Creative-Designs-Contour-and-Blend

Software: PhotoImpact 10, 11, 12 and X3               earlier versions maybe used

Title:       Contour and Blend

Author: Maureen Eves-Lavis

Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Tools: Extract Object, Transparency, Bristle Brush, Smudge Tool. Versions prior to 10 will have to use the lasso tool

Materials: Photographs                                                One photograph of a person, with a bare back and another photograph or graphic to use for the blend

MODES and WORKSPACES

Versions 12 and X3 has the ability for customised workspace modes, choose your own personal settings or Full Edit, providing you have all tools available to you for this tutorial.
Version 11 has five modes. You will see them listed in the My Workshop Menu. For the purpose of this tutorial, ensure you are working in "Advanced Mode" in order for all tools to be available to you.
Version 10 has two work modes, Basic and Standard. Basic Mode features a simplified workspace with larger buttons and the most common functions, whereas,the Standard Mode displays all of the functions. We will be using the Standard Mode in this tutorial.If you see Standard Mode faded out as shown, then this is the mode you are using. If you change from standard to basic you will lose any presets you may have saved.
Remember to save often

Use this arrow to help keep your place in the tutorial. Just right click, drag and drop to where you need You can drag this pointer as you go to keep track of your place in the tutorial

Step 1
Open your image. On the menu bar, open Object and choose Extract Object.

The Extract Object window will open, choose a brush size of about 20 and carefully move around the contour of the body. If you make an error, just click on the minus and erase.

If you are using an earlier version of PhotoImpact you will have to use the lasso tool for this part.

Step 2
When you're happy with your selection click on next, with the magic wand click in areas outside of the body to erase the background.

As shown in the example to the left, all parts of the picture will go and just leave you with the part that you've painted the red line around.

If you make any mistakes just click back.

When happy, click next and then ok and ok again. We will tidy the image up in the main of PI.

Step 3

As you will see there's some untidy edges, clean these with the eraser tool

Step 4

Change to the pick tool and tap on the selection, right click and copy.

Edit, paste as an object

You will have two layers and the base image which you can view in your layer manager

Step 5
Open your other photograph or graphic in your workspace that you are going to use as the blend. Right click, copy.

Here I chose an American flag.

Make sure the copy/pasted part is highlighted on the body.

Go to Edit, Paste, Fit into selection.

Your picture should now cover the extracted object.

Step 6
Pick Tool, Transparency approximately 85, but you can tweak this a little depending on your photograph/graphic.

Right click, duplicate and again, adjust the transparency

Using the smudge tool size 4, soft edge 8, level 15 very gently smooth over any jagged edges or where cover isn't sufficient and tidy any edges that look uneven.

Now you have a contoured and blended image on a body.

Try it with different images

Use paint tools or path tools to put edges and add colour and texture

Make a full body suit for the children

It's all up to your imagination

Have fun and hope you liked this tutorial?

Site created and maintained by Maureen Eves-Lavis

Creative-Designs

Terms of use for this tutorial are simple....What you create using this tutorial is yours to do with as you please. A link back to this tut is appreciated but is not a requirement. The tutorial itself along with the images herein are copyrighted to me and all rights reserved.

This document may not be translated, duplicated, redistributed or otherwise appropriated without permission.