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Day 5 - My photo and a scatter that I created for another project. I made a black butterfly brush in both PSP and Affinity. I didn't know how to make curved letters in Affinity so I used the mesh warp. The font is call Baltic Nehrung and is an Open Font License. The background is mine from the papers workshop.

dsbutterfly600.jpg

afdsbutterfly600.jpg

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Posted
35 minutes ago, Jeni Simpson said:

Jacques, Brian is a beautiful boy. Those lips look great with the hint of pink. masking so close to his face really brings him out so beautifully. I love that background, too, did you create that from scratch?

@Jeni SimpsonNo, it's "sahindesigns-workday-paper02.jpg" by Elif Sahin, collection "81541_work-day-papers_pu"

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Posted
On 6/20/2025 at 1:20 PM, Connie Collier said:

This abstract turned into some kind of cervid in my mind, so I made a deer-shaped brush to go with it for the exercise in Lesson 5. While I did use a mask to cover some of the main image, I didn't feather its edges because I wanted to maintain the strong, side-to-side movement of my "herd." Then I finished it with a layer of animals using the brush with a solid colour.

Masks_5.jpg

Stunning!

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Posted
On 6/20/2025 at 4:23 PM, Linda Rexford said:

I love how you did the background on this.  It almost looks like sunflowers in the back ground.  Beautiful pic!

Yes, it sure does, I had not noticed that.  Glad you did.  

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Posted
23 hours ago, Linda Rexford said:

Day 5.  I fiddled with this a lot, still not really happy with it, but maybe it's the shape throwing me off.  I will definately be playing with masks for awhile and hopefully I will get better with them.  They still confuse me for some reason.  

As a side note, the male and female catbirds look the same.  We seem to have quite a few of them here and they nest in my big rose bush every year.

Mask day 5 600.jpg

I love this bird.  "Cat" bird.  Someone has a sense of humor to name it that.  Beautiful photo and you sure get some awesome visitors.

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Posted
19 hours ago, Jean Naumann said:

And Day 3.  I particularly enjoyed making the background paper, so many variables give so many results.

Day 3 600.jpg

WOW!  what a stunning photo.  The background is perfect.

 

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19 hours ago, Cassel said:

if you want to simulate graffiti on the brick, I think that the paint on the title should not have shadows! I love that quote!

Actually, I did add the shadow which I textured as well because I have seen graffiti where the artist added a "faux" shadow to the lettering.  Otherwise I would not have thought to try that. 

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Posted (edited)

Lesson 4

I played with this way too long, both the photo and the mask.  And I thought I could whip this one off fast, 3 hours later...... Background is a texture layer with a plain color blended with a gradient layer.  A little bevel on the stroke and a small shadow of the stroke layer (rasterized first).  Font is Gil Sans Ultra Bold and photo is mine.  I used a cutout around the edge of the layout.  Not sure if I like this one or not.  My photo didn't quite have enough room to make a nicer mask with the brush.  I'll be going into next week with this workshop I think.  At least it's the slower week at work.  The vase was from my mom, remember in the 80's people were doing ceramics where you pick a piece all ready made and you paint and glaze it.  my mom really loved doing that.  Too bad about the rose on it that I was going to clone out but forgot, the other side has a huge rose on it.  It's probably 40 yrs old now.

sje-MaskWS Lesson4-MERG-600.jpg

Edited by Susan Ewart
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Posted

Mom came back to pick up her two children. The house became quiet again and I was able to get my computer back.

Day 5 (affinity): I think Brian didn't enjoy his first vaccine very much!

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Posted

My Day 6 (PSP and a bit of AI: Stained Glass)

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Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Susan Ewart said:

I love this bird.  "Cat" bird.  Someone has a sense of humor to name it that.  Beautiful photo and you sure get some awesome visitors.

The Grey Catbird is a member of the mimidae family.   They are vocal mimic songbirds. Like the Brown Thrasher they are mimic birds.  They are called catbirds due to their  distinctive  meow  call that they make during  breeding season, and over territory . I have them here, along with the brown  Thrasher, which I  have showcased. I don't  get mockingbirds though.

Edited by Sue Thomas
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Posted

Lesson 3.  I am not sure why my image is not as vivid as it is on the original.  When I bring it into PSP it is colorful and vivid but looks very muted when I bring it into Affinity.  I have tried changing my color settings but it's not making a difference ðŸ¤”

PS: The image is one I generated in Midjourney so if anyone would like to snag it, feel free.

MaskLesson3.jpg

shazza1168_create_an_oil_painting_of_a_beautiful_African_Amer_700a8c61-3783-4572-bde6-800639a07337_2b.jpg

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Posted

I did the Veronoi filter but really don't care for it.  I did use a radial blur, maybe too much, but it was just too busy for my taste.  

