ParticleShop Plugin for Adobe Photoshop

Geisha

ParticleShop is a brush plugin for Adobe Photoshop.

I was introduced to ParticleShop the brush plugin for Adobe Photoshop at Photoshop World 2015. I liked the demo and I decided to buy and try this plugin ( You can download the trial version to try first).

First of  all I want to point  out that if you are looking for a great painting plugin this in NOT your plugin. I can’t imagine using this plugin for my type of painting. My primary and one and only application for my all digital painting work is Adobe Photoshop CC and most of the time I am using the Mixer Brush Tool. Also I am using Adobe Sketch ( Adobe mobile drawing application) as well. So if you will ask me what is the best application for a digital painting I will answer: The ONE and ONLY Adobe Photoshop CC.

I am not using any third party plugins.   As an  Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber the main and primary reason for  me to use ParticleShop plugin is that this plugin is works with the newest version of Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 and the one one license you purchase will be installed for Adobe Photoshop CC  and Adobe Lightroom as well.

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The ParticleShop plugin is a great plugin for any type of artistic retouching. It’s amazing with hair and high fashion retouching, and if you like to apply any effects to your image you’ll probably like it. Because ParticleShop is the brush plugin for Adobe Photoshop you have access to all powerful Adobe Photoshop futures, including layers and if combine the plugin with other Photoshop features you will create a very powerful image. With the ParticleShop plugin you have control over your image, you can control the brush strokes:  light, color, and angle. You can apply multiple brush(es) effects in one image. Combine, change the  color,  and opacity of the brush. You can apply brush strokes effects and return to Photoshop and apply the layer mask, duplicate the layer and continue your workflow using Adobe Photoshop. If after that you want to  return to ParticleShop you can do it at any time.

I like the plugin and will use it for sure with my design and art workflow.
I have only two complaints about the Starter Pack Options:

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1: I wish I had at least two different types of each default brushes.
You can buy additional brush packs for $29.99 each but I am not sure I will spend $29.99 for each brush pack (each plugin has 11 brushes and  so it would be 11 packs) just after I spent $49.99 for the plugin. If I would have at least two different combinations  of each brush as a Starter Pack Options I would feel much better.
2: I had trouble making some of my brushes big enough for my image ( 6016 x 4016 ) even after I made  the Brush size by Maximum = 750 ( Starter Pack Options)
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Geisha

Before

Geisha

After

 

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Image Manipulation with Adobe Photoshop CC

In this tutorial I will show how to create romantic and elegant image using Dollar Photo Club  images

1: Open your first image and this image will be our background image
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2: Open your Dragon image.
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3: Unlock the Dragon’s  background layer ( click on a lock icon )

4: Remove the white background ( you can use any method you are comfortable with ). I used the Magic Eraser Tool
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5: Select > All > Edit > Copy
Return to your background image > Edit > Paste
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6: Highlight the background layer > Click on the lock icon to unlock the layer  > Edit > Free Transform > Resize your background layer
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7: Adjustments > Exposure
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8: Highlight the Dragon Layer > Edit > Free Transform > Resize and change position of your Dragon
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9: Adjustments > Exposure > Click on Clip to Layer to affect only the layers below  ( your Dragon Layer)
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10: Click on your Dragon Layer > Dodge Tool > Highlight some parts of the Dragon’s skin
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11: Add empty layer bellow the Dragon’s Layer
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12: Using the brush tool with black color paint the area under the Dragon to apply shadow
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13: Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur > Set the Layer Opacity = 91%

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14: Highlight the Dragon Layer > Right Click  > Convert to  Smart Object > Merge Down >  Add  Layer Mask > Erase some parts of your Dragon to apply more realistic effect

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15: Layer > Merge Visible
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16: Adjustments > Exposure
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17: Adjustments > Color Lookup  > FallColors.Look

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18: Create a new Layer > Rectangle  Tool with the White color on it

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19: Edit > Transform Path > Distort
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20: Set a Layer opacity = 37%
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21: Add layer mask > Using Gradient Tool erase ages of your shape
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22: Duplicate Restangle 1 Layer

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23: Edit > Free Transform

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24: Merge Visible Layers  > Duplicate your layer > Filter > Render > Lens Flare

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25: Set the top layer opacity = 75%  > Add layer mask > Using Gradient Tool erase the lens flare effect from the ages of your layer
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26: Adjustments > Curves

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27: Your images is ready
The Dragon

 

 

 

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My favorite HDR app for mobile photography

My favorite HDR app for mobile photography is TrueHDR by Pictional LLC. I have been using this app more than year, and have no complains about any of its functionality.

TrueHDR app has few capture modes:

  • Auto Capture
  • Semi / Auto Capture
  • Manual Capture
  • Choose Picture

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My favorite mode to use is Manual Capture. Using this mode I can manually select  Bright  and  Dark areas to merge them into HDR image. I can select between Natural ( most realistic look)  and Enhanced ( vivid colors )  modes.

