Bethany's Gallery and Image Workshop (56k beware)

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Ok, I've received pm's asking me to put my "enhanced" screenshots under one thread and discuss the process of turning an ordinary screen capture into something artsy. I could also offer to work on some of your own screenshots and post the result here, as a "before-after" and the mechanics of what came in between.

Baby steps into taking a good screenshot:

1) Take one of your favorite characters and go to a place where the surroundings will complement him/her. Avoid as much as possible large, blocky objects such as large-textured walls and stuff like that.

2) Light it up. Every map in GW has a unique light source that comes from one direction. Make your character turn around and notice how light changes as it refracts on him/her. Your character should face the light at no angle larger than 45 degrees.

3) Strike a pose. Like I mentioned in a previous screenshot post, your character is never-tiring, never-complaining and always-willing model (wouldn't fashion photographers love GW models ). Try emotes and such and repeat them if necessary while observing the gestures. somewhere along the line you'll find something worthy of capturing.

4) Capture, capture and capture again. Just make sure that your screenshots are taken without the interface, in my case SHIFT-F12.

5) Give your shot a makeover with your favorite image editing program. As always, keep your originals safe and experiment away.

So here are my selected works and some behind-the-scenes tidbit. In some I've decided to put the before and after.

Saiko, fire elementalist. I decided to spice this screenshot with reddish colors in order to enhance the theme of fire. The location is on the south-east of Shing Jea and the emote used is bowhead.

Original image:


Enhanced image:


Bethany, necromancer. I was looking for a calm and moody place. Found the location near Fort Aspenwood. There's no emote here that I can remember using. (Original accidently deleted. Save your files!)


Isako, warrior. I wanted to capture something reminescent of classic, post-renaissance european paintings along with a touch of greek-roman poses that have been used on so many statues. Luckily, the flex emote and the area just outside Shing Jea monastery allowed me to do just that. This is perhaps the shot from which I received the most comments in thread and PM.

Original image:


Enhanced image:


Saeko, monk. She's my newborn and started playing her just a few days ago. The setting here is, again, the outside of Shing Jea monastery and the emote is bow.

Original image:


Enhanced image:


Isako again. I wanted to capture the essence of the warrior heading with dedication into a dangerous battle. I wanted to give the same feel as when Maximus heads into the Roman Coliseum for the first time in "Gladiator". I found the perfect place for this shot in the last mission where teams have to defeat Shiro. Of course, I had to go alone and the only problem was Mhenlo who kept getting into the picture. To lose him and give me some leverage I used sprint and took screenshots after screenshots while working the angles. Of course, the Kurzick armor has the small drawback of putting front and center a part of Isako's anatomy that somehow's distracts a bit. But I think the overall effect more than compensate. No emotes here, I had Isako walking backward while I was taking the screenshots.


Isako, once more. This time around I wanted to capture a pensive moment. This shot could relate many things but what came to my mind was what could Isako feel after defeating Shiro. There, near a harbor, she could watch the Canthan people reprising their daily lives in a peaceful setting. I rather like the emotion that transpires from this image. The location is the northern part of Raisu's Palace and the emote used is ponder.


Isn't Isako great? Some might think that she's wondering how she went from butt-kicking warrior to supermodel. Well, for this shot I wanted to achieve the "traveler's" look. If the background sets a calm, the shield and sword held by Isako makes the viewer feel that there's some danger lurking about (maybe a butt-pinching crab?). I found this little place north of Minister's Cho estate along the beach. There's no emote for this image.


Noa, ranger. In this shot I wanted the viewer to hear the distant rumbling of the approaching thunder, the bristling of the leaves, to smell the humidity in the air and to feel the first droplets of rain.


So, feel absolutely free to comment and ask questions.

Bethany

bulletsmile

bulletsmile

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

I live in Konglevegen

N/

nice nice, you seems to work a bit with your screenshots, what you use, photoshop, and it looks like you blur the background and make the character stick more out, nicely done

Ention

Ention

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2006

Sitting on a throne in the mansion of torment.

D/Mo

I loved what you did with Saeko... makes the image seem more like a far off memory of the sadness enveloping Cantha at that time...

What you did with Noa does exactly what you said it would. It brought me there. It let me be where she was...

I'm not crazy about any of Isako's, although I do like the enhacement of Bethany at Shing Jea.

Cjlr

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

SMS

E/Me

Ooh! Ooh! I wanna try!

