Why It Works: Photo Blending

Discussion in 'Learning Pad' started by jenevang, Oct 17, 2016.

  1. mcurtt

    mcurtt give me all the paleo brownies

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    Thanks @jenevang for the tutorial. I blend a lot, but I just don't use the gradient tool very much. Your example in the video was super! I'll have to expand my tools and use it sometime.

    And @cfile, your layout is WONDERFUL! I love it. :-)
     
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  2. Iowan

    Iowan Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa

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    You are so right ...her stunning page was made even more spectacular by that triangle shape.

    I'm in love with this thread already.
     
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  3. bcgal00

    bcgal00 Say, "birdseed!"

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    Awesome page Justine! That's a great tip about duplicating the photo and placing overtop.
     
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  4. suruha

    suruha Member

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    This IS going to be a cool thread to watch! Thank you for a great kickoff post, @jenevang ! @cfile your page is fantastic! So is yours, @bellbird !
    Masks are da bomb! LOL If it is okay, I can add a little something. Start off with a solid black mask, (hold Alt/Option, then, click on the mask button). Then, with a soft, white brush, start 'painting' in the parts you wish to reveal. You have a lot more control over the mask this way, I think.
    Since @jenevang was using a large photo, the gradient makes more sense. But, if your photo is, say, smaller or in the middle of a page, the 'reverse layer mask', as it is called, works great!
    Thank you, ladies!!
     
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  5. jenn mccabe

    jenn mccabe She's OUR sunshine!

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    Ooh, that sounds like a really cool idea @suruha ... please share a page if you have one in the gallery! I think everyone would love to see that blending/masking tip in action! Great idea!
     
  6. suruha

    suruha Member

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    Gosh! I use it all the time! Let me see if I can find a good example.
     
  7. LynnG

    LynnG Designer

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    I very rarely have just one blended layer if I blend a photo. I nearly always duplicated the photo and either put it on 'normal' but with lower opacity or else on another blend mode. Often I will add a color overlay to the duplicated photo then erase parts of it.

    My first "go to" step for blended photos, though, is to increase the brightness and contrast of the photo.
     
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  8. cookingmylife

    cookingmylife Pizza would be my last meal, except ...

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    Here's a double gradient with the photo duplicated, screen mode at 48%.

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. MrsPeel

    MrsPeel LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

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    theseare the times when I wished I scrapped in Photoshop..... I generally only use tghe blending modes on my program, but putting together everything (awesome tutorial @jenevang and tips here girls!) I think I can find my way on Craft Artist!
    Needless to say, I was SO delighted that the page chosen is Christa's... love it!!!!!! @cfile

    I love so many people who blend, I ll make sure I ll bring some pages in later!!!

    she does!!!!!!! I remember being surprised as how sweet and different to what I thought she would sound... I guess by me knowing Jen for almost 7 years, and having this idea of the strong, almost super woman she is, I thought she would sound with a deeper tone or ...dunno LOL but I was delighted to the way she sounds!!!!! :heartlub
     
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  10. suruha

    suruha Member

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    Hi! I didn't forget about this!
    I feel the photo 'blends' much better onto the paper beneath it when a reverse layer mask is used. You can use any brush. (I like to use watercolor splashes or splatters with the 'Fill' at around 15-20.) See for yourself.
    I made a quick little example of using both a regular layer mask and a reverse layer mask:

    [​IMG]
    Click on image for Gallery.
     
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  11. jenevang

    jenevang Rocking a two-piece under my scrubs

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    @MrsPeel , this comment totally made me smile :) Love you, lady!
     
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  12. MrsPeel

    MrsPeel LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

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    me too... & you know how much of a huge inspiration you are to me!!!!!! (not only ion the scrapping side....as I said: super woman!!!!) :heartlub:heartlub:heartlub
     
  13. jenn mccabe

    jenn mccabe She's OUR sunshine!

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    OK, this is totally awesome to see both examples side by side. I agree it is a better/softer blend. Thanks for sharing this !
     
  14. ljonezy

    ljonezy The thingamabob that does the job is chocolate

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    Beautiful Page Christa!
     
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  15. cfile

    cfile My bags are packed for Platform 9 3/4

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    Thanks Lisa.. Love your new Signature too Lisa @ljonezy
     
  16. suruha

    suruha Member

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    I am not sure if this is okay, but, Jana, a Creative Team member for several designers, does fantastic tutorials. She just did one that talks a lot about masks. Her blog/website is 'with2worlds dot org' and the tut is 'How to Use Gradients Part 2'. She actually shows both methods, your gradient and my reverse layer mask!
     
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  17. Jana_2worldsart

    Jana_2worldsart Well-Known Member

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    I did a video tutorial for Lynn Grieveson here at the Learning pad showing how to blend with her brushes

    Here is the thread
     
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  18. jenevang

    jenevang Rocking a two-piece under my scrubs

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    Awesome! Thanks for linking this up. I'm going to check it out for sure! Lynn has some beautiful products perfect for blending.
     
  19. suruha

    suruha Member

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    That's what I did with the example I posted, Jana! Your video is much nicer than my example. LOL
     
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  20. jenn mccabe

    jenn mccabe She's OUR sunshine!

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    Gorgeous Jana! I so love your artsy blended pages. I can usually pick them out right away as being your work. You are talented! Thanks for sharing the Lynn G tuts too. I love that this thread has so many ideas and ways to achieve blending on our pages. I need to play! :)
     
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