Embedded Files
I've created many interesting textures in Metabrush, using the method I describe here. Here, I present five images, each starting from the same simple crop of a classic painting. Each of the five versions uses a different texture, created in Metabrush.
I started with this photo from the Rijksmuseum website, which provides high-resolution images free to use and modify for any purpose, in their Rijksstudio.
I opened the image in iColorama and applied Adjust/Tonelab 4 at low opacity for tonal separation. I smoothed the image using Style/Coherence preset 1 at full opacity, and Effect/Denoise Smooth preset. I will use this image as the starting point for several images in which I layer texture over the face.
I made this texture in MetaBrush. I used Brushes/Paint mode, using the Basic 11/25 brush at 100% opacity and medium size. In brush settings, I set spacing to a low to medium value, I set position variance and rotation variance to zero, I left dynamics at their default values, and I set Structure and Noise to their maximum values and Shadow to zero.
This is the brush image I used to create the above texture. A simple colorful image generally works best.
In iColorama, using Effect/Blend, I blended the texture onto the face in Multiply mode.
Again using Effect/Blend, I once more blended the texture onto the image, this time in Soft Light mode, and rotating it and enlarging it slightly.
Using Effect/Blend, I blended the texture onto the image once more in Soft Light mode, again rotated and somewhat enlarged.
I used Adjust/Exposure to lighten the image.
I used Style/Coherence and Style/Flow, both at low opacity, for smoothness, in preparation for Effect/Raise.
I used Effect/Raise to emphasize the texture.
I used Adjust/EQ to tone the image.
I used Effect/Blend with an inverted brush mask to paint in the eyes from a previous version.
Keeping the mask in place, I used Adjust/Levels and Tone/Enhance to increase contrast on the eyes and modify their color. With the mask still in place, I used Effect/Raise to match the texture with the rest of the image.
For final touches, I added some vignetting on the left side of the image using Preset/Border at low opacity, with an inverted brush mask. I also applied Adjust/High and Effect/Light, both at low opacity, to emphasize the highlights. I applied Tone/Duotone in Multiply mode at low opacity, to Tone the shadows. This is Version 1.
Now for another version. I made this texture in MetaBrush using the method I describe here.
I used this image as the brush source. You can see how I made it here.
I processed the texture in iColorama using Effect/Glow, Style/Coherence, Effect/Denoise, and Effect/Raise. This was to simplify it a bit, remove a color cast, and improve contrast.
In iColorama, using Effect/Blend, I blended the texture onto the face. I tried several blend modes. I used the Lightness slider under Set, and experimented with the Opacity and Feature sliders.
I used Adjust/Exposure as well as Adjust/EQ or Adjust/ EQ2 to lighten and tone the image. I generally experiment with several presets, modes, and opacities.
I used Adjust/High preset 1 at medium opacity to emphasize the highlights.
I used Tone/Enhance to modify the color.
I blended in the eyes from Version 1 using Effect/Blend and an inverted brush mask. As finishing touches, I applied Effect/Raise at low opacity, and I added some vignetting on the left side of the image using Preset/Border at low opacity, with an inverted brush mask. This is Version 2.
Now to create a third version. I created this texture in MetaBrush. I used Brushes/Paint mode, using the Lines 6/42 brush at 100% opacity and medium size. In brush settings, I set spacing to its maximum value, I set position variance to its maximum value, I set rotation variance to a middle value, I left dynamics at their default values, and I set Structure and Noise to their maximum values and Shadow to a middle value. I used the same peach-colored image of a nude as I used in Version 1, for the brush image in Brush/Paint mode.
In iColorama, using Effect/Blend, I blended the texture onto the face.
I used Adjust/Exposure and Adjust/Tonelab to lighten and tone the image. I used Effect/Raise to enhance the texture.
I used a preset under Texture/Leak at low opacity in Soft Light mode, for a lighting effect to illuminate the left side of the face.
I used Tone/Enhance with an inverted brush mask to change the eye color.
With the mask still in place, I used Tone/Tint at medium opacity to paint some additional color into the eyes.
I used Tone/Pastel to add some overall color. This is Version 3.
Now to make Version 4, I used a MetaBrush texture I made using this Pixabay photo as brush image in Brush/Paint mode. Pixabay is a source of copyright-free images.
In MetaBrush, I used Brush/Paint mode, using the MultiGeo 1/8 brush at 100% opacity and medium size. In brush settings, I set spacing to its maximum value, I set position variance to its maximum value, I set rotation variance to a middle value, I left dynamics at their default values, and I set Structure and Noise to their maximum values and Shadow to a middle value.
In iColorama, using Effect/Blend, I blended the texture onto the face.
I used Adjust/EQ2 to lighten and tone the image. I used Effect/Raise to emphasize the texture.
I used Effect/Light to add some highlights.
I used Effect/Blend and an inverted brush mask to paint in the eyes from a previous version. I used Preset/Border Preset 2 at high radius and with a brush mask to paint in some vignetting on the left and right edges. This is Version 4.
Now to make another version. Using the same brush image as above for Version 1, I made this texture in MetaBrush in Brush/Paint mode. I used the Doodle 64/71 brush. In brush settings, I used a low to medium spacing, rotation variance, and position variance. I left dynamics at their default values, and I set Structure and Noise to their maximum values and Shadow to a middle value.
In iColorama using Effect/Blend, I blended the texture onto the face in Multiply mode.
I used Adjust/Exposure and Adjust/Tonelab to lighten and tone the image.
I used Adjust/Exposure with an inverted brush mask to lighten the eyes.
I used Effect/Sharpen to enhance the texture. I used Tone to enhance the color, and I used Preset/Border Preset 2 with a brush mask to add some vignetting. This is Version 5.
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