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Using custom slider I can control

  • Warmth
  • Contrast
  • Saturation
  • Brightness

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From the effect presets  I can choose any effect I want to reapply to my image ( from Sepia to Vignette)

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Using many convenient sharing options you can share or print your image directly from your app.

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Price: $1.99 and available fro iPhone and iPad!

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For iPhone:

For iPad:

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How to share your Creative Cloud Folder

How to  share your Creative Cloud Folder

For me it is most important to have control over sharing my assets. I am a digital artist and my primary applications are Adobe Creative Cloud Apps. No surprise that I prefer to store and share my current files I am working with using Creative Cloud. I am very happy with all options to have control over my shared assets and permissions.

1: Click > View on Web

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2: Click on a folder you want to share

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3: Share >  Send Link

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3: Creative Cloud created your public link you can share with anyone you want to.

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4: Type the email address of the person you want to share your link with

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5: Click on Advanced Options

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All options are enabled by default but you can choose to disable   the options.

Allow Downloads > allows to download file
Allow Comments > allows to add comments
Allow to use of Extract  > allows to extract image info and assets (available only when sharing a Photoshop (.psd) file )

P.S. To make you folder private again simply click on Remove Public Link

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Drawing effect with Adobe Photoshop

How to convert your photo into a drawing  using  Adobe Photoshop CC.

Open your image you want to work with

Tutorial

 

1: Image > Adjustments > HDR Toning

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Tutorial

 

 

2: Filter > Camera Raw Filter

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! Move Dehaze slider to the left. Moving Dehaze slider to  the left or to the  right you will control how light or dark your pencil stoke is

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3: Window > Adjustments > Exposure

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Drawing Effect Tutorial

 

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The Best app for relaxation

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Relax Melodies by  Ipnos Soft  is the best FREE app for your sleep , yoga .meditation or just relaxation time. It’s available for your iPad, Phone, or Computer. I have been using this app at least 3 years and could not be happier.
For free the app gives you 50 high quality sounds:

  • River
  • Ocean
  • Winds
  • Birds
  • Piano
  • Night
  • Zen
  • Slow Waves
  • Rainy Day
  • Underwater
  • Cat Purring

…and many more!

I can mix up to 10 sounds together ( and I can control the volume of each sound individually! ), save, name and sort them for feature easy setup.  During the night time I prefer to use app’s timer. In addition to all the great features above I have a  clock with many beautiful screen designs along with an alarm system.

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And the best feature of the app is background support so you can use ANY of your other apps on your device while this plays!

My personal preference to easily fall asleep is the Rainy Day sound.
For yoga and meditation I prefer the Waterfall sound.
I LOVE mixing Ocean and Rainy Day sound together during my retouching or painting work.

If you want more than the 50 included sounds along with other extra options  you can consider Relax Melodies Premium HD.
iPad price is $2.99
iPhone price is $0.99
For Mac price is $4.99

 


Create a Zombie image in Adobe Photoshop

In this tutorial I will show you how to create a Zombie image in Adobe Photoshop

1: Create a new document
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2: Open the image you would like to use as a background image. I am using image I downloaded from Dollar Photo Club.
Select > All > Edit > Copy > Highlight your new document > Edit > Paste
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3: Open your Zombie image. I am using image I downloaded from Dollar Photo Club.
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4: Using Rectangular Marquee Tool select your Zombie
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5:  Edit > Copy > Highlight  your document > Edit > Paste
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6: Select > Focus Area > Remove the white background around your Zombie
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7 : Resize and move your Zombie
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8: Highlight the background layer
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9: Adjustments Layer > Exposure
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10: Adjustments Layer > Vibrance
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11:Highlight your Zombie layer
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12: Adjustments Layer > Vibrance

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13: Duplicate Zombie layer ( “Zombie copy” layer) and move this layer under your  Zombie layer
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14: Edit > Transform > Distort
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15: Image > Adjustments > Levels
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16: Filter > Gaussian Blur  Radius = 28.9 Pixels
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17: Make Zombie copy Layer opacity = 54%

18: Merge all visible layers
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19: Duplicate Zombie copy layer > Filter > Camera Raw Filter > Dehaze filter . Make Dehaze -29, Grain: Amount =6, Size =25, Roundness =50. Click OK and make layer opacity = 59
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20: Add a new layer with white color on it > Filter > Render > Fibers
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21: Magic Wand Tool > Select the Layer ( simply drag the  Magic Wand Tool from the left top corner to the right bottom corner ) > Delete > Select > Deselect >Image > Adjustments > Levels
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22: Filter > Blur > Motion Blur
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23: Image > Free Transform > Resize the rain layer
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24: Make rain layer opacity = 27 > Adjustments > Curve
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25: Merge All visible layers.
Duplicate this layer
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26: Filter > Render > Lens Flare
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27: Click OK and make a layer opacity = 47%  > Add a layer mack > Erase left bottom corner of your  lens flare layer ( top layer)
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28: Adjustments > Color Lookup > LateSunset.3DL > Layer Opacity =31
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Beginning of Zombies