ALLEN ACADEMY of E-Learning

LEARNING TO USE PHOTOSHOP

ALLEN ACADEMY of e-Learning

Bitmap Graphics
Assignment #2-- Blended Animals Assignment

Objective: Using the transform, liquify filter and some shading, were going to effectively dress up a rhino in zebra fur.

Source Images

In this assignment, we're going to combine 2 animals:

and this:

To make our final product below:

First and most important is to find the proper source images. I chose these 2 since the angles and stances are very similar.
Since I liked the high contrast color of the zebra, I decided to use the actual fur and "mold" it over the rhino's body. So with that said I extracted the zebra from its background and pasted it into the rhino file on a new layer.
TIP: It's a good idea to use a hi-resolution image because when you're stretching pixels, a low resolution file is going to lose its realism.

Test Fit
Set Up: Open two photos (zebra and rhino from your shared files)

1.  Save the Rhino file to your own folder as LastNameFirstInitial_BGasgn2_ ZebRino.

2.  Copy the zebra image onto the rhino image. Notice: The zebra is added as a new layer.

3.  Save to update changes and do so frequently throughout this exercise.

Okay, let's see how similar or different these two images are.

4.  Lower the opacity of Zebra and compare it to the Rhino background.

5.  Using the Transform tool (Cntrl + T), resize, stretch
and compact the zebra image as needed so that
you get the best fit possible.
The better match now means less work later.

6.  Save again.

I found it important to match up the legs first and then the head
for this image. Notice how I lined it up in the example image.

Liquify is your friend

The goal is to cover the rhino's body completely with the zebra, use the Liquify filter to make the rest of the adjustments.
You need to have quite a bit of patience with the Liquify filter to get the best results. I'm going to assume that you have some experience with this filter so I'm going to get to the point.

7.  With the Zebra layer selected choose: Filter, Liquify.

8.  Decrease the Zebra's opacity to about 70% this will help you get better results matching up the two animals.

9.  Start off by using a fairly large brush (about 1/3 the size of the animal) and with small strokes, pull the Zebra's main torso to match the rhino. Try to avoid making long pulls because you won't get desired results. Using the large brush, I basically stretched out the top, buttocks, belly, and chest and then I repositioned the head.

10.  Once you're happy with those results, you're then going to fine tune the rest of the body using smaller sized brushes. For the Zebra's head, I used small, even strokes to match the shape of the underlying Rhino.

TIP: Position the Zebra’s eye in proximity to
the Rhino’s eye.

11.  Since the legs are so close together, I had to use the Liquify filter's built in mask tool to protect one leg as I shaped the adjacent one.

12.  Once you have matched the entire silhouette of the Rhino similar to the example above, click O.K. and save your adjustments and to get ready for the next step.

Shading

Okay, the shaping looks OK but our new animal friend is looking a bit flat. We're going to add more depth to this image by adding shadows. I'm not going to be using any blending modes because I want to keep as much detail and contrast as I can -- so with that said:

Make a new layer atop the Zebra and select a soft brush and set it to 15-30% opacity.
TIP: Create a clipping layer by clicking on the new layer then right-click for the Shortcut Menu and choose “Create Clipping Mask”. You have now effectively made a clipping mask. All your shadows will now be contained inside the zebra layer.
To get the best shading, I occasionally turned the visibility of the Zebra layer on and off in order to use the Rhino background as a reference as to where to add new shadows.
Yeah, that looks better.
Now for the head:

By variant2

Zebraceros

If you look at the original rhino picture, you'll see that the head has a distinct shape under the horns. It looks like it’s beefed up.

13.  Okay, add a new layer

14.  Using a smaller, soft brush at around 30% opacity, draw out the distinct lines under the horns (again, use the rhino background image as a reference). With some patience you should get the desired results.

Tip: It is helpful to zoom in (Alt + mouse wheel). If you find that the shading is a bit too dark, you could adjust the layer opacity of your shadows.

15.  Using a smaller, soft brush at around 30% opacity, draw out the distinct lines under the horns (again, use the rhino background image as a reference). With some patience you should get the desired results.

16.  To add more detail of the rhino through the zebra’s fur, reduce the zebra layer’s opacity a little but not too much.

17.  Create a text box at the bottom of your image with your name, class period and assignment name – Blended Animals Assignment. Make sure it is readable. Save.

18.  Once you are satisfied with your new image, Merge the two layers and FINALIZE (bake) finished image. Choose: File > Save for Web and Devices > JPG > Save and name it LastNameFirstInitial_BGasgn2_ ZebRino. Be sure to save it to your personal media folder then copy and paste to the Turn-in folder.

4 Rev. 9/27/2010
ALLEN ACADEMY of e-Learning bg_asgn-blended_animals