How I created Silver Shrek in Photoshop

[BnG]

Note: if you are a guest, sign up as a member here and introduce yourself! We don't Bite. -bc_2005
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This tutorial was long due, I started writing half of it then completely forgot about it. Thanks to DJSpliff for reminding me about it. Note: This is probably an advanced tutorial so some knowledge of photoshop is required before attempting it.



Below are the 2 Source pictures that I have used, and also the Final Result of the chop.

Source Images (Click on images for larger version):



The Final Image:



First you need to cutout Shrek’s face. I’m expecting you already know how to do that, I used the lasso tool. Notice that there’s part of his finger in front of his face. Take that as well, make the outline of the selection as shown below:



Notice that I didn’t take the top of his eyebrows because silver surfer doesn’t have any. Well be removing the rest of the eyebrows shortly.

Copy this selection.

Leave this window open, and open the Silver Surfer image.

Ok so in this image, the top part of Silver Surfer’s skull is cropped, we want to get the whole of shrek’s head in there so increase the canvas size and set it as shown below. Don’t forget to set the anchor point to the bottom left since we want our canvas to increase from the top and the right part.

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Now paste Shrek’s head in this document. I renamed this Layer 'Shrek Face'.

The size of Shrek’s head doesn’t match the shoulder width of Silver Surfer. Set both scales to 110%.

Move the head so that the jawlines of both faces match.


Next step: Desaturate Shrek’s head. We do this to be able to apply the colors we want to it. You should now be left with a black and white image of the head.

Apply Color

To apply a new color to the head, first select the eyedropper tool and choose a light color from Silver Surfer’s body (Don’t take the lightest color, like the highlights, take it just outside of them). Make this color the foreground. Next choose a dark color (again don’t choose the darkest color, but something very close). Go to Image>adjustment>gradient map. You should see this window:


Click on the gradient color and a second window will appear. Add a new Color Stop, click underneath the bar (where my middle Color Stop is). You can change the colors of the Color Stop by double clicking on them. The middle one need to be lighter than the darkest color to the right. Now move the middle Stop until you are satisfied with the color of the head.



Smoothing the Head.

Shrek’s got a textured skin, eyebrows etc whereas Silver Surfer’s face is smooth. To smoothen Shrek’s face, we’ll use the smudge tool. I set the strength of the tool to 55% and smoothed the surface, following the contour of the face features. You should get something similar to the pic below.

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Applying Highlights and Shadows

The face looks smooth but flat. It needs a few layers of highlights and shadows.

Create a new layer.

Take the brush tool, set the size to soft round 17 pixels. Draw a white blob where the highlight should be. Base yourself on the face of silver surfer.



Next, take the smudge tool, set the size to slightly larger than that of the brush used. In this case I chose 27 pixels set at 40% strength. Spread the blob of white with the smudge tool as shown below.



Repeat this for other parts of the face with varying brush sizes and you should end up with something like this:



Create a new layer and set the blending mode to color dodge. Repeat the steps above for each of the highlights you have drawn but choose a smaller brush, I chose soft round 15 pixels for the first highlight.



Smudge the highlight slightly, with the tool set at 20%.



Next step: Duplicate the layer where shrek’s face is found, I renamed this layer ‘Outer Glow’. Apply the Find Edges filter (Filter>Stylize>Find Edges) on the ‘Outer Glow’ layer.



Now invert the colors in this image (ctrl+I or Image>Adjustment>Invert). Set the blending mode of this layer to Color Dodge also.

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Now we’ll apply some more highlights + shadows. Go back to your Shrek Face layer, choose the Color Dodge tool, set the size to soft round 65 pixels, Set Range to ‘Highlights’ and exposure to 20%.

Now dodge around the areas where you have drawn your highlights. This should boost the highlight colors and give a nice glow to the image.



For the shadows, select the Color Burn Tool, Set the Range to Highlights and start drawing the shadows. Vary the size according to where the shadow should be and on which face feature is it.

Phew, almost done. I applied a few more highlights here and there on a new layer at 30% opacity and removed the Original Silver Surfer head from the background. And there is the final result, The Silver Shrek!

[sdb]

awesome! it looks really simple to do. when i saw it posted in the contest, my jaw dropped.

i guess i just don't have the creativity to figure out the simple steps that add to such a complex look.

rep'd btw.

[bc_2005]

Wow I learned quite a bit from that! reps!

[BnG]

Originally Posted by SDB212

awesome! it looks really simple to do. when i saw it posted in the contest, my jaw dropped.

i guess i just don't have the creativity to figure out the simple steps that add to such a complex look.

rep'd btw.

Thanks!


If any of the steps are not clear please tell me as this is the first tutorial I have written.

[IKermit]

great job BnG!

[sdb]

Originally Posted by BloodnGuts

Thanks!


If any of the steps are not clear please tell me as this is the first tutorial I have written.

you did a very good job with it. i learn the best by visuals rather than written directions. i could follow along (even with pics alone) very easily.

[RebelYell]

this rocks, I want to try it.

[BnG]

Originally Posted by RebelYell

this rocks, I want to try it.

Thanks. If you have any questions about this post them here and I'll answer them

Welcome to the site

[fruitybhoy]

I tried the tutorial but got a bit lost. Its my wallpaper if you dont mind. I think you may give them an idea for a movie.

Me and the family luv it.

Regards

[BnG]

Originally Posted by fruitybhoy

I tried the tutorial but got a bit lost. Its my wallpaper if you dont mind. I think you may give them an idea for a movie.

Me and the family luv it.

Regards

Thanks!

Where did you get lost? I'll help you out

[fruitybhoy]

Originally Posted by BloodnGuts

Thanks!

Where did you get lost? I'll help you out

Just basically the last parts BNG. Removing the surfers head and filling in the rest of the background. Other than that then just the sheer smoothness of shrek face.

Ill try it again and post when finished in a new thread. .