Long Face
I like making distorted figures. In this image, I decided to make a woman with a long thin face and neck. I used SketchBook to create the basic figure, and then I used iColorama to punch it up and add effects. Here I show how I used iColorama to make three quite different versions of the image.
I opened a blank canvas in SketchClub. I generally use dimensions or 4500x3375 pixels. I would prefer working larger but SketchClub will crash sooner as you keep adding layers, the larger your canvas. After having this happen a few times while using a canvas size of 6000x4000, I decided to work a bit smaller. This is still fine, because I always end up editing my SketchClub outputs in iColorama. The canvas size I am using is still larger than the maximum canvas size in iColorama. Here I used a pen to draw this sketch of my idea.
On a new layer below the sketch layer, I used the Vector tool to create a shape for the head and body.
On a layer just above the body layer but below the sketch layer, I used the Vector tool to create a shape for the lower part of her dress. Then on another new layer just below that, I used the Vector tool to create a shape for the upper part of her dress. Then I reduced the opacity of these layers to 50% or less, because I plan to add a pattern to her body later and I want to see it through the dress.
On a new layer just above the dress layers but below the sketch layer, I used the Vector tool to create a shape for her hair.
On new layers just above the hair shape layer, I used the Vector tool with the gradient switch on to create additional shapes for her hair, in variations of the base brown hair color.
I turned the Gradient switch off for the Vector tool. On a new layer just above the dress layers, I used the Vector tool to create a shape for the shadow between her breasts. I also reduced the opacity of this layer to 50% or less, since I want the dress to be transparent, so that the pattern I plan to add to her body will be visible through the dress.
On a new layer above all the hair layers, I used the Vector tool to create shapes for her eyebrows.
On new layers above the previous layer, I used the Vector tool to create fanciful shapes for her eyes. I used a white pen to paint catchlights into her eyes.
On new layers above the previous layers, I used the Vector tool with the gradient switch on to create shapes for her nose and lips. Then I turned the gradient switch off.
On a new layer above the body layer, I imported a pattern I had created previously using iColorama. I reduced the opacity of the layer until I had the desired darkness of the pattern. Then I changed the layer mode to On. What this does is to apply the layer contents to only the layer directly beneath, in this case the body layer. The reason you can also see the pattern through the dress layers is that those layers have reduced opacity.
On a new layer just below the body layer, I used a large soft round brush to paint a yellow background. I let this yellow paint spill over onto her arms and neck and face but not completely cover them. Then I changed the blending mode of the body layer to Multiply, so that the yellow becomes visible as a kind of shadow on her skin. I also reduced the opacity of the hair layers so that the yellow is partially visible through her hair.
On a new layer above the sketch layer, I used a small soft round brush to paint a yellow glow around the edges of the hair, neck and shoulders.
On a new layer in screen blending mode just below the body layer, I used a soft round brush to paint a circular area behind her, as if she were backlit by a spotlight as is common in portrait photography to create rim light on a figure and hair. I used the same yellow color as the background, but because the layer is in screen blending mode, it looks lighter.
On a new layer at the top of the layer stack, I used a soft round white brush at maximum size and medium opacity to paint light beams coming from the upper right. I saved the image to my camera roll.
I opened the image in iColorama. I used one or two presets under Adjust/Tonelab at low opacity, for tonal separation.
I used one of the first two presets underneath Adjust/EQ at low to medium opacity for depth and contrast. I used Adjust/Levels to deepen the darkest tones slightly: I used the Min Input slider and dragged it a tiny bit to the right.
I used the first preset under Effect/Raise to emphasize the lines and texture. I used the smallest size setting that provided a slight emphasis. I saved this to my camera roll. Let’s call this Image A.
I used the last preset under Style/Water, at medium opacity. I plan to use this as the secondary image in Tensor. I saved it to my camera roll.
Going back to Image A, I used Style/Tensor preset 6. I used the previous Style/Water image, above, as the secondary image. I tried all the slider settings, but I generally use medium opacity and full Amount. This is Version 1.
Now to make another version. Starting from Version 1, I used Effect/Blend to blend an image of an old family letter onto the image. I tried several blending modes and slider settings
I used Adjust/Exposure to increase the exposure slightly. I used the second preset under Tone/Enhance at low opacity to remove a bit of the yellow cast.
I used one of the presets under Adjust/Tonelab at low opacity for some tonal separation. I used Adjust/Levels to increase contrast.
I used Tone Enhance again to modify the color. This is Version 2.
Now to make a third version. Starting from Version 1, I used Effect/Blend to blend the same letter onto the image. I tried several blending modes and slider settings, and used a brush mask to keep some of the texture from her face. I reduced the opacity of the brush mask by touching Set on the brush mask bar, then touching Adjust on the window that pops up, the sliding the Full Opacity slider partway to the left until you get the opacity you want. This way, the brush mask allows a little bit of the texture to show through, rather than blocking it completely.
I used Adjust/Exposure to increase the exposure a bit. I used Adjust/Tonelab or Adjust/EQ (I usually try preset 1 or 2) at low opacity for tonal separation. I used Effect/Glow preset 1 at low opacity to soften the image a bit and to enhance the light and shadows. I used a brush mask where Glow was blowing out the highlights. I used Adjust/Levels to increase contrast a bit.
I used Effect/Sharpen at low opacity. I generally try the first 6 presets and use the smallest amount of sharpening that provides a gentle but clear result with minimal or no halos.
I used Style/Water preset 2 at medium to high opacity. I saved this to my camera roll. Call this Image B.
Starting from Image B, I used Style/Flat preset 18 at about 50% opacity and with the first Feature slider all the way to the right. I used about 50% opacity. I plan to use this in the next (Tensor) step. I saved this to my camera roll. Call this Image C.
I opened Image B and used Style/Tensor preset 6, with Image C as secondary image. I set Amount at 100% and opacity at around 50%, but it’s worth experimenting with both these sliders. Tensor 6 can create some very interesting effects, increasing dynamic range and adding luminosity. When I use it, I generally prepare several different versions of images to pair with each other, then I try all the combinations. Generally I use one crisp image with a softer version of the same image. The softer image can be produced using almost any of the tools under Style or some under Effect.
I used Brush/Paint with the default brush and selected a color that was one of the darker colors in the letter texture background, and I painted over the background. I didn’t worry about being a bit sloppy with the edges. I saved this to my camera roll. Call this Image D. This image is kind of interesting all by itself, but I plan to use it in a Blend step, next.
I used Effect/Blend to blend Image D over the previous image in Normal blending mode, to reduce detail in the background. I experimented with the opacity slider to get the effect I wanted. I used a low-to-medium opacity brush mask to vary the intensity of the effect. (In an earlier step, I describe how to reduce the opacity of a brush mask.)
Finally, I used Preset/Border preset 6 at the largest radius and at low opacity, leaving the Blur slider at its default setting, to give a hint of a Border effect. I often experiment with presets 6 and 7 under Border. This is Version 3.
Now for another variation. Going back to Image D, I used a preset under Style/Water, then I used Adjust/Levels to increase contrast.
I used Effect/Raise preset 1 at low size.
I used Preset/Border preset 2 with a brush mask to protect the center of the canvas, for a vignetting effect. This is Version 4.
