Photoshop Elements >
Watercolor Effect
Photoshop Elements has a watercolor filter.
Go to Filter > Artistic > Watercolor.
The filter increases the contrast, and sharpens the edges.
However, the filter doesn't achieve the transparency of a watercolor.
You can create a more realistic watercolor version of your photograph.
Original
Watercolor Effect
The tutorial below was adapted from one by
kailoon,
a freelance web designer from Malaysia.
Be sure to check off as you go along.
Preparation
1) Preserve your
original file.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Preserve
Your Original File.
2) Create a Background
copy layer.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Create a Background Copy
Layer.
Get Going
3) Make sure
the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).
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Background copy
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Background
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4) Press Ctrl
+ j to copy the Background copy.
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Background copy 2
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Background copy
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Background
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5) Rename the
new Background copy 2 layer as B&W.
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B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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6) Convert the
B&W layer to black-and-white.
The easiest way is to go to Enhance > Adjust Color > Remove Color.
However, the quality is often poor.
Instead, go to Enhance > Convert to Black and White.
7) Make sure
the B&W layer is active.
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B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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8) Press Ctrl
+ j to copy the B&W layer.
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B&W 2
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B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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9) Rename the
new B&W copy layer as Inverse.
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Inverse
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B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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10) Make sure
the Inverse layer is active.
11) Press Ctrl
+ i to invert the Inverse layer.
The image will go from positive to negative.
12) Change the
blending mode of the Inverse layer from Normal to Color Dodge.
Blending Mode?
At the top of the layers stack, look for the unlabeled Blending Mode box.
It's to the left of the
Opacity box.
Blending Mode Box
The image will turn white.
13) At the top
of your screen, go to Filter > Other > Minimum.
use low values, such 1, 2, or 3.
14) Make sure
the Inverse layer is active.
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Inverse
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B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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15) Press Ctrl
+ e to merge the Inverse layer with the B&W layer.
The single merged layer will be named B&W, but it is a mixture
of the B&W and the Inverse layers.
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B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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16) Rename the
B&W layer as Inverse/B&W.
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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17) Make sure
the Inverse/B&W layer is active.
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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18) Press Ctrl
+ j to copy the Inverse/B&W layer.
19) Rename the
new Inverse/B&W copy layer as Blur.
At the top of your screen, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
Try a radius of 5.
Experiment.
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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20) Change the
blending mode of the Blur layer from Normal to Linear Burn.
21) Make sure
the Background copy layer is active.
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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22) Press Ctrl
+ j to copy the Background copy layer.
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy 2
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Background copy
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Background
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23) Click on
the new Background copy 2 layer, hold, and drag
it to the top of the layers stack.
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Background copy 2
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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24) Rename the
Background copy 2 layer as Color.
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Color
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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25) Change the
blending mode of the Color layer from Normal to Color.
26) Make sure
the Blur layer is active.
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Color
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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Make A Mask for the Color Layer
Photoshop Elements Versions Prior to 9.0
27) Create a Levels
adjustment layer.
We'll use the Levels adjustment layer only for it's
mask.
We won't adjust the Levels.
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Color
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Levels adjustment layer
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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28) Press Ctrl
+ i to fill the layer mask with black.
29) Make sure
the Color layer is active.
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Color
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Levels adjustment layer
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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30) Press Ctrl
+ g to group the Color layer with the Levels adjustment layer.
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↓ Color
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Levels adjustment layer
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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Next
Photoshop Elements Versions 9.0 a Later
Go to
Masking a Layer.
31) Make sure
the Color layer is active.
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↓ Color
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Levels adjustment layer
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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32)
Create a blank layer.
33) Rename the
layer as Fill.
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Fill
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↓ Color
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Levels adjustment layer
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Blur
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Inverse/B&W
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Background copy
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Background
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34) Change the
blending mode of the Fill layer from Normal to Linear Burn.
35) Choose an
appropriate color for the photograph.
This color will be an overall wash on the photograph.
You can skip this step if your photograph doesn't need it.
Here, a light yellow-green was used.
36) Make sure
the Fill layer is active.
37) Select the
Paint Bucket tool, and click on the image.
38) Reduce the
opacity of the Fill layer to about 60%.
Experiment.
The Opacity box is at the top of the layers stack, to the right
of the Blending Mode box.
It probably has 100% inside.
39) Make sure
the Levels adjustment layer, below the Color layer, is active.
40) Select the
Brush tool.
41) Make sure
the foreground color is set to white.
If you haven't already, go to
Foreground & Background Colors.
42) If needed,
you can:
• Feather the brush.
• Reduce the opacity of the brush in the options bar.
Again, reduce the brush opacity in the options
bar.
Don't reduce the layer opacity of the layer
in the layers stack.
• Select part of the image, and then brush over the selection.
43) Brush on
the important areas in the image.
The color will emerge where you brush.
As you become familiar with the steps, you can vary the values
in the filters, and can try different blending modes.
Saving the Photograph
If you haven't already done so, go to
Saving Files.
