Watercolor Effect
June 28th, 2007 in Photo Edit, Tutorials by kailoon
As my tutorial had been choose for the Top Ten in June by NI-LIMITS BLOG. Now I continue my job and share my photo edit tricks with all my fellow readers.
Step 1
Open an image, I will use this image because it suit to my tricks.
Step 2
CTRL + J, duplicate the image. Now you will have a layer which labeled as “layer 1â€. SHIFT + CTRL + U, desaturate the image and you will get something like this:
Step 3
CTRL + J again to duplicate layer 1 and you will get a new layer which labeled as “layer 1 copyâ€. CTRL + I to invert the layer and set the layer blend mode to Color Dodge. Go to filter > other > minimum > 1. Double click on layer 1 copy to bring out the blending option. ALT + left click on the triangle and set the underlying layer as below:
Step 4
CTRL + E to merge up both layers. CTRL + J, duplicate layer 1. Select layer 1 copy and go to filter > blur > Gaussian Blur > radius 6. Set the layer blend mode to linear burn. CTRL + J on layer background and put the layer background copy at the top of all layer and set the layer blend mode to color.
Step 5
Hope you are still with me. Select layer background copy and add a layer mask, fill it with black color.
Step 6
Still with the layer background copy, go to image > adjustment > curve and set as below.
Step 7
Create a new layer and put it top of all layer. Fill it with #ffecd1. Set layer blend option to linear burn.
Step 8
We are nearly there, now select layer 1 and set the opacity to 60% or whatever you think suitable. Select the background copy layer’s mask, with a 45px soft brush, opacity 65%, brush the face area. Here is it!
The difference:
Examples:
Hope you guys enjoy this! Thanks!
Subscribe To Our Feed
If you find our site is interesting, please subscribe to our feed. Thanks!
its good
expecting more tutorials from you
expecting more tutorials from you
where can i find the filter??
Dear Frirnd,
I could not make a picture as seen in step 7,
After adding layer mask in step 6, What U supposed to do?
Plz, help me.
Select your layer mask. GO to edit>fill>color>black
where can i found the PHOTOSHOP
A watermark that I inserted last year is appearing when I copy my pictures to photoshop. What do I need to do to stop it from showing in my new pictures.The pictures are in a folder in my hard drive. When I use automate command to load it into photoshop, it displays my old watermark.
Great tutorial. Thanks a lot. 2 things: First it would be great if in this on line tutorials we could know “why” we perform some actions like the parameters to filters. Usually we do it and don’t know how to adjust them to future different images which are not suitable for the same parameters. Second, I also had difficults with the 8th step. I selected the mask and when I brushed it nothing happened
but I liked the result of my pic anyway. Should try again. Thanks a lot and if SOMEONE could me send a link with explanation about photoshop filters (about the parameters) I would be very thankful!!!!
I didn’t even know this could look so pretty!
almost done but still confuse on step number 8. I cant brush on layer mask can anyone explain to me a little bit? hehe!
You need to select the layer mask which you can find in your layers window it is the square on the right of the layer that you wish to work on. Usually looks black.
i cannot understand in step 6…
it’s realy easy to make
Oh my! Who is she? Can someone please tell me??
get a life…
koolz
first tutorial that i actually did right well successfully!!!!
thanxx!!!
Grat tutorial… just one thing: how do I fill the mask with a color? I can’t understand…
In step 3, how do u split the black spot of the underline layer? :S
Great tutorial, lovely end result…. Thank you very much for sharing
Hi Kailoon,
I filled in the color black in step 5 but i don’t get a black/white image like u. Also for step 7, I am not sure how to fill the color in step. I am using photoshop 7, is that why? The rest works great and even without achieving steps 5 & 7, the effect turned out great.
Thanks,
bk
In step 5, you need to select the mask, then only fill it with black color.
In step 7, simply create a new layer and fill it with the color mentioned.
I never use PS7, so I don’t know
Hi Kailoon,
Thanks again! U are great!
hello , may i knw how to download all this ?