(I'll put some up later)

BlackRecluse

BlackRecluse

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

[Dark]

W/

image->apply image, filter->blur->gaussian blur
layer->overlay.

simple but cool effect

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
image->apply image, filter->blur->gaussian blur
layer->overlay Nope. Not my formula. Only one ingredient is correct, the rest is not. Then again, there's more than just blurring. There are layers, filters, burning, dodging... I'll get back to that later as I'm preparing to detail my process.

leech

leech

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2006

just wondering, how do you get the character on a different layer than the background so that your character doesnt get blurred into the background?

Draak

Draak

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

Clan Union [Uni]

W/

Just cut him out and re-paste :P

Noa Lutra

Noa Lutra

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

R/Mo

Quote:
Just cut him out and re-paste :P Nope. That would indeed make the character look like a cut out and would show.

leech

leech

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2006

yea thats what i was thinking, its just the cut out she did looks really clean, like you cant even tell its there. what tool do you guys use to cut-out? in the past i've just used the lasso tool to trace around the body and cutting out parts of the background little by little, but that doesnt seem to leave such a nice looking cut out that bethany's work. is it just that im not very good at it or are we using a different tool or somethin?

fb2000

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

well i cant say what she used, but when i need to do something like that (ie, take an element from background and have it on a new seperate layer), i just duplicate, and use eraser.. if youre a bit scared, use a eraser with a bit softer edges.

ive always used this, i cant even use lasso.. tho i think at least in my hands eraser is way better than lasso

as for the images, personally i like most of the originals better . very constructive critique, no?

Draak

Draak

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

Clan Union [Uni]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Noa Lutra
Nope. That would indeed make the character look like a cut out and would show. Cut with Lasso Tool with feather set to 10 - 20% ...

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Cut with Lasso Tool with feather set to 10 - 20% ...
I never use the lasso in any form or shape.

Quote:
ie, take an element from background and have it on a new seperate layer. i just duplicate, and use eraser.. if youre a bit scared, use a eraser with a bit softer edges. Ah, now we're getting somewhere.

Quote:
personally i like most of the originals better . very constructive critique, no? Critiques are always constructive (unless they're insulting) and always welcomed.

menikamatii

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bethany
Nope. Not my formula. Only one ingredient is correct, the rest is not. Then again, there's more than just blurring. There are layers, filters, burning, dodging... I'll get back to that later as I'm preparing to detail my process. oooo

OMFGimCUTE

OMFGimCUTE

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

a box

I hop around

W/D

hey can you do one for me =/

OMFGimCUTE

OMFGimCUTE

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

a box

I hop around

W/D

oh btw what program do you use? Photoshop?

Ventius Hozza

Ventius Hozza

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

London, UK

Powerpuff Boys [PUFF]

R/

I'm too jealous, I think I'm going to make a plan to uninstall Photoshop from your PC

Keep making more stuff and tell us how you cut out/blurred etc! :O

lovin it

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
hey can you do one for me =/
Like I specified in my first post, you are more than welcomed to. Send me a pm and I'll give you the email adress where you can send me your screenshot. Then I'll post the before and after and what came in between. Just remember to keep an eye on some of guidelines I wrote at the begining because Photoshop can only do so much.

Quote:
oh btw what program do you use? Photoshop? Yep. I use Photoshop 7.0

Quote:
I'm too jealous, I think I'm going to make a plan to uninstall Photoshop from your PC Hum... *checks doorlock*

Quote:
Keep making more stuff and tell us how you cut out/blurred etc! :O I'm not at home right now but I soon as I get back I plan on making a step-by-step explaination.

Hailfall

Hailfall

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Germany

Phantom Commando

N/

I think you copy the layer, put a layer mask on it and then use a soft edge brush to make your character come out.

I have to say that your work is good. Though it's something that someone with a bit knowledge of Photoshop can do.

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
I think you copy the layer, put a layer mask on it and then use a soft edge brush to make your character come out. This is as close as anyone as come. And yes, anyone with a knowledge can do the same if not better. But I'd like to specify that I'm not a Photoshop professional nor have I followed any sort of course. What I do is strickly out of many many many experimentations.

Hailfall

Hailfall

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Germany

Phantom Commando

N/

Understood. Myself I work with Photoshop a lot too, though my focus is more on wallpapers then working on screenshots.

I like the one of your Necro, it's nice and dark.

Big_Iron

Big_Iron

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

The Edge

Tormented Weapons [emo]

Beautiful work Bethany. I've become a big fan.

