Christmas Silhouette

[Robin Radzik]

I am looking to create a Christmas card from my son's silhouette.  I want it to have the same vibe as the silhouette nativity scenes.  I do not have a particular picture from another photographer as I have not seen any done like this.  Instead I have some inspiration links.  I would like my night sky to be realistic though.  I have done all of my RAW adjustments at this point.  

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/christmas-night-silhouette-gm486996122-72667731

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/three-wise-men-looking-for-baby-jesus-gm495931524-78277351

[Damien Symonds]

I see that you found those links on istockphoto.  Did you actually search there for some starry night sky photos that you could buy and use for this?

[Robin Radzik]

I was able to find these two.   There isn't a lot out there (or I am searching the wrong terms).  Do you think either of these will work?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/482391601/35-moon-and-stars-photo-overlays-night?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=starry night overlay&ref=sc_gallery_4&plkey=8a3e395f9d741540c62cf12a12ada40b7647bf09:482391601

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/250602924/65-night-sky-photoshop-overlays-moon

 

[Damien Symonds]

Yeah, I reckon the second one looks very promising!

[Robin Radzik]

Should I just buy this and apply the overlay and then work with my levels and curves for the edit then?

[Damien Symonds]

Well, you're welcome to look for free ones, but they're always risky.  For this low price, yes, I'd buy it.

[Robin Radzik]

I bought the second one and here is what I have so far.  Am I way off?  I feel like there is banding and I am not sure how to get rid of it.  

[Damien Symonds]

Gee, that's unnecessarily dark, isn't it?

Your son is pretty much lost from view because the sky is so dark.

May I see the overlay file you used?

[Robin Radzik]

It is, but I am not sure how to lighten it up.  Do I do an RGB level change on the whole image?  Here is my photoshop file....

[Damien Symonds]

8 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said:

May I see the overlay file you used?

Can you post this file by itself, so I can see what the best approach might be?

[Robin Radzik]

Here is the overlay file.  I know that it is dark, but it is the only one that had the stars and sky the way I wanted it.  

Do I need to work on this file before applying it as an overlay to my picture?

[Damien Symonds]

How about this?

[Robin Radzik]

Yes!  That is the look! Did you add a gradient to the image?

[Damien Symonds]

No, on the mask.  Hold on, I'll upload the file.

[Damien Symonds]

Download PSD

I experimented with lots of blend modes before deciding that Linear Light looked best.  https://www.damiensymonds.net/2011/06/sometimes-you-get-lucky.html

The "Levels 1" layer isn't part of the edit, it's just the layer I used to check that I'd completely blackened the silhouette.

The Pattern Fill Layer is some noise to prevent banding: https://www.damiensymonds.net/tut_noise.html

[Robin Radzik]

Thank you so much!  I will read these articles, work some more, and then