Twirly Image

Photoshop Project


This project will demonstrate the use of quite a few different features. I suggest you try it the first time, exactly as written. Then do it again, using your own settings. Share your results with the rest of us.
 

  1. Open a new canvas, 500 pixels square, RGB. (Note: You can adjust the size of the canvas to suit the image you choose to clone into its center. I needed to make mine a bit smaller for the photo of this celebrated PhotoShop enthusiast.)
  2. Display the Ruler (Ctrl-R). Double-click on the ruler and change the units of measure to Pixels, if necessary.
  3. Choose the largest hard edged brush. (B, F5. Double-click the largest hard edged brush. Change the diameter to 25 pixels.)
  4. Choose a pale yellow color (F6. I used R-255, G-255, B-188) and draw a large, irregular, loopy circle about 50 pixels inside the canvas edge.
  5. With the Wand (W, 10, Contiguous, Anti-aliased,) select the area outside the circle. Choose a contrasting color (I used cobalt blue, 32, 119, 255) and fill (Alt-Del).
  6. Select the area inside the loop. Feather to 5 pixels. Fill with a third contrasting color. I used cool magenta, 171, 32, 255.)
  7. Deselect, Ctrl-D.
  8. Apply the Twirl filter, Filter > Distort > Twirl, -999.
  9. Reapply the same filter two more times. Ctrl-F, Ctrl-F.
  10. Create a new layer (F7 displays the Layers palette. Click the New Layer icon at the bottom of the palette.)
  11. Open an image of your choice. (I used a photo of famous PhotoShop enthusiast Paul Traynor.)
  12. Choose the Stamp tool. Set options to Normal, Aligned, 100%. Use about a 25 pixel, soft edged brush.)
  13. Alt-Click in the artistic center of the new image.
  14. Switch back to your twirled image. With the new layer active, clone the image onto the center of your twirled image. Clone about 50 pixels outward, around the central image. For example, I painted in about 50-70 pixels around Paul.
  15. Choose the Eraser (E), 50% opacity. With the 25 pixel, soft edged brush, erase around the edge. Change to 20% opacity and continue to erase around the edges to make a soft transition. Note: If you erase too much, you can switch back to the clone tool. DO NOT alt-click again. The tool's alignment is already set.
  16. Select the pixels in the layer by holding down ctrl, and clicking the thumbnail. (Ctrl-Click thumbnail.) Notice the marching ants are not aligned with what you can see. They are aligned with the areas that are exactly 50% opaque, or 50% selected. The selection extends outward from the marching ants, and inward toward the center.
  17. Inverse the selection (Select > Inverse, or Ctrl-Shift-I)
  18. Feather the selection 20 pixels. (Select > Feather, 20, or Ctrl-Alt-D, 20)
  19. Apply the Twirl Filter three more times. (Ctrl-F applies the last used filter, with the same settings).
  20. Make the bottom layer active by clicking the thumbnail on the Layers palette.
  21. Bring up Hue/Saturation (Ctrl-U, or Image > Adjust > Hue/Saturation) Adjust the background colors until you have tones that compliment the image you cloned into the center. I made the magenta and the blue a little darker, and adjusted the hue on the master, magenta and blue channels.
  22. With the bottom layer still active, place a feathered border around the canvas: Ctrl-A to select all, Select > Modify > Border, 10. Feather: Select > Feather, 4.
  23. Fill the border with black: D for default colors. Alt-Del to fill.
  24. Flatten the image: Layer > Flatten Image (or select the layer and press Ctrl-E.)


You now have a lovely, artistic portrait of someone important. Print it. Treasure it. 1