Across The Battle

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2006

Jersey

W/

Extremely impessive to me, I personally suck at photoshop and I have seen your stuff before and it looks very well thought out and done.

I would love to see your walkthrough on how to work with photoshop and such, cause ive been dieing to learn but suck with most online tutorials.

Great work!

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Very nice work. Knowledge of Photoshop didn't make those pictures, an eye for beauty did.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hailfall
I think you copy the layer, put a layer mask on it and then use a soft edge brush to make your character come out. Why would you need to do all that? Just copy layer and use the eraser tool.

Ermac

Ermac

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Finland

Hoggies fan [club]

N/

Shame that chaos gfx is down atm tough...Most awesome site ever.

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Thanks for the nice comments. Well, for those who wrote some anyway.

Quote:
than whenever people tried to say what she did, she said 'no, thats wrong'
Some people tried to guess what were the steps I personally followed to make my images. I simply told them that their description didn't match mine. Simple as that. I guess I should have known that a rotten apple would make it's way and try to ruin the whole thing.

Quote:
Very nice work. Knowledge of Photoshop didn't make those pictures, an eye for beauty did. That, just made my day.

For the other, nice people; I should get back home tonight and like I said earlier, I plan on putting a step-by-step illustrated post. And I'd really like to see your own experiments. So post away please because like I said, I would like this to become a big workshop.

Oh, and menikamatii, I'll try your method as soon as I get back, I want to see how it turns out.

Android Girl

Android Girl

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mythril Knights of Tyria

Mo/W

This was one I made a while back: http://i4.tinypic.com/15hondj.jpg

What do you think? ^_^ JPG quality and resize kinda killed it. XP

beanerman_99

beanerman_99

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

In the clouds

[Sage]

E/

Love the shots. I don't have an imaging program to play around with.

No criticizism from be but could I ask a request? All your shots completely blur out the background, maybe a bit to blurred. Could you maybe enhance certain objects in the background to make them stand out as well as the characters stand out? I like the one of with the tall castle stucture in it. Could you re-do that one and give more detail to that castle? Just wondering if it would look as good as what I picture in my mind.

Good work!

edit:
Its the pic with your female in Kurzk armor (ya the one with the butt shot lol). I like how the sky is softened but would love to see some enhanced detail the the castle she is walking to. Get my mind thinking why is she going there? Whats in the castle? Does she want to go there or does she have to go?

fb2000

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

ok, boredom makes bad things with ppl
heres my go in like 10 mins attached pre and post versions

gnight

Sereng Amaranth

Sereng Amaranth

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Amazon Basin [AB]

Quote:
Originally Posted by arcanemacabre
Very nice work. Knowledge of Photoshop didn't make those pictures, an eye for beauty did.



Why would you need to do all that? Just copy layer and use the eraser tool. Erasing is destructive. By using a Layer Mask you can change the affected section.

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Android Girl: I like it and I'd like to see it bigger. Photobucket can host your pics if you want. That's the one I use and it's free.

Beanerman_99: I know that Paintshop Pro is not as pricy as Photoshop. If you want a free imaging program there's Gimp. Although I don't know much about it except that it's free. As for the blur effect, the first thing I wanted to achieve was the 35mm effect. If you have ever used an SLR or DSLR camera, you'll notice that the main subject is crystal clear and the background is blurred a lot. I'll check the castle pic for you and see how I can modify it a bit.

fb2000: The selective blurring is interesting.

Quote:
Erasing is destructive Well, part of my own process involves a lot of erasing. Erasing becomes destructive only if everything is clear, when there's blurring it becomes less evident. More on that later.

Tweeaaked

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

Not Your Ordinary Guild

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bethany
omfg look at that hiney ! ! !

Bethany

Bethany

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Okay, I'm finally home and comfy. I managed to make this little recipe that is the one I use to craft my images. Bear with me because this is the first time I write something like so I hope it will be easy to follow. Here we go:

Step 1: An image. I decided to pick the introduction screen right after login in. Isako has, once again, agreed to pose for me, so here she is in regular screen capture.



Step 2: On the lower right on the Photoshop screen, I right-click on the image and choose Duplicate Layer. This effectively creates a copy of the image and it is placed right on top of the original image. Think of it as two plates of glass placed on top one another.



Step 3: Now, let's blur our image. Remember that Photoshop will apply all effects on the top layer (the one we've just made) unless we tell it otherwise. this is exactly what we want. To do that, go on top, select filters, then Blur, then Gaussian Blur.



