Damien Symonds

An inverted High Pass layer to give that softer look, then an aggressive vignette and just a hint of purple - not enough to make me throw up, but just enough to put me off my lunch. Note: If working from a raw file, it would be much better to use the Clarity slider (to the left) than the High Pass layer. But if you want to use High Pass, you simply duplicate the background layer and change its blend mode, then use Filter>Other>High Pass, then invert the layer. Download the file here.

Pretty self-explanatory. Download the file here.

A high pass layer for extra "grunge", then a layer to add warmth, followed by an aggressive darkening layer. Download the file here.

A blur layer first, then a few layers manipulating the light, then that awful purple again. Download the file here.

A hazy golden hour thing going on. Download the file here.

This one is all sorts of weird. I don't know what we were thinking. Download the file here.

Red haze followed by near-white haze. Download the file here.

On this one, I did the Levels layer first. Then I added the D&B layer below it, when I realised I wanted a bit more darkness in that area. Normally you'd add new layers on top of other layers, but that's not necessarily the case when adding artistic effects. Generally the artistic layer/s remain on top. Download the file here.

First, a Levels layer using the Output sliders to add a bit of colour haze; then a plain layer on Soft Light mode, painted with various colours. Download the file here.

This is a colour photo which I first did a clean black-and-white edit on, then a vignette layer followed by the two layers which are used to make the nauseating bloody matte look which is briefly popular at the moment. Those layers work just the same on colour photos as well, so play all you like. Note: I can't show you the layers which went into the clean-processed version, sorry. You'll have to take my Levels Class for that. Download the file here.

First, some added midtone contrast with a Soft Light layer. Then a slight warm vignette on the snow, and dulling the bright sky. Then the vomit layer on top. Download the file here.

First, a Levels layer to change the coat colour, because the bright coat really didn't suit the effect. Then a midtone contrast layer (I used a B/C layer, but any layer at all would have sufficed, as long as it was on Soft Light mode). Then the vomit on top. Download the file here.

I am not a huge fan of this look. But to achieve it, use two blur layers at different levels of Gaussian blur, then "Levels 1" and "Photo Filter 1" to add warmth, "Levels 2" and "Levels 3" to manipulate the background light, then "Levels 4" for the matte effect and "Levels 5" (below it) for the nauseating vignette. Then lastly, "Levels 6" because I realised that the shoes were just glowing too darn much. Download the file here.

A heavy vignette and darkening of the background, with a slight tint. Plus some extra foliage colour added. Download the file here.

A background blur layer, then a couple of darkening layers, then a horrid purple layer. Download the file here.

A bit of vignetting, then an aggressive Levels adjustment. Download the file here.

The following are PSD files that I've created over the years. They're a mixed bag - artistic kind of stuff that people have asked for occasionally. The purpose of these files is not to teach you any specific methods. It's to encourage you to PLAY PLAY PLAY. Truth is, I didn't have a clue what I was doing when I was creating some of these. I was just fiddling around to see what I could come up with. If you find yourself wondering "How did Damien choose the value of 228 for the green slider?" or whatever, I probably don't know. I was simply experimenting, and I hope you will do the same. Learn the way children learn - by playing. Two important notes: What works for one photo won't necessarily work for another. Don't expect to be able to copy the layers in these files and get the same result on another photo. Artistic editing must only be done after clean processing. Always get your base edit looking fabulous before dabbling with artistic styles. How this thread works: Make sure you're on your computer (these files won't work on mobile devices) Scroll down the page, and find an edit that interests you. Click on the PSD download link to save the file to your computer. Open the file in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and examine the layers that I used. If there's something that you don't understand about the file, start a new thread right here in this forum and we'll discuss it. Two more notes: You'll probably notice that I'm not personally fond of some of these styles. Of course that doesn't matter, I'm always happy to help you explore whatever you want to explore. Sometimes, it won't be immediately obvious what each layer is doing. To see its effect, turn it on and off several times. To understand its adjustments, make sure you check its blend mode, and all of its sliders. For example, on a Levels layer, make sure you examine each of the individual Red, Green and Blue channels, as well as the main RGB channel.

Got a question that doesn't seem to fit in the other sections? No trouble, post it here. The ground rules are: Browse the other sub-forums first, to make sure it really is a 'miscellaneous' question. Post-processing questions only, please: I'm afraid I can't help you with questions about photography, lenses, lighting, posing and so on. Post those ones in Ask Brian. One question per post, please. If you have more than one question to ask, please ask them in separate posts. Only upload your own photos: If you are posting an image you must own the copyright to it. No posting for constructive criticism: This is not the place to post a general question like "how does this look?" The moderators will routinely delete these kinds of posts. Only post if you have a specific question. Search the forum and the resources section of my site before posting: You might find your question has already been answered. If I think your post belongs in another section, I'll move it there. So if you can't find your post, click the "Content I Started" link at the top of your screen to find it. Feel free to post your questions, and I am looking forward to helping you!

