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Adding Sprinkles!

Photoshop, Styling Aug 01 , Episode 99

Congrats to Steven Rosen for winning this week’s Phearn PRO contest with his great aged portrait!

Blake sent over this image and wanted to extend the sprinkles more over the model. I thought this was a really cool image and am happy to help out today on Phlearn. The model has sprinkles covering half of his face and the challenge is to cover the rest of his face with sprinkles. To do this we try a couple of different methods, starting out with the standard Clone Stamp Tool. To add a little bit of variation to the tool, we then introduce a custom brush into the Clone Stamp, mirroring little sprinkles. For the top of the head, and areas where the sprinkles follow curvature around the sides, we make sure to clone stamp on a new layer and place the sprinkles correctly to mirror the topography. To add a bit of contrast between the light areas and dark areas on the face, we start out painting white on the highlight areas, and black on the shadows. Setting these layers to Soft Light makes them blend in a bit better. To improve on this a little, we then take the selection from each of the layers and apply them to Levels layers to lighten or darken areas. To finish it off we add a Color Balance layer to make sure the highlights reflect the skin tones etc.

Phlearn is growing and changing thanks to your suggestions and support! A plan is underway to make this into the BEST Photoshop and Photography website in the universe.
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Thanks team.

Gear Used in This Episode

Wacom Intuos 4 Small

Adobe Photoshop CS6

15" Macbook PRO

Sony NEX 5N

Audio Technica AT2020USB Microphone

« Photo shoot in 1800

Making dreams come true »

Yamaha83

i posted this on your Facebook, but saw some people are spamming you there with adds for their own stuff so not sure if you would see it. i was wondering if you have plans to make Phlearn pro cheaper? or have a membership type thing? because even at the discounted rate of $9.99 its still super expensive! if i got every video for a year that would be more then $500! and i could get Kelby training membership for less then half of that. just an idea. i have paid for 4 or 5 Pro episodes and would like to get more, its just doable given the other options there are for photoshop/photography training.
http://www.facebook.com/german.arce Germán Arce Morata

Cheaper?? come on!!! 10 $ per 1,30 hour of hight retouching is a gift.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Petter-Haugen/525301244 Petter Haugen

$9.99 in norway is a cup of coffee in the city area!! I think it´s well worth. PHlearn have opened my eyes on how to use different tools in photoshop. I´ve spent a lot on books that haven´t brought me forward. Only Focus Guide (http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/photoshop-focus-guide-100-best-ever-tips/) have some value to me. In a membership manner you have to remember that you 5 days a week get spot on tips for FREE! I support the model that have been established by now, but am expecting some kind of membership later….

This episode was great. Especially how easily you brought in depth by painting in shadow/highlights. Tx again Aaron!!
http://profiles.google.com/milla.kouhia1 Milla K

Seriously? Cheaper? I agree with Germán, although cheaper is always better from a selfish point of view of course (I’m an unemployed student, after all). But anyways, I think the PRO videos are VERY cheap (half price) considering that they are the only Phlearn-related income for Aaron (as far as I know).
PLUS the PS courses cost like hundreds of euros where I’m from and you probably wouldn’t get much more than what Aaron teaches in his videos. Well, half the price is probably for the personal assistance, but I can say for myself that I don’t need that with these videos, cause I can go back and forward if I need to. Usually I don’t, though, cos it’s all explained so well.
http://twitter.com/filmeo ed perabatida

PHLearn is the BOMB! LOL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35578932@N06/ Chad North

maybe we as a community can vote on the contests Phlearn puts out? Just a thought..
http://twitter.com/waseefakhtar Waseef Akhtar

Please teach us how to remove fog from a photo. That’s sometimes really annoying. Here’s are two photos for you to work on. I just want the mosque to be clear and be the subject of the photo. Thanks!
http://www.facebook.com/dale.a.richards Dale Antony Richards

I agree with the other comments, I think they’re at a good price. I do like the idea of a PhlearnPro subscription for the regular buyers =] *hint hint Aaron*

I don’t think they should make them cheaper but maybe make the half price deal last a week for those who can’t get online for that Monday or don’t get paid until Wed or something lol.