Mask day 6 600.jpg

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Posted
3 hours ago, Susan Ewart said:

WOW!  what a stunning photo.  The background is perfect.

 

Thanks Susan

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Posted
16 hours ago, Jeni Simpson said:

I am loving these Sydney photographs, and they are so clear and bright. Years ago, I had an apartment in Kirribilli and could view the Opera House from my bedroom window. So I'm enjoying the memories, thank you, Jean.

That would have been an amazing place to live, always so much action on Sydney Harbour.

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Posted

And here is day 6.  I really didn't enjoy the voronoi effect, guess I'll just have to keep playing with it.

Day 6 600.jpg

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Posted

Great work everyone!

@Jeni SimpsonThose are two great pages. I am glad to hear that you are having fun with the brushes and the mask.

@Jean NaumannWhenever you have a photo with an edge, it is a bit tricky to get rid of it, especially if you don't have much space around the subject. I guess some photos will be easier to handle that way than others. And that couple in Port Arthur look better without the pattern!

@Harmony BirchGlad to see you start this workshop. It is never too late to start. I love that font you used for the first "Beyond Ragnarok" page. If you find that the plaid is overpowering, you can size it down, or lower its opacity while adding a solid color below. Using multiple brushes for a single mask is very common! Boy, you are catching up fast!!!

@kasanyIt is interesting how yo used the mask, yet it is not completely blocking the rest of the photo, which still shows in the background. Very creative!

@Jannette Nieuwboer Maybe we can have a Zoom session to try to figure out what is happening. Hopefully it is only a simple issue.

@Ann SeeberGreat mask for that starling. Those feathers look like they are bordered with gold! Using a monochrome noise with the linoleum effect gives a nice subtle effect.

@Jacquessuch a simple yet powerful layout. Simplicity gives all the attention to the photo! Great page. Great use of that "ink" brush on the mask. how did you use AI? Did you use one of the effects in PSP?

@Robert GarrettYeah, Mary Ann really does not look thrilled!! I am glad you are enjoying this workshop so far.

@ClarineDid you use a mask at all? Your linoleum background looks great!

@fiona cookDisplacement maps will yield very different results depending on the image used. You can really have fun with that command.

@Bee KellyWith the photo taking much of the page, it is interesting how the kaleidoscope does not look like the typical "circles". It is very subtle all around. Great result. Interesting that you added black frames instead of the typical white one. It is very suitable for those pictures.

@Sue ThomasI personally prefer the Linoleum effect to the voronoi one. I find that the voronoi is "too defined", but that is a personal taste.

@Corrie KinkelI am not a fan of the voronoi either but I had to find something "somewhat similar" to the other one in PSP. That is the best I found!

@SharlaAlthough I personally would not have added a shadow to the masked photo, it did turn out quite nicely!

@Hank SobahFollowing the method and then adding your personal touch is exactly what we would expect. Those pages are so colorful!

@CristinaThat is an interesting idea to use those textures only on a section. It probably shows more on the full-size project, right?

@Sharon MurrayThat plaid is so colorful and surprisingly, since the photo is also very colorful, the plaid does not take over the photos. For your photo that is not as vivid in Affinity, is there a difference in the default blend mode or opacity?

@Lynda DiGregorI like how you added a "pattern" or a texture to the frames around the small photos. And yes, someday, we might visit that city! (the further i have been is Detroit)

@gwen jewittGreat layout to showcase that dancer! I love the colors!

@Gerry LandrethI never thought of adding a large blur to turn the voronoi effect into a grunge texture. Good idea.

@Donna SilliaYou can review the Vector Workshop for Affinity if you want directions on how to create text on a curve.

@Susan EwartYou are NEVER spending too much time with those layouts. It is a project well worth that time!

@Connie CollierThat bubble background looks great! I think it helps showcase your photo beautifully.

@Carolyn RyeIs that a mask you made or a ready-made one you used?

@Linda RexfordI think the radial blur is actually a great effect to put the focus on the subject. Great choice!

See you tomorrow!

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Posted
1 hour ago, Jean Naumann said:

That would have been an amazing place to live, always so much action on Sydney Harbour.

Jean, it was fabulous. I also lived down on Cremorne Point, and we could see the Opera House from the bathroom. We were across from Taronga Park Zoo and I loved the sounds at night, animals heading to sleep, the noises they made were wonderful.

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Posted
12 minutes ago, Cassel said:

 

@Jacquessuch a simple yet powerful layout. Simplicity gives all the attention to the photo! Great page. Great use of that "ink" brush on the mask. how did you use AI? Did you use one of the effects in PSP?

 

I used the plugins "PicToPainting" | "Stained Glass"

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