The Dragonfly Sinedots
Filter required for this tutorial can be downloaded here.
Unzip to your plug-in folder in Adobe Photoshop. You will find it in
the Filters Menu when you load Photoshop.
Step 1
Open a new canvas, 600 x 600, 72 rgb, white background.
Fill the background with a color of your choice (color here is7905FC).
Step 2
Create a new
layer, and fill it with the same color. Go to Filter/Dragonfly you
should see this at the bottom of the list). You can play around with
these settings. Uncheck Inverse (or it wont work!).
The settings
used to achieve this effect were :
-0.22; -5.54; 10 and -10 on the first dimension.
On the second dimension the settings were -10; 9.57; 0.79 and -4.24.
You can use any settings you wish - this is something to
play with and have fun.
Set Blending Mode to Lighten.
You wont see much difference at this point.
Step 3
Create a new layer and fill with same color.
Repeat the Filter using different settings. The settings applied
here were 1st dimension -0.22; -.5.54; -1.76 and -1.8. 2nd dimension
6.55; -3.24; 0.79 and -4.24.
Hide the background layer by
clicking on the eye. Merge visible layers. Turn back on
background layer.
Step 4
Duplicate layer 1 (the layer that is left from merging)
by right clicking on it and selecting 'duplicate layer'. Change the
blending mode of this layer to Color Burn. Set opacity between 35 and
40%.
Step 5
Duplicate the last layer (layer 1 copy 2).
Blending mode remains on color burn but set opacity back to 100%.
Looks like its diminishing, huh!
Step 6
You might've guess it, yes, duplicate the last layer.
You now have Layer 1 copy 3. Change the blending mode to Difference.
Pretty yeuchy, huh
(all dependent on personal taste of course!)
Step 7
Yes, duplicate Layer 1 copy 3, to get Layer 1 copy 4.
Leave this layer on Difference.
I know what you are thinking at this point! (I don't
know what I am doing!!!!!)
Step 8
Duplicate again to get Layer 1 copy 5. Set
blending mode to Multiply.
Yikes!!!!!! Perhaps I really don't know what I am
doing after all. Let's see if the next step makes a difference!.
Step 9
Create a new layer above all the others, fill it with
the same color you used as fill in the beginning and change the Blending
Mode to Color (I'm scared to look!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did it work?)
Oh my, yes it
did! Well it just goes to show that filters might give us some pretty nice
effects, but a knowledge of blending modes through duplicating layers can
produce awesome results.
Have fun
experimenting with this one! Luv & Light - Dreamcatcher.