In England the conversion is £6 and £12 roughly ($10/$25) which is how much I spend when I want to TREAT myself; Cup of coffee and a biscuit = £6, Night down the pub £12 (maybe more lol).

PhlearnPro is a treat!

Also you don’t have to buy every episode of PhlearnPro. If you like the image and you can’t figure out how it was done then you can buy it. But if you look at it and go “Clever image, you have clearly used pen tool here, patch tool here etc” then you don’t need to buy it.

Besides Kelby and Lynda in my opinion don’t create inpsiring images and the thing that attracts me to PhlearnPro is the images are very well executed and inspiring that it gives a clear idea how the tool can be used to create a fantastic image.
Gnagy Nagy

Plus one
George Nagy

I also think it is a gift @ $9.99
Don’t forget that Aaron is doing this full time, he needs money to suport PHLEARN
Kelby training? Common! There is no single tutorial to teach you this kind of stuff.
However, membership is good idea too
Take care
Kelly

Hi Aaron…I wrote in a few days ago because I can’t see the video…there’s nothing but a black screen…can anyone tell me why? I’ve logged in hoping that would be a simple cure for it…but no such luck. thanks!
http://www.stkimage.com Stan_kudrna

I Agreed with German and others about price .
Look it this way ,how much free tutorials and tips you get here for free daily.
I think its great as it is.
cheers
Jon

Another cracker of a show Aaron. Well done! Love the pro shows and
can’t believe some people give out about prices … $9:99 works out about €7:15 ish
depending on rates that day and man you couldn’t get a pack of smokes or a
drink in some pubs in Ireland for that price … plus it works little over a
euro a day !! How in Gods name is that expensive?

Aaron teaches these things so well and are so easy to follow
I really fail to see the problem.

Ye just can’t please some people, ye give something for free
and some bods still want more …. says more about the bods I think!!

Keep up the good work dude. Upwards and onwards. Jon.
Anonymous

Hi Aaron! Love Phlearn! Can you teach us some simple light set ups. For example, i have two umbrella lights, how would you set them up for a portrait shoot? What additional items would you use? Where would you shoot from with the lights set up…etc.. Appreciate YA!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshlaiho/ JoshLaiho

Great!!! Cant wait to see the new changes in phlearn!!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=565155003 Jeremy Cupp

What browser are you using? Make sure you have flash also.
Oliviabossert

Aaron, can you explain File Types one day?? I dont understaaaand

Phlearn sounds like its going to be totally awesome If you need any help, do let me know, i’d be happy to help
Oliviabossert

lights would be great!!
Oliviabossert

Don’t make them cheaper Aaron, they’re already so so cheap, and the amount I learnt in the episode i watched yesterday was worth WAYYYYY more than 10$. In Switzerland, I cant buy anything for cheaper than that, super impressed
smEllie

Hey Aaron, for some bizarre reason, the “ask questions” link isn’t working, so I thought I could ask them here…I have two question,
One: forgive me if this is a stupid question but I am very new at photoshop and have only revently become a Phlearner, …but what is that pen and pad thing you use? It would make like far more easier
And two: well, I had this photo idea for a while, and I wanted to get a photo of someones hand and progressively towards their fingers have them turn into sticks…so simply…stick fingers, and I just wanted to know how on earth would you be able to do that?

thanks for your time, and once again, a very insightful, interesting and wonderful episode
congratulations on the 100th episode (even though it hasn’t even been done yet)
I am excited to see what Phlearn becomes!!
http://www.facebook.com/dale.a.richards Dale Antony Richards

Do you mean .tif .jpg etc?
Vince

totally agree!
pad_enn

I totally agree!
Shiraz Ziya

+1 for lights.
Anonymous

I am using a wacom intuos 4 tablet
Thanks for being here and asking questions
Aaron
Anonymous

really cool idea Chad, I am all about voting
Anonymous

Thanks so much Dale, that is my goal with Phlearn PRO
Anonymous

Thanks Petter!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5IBZWR67E2TX55ATXH6RCQWQT4 Alex Kemsley

