Cmd/Ctrl+Alt/Option+Shift+E. You’ll be using this

more throughout the tutorial, so get comfortable

with that key combination.

FROM SKIN TO

SHIMMERING METAL

WORK IN

PROGRESS

Progress 1: Polish the model

Progress 2: Apply Plastic Wrap,

Chrome, and Displace filters

Progress 3: Process

with adjustments

ANDRE VILLANUEVA

http://www.000-000-0000.com

OUR EXPERT

Originally from the Philippines,

Andre now resides with his family in

Alabama, USA. He discovered

Photoshop while in school and it has

gradually overtaken his life.

SOURCE FILES

On FileSilo (www.filesilo.co.uk/

advancedphotoshop) there is a

starting model and textures for

you to use when following along

with the tutorial.