Any advice on how I can use Photoshop to 'paint' a model's body with a glitter effect?
Have tried the brushes available on the net - but no success.
Please speak slowly as I am not known a the 'zimmer man' for nothing.
Cheers.

Above all - NEVER, EVER allowing myself to forget that photography is about PASSION, CREATIVITY, and most of all FUN.

Hi I might be able to help

It would help though to see your attempt? It gives an idea of how good you are at shop as without knowing I may end up talking over your head here.

Personally and don't take this the wrong way but if something can be done not in shop then it should. It would be far easier to buy some cheap glitter and put this on the model at the shoot itself rather than trying to shop realistic glitter in afterwards. That aside you are where you are.

To shop it in I would get a realistic looking brush of glitter or make your own (buy some glitter, put it on a flat piece of white paper, sprinkle it lightly and take a clear shot of it with your camera, load it into shop and then remove the white background of the paper and make it a brush)

Now you have your brush make a layer above your model and start painting the glitter where you want it (don't worry if you go outside the contour of her body just put it where you want it.

Once done use the warp tool and start beding the shape to go round her body (again don't worry if lots of glitter is not on her skin at this stage just get the shape.

Finally create a layer mask on that layer and now use the mask to mask out all the gliitter that is outside of the contours of her skin leaving just the glitter on her skin.

Finally turn this layer into a Multiply or overlay layer, depending on which blends most realistically. Then drop the opacity a little if needed.

This is just a guide for how I would approach it. As i say, I'd like to see your attempts here

Good luck!

M x

DragonLady , Digital Retoucher  posted on 20/02/2009 12:53:06   Posted 934 times

Located:London,London, UK
Member Since: 07/11/2008

Margaret
Thank you for your reply.
We did coat the model with glitter - though from the photo results - not enough.

 

Not sure how to put images here so have uploaded the photo to my profile just in case.
Experience with Photoshop - I am self taught and as such I do not always know the direct route to resolving these types of problems.
I will try what you have suggested.
Thanks again - I value any and all constructive criticism of my work.

Above all - NEVER, EVER allowing myself to forget that photography is about PASSION, CREATIVITY, and most of all FUN.

Hi again,

I see what you mean, you can see some faint glitter but only just.

It will be very tricky to add and make it look realistic but another technique is to find a picture of someone with glitter on their face and then take that section off that image and blend it into your models one. As with anything there are lots of ways of achieving the same result.

Good luck with it, do post any results here, it's an interesting challenge.

M x

DragonLady , Digital Retoucher  posted on 20/02/2009 14:30:29   Posted 934 times

Located:London,London, UK
Member Since: 07/11/2008

or do what I did and go buy a spray can of body glitter from a party shop!, costs around the £2 - £4 a can but is brilliant....but be warned - only spray in a well ventilated area or spray said model in the bathroom away from anything precious, there's always the paint on body glitter too

Thanks.
We only thought of that after the shoot.
When model returns from her holidays - I may just try and persuade her that this would be the better option. Of course, it would also give me an excuse to do another shoot with her.
How easily does the glitter come off once sprayed on?
I ask because of where the model would pose and also because I would like her to go home relatively glitter free.
We could not use the paint on glitter as she was still recovering from her asset increase operation.
Above all - NEVER, EVER allowing myself to forget that photography is about PASSION, CREATIVITY, and most of all FUN.

glitter is best showered off as it can and will go everywhere, as far as I know body glitter has been tested for skin allergies and is fine.........but you never know!, I used paint on and sparay versions and both had pleasing results, oh and the darker the skin the better the results using less, paler skin needs more....much more- but that does depend on what effect your after.

Thanks for the information.
I think that the issue with a lighter skin is very pertinent as can be seen from the result. She looked great to the eye but obviously not to the camera.
I really want to get this to work as I want it to look like a second skin.
Thanks again to all who have responded.

Above all - NEVER, EVER allowing myself to forget that photography is about PASSION, CREATIVITY, and most of all FUN.

Here is a little tip you could have a go with. In your Layers pallet create a new group. Set the blend mode of the group to Color dodge! then create a new layer within the group on a normal blend mode and use a glitter/speckle brush, This is a good technique for light effects. Have a go!

Photodesign , Digital Retoucher  posted on 21/01/2010 17:35:26   Posted 8 times

Located:Southampton,Hampshire, UK
Member Since: 16/07/2009