At this point, before Photoshop applies the Gaussian Blur, you must set the Gaussian effect. I usually set it at 3.0 pixels which provides a nice 35mm effect.



Step 4: At this point, this is the image we have:



The nice effect of the Gaussian Blur is that it creates a faint and soft halo around just about everything. Isako here has not escaped this nice effect as you can see.

Step 5: Now, we must uncover Isako from the blur. Now you'll notice that the blur is relatively strong and we must see very clearly what we are doing. In order to do this, go to the lower right again, select the opacity and set it at around 75%. Our top layer will become transparent enough to let us work.



Step 6: If any of you in this thread mentioned using the Eraser Tool, well, they were right. But because of the Gaussian Blur, our erasing will let us cut Isako from the background all the while keeping our blur effect. Go to the side tools, select the eraser tool and set it's size at about Hard round 5 pixels.





Step 7: Start erasing carefully around the character without going over in the background. Only erase the character itself. If a space is too small, select a smaller size. Keep on doing this until you've uncovered the character entirely.



Step 8: At this point, my image looks like this:



Step 9: This is the point where we don't need 2 layers anymore. Select Layer then Flatten Image.



Step 10: Here, I usually use a lighting effect. Go to Filter, Render then Lighting Effects.



Step 11: We don't want our lighting effect to be too bright or anything. that's why I use the Soft Omni . But before applying the effect, notice the different options of the lighting effect? Set the Gloss to Matte . Leave the other ones like they are. Also, you can select the center of light and it's radius. Play with it and see what size pleases you more. Then click ok.



Step 12: At this point, my image now looks like this:



Step 14: Let's lighten the image. Some areas could use a bit of uplift in term of light. Isako's armor for instance has some nice gold linings that could benefit some exposure. For that, go to the left-hand side toolbar and select the Dodge tool. With this, everything you'll click or pass on will become brighter.



Here again, selecting the size of the brush is important. For Isako I wanted something not too large and not too small. I've selected Soft Round 35 pixels.



Step 15: Here's what my image looks like right now. Notice how Isako's armor has become brighter?



Step 16: We're almost done. Some areas need to be darker. Not too much, just a bit. For that, right-click on the Dodge Tool again and select the one right under: the Burn Tool.



This one is the opposite of the dodge tool. Everything you'll click or pass on will become darker. Don't overdo it unless you want to set a special tone. If you go back to my first post, check the last image depicting my ranger Noa. Notice how much I've used the Burn Tool in order to achieve the incoming thunderstorm. By using the burn tool properly, you can provide with some nice dramatic effect.

We're done. Easy huh? Now let's look at my result by comparing the original and the end result:

Original image:


Final image using the technique described here:


This is the same technique I used for all my screenshots. Of course, since the desired effect of each image is different some steps vary a bit but this is pretty much the general guideline I follow. It is also the result of many hours of experimenting with Photoshop because I'm too lazy to go look at tutorials (despite the fact that I wasn't lazy enough to write one ).

So fire up Photoshop, have fun and please post your results here for all to see.

Bethany

Edit: The effect isn't as dramatic as the other pictures but I lacked the time to hunt Cantha for a new shot so I lazily used the first one that popped-up after loggin in.

MadOnion

MadOnion

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Oh wow, great pictures and an excellent tutorial! (I'm going to try this out as soon as I get some free time). Thanks, hopefully I can get images with as much mood as yours.

prodigy ming

prodigy ming

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

thanks alot for the tutorial! I'll give it a try later.

Selena_Lionheart

Selena_Lionheart

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Nova Alliance [Nova]

R/

First of all, great guide. With a little time, and a little patience, I got this.





Considering that's a first try, this is a very very good guide ^_^

thor hammerbane

thor hammerbane

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

Dark Side of the Moon

Fat Kids Are Hard To Kid[nap]

Very nice pics, and very nice descriptions..GJ!

TheLordOfBlah

TheLordOfBlah

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

California

None

Mo/N

I had a go at it with your method =P it was a quick job so i know it doesnt look as good, maybe the next one ill put more effort into it

I used a garbage picture anyways

OMFGimCUTE

OMFGimCUTE

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

a box

I hop around

W/D

ok thx

OMFGimCUTE

OMFGimCUTE

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

a box

I hop around

W/D



here can u do this for me? msg me in game if you do ( Kng Of Crunk )
il tell u my email

tell me if i need to make it bigger