Psychedelic Filter Effect

Creative Team Member, Ulla-May, shares her Psychedelic Filter Effect Tutorial in Adobe Photoshop.

Psychedelic Filter Effect

Story Behind The Art

I first used the effect described in this tutorial more than 10 years ago.

I loved the outcome so much that I had the page printed and hung it on one of my walls, but  I didn’t use the technique for a while, and forgot how to do it.

I’ve been trying to recreate the effect for a long time.

Justa few weeks ago, I was searching through filters for a different page and rediscovered the filter I used on the original page.

I hope you enjoy this effect and have a lot of fun with it.

Supplies:  ArtPlay Palette City Limits, FotoBlendz Clipping Mask ValuePack No. 1,

1. The Foundation

Create a background for your artistry.

• Create a new 12 x 12 layout at 300 dpi in Adobe Photoshop or Elements.
• Open and move an artsy or a solid paper of your choice onto the new layout using the Move Tool from the Tools Panel to create your layout foundation.
• I used an artsy paper from ArtPlay Palette City Limits.

2. Photo Selection

Choose a photo for your layout.

• Open your photo in a separate window and edit as preferred.
• When you are done with the photo work, as described below, you will move the photo to your foundation to complete your page.
• The best photos for this technique are street photos and buildings.
• Duplicate your photo, Image> Duplicate> OK.

Note. You do not want to work on your original image.

3. Filters

Apply the Solarize Filter.

•  Go to Filter> Stylize> Solarize and apply to the copy layer.
•  Go to Edit> Fade to modify the results.
• This will allow you to change the Opacity and Blending Mode of the effetc.

Note. You can only use the Fade option immediately after applying the Solarize Filter.

• This option will ghost (be grayed out and  become unavilable) in the Edit fly-out menu if you make additional edits after applying this filter.
• If you use the Fade option, you will not be able to go back and adjust it later.
• I used Hue/Saturation Adjustment layers instead of using the Fade option.
• These Adjustments Layers tend to be more practical because you can go back and adjust them as your page progresses.

4. Adjustment Layers

Add an Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer.

• Go to Layer> New Adjustments Layer> Hue/Saturation and click OK.
• Play with the individual sliders until you get a look that you like.

Add a Levels Adjustment Layer.

• Go to Layer> New Adjustments Layer> Levels and click OK.
• This Adjustment Layer will allow you to increase the contrast in your image.
• Play with the individual sliders until you get a look that you like.

5. Masking

Choose a Fotoblendz Clipping Mask to blend  your photo.

• Clip your photo to a mask to give it additional interest. I chose a mask from FotoBlendz Clipping Mask ValuePack No. 1.

6. Placement

Move your masked photo and adjustment layers to your foundation layer.

• Highlight the photo layer, and the clipped Adjustment Layers, and move them together to your foundation.
• Taking this extra step will allow you to continue to make changes to your image while you complete your page.

7. Embellish

Complete your page with elements of your choice.

• Consider using a variety of brushes, textures, text, or other elements.
• I used ArchiTextures No 4 and ArchiTextures No 5, in addition to the ArtPlay Palette Elements.

Post your layouts using this Psychedelic Filter Effect tutorial and Artsy Digital Scrapbooking Design ideas in the Gallery.

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