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I wanted to use a dramatic sky coupled with an intimate image of two small children to make a statement. The effect was enhanced by the use of the Matter app.
I started with this DSLR photo I took in Florida a few years ago. In iColorama I optimized the colors using Adjust/Tonelab preset 4 and Tone/Enhance.
Here is a photo my Mom took many years ago of my sister's kids at the beach.
In iColorama, using Effect/Blend, I blended the photo of the kids onto the sky in Normal blending mode. I masked out everything else with a large soft brush for a loose mask with big soft edges that would blend well.
Now I used the Matter app. I opened the blended picture and created this object. I used the Primitives-13 shape, and the Reflect or Wrap style.
Still in Matter, after much experimenting with the size, orientation and placement of the object, I moved it to where it looks planted in the sand and reflecting the two kids like a mirror. You need to have shadow turned on to get the planting effect. I used the same shadow parameters for all the objects: blurred edges and low opacity.
Still in Matter, I tried creating another object. This one was a hoop-like one and I decided to use a different "style." For this hoopy object I used one of the Refract styles, so it has a more transparent look. I planted it around the boy, meaning I moved it low enough that it met its shadow and got cut off at the bottom.
Still in Matter, I added another object, choosing a style where I could get a lot of the image reflected onto it.
I added yet another object.
And I moved it and reoriented it.
Now I added some "coins" which are actually all one "object" in Matter.
A while later while I was fooling around with a photo I took of a beautiful yellow and pink rose, I created this crazy pattern in iColorama.
In iColorama, using Effect/Blend, I blended the pattern with the previous Matter image, trying several different blending modes and playing with the Set sliders. I got the clear area in the middle by moving the set sliders.
Here is another blend.
And here is another blend.
Here is a tip about the Matter app: You are able to move the light source in Matter. It turns out that if you have "object" selected, when you move your finger over the object it rotates. But if you have "shadow" selected, when you move your finger over the object it changes the direction of the light. This works even if you have shadows turned off! Good to know!
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