Colin Smith
- Features: Written by Colin Smith on June 30, 2010
Step 1
Create a new document. The dimensions don't really matter, but I started with a new document that's 470 pixels by 350 pixels, RGB, and 72 dpi. Fill it with White.Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Enter the settings below, then press OK.
Step 2
To begin to form the base for the wood grain, go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Use the settings below and press OK. - Features: Written by Colin Smith on October 8, 2009
One of the most misunderstood Photoshop tools is the pen tool, which creates vector curves and paths. The pen tool is very powerful and accurate. With a little know-how and practice, it will be your ally for the rest of your career.
Vectors Explained
- Features: Written by Colin Smith on February 2, 2009
When you're augmenting an existing photo or creating new art from scratch, an effect that looks like the sun glinting off a metallic or shiny surface can add some depth and interest to your art. The starburst effect in this tutorial even includes a little lens flare, so it's a tasteful replacement for the sometimes-overused lens flare filter. This how-to works in many Photoshop versions, from CS4 back to version 7.
Step 1
- Features: Written by Colin Smith on December 29, 2008
This zoom effect how-to works in most versions of Photoshop.
Step 1
Open a photo in Photoshop and choose the elliptical marquee tool from the toolbox.Make a selection on the photo, as shown in Figure 1.
Tip: Hold the space bar to reposition the selection as you are drawing it.
Step 2
- Features: Written by Colin Smith on September 3, 2008
Step 1
Begin with a new document. You can either use an existing photo, or create a background yourself, as I did with this gradient.
Step 2
Choose the polygon lasso tool. Hold down your mouse on the lasso tool to reveal the polygon option.
Step 3
- Features: Written by Colin Smith on May 12, 2008
In this tutorial, we will look at HDR photography. HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging) was originally used in 3D and is now in full force in photography. Basically it's the process of taking multiple exposures and merging them together into a single 32-bit image.
- Features: Written by Colin Smith on September 24, 2007
This technique is a contrast/tone and color correction technique all in one. Once you run through it, you will see how just about any image can be improved, and you will use this technique many times over. For a number of years, this was just about the only correction technique that I used.
Step 1: The Original
- Features: Written by Colin Smith on January 10, 2007
When you have a series of images you want to stitch together in a panorama or grid, the auto-align and auto-blend tools in Photoshop CS3 are your best solution. They're two incredibly powerful tools that are best used in tandem. In a way, they're like the Photomerge of old, but CS3 does it a lot better.
In this tutorial, we'll create a panorama.
Step 1
