Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Creating Minimal Abstract Style With iPhoneography and Photoshop or Elements for Instagram and Digital Scrapbooking

Sun over Cape Town
Edited with iPhone apps Filterstorm and Laminar
Edited with Photoshop Elements









































I enjoy editing photos and taking part in a daily challenge on Instagram for @applifam moderated by @jvdt. It’s a great opportunity to practice editing techniques with various apps. The photos @jvdt provides for the challenges are copyright free, which allows me to use the edited photo on my scrapbook pages as well (always giving credit to the original source).

I created the original edit for Instagram using the two apps Filterstorm (or Filterstorm Pro) and Laminar. They are both layer-based apps with a wide range of editing tools. My edit with these apps can be seen above and also on my Instagram account.

This post will concentrate on recreating similar effects with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements taking into account the differences between the lower resolution of Instagram images and the higher resolution of Photoshop images.

Here is the original photo provided by @jvdt at Instagram shot in Cape Town South Africa. I wanted to create a minimal abstract look with the horizontal lines of the cityscape. 






















 1.  Place background paper. I chose a neutral paper with soft texture from ArtPlay Palette AutumnHaze by Anna Aspnes Designs.
























2.  Place original photo.
























3. Mask Photo by carefully erasing areas outside the horizon of the cityscape
























4. Adjust Brightness/Contrast 

























5. Adjust Color/Curves for high contrast

























6. Adjust Hue/Saturation for color and increased contrast


























7. Adjust Hue/Saturation for B/W Layer by moving Saturation slider to the far left.

























8. Adjust Curves for B/W for increased contrast.

























9.  Move Color Layer 6 above B/W Layer 8 and Change both Layers to Darken Mode.

10. Create Adjustment Mask layers for Color and B/W layers and erase portions of each as desired. I erased the color from the buildings and the black and white from the trees and the lower part of the photo.


























11. Complete page by adding a transfer from ArtPlay Palette SunFun at 90%, Skribble Sun art from ArtPlay Palette SunFun and a glow from WarmGlows No.1 (overlay mode) all from Anna Aspnes Designs. The title font is Bombshell Pro.

Note: In the layers palette below you can see I have placed the SunFun transfer layer above the background paper layer. It could also have been placed directly below the last two adjustment mask layers since the visibility of the layers below is turned off. I just placed it above the background paper layer so you can see the progression of layers.













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21 comments:

  1. MargóFebruary 12, 2013 at 1:16 PM

    Thanks,Chris!! :-)

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    Replies
    1. Chris AsburyFebruary 12, 2013 at 7:25 PM

      Thanks, Margo. I really enjoy this technique of adjusting contrast and curves for a more abstract look.

      Delete
  2. Patsy TabbertFebruary 12, 2013 at 5:17 PM

    Thanks Chris! I'll definitely be giving this technique a try!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chris AsburyFebruary 12, 2013 at 7:28 PM

      Patsy, let me know if you try this. It's really pretty easy and just a matter of working with two layers of the same photo...one for b/w and one for color.

      Delete
  3. Eszter(beszteri)February 12, 2013 at 8:28 PM

    Great tutorial, Chris, thanks for sharing!!!!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. MarijkeFebruary 12, 2013 at 11:35 PM

    Thanks for the tutorial ... I'll try ...

    ReplyDelete
  5. DonnaFebruary 13, 2013 at 4:37 PM

    LOVE this tutorial ColorMaster!! Thanks for the info, Chris!

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownFebruary 13, 2013 at 6:07 PM

    I would like more information, links, Bout the Instagram challenge thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chris AsburyFebruary 13, 2013 at 10:22 PM

      Nan, log in to Instagram on your iPhone or iPad and go to user @applifam. A photograph is provided daily after 4pm EST. You upload the image from the linked tumblr account and then just edit as you wish or with themes suggested by the moderator @jvdt. Then you post your edited image to the daily applifam # (ie: #applifam14feb). It's a fun group of people. There are quite a few other editing groups on Instagram, too. It's a good way to practice with apps. Hope this info helps.

      Delete
    2. PriscillaFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:58 PM

      Hi, Chris - I so loved what you did here - and that you were willing to let us learn from you. I've been working my way through the steps you describe - and have a question - (as my results aren't coming out anywhere like your example): were EACH of the layers 4,5,6,and 7 created from layer 3 as individual duplicates of it (first, before make the adjustments)- OR were ea. of the 4 layers created from the one immediately preceding it, i.e. 5 a dup. of 4; 6 a dup. of 5, and so on? I am having fun with it; but not sure I get the idea.
      Thank you! Priscilla

      Delete
    3. Chris AsburyFebruary 16, 2013 at 12:52 PM

      Hi Priscilla. Thanks for the nice words. Sorry you're having trouble with the steps. The layers were created from the one immediately preceding it. I can see now where my instructions could be a little confusing. What I should have said was to duplicate layer 6 after adjustments and call it the Color Layer. Then go back to Layer 6 again and make adjustments for the Black/White Layer, duplicate it and call it B/W Layer. The goal is to create the two high contrast layers (one Color, one B/W). Then erase portions of each to show the color and b/w as desired. Does that make more sense? If it still doesn't work out you can email me your photo and I'll see it I can make the adjustments. I'll create screen shots for you of the adjustment layers and steps.

      Delete
    4. PriscillaFebruary 17, 2013 at 4:29 PM

      Thank you Chris- am eager to try again now. (Will possibly not get a chance until Fri.the 22nd tho' - just to explain my delay in responding further.) Such a generous offer of help - and I will take you up on it if it seems I'm still not getting it. Appreciate your kindness - along with your talent! Priscilla

      Delete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2013 at 10:54 AM

    You're awesome, Chris! Thanks for the artsy tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  8. bseFebruary 23, 2013 at 5:48 AM

    Thanks Chris. This tutorial is so helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. EszterFebruary 28, 2013 at 9:38 PM

    Thanks for sharing your talent, Chris, I really enjoyed the process of your technique! Here is my page based on your tutorial: Hot Town Summer In The City
    Hugs, Eszter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chris AsburyMarch 1, 2013 at 5:51 AM

      Thank you so much, Eszter. I love your page...and the song!

      Delete
  10. AnonymousMarch 3, 2013 at 9:52 AM

    Thank you! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. SandySeptember 26, 2013 at 9:07 AM

    I LOVE this look! I really want to learn more about it; and you have provided a great tutorial to get me started. Thank you for sharing. :)

    ps. I found your Blog as a result of you being featured on Tiffany's page!

    ReplyDelete

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