Dashing

Here I used iColorama textures and paint to create elements of the image to look as if I had composited them from different images. I do think many people were fooled, and were surprised when they saw how I created this image!

I started with this photo from Pixabay, a source of copyright-free images. I like the beautiful shape of her face, the direction of her gaze, and the character she seems to have (which is why I called this piece "Dashing").

In iColorama, I used Tools/Smudge preset 1 with a big brush. I was really just experimenting with Smudge and threw out most of my attempts, but I kind of liked this one. She looks like someone in a hurry. I thought I could exploit that feeling to create an image around it.

Going back to the original, I used Adjust/Tonelab preset 4 at low opacity to create depth and better color, and I used Style/Flow to greatly simplify and smooth the image.

I used Effect/Blend to blend the face on top of the smudged image, using a brush mask to keep her face intact.

I used Adjust/Tonelab preset 4 and various presets under Tone,, for color and depth.

I'll use this Pixabay photo for a blend for some background. I felt the softness and color were a good match for the image.

Using Effect/Blend, I blended the fabric on top of the image, using a brush mask on the face.

Using a preset in Texture at medium opacity, I created the veil, using a brush mask. I used a hard square or triangular brush for the brush mask to make it look like cut fabric.

In Adjust/Exposure I darkened the exposure, then used an inverted brush mask to apply the effect locally to make the blur above her face look like a hat. I used a hard square brush for the brush mask for definite edges like a hat might have.

Keeping the brush mask in place, I applied Tone/B&W and reduced the opacity, to darken the hat so it looks more like a black or dark gray felt hat.

Now using Effect/Blend, I blended one of the previous images on top, positioning the top image where I needed the color, and using an inverted brush mask to paint in a plume-like object in her hat. I used a previous image because I wanted a compatible texture.

With the brush mask still in place, I applied Adjust/Tonelab preset 4 to give the plume some depth, and I used Tone to change the color of the plume.

In Brush/Paint, used a hard square brush to paint a scarf on her at low opacity. I used a hard brush to give definition to the edges of the scarf. I used the paint color picker to match the color to the plume in her hat.

I used Adjust/Tonelab preset 4 on the scarf to give it some depth, using an inverted brush mask to confine the effect to the scarf.

Keeping the brush mask in place, I applied a texture to the scarf, using a preset under Texture.

Similarly, I applied a texture to the plume, using a preset under Texture and an inverted brush mask.

For more realism, I applied a second texture to the scarf, using a preset under Texture and using an inverted brush mask.

I made some minor tone adjustments to the entire image, and then used an inverted brush mask to paint in another texture on her clothing below the scarf, at low opacity.

Now to smooth things out and make everthing hang together, I applied a preset in Effect/Blur, and then used a brush mask to paint back in the face and parts of her hat and scarf.

As finishing touchees, I cropped to tidy up the edges, used Adjust/Levels for a touch of contrast, and used Effect/Sharpen preset 7 to help make it pop.