ghost-like background?? 1

[GUJUm0deL]

Hello, I have a picture of someone that I would like to turn into a ghost-like image, so that I can sue it as a background image on site...
I've seen this done all the time...any idea how can I achive it??
Thanks I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[SPYDERIX]

Hi,

Simply reduce the opacity of the image. You will want to make a new layer underneath the picture and fill it with a solid color (black or white for example) so that what ever file format you save it in won't have alpha transparencies and won't get screwed up.

Hope this helps! NATE

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Hi, so I make the picture layer like 80% opacity and make the blending mode either screen or overlay and a make a new layer underaneath that one and fill it with a solid color (i'm using "#F0F8FF&quot...is that it??
Hmmmm, so simple...wonder if that will work...
I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[SPYDERIX]

NO!

Make a new document and fill the background in with "F0F8FF" then paste your picture on a new layer. Then just change the opacity down to whatever you like. I think 80 is too high, you might want to go around 50.

Do not change the blending mode to SCREEN OR OVERLAY. All you will see is the background and not the picture at all. I wouldn't bother setting a blending mode, but that's up to you.

You might also want to desaturate the picture (Ctrl+Shift+U) to make it greyscale and then change the opacity. (Only if you want a greyscale image). Try it out to see the effect. Or instead of desaturating it simply change the picture layer's blending mode to Luminosity. That will give you a duo-tone effect that matched your background color.

Hope this helps! NATE

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Cool... I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[barehug]

A good idea as well would be to soften the edges of the figure and add a mask layer, and on the mask apply a low density soft black brush in patches to make the figure more transparent in some areas.

 

[SPYDERIX]

barehug,

I slightly disagree. I wouldn't use solid black on the layer mask, I'd use a grey color, if you were to use solid black then you would be fully hiding the image. When you use white you wouldn't be showing the image (which in turn wouldn't do anything at all) but if you were to use grey then you have more of a fade effect and would be softening it gradually instead of a sudden cut off with a small transparent edge. NATE

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[barehug]

If you adjust the 'Pressure'(don't know why I said density) setting of the airbrush whilst using the black this will have the same effect as using grey.
Also you can gradually reduce the pressure by set increments, and all you have to change is the setting dial.
This means you won't have to get a new shade of grey each time, and if you set the airbrush hardness to 0 then the brush will soften the edges with no sudden cutoff.