This section is all about presenting your finished photos to the world. Printing them, posting them online, or giving them to your customer. Sizes, file formats, cropping, sharpening, etc. One question per post, please. If you have more than one question to ask, please ask them in separate posts. No posting for constructive criticism: This is not the place to post a general question like "how does this look?" My team will routinely delete these kinds of posts. Only post if you have a specific question. Search this forum and the resources section of my site before posting: You might find your question has already been answered. Scroll down this page and browse the FAQs to see if your question is covered. Lastly, there may be some situations where I can’t answer a question because it coincides directly with my print sharpening class. I give away a lot of information, time and expertise for free, but I am also trying to make a living and support my family. Thanks for your understanding. IMPORTANT REQUEST: If you have printing experience, please take a moment to submit reviews of any printing labs you've used - both the good and the bad. This will help other members who are trying to choose a lab for themselves.

My disdain for Lightroom is well known. I beg you to take the 30 Day Challenge and see why. However, I have some very good friends who love Lightroom, and they'll be able to help you with your questions. Before posting, scroll down and browse the FAQs below this post, to see if they help. One question per post. If you have various different questions, make separate threads for them. Provide as much relevant information as you can. The more we know, the better and faster we can help. Include a screenshot of your screen, if you think it might help us diagnose your problem. Please take a moment to ensure you're in sRGB. This is so important. No editing questions in this sub-forum. Thanks.

Guidelines for this section: When calibrating, please make sure you've followed my instructions to the letter. The instructions that come from the manufacturer are feeble, I'm sad to say. If you have a question about which calibrator to buy, read this article first. For general information about calibration, read this article. Refer below for frequently asked questions Search the forum first to make sure your question hasn't already been covered.

This forum is for questions about your software: tools , colour space, strange behaviour etc. Ground rules for this forum are as follows: Before posting, please try a quick search on both my site and here in the forum, to see if your problem has happened to somebody else. Before posting, scroll down and browse the FAQs below this post, to see if they help. One question per post. If you have various different questions, make separate threads for them. Give me as much relevant information as you can. The more I know, the better and faster I can help. Include a screenshot of your screen, if you think it might help me diagnose your problem. Fill this out and include it in your post. Please take a moment to ensure you're in sRGB. This is so important. No editing questions in this sub-forum. Thanks.

I really enjoy trying to analyse different types of post-processing, to figure out how it was done. If there's a style you want to emulate, share it so I can help you achieve it. Please observe these guidelines: Post links to other people's images. Don't upload photos that aren't your own - that's bad manners. Provide the link to an image with the desired effect, so that we can visit it. Don't link the file itself; link the page on which you found the photo, so that the photographer gets the credit and the traffic. Upload a photo of yours on which you'd like the style applied. Note that by posting your image, you are effectively giving me permission to download the image, so I can experiment with the edit and respond to your question. Make sure you choose an appropriate photo. The characteristics of the photo play a big role in the application of the style. For example: - If the photo you'd like to emulate was taken outdoors, don't post an indoor photo; - If the photo you'd like to copy has a bright background, don't post a photo with a dark background; - If the photo you'd like to copy has lots of background blur, make sure your photo has lots of background blur too; - and so on. I really can't emphasise this enough. If you are wanting to emulate somebody else's post-processing, but you can't find any photos in your library that emulate their photography, then the post-processing is a moot point, isn't it? Photographic skill is crucial. If your photo isn't suitable, I won't be able to help you with your request. Make sure you have clean-processed your image first. Don't post a straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) photo. Artistic styles are best applied after clean processing has been performed. I would not teach my gymnasts to somersault before they could roll safely; nor will I teach photographers to get artistic before they can competently edit cleanly. You can find more information about clean processing in my article here. Please scroll down this page, because you'll find dozens of styles I've already played with. You might find what you're looking for right here! Lastly, there will inevitably be questions which I must decline to answer because they coincide directly with my classes. These will generally be questions regarding clean processing. I give away a lot of information, time and expertise for free, but I am also trying to make a living and support my family. Thank you for your understanding.

This forum is my raison d'être. The kinds of questions that you can never google for, no matter how many key words you try. I'm a very skilled editor, and I hope I can help you with your troublesome pixels. One question per post, please. If you have more than one question to ask, please ask them in separate posts. No posting for constructive criticism: This is not the place to post a general question like "how does this look?" My team and I will routinely delete these kinds of posts. Only post if you have a specific question. It's vital, in all workflows, that raw processing is completely done before any Photoshop work commences. So if your question pertains to a Photoshop edit, please make sure you have done your raw processing first. Make sure you provide enough information for me to help you: Remember to include your image in your post (Yes, people do forget this!) It may be useful to include the straight-out-of-raw (SOOR) image as well If there is a specific part of the photo you need help with, upload a closeup of that area. Instructions on how to do that are on my site here. Lastly, there will inevitably be questions which I must decline to answer because they coincide directly with my classes. These will generally be questions regarding clean processing. I give away a lot of information, time and expertise for free, but I am also trying to make a living and support my family. Thank you for your understanding. Over time, I will add links here to recent threads that might interest you. I recommend visiting this post at least once a month, to see what's been happening lately.