Random Piece Inspired by Marilyn Manson

     Today, I fooled around with a few tools and filters to explore photoshop. I started with the idea of Marilyn Manson in my head, and began to darken the blank page I started with. I used the burn tool to create spiral-like, darker rings around the vanishing point. Then, using the "Mixer Brush Tool", I darkened the inner rings. I created a fog-like presence with the use of the "Dodge" tool, making it lighter around the edges and crossing lightly into the middle I created small cloud like blots using the "Dodge" tool again.
     Then, after I was satisfied with the dark rings and cloud like looks of it, I started to play with the filters. Under "Sketch", I found "Chrome" and chose that effect, to be coupled with "Accented Edges" and "Angled Strokes" later on. Finding the product to be rather ragged I went back into the "Filter Gallery" and chose "Chrome" again to even it out.
     I have no idea how Marilyn Manson inspired this, but I found it to have a rather Gothic look. 

"Spider-Doo"

Today, I started the "Spider-Doo" project. I started by cutting out Scooby Doo's head and choosing the picture of Spider man that I wanted to use. I have also cut out the words "Spider-man".

Zhino Final

 This is my 'Zhino' final. I lightened it slightly and finished the horns.

'Zhino' progress.

     I am still working on the 'Zhino' project and I am currently working on shading and the horns. I used the burn tool because I liked the effect it had rather than the darkness. Then, using the dodge tool, I lightened the whites to even out the coloring. Working on the ground near the 'Zhino', I used the burn tool again to lightly shade the grass to a darker, more shadow-like, color I accepted. I still need to even out some shading and do some final touches but it should be done next Tuesday.

Zhino progress

     Currently, I am working on the zebra/rhino mixture. I find it to be coming along quite well. I started by cutting out the zebra, then I shaped it to be similar to the rhino using the transform (and transform warp) tool. I have just recently been using the liquefy tool to move the patterns around.

Cutting out the Statue of Liberty

     Today I used the lasso tools to remove the sky background from a picture of the statue of liberty. The lasso tool was used mainly in Polygon format, snipping away at the blue. One most of the sky was gone, I used the freehand formatted lasso to get up close to the edges the best I could.

Final Fix

 

Original

    This dog may not be photoshopped, but the area they are in sure is. There were multiple people in the background, and many telephone wires and poles. On the ground there was litter, and in the forested side of the picture, there was a random person and telephone pole.
     I started out with what I thought would be easy. Using the clone stamp tool, I erased the wires and poles, replacing the sky and mountain. Feeling that the person behind the dog would be easiest to next take out, I used the clone stamp and healing brush redundantly. After finishing to great proportions with that, I found myself picking at the trash hidden in the bushes and cleaned that up.
    I'd have to say that the pole in front of the trees was very tricky to get rid of, but after playing around a bit, I seemingly erased them from view.

Final dog.

Final Erase

Original

      This was a challenging one-at least for someone who has never touched photoshop like myself. I started with the posts on top of the bakery, smoothing the sky around it, I had the idiotic idea that the project ahead would be easy.
     I then turned to the sign coming out of the man's head. This too, was rather easy, but near the buildings I ran into some blending issues. My main brush was the cloning tool, "copying and pasting" things where I needed them to be. The street lights were easy, until it came to the one in front of the cars. The Inko's sign was terribly easy, just like the other parts that happened to be in the sky. I decided to remove the whole sign.
      Towards the middle of the mountain I had multiple issues. I tried the healing brush for the first time and thought it to be useless until the repetition was obvious. This became true about halfway into the mountain. I used the healing brush as little as possible, seeing that it often brought in unhelpful, and not close to color, pieces of nearby scenery.
     The car was by far the most challenging piece. I started with simple, short, strokes around the wheel, and made my way up the car, not worrying about blending until later. I did however make a mistake that would cost the red sign on the window its life.
    All in all, I believe it was mostly a success, but there is always room for practice.

Final

Final in Liquefy

My liquefy final

    This is my final with the liquefy tool. I started with the hair, using the tool to smooth the curls. Realizing the fact that the remaining curls were a bit large, I used the shrink tool to make them more accurate.
     I then used the push forward tool to give his eyebrows a different arch. After that was finished, I realized that his grin didn't match the more quizzical look I gave him and used the push forward tool again to give him more of a goofy smirk.
     I used the push forward tool a lot when it came to his facial features, thinning his nose, chiseling his features, and giving him broader shoulders.
    Moving on to his eyes, I thought they were a bit large, so using the shrink tool sparingly to even his eyes and give them a less bug-like look.
     Towards the end I started messing with his shirt, moving a button, ruffling the edges, and shifting the collar.
     I find them to look similar, but not very close when it comes to the details. It was a rather drastic change, and it was an obvious first try. Hopefully with more experience I will be able to do better.