Hey Aaron
Could you please please do a Rapunzel-type hair tutorial? I need to get a shoot done this week and I can’t get the right kind of wig. If I could do it in post-processing, that would be amazing!!
Yamaha83

don’t get me wrong everyone! i love what Aaron is doing and have learned a ton from him myself! and I’m in no way saying Kelby is better or trying to turn people in that direction. I’m just saying that that would be Aarons main competition, and at the price point he has set, he is over double the cost. Kelby offers a lot more options as far as classes as well since you can see Photoshop stuff, lighting, weddings, etc. the thing i like about Aarons classes is that he works all the way through an image where Kelby more so just goes in depth about a certain tool like blending modes. Tutplus is pretty comparable to Phlearn also and walks through how to do images and they have a Photoshop section and photography section and are only $78/year. i just really like what Aaron is doing and how he does it and want to see this grow bigger then the 2 others mentioned here as well as all the others out on the internet and i cant see that happening at the current price point. i can see keeping the price now until he gets more traffic where he can afford to lower prices die to a higher volume. i was just wondering if it was in his game plan to come up with a membership type thing in the future. or maybe even a buy 3 get one free type deal? just my 2 cents and hope no one takes it like Im bashing Aaron or anything of the sort!
Anonymous

I totally understand where you are coming from. I would really like to offer everything free of charge to everyone. Right now, this is my only source of income and I work at Phlearn 14 Hrs a day to make it the best I can. If you have some ideas on how I can provide for my staff and business without charging people, I would love to implement your ideas. Thanks for the comment!
Anonymous

Not at all, you make a valid point and I appreciate your feedback. I hope to provide this service with less cost to people as we grow. I really appreciate you wanting Phlearn to grow, and any ideas on how to do so are much appreciated. Aaron
http://www.facebook.com/dale.a.richards Dale Antony Richards

As you mentioned; Kelby, Tutplus, Lynda etc are huge companies with huge traffic – Aaron is one man with about 1000 followers

Those companies can afford to get the marketing out to get more followers!

One trick Lynda does that I think Aaron should do is they upload to Youtube as well, which means with good keywords as more people watch that video its popularity grows and so in enough time someone can type “Photography tutorial” and maybe a phlearn episode can appear in the top results!
http://www.facebook.com/dale.a.richards Dale Antony Richards

This is how I would do it (Obviously be neater!) This was a 2 minute fix to show the idea!

Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer in 3 stages through the depth of the image!
http://www.facebook.com/dale.a.richards Dale Antony Richards

But the best way by far is to fix it in Raw
Jairo Magalhães

Hey Aaron! Could you please make a tutorial like this famous dove video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U
Maybe a phlearn pro complement from the last one.
Thanks and congrats for phlearn.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541396645 Shantelle Bair Manca

Hi Aaron I LOVE PHLEARN! Could you teach some more techniques for on outdoor location natural lighting, that would realy help out a lot. Thank you keep up the great work
Bluesman

The major difference between Kelby and Phlearn is that Aaron teaches what his customers/community want to see. Customized training must be worth a premium, is it not?
http://twitter.com/waseefakhtar Waseef Akhtar

that’s not bad.. liked it, Dale. Thanks!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43171278@N02/ Tony Walls

People also forget that there’s a way to get these for free.. Just up the quality of your submissions to the contests.. If you want one that bad, then make your image the top one of the week.. He gives these things away for free weekly. I don’t see Lynda or Kelby doing that.. Like someone else said, just for the simple fact that these tutorials are consumer driven content makes them worth their premium..

I’ve purchased memberships w/ both Kelby and Lynda, and having a different teacher based on what section you’re in can be a drag too.. Aaron’s personality is what sells me the most and getting ALL the information I need from one source makes it worth it’s weight in gold.

Aaron is easy to follow along with, the videos are recorded in HD, sound quality is good, he’s thought about how HE’D want to be taught and is very personable.. I’ve had some instructors on Kelby/Lynda put me to sleep because they were so monotone.

I know I’m late to the party, but Aaron also put the Phlearn Pros up for 9.99 for a whole week during Christmas, (which I was MUCHO APPRECIATIVE!!!) I got 7 of them and already had 3.. I’m super excited to add those tips to my ever-growing arsenal of phlearntastic skills..

Keep doing what you’re doing Aaron.. You have an amazing business model and great acumen for what you do my friend.. There are more people that are FOR what you’re doing.. (Yamaha, this was not directed at you in any way.. Just throwing out my opinion)