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Just playing around with a shot I took today... photographically disastrous but a bit of fun for this Photoshop addict nonetheless. I didn't get the shadows right but it was my first attempt at this sort of image. Appreciate any comments.

Terrific effect... I can't offer suggestions as I'm not very knowledgeable with PS, but a question, was the car superimposed over the laid back frame???

Not quite superimposure, Mudder. It's all a question of layers. Some layers cancel out/override others. The frame was actually drawn around the car, a selection of the car was then layered above the frame, followed by a perspective transformation of the frame to warp it into position.

Very effective and clever, could you post it without the frame maybe?

Max

Simon - nice 1st attempt. Critique: Try and use a pic that is in focus (at least at the front). IMO the shadow at the back and side of the frame are not necessary, but the front shadow is correct. The deep etching needs to be more precise and the one tool that is great for this is the pen tool.

Give it another go because you are on the right track

Very creative concept, now that you have done it you will proberly see it everywhere..

As for the shadows maybe you could try to cut out the car on its own layer (proberly is on one already hey?) then use a drow shadow effect an pull it into position from behind the preview window. (adjust opacity as required)

Once that is done and your happy, merge it onto a new empty layer so the layer effects are in effect flattened, then go and erase the shadows you don't need..

Clear as mud- just an idea

Good job all the same

Regards

Sean

ozimax wrote:Very effective and clever, could you post it without the frame maybe?

Max

Here's a frameless version Max: http://manta.smugmug.com/photos/17866408-L.jpg

Chris and Sean - thanks for your comments.
Chris: I'm not sure I follow what you mean by "deep etching". Are you talking about the method of selection for the car shape? I harbour a healthy fear of the pen tool as I haven't unravelled it's many mysteries but I know I'll have to square my shoulders and get stuck into it at some stage. At present I use mostly the Extract filter, the Lasso tools or the Magic Wand for selections. I know each situation is different and different tools have better applications than others depending on the task but I'm not across all of them yet.

Sean: I wrestled with the drop shadow for ages, trying to get it into the right position. There are actually two shadows for the car, one onto the outer frame of the 'photo' and the other was suposed to go on the 'ground'. Because of the postition of the car and the light directions, it was difficult to mate the two properly, so I ditched the ground shadow. I suppose it comes down to original image choice - some will lend themselves better to this sort of treatment.

Thanks, both, for the time taken to give your thoughts.

Manta wrote:

ozimax wrote:Very effective and clever, could you post it without the frame maybe?

Max

Here's a frameless version Max: http://manta.smugmug.com/photos/17866408-L.jpg

Thanks Simon, much better effect here I think, this one is a winner and a real eye opener, maybe try it with a F1 car or V8?

Max

ozimax wrote: maybe try it with a F1 car or V8?

Max

Love to Max - but I don't own one of those and it might be a bit trickier getting my wife to drive past several times to get the shot!