Embedded Files
One of my favorite themes is seeing what is under the skin. In this image, I aim for the illusion of the skin cut away to reveal a glimple of complicated machinery underneath.
I started with this photo from Pixabay, a source of copyright-free images. I like seeming pathos of her gaze.
In iColorama, I often apply Effect/Denoise preset 2 or 3, to smooth the face.
I opened the image in Metabrush and painted in Tools/Source mode. I used a brush from the Lswirl brush group, I think it was brush 2/16. I set the brush size to about 75% of maximum, and opacity to its maximum. In brush settings (the 3-slider icon on the toolbar at the top right of the screen), I set spacing to its maximum setting, position variance to its maximum setting, rotation variance to its maximum setting, all the dynamics sliders to their middle settings, structure to its maximum setting, and shadow to its maximum setting. (See this tutorial for an explanation of the effects of these settings.) I painted all over the image and saved to my camera roll.
I opened the Metabrush output in iColorama and used Effect/Raise for increased definition of the Metabrush strokes.
I used Effect/Blend to blend the woman on top of the Metabrush image. Experiment with the opacity and feature sliders and the Lightness and Gray sliders under Set, and try the different blending modes.
I used Style/Coherence to smooth the results of the blend.
For further smoothing, I used Effect/Denoise preset 2, and I also used Effect/Denoise preset 4 for de-aliasing some jagged edges that appeared after the blend.
I applied Effect/Raise for more definition.
I used Style/Flat preset 18. This is an interesting preset that sometimes can give a dreamy result.
I applied Effect/Raise again, but masking the textured parts of the face and neck. To mask, touch the red Brush Mask button on the left of the image to bring up the brush mask bar, set your brush size and paint your mask. You can make corrections to the mask by using the Erase button on the brush mask bar and painting to erase parts of the mask. When you are done, Apply, then hit Remove on the brush mask bar to remove the mask, and touch the red Brush Mask button to hide the brush mask bar.
I used Adjust/Levels to lighten the image, and I altered the color in Tone/Pastel.
I used the vibrance slider in Adjust/Vibrance to increase the intensity of the reds and blues.
For some texture on the skin, I used Style/Sketch preset 4. Then in Effect/Blend, I blended the denoised original photo on top of the image, and used an inverted brush mask to paint in the original eyes. I applied, and removed the Mask. Then I used Brush/Paint to paint in catchlights in the eyes.
Using a brush mask over the figure, I used Adjust/Shadows to darken the background. I applied and removed the mask. Then I used Preset/Border 2 at low radius and low opacity for a clean black border.
Now for Version 2: I opened a blank canvas in Metabrush and painted these curves. Then, opening the image in iColorama, I used Effect/Blur preset 1 to apply a slight blur to prepare for a Distort step.
I used Effect/Distort in Normal mode to distort the previously finished version over the Metabrush image. Apply and Save.
I used Effect/Distort in multiply mode to distort the previously finished version over the Metabrush image. Apply and Save.
In Effect/Blend, I blended the two above images in Normal mode to lessen the emphasis of the brown swoops.
Then I used the vibrance slider in Adjust/Vibrance to increase the intensity of the reds and blues. I kind of like this splashy looking image, even though many folks won't, and even though I have drifted from my Cutaway theme!
Now for Version 3: I used Effect/Blend to blend the Version 1 with the Version 2 in Difference mode, which is where the blue comes from.
I opened the image in Metabrush and painted on it with a variety of brushes.
In Effect/Blend, I blended with Version 1 to bring back the eyes, using an inverted brush mask. With the mask still in place, I increased their contrast and brightness in Adjust/Levels.
Using Effect/Blend, I blended with the original.
I used Adjust/EQ at low opacity to lift the shadows somewhat and provide a bit more definition.
For finishing touches, I use Adjust/Tonelab 4 at low opacity, Effect/Denoise 4, and Style/Coherence. I used Effect/Raise preset 1 at partial opacity with a half opacity mask on the face and neck. (To change the opacity of the mask, touch Set on the brush mask bar, touch Adjust on the window that pops up, and use the Full Opacity slider -NOT the opacity slider, which just affects individual future strokes.) I increased contrast a bit in Adjust/Levels. I applied a touch of Tone/Duotone in Multiply mode. I applied a touch of Preset/Border 2, masking the face, which darkens the edges and background.
Google Sites
Report abuse