Very cool effect,extremely easy tutorial guide.You gave me a lot thanks.
Wow…….That was easy……And the end result simply awesome…I would certainly try out this effect it lends a classy look to the image….Good trick…Keep it up….
nice. .thanks!
What triangle are you talking about? I can’t find it.
at bottom there are two triangles which can be separately adjusted if pressed “ALT” simultaniously
nice..
ahaah..i follow the tutorial and i made it…
thank you for posting!
where i can’t edit my photo?
Mind to explain more?
hiii, im new here, nice tutorial!!
in the step 8, what color i have to set to fill the face with the brush?
thank you in advance
It doesn’t matter.
Cool!! =D
your tutorial is great, i can make photomanip with watercolor effect. thanx….
can it be use for other photos?
I think it should work
Very good tutorial!
- Not have this tutorial in Portuguese??? =/
You can try google translator ?
Hey thx for this post I love this effect!
Ok i got problem! On step 3 I’ve made the ALT + left click on the triangle, but I don’t know how to change the set the underlying layer to 10 / 70 255. Heeeeeelp pls, i really wat to learn this effect is so cool. Thanks
Click on the right corner of Triangle holding ALT. hope that helps.
Very nice
Thnx yar i do ths its great
good
photo design very good
thank you bro…
how do i fill the layer mask with black??i don’t know..help..please
hello zam. to fill a layer mask with black, go to edit>fill.
contents:black
and then you have it. hope this tip was useful.
have a nice editing! :]
Nice water color effect.
great work, and even ur header image is so attrative, any tips to create character like this, because i have a n idea for my site but don know how make perfect, any tutorial
eh I think I did something wrong >.<!
Rainbow:
Hi, you need to press the ALT key and left click on the triangle.
Lee :
Index? Actually, the layer 1 copy is just a duplicated layer and name. If you are using a starting image name as “photo”, then the 1st duplicated layer will be “photo copy” and if you duplicate again it will became “photo copy 2″ for the new layer.
HIe , i am stuck at layers it doesnt come out the Layer copy 1 instead it amends from Index. clue less.. any pointers.
thanks.
I love this effect! Actually I’m trying out your tutorial right now. But I have no idea how I can separate the little arrow at step 3 (left click on the triangle and set the underlying layer as below:) Could someone explaint how that works? :$
As pretty as this technique is, im going to have to critisise your tutorial. for a macintosh user, its easy to get lost and i never even understood step 3 with that underlying layer whatever. this tutorial for the most part easy, by not user-friendly at all. so much effort for a small watercolor effect.
Thanks
I will try this tutorial. Thanks.
http://ootyblog.blogspot.com
Carl :
You can start here
kevinc :
ohhh..so now you can make it already? Good
Opps…i solve liao…that day u say use white color to brush the face hor…hehe…sorry ya….thanz man.
hi, kai loon,
im having a problem again. i can do the water color effect already but yesterday somehow maybe i click some wrong button o i duno wat…i cant do the last part. brushing the face. atually i did it b4 but i duno y now cant ady? help me…..
tq.
cheers,
kevinc
im really excited to know how to use this program
Sorry, typo there. Fixed already. I am using cs2 now but I will upgrade to cs3 soon. Thanks
like to have more interactive with my readers 
Cheers!
hello kai loon,
By the way r u using cs2 o cs3? have difference?
cheers,
guy who love art!
im so sorry cause im really new to dis ps cs2 but after i saw the drawing u do, i quickly download the installer and do the watercolor one…hehe.
wat do u mean by the strong>white?
Hi kevinc, as long as you can get the layer mask into black color. After that, using the brush setting in step 8, with ,white color. Brush the face area. And you can see the different. make sure your are selecting the layer mask.
