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As a result of exploring FraxHD, I have a collection of beautiful abstract images. The challenge is finding ways to use them in composite images. I like to zoom in to get an interesting portion of the fractal without an overwhelming amount of detail, as I feel these work better in my blends. Here I used a very simple fragment of a fractal that is smooth and colorful, with zany stripes that lends the final image the feeling that the skull is laughing or celebrating.
I started with this photo from Pixabay, a source of copyright-free images.
In iColorama, I applied Adjust/Tonelab preset 4 for clarity and depth.
I got sidetracked thinking I might blend in another image.
FraxHD is a fun program. The free version is easy to use. You can look at different fractals and "fly" over them to find an interesting pattern, which you can then save and reuse. Here is one that I will use to create this image.
In Effect/Blend, I blended the fractal onto the skull, using one of the buttons in the lower right of the screen to flip the fractal on the x-axis.
In Effect/Blur, I blurred the background, using a brush mask.
I inverted the mask and applied Effect/Raise to just the skull.
Now I used Form/Crop to crop some distracting parts from the bottom of the image.
I applied a touch of Effect/Glow, which deepens the shadows a bit, adding to the gothic feel of a skull, and lightens and blurs the highlights a bit, adding to the festive effect of the stripes.
I used a preset in Style/Lighten to add tiny spears of light.
I used Tone/Enhance to modify the color, then darkened the background some more using a brush mask.
With the mask still in place, I used one of the Effect/Light presets in the background to add a hint of stars, signifying night, and a muted galaxy area, that can suggest a puff of breath from the skull's laughter.
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