Lomo effect with Photoshop

In Lomography the colors are vibrant, with deep saturation and vignettes that frame the shot . It is said to have begun in the early 1990s when two students in Vienna, Austria, used a  Lomo Kompakt Automat – a Russian camera. They were surprised at the results they  got.  Photoshop can simulate Lomography.

I will be using this free stock image to demonstrate the lomo effect. It belongs to 

~Katanaz-Stock

Step 1 : Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool.

Step 2 : In the top panel set the Feather at 90 pixels. Anti-alias is checked.

Step 3 : Draw an eclipse with the Marquee. After drawing it position it correctly with the cursor.

Step 4 : Press+SHIFT+I to inverse the selection.

Step 5 : Click the Adjustment Layer button and click on Levels.

 

Step 6 : In the Levels adjustment drag the Black slider to the right till the sides darken perceptibly.

 Step 7 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E to make composite Layer1.

Step 8 : Click the Adjustment Layer button and click on Curves.

Step 9 : In the Curves dialogue box make an S curve as shown in the RGB Channel.

Step 10 : Click on the Green Channel.

Step 11 : In the Green Channel make a similar S curve.

Step 12 : Now click the Blue Channel.

Step 13 : In the Blue Channel make the S Curve opposite to the RGB and Green Channels.

This is how the image looks so far.

Step 14 : Change the Blend Mode to Hue and decrease the Opacity to 50%.

Step 15 : Click on the Adjustment Layer button and click on Gradient Map.

Step 16 : The Gradient Map comes up.

Step 17 : Change the Blend Mode to Hue. Decrease the Opacity to 70%.

Step 18 :  PRESS CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E to make a Composite Layer 2.

Step 19 : Click the Adjustment Layer button and Click on Levels.

Step 20 : In the Levels Adjustment drag the middle slider slightly to ards the left to brighten the image a bit.

This is how the image looks.

Step 21 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E to make a Composite Layer 3.

Step 22 : Click on the Adjustment Layer button and click on Gradient Map.

Step 23 : Click where the arrow points to bring up the Gradient Editor.

Step 24 : In the Gradient Editor click on the Transparent Rainbow Gradient. Click OK in the Gradient Editor.

This is how the image looks.

Step 25 : Change the Blend Mode to Color and drop the Opacity down to 25%.

Step 26 : Click in the Channels palette. Click on the Red, Green and Blue channel to see which is the lightest. Here the Green Channel is the lightest. Press CTRL+A (Select All, then CTRL+C (Copy)

The image looks like this when I clicked the Green Channel.

Step 27 : Click on the RGB Channel in the Channels palette.

Step 28 : Click back on the Layers palette and press CTRL+V. A new Layer 4 forms with the Green Channel selected in the Channels palette.

Step 29 : Drop the Opacity of the Layer to 40%.

This is how the image looks.

Step 30 : Ctrl+Click the layer Mask on the Levels 1 Layer.

Step 31 : A selection becomes visible.

Step 32 : Click on the topmost layer which is Layer 4.

Step 33 : Click the new Layer icon. A blank Layer 5 forms.

Step 34 : Press SHIFT+F5. The Fill dialogue box appears. Change the Use to 50% Gray. Click Ok.

The image looks like this.

Step 35 : Change the Blend Mode to Multiply and drop the Opacity to 80%. Press CTRL+D to deselect.

The finished Lomo effect.

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Face Shatter in Photoshop

Here is a tutorial for a face shatter effect. You can do it in any version of Photoshop. First you need a free stock image.

This is the image I will be using. You will find it here 

Step 1 : Click the Magnetic Lasso.

Step 2 : Make a rough selection with the Magnetic Lasso. Just click and drag with the Magnetic Lasso.

The selection is complete.

Step 3 : Press CTRL+J. The selection is cut and pasted on Layer 1. Switch off the eye icon in the Background layer.

The image looks like this.

Step 4 : Click the Lasso Tool.

Step 5 : Draw a small selection with the Lasso Tool. Place the cursor in the middle of the selection, press CTRL and drag out.

The selection has been dragged out. The selection of marching ants remain.

Step 6 : Draw another selection with the Lasso Tool, press CTRL and drag out. You will have to repeat this over and over again.

This is how my shattering is shaping like. If you find large pieces, make them smaller.

This is the shattered face.

Step 7 : Layer 1 duplicates into Layer 1 copy.

Step 8 : Click on Layer 1.

Step 9 : Press CTRL and click the New Layer icon. A new Layer 2 forms under Layer 1.

Step 10 : Click the Eyedropper Tool.

Step 11 : Click with the Eyedropper Tool on a dark part of the image. I have clicked on the eye.

The Foreground Color changes to the color picked.

Step 12 : The blank Layer 2 is filled with the Foreground Color which we have just picked.

The image looks like this.

Step 13 : Click on Layer 1.

Step 14 : Click on the Lasso Tool.

Step 15 : Draw a rough selection around the shattered bits only.

Step 16 : The selection changes into a column of marching ants.

Step 17 : Press CTRL+J. The selection is cut and pasted on Layer 3.

Step 18 : Click the Move Tool.

Step 19 : Drag out the selection towards the right. This fragments the face even more.

Step 20 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+U to desaturate the selection.

Step 21 : Press CTRL+J. Layer 3 duplicates into Layer 3 copy.

Step 22 : Press CTRL+U to bring up Hue/Saturation. Check Colorize.

Step 23 : I have chosen a green for the Hue. Adjust the Lightness and Saturation sliders to your liking. These are my settings. Click OK.

Step 24 : Click on Layer 1.

Step 25 : Go to Filter>Blur>Radial Blur.

Step 26 : Set the Amount to 100, Blur Method to Zoom and Quality to Best.

The Radial Blur is applied.

This is how the image looks.

Step 27 : Press CTRL+F to reapply the Radial Blur.

Step 28 : You are on Layer 1. Press CTRL+J twice..

This is how the image looks.

Step 29 : Press CTRL+J yet again. Layer 1 copy 4 forms.

Step 30 : Go to Filter>Distort>Polar Coordinates.

Step 31 : When the Polar Coordinates dialogue box comes up, click OK. Note Rectangular to Polar is checked.

Step 32 : Press CTRL+J. Layer 1 copy 4 duplicates into Layer 1 copy 5.

Step 33 : Go to Edit>Transform>Flip Vertical.

Step 34 : Click the Move Tool.

The image looks like this so far.

Step 35 : Drag the Layer up with the Move Tool keeping SHIFT pressed.

The completed face shatter effect.

Other photoshop tutorials are here

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