Hope this help
and brush the face are??? y me no effect?
hello,
i have problem doing the last part…can i fill the layer mask using the edit>fill??
and oso the last step where the black mask have become like the film negative(cause have black and a white figure) at ur example…i cant get it? all was black!!!
help me
Welcome mate
Pencil sketch tech… not sure about that…but the pic need to be colored for sure. Or, you can send me the original picture and the outcome?
i want to ask you…is this step also can be used for pencil sketch technique?if so,,,,why my picture result looks weird…the black colour supposed to be the pencil sketching the picture
however,,,my result is,,,the black colur becomes dominant…the white colour becomes the pencil…
is there any setting or is it anything to do with the RGB or etc?
sorry for asking..hehe
ok thanx!
Congrats! Really happy to see you keep trying and trying. This is the passion and patient we need in learning progress. Never give up! Hehehe…You can try other than this too. Simply click the photoshop or illustrator tab at the top of this page and find the other tutorials from this site.
i did it!i tried to set the opacity up the layer and it works!
if so,,,what setting should I use for example?
i’m really curious..hehe…
i’ve tried so many times…until I get the best result…i don’t want to stop..
because the top layer cover all the layers. You may try to une those setting sometimes. Practices make perfects:)
thanx…i’ve finished…but the result is not satisfied…
why the lip colour..all the colours turn out to #ffecd1 colour?
If u can do no.5 then no 7 will be no prob. same. sure is is depend on the picture, but for me, it is depend on me:P Actually, you can try to tune those setting high ans low to get your desired effects. Hmm..the color…maybe because I like this color:) you can try different color too. But for me, this give me the best result
Thanks for your comments, hope this will help
Feel free to visit my other tutorial in this site.
another questions…is the colour #ffecd1 must be used for all picture editing for watercolour effect?must we use the exact value of curves,radius,etc…or depends on the picture?
the mask didn’t come out the same as yours that you circled
ok thanx!got it!but i got another problem with step num 7…
why the mask did’nt appear as you’ve highlighted in circle?
Hi cute_diva!Simply use the paint bucket to fill in the color when the mask is selected as shown in the picture. Hope you get it
help me please…I can’t do the number 5…
i got problem with step number 5.
how to fill in colour to the layer mask?
Kailoon: Talking about NI-Limits, we noticed that you are a fellow Malaysian… Where are you based and what do you do for your day job…? We are hiring graphic designers and web developers at the moment, so am not sure what your plans are for the future, but we would love to have a chat with you…
We are based in Kuala Lumpur, so please feel free to email us and get in touch that way…
All the best – again!
@>JP: the code is the color code.
@>Mike: In this part, you need to select the layer name background copy, then add layer mask which you can find it under the layers palette. The vector mask will be selected automatically. Now, use the paint bucket tool (G) and select black color as foreground color, left click on anywhere on the image.
*Let me know if there is any question. I will try my best to help and this also can help me write my tutorial in better way.
Thanks!
i got lost at this party > Hope you are still with me. Select layer background copy and add a layer mask, fill it with black color.
??????>>>>the blk didnt want 2 show up idk wat i did wrong grrr!!!
can someone please tell me wat “#ffecd1″ is? like wat does it mean to “fill in with #ffecd1″
adi, welcome
hope i may help you 
thanks, now i get one source to learn photoshop.
Diana, welcome and thank you! Can you please explain more? or you can send me a sample? thanks
Can you please teach us how to make the button like tag or post it note…plsssssssss
Great work
expecting more tutorials from you 
hehe, u want?
heh, now everyone can get a watercolor portrait
YohJon: haha..me too, I tot who so geng in drawing so details and so real. But tell you, I really met this ppl once, in my kampung, i think she is about 40+, she came by then set up a table then start draw. holy! she is amazing! her work just awesome!
ipohchai:er..actually I am using a laptop now to do photo edit as I mention in my workplace post…lol
I have dumped the PS off my computer cos it cannot tahan it la. my computer too old for it
now I only use gimp to edit photo
afterall, my graphic sux lol
OMG~~i tot all d while tis kind of arts r drawn by somebody…bt now on i jz getting to knw its modified thru PS….aiks…felt like kena cheated d…haha
haha..so u oso can make comic liao
Aiseh, now everyone can make self cartoon liao…… =p