Step 1: I usually start a project by running thru a whole film to find selected shots that capture the true spirit of the character. This being a demo, and the subject being a rather easy target, I didn't go through that trouble this time. Sometimes I'll use 'net images, but usually it's better to get my own pics. Sometimes, I'll grab up to 10 or so caps to select from. If I'm still undecided by the time I get it narrowed down to 2-3, I do them all, and choose the best result. I begin the process with a nice dirty image. This one is fairly clean, because of the bright background.
Step 2: First I re-filter the image to bring out the best natural colors. I sharpen everything to a point where it's in focus, but not too grainy. Thanx to letter-boxing, I have extra canvas to play with. If I use stock that isn't letter-boxed, I run the cap thru a Kaleidoscope filter, to give me some room. I first decide the basic shape of the subject. If they are slim or broad. I copy and re-paste a section of the cap, stretching it in the direction I want. If some of the black bands remain, I either crop them for composition, or smear them out, if I like the layout.
Step 3: I start smearing, bulging or shrinking at will, exaggerating distinctive features. I have plenty to work with in George C. Scott. Women are particularly difficult, because if you get too wild, you end up with a totally unrecognizable subject. And a lot of actresses have less-distinct features, none of those juicy big noses and such, that us guys are blessed with.
Step 4: I isolate the background, and run it thru the Gaussian blur to your tastes, depending on how much junk is in it. I try to go for an impressionistic effect. With this one, I didn't have much to worry about. The movie is famous for the speech in front of the flag. So the background adds to the identification factor. After I finish blurring, I tint to the colors I want. The white was a little too strong, so I added some pale blue to it, and strengthened the red. Now, I invert the isolation, and start tinting the subject. I deepened skin tones, and strengthened colors in the uniform.
Step 5: I go back over the subject, to make sure I'm getting the proper distortions and accents.
Step 6: The final step involves running it thru 1 of 5 or 6 filters I prefer. These give it more of a painterly effect, instead of the "plastic doll" look associated with computer morphing. I deepen the shadows and intensify the colors. A few more augmentations (the helmet) and it's good to go. This one took under an hour to complete, but I've done more complex ones.
Bad Guys II
Eskiv
Bowling tgfg
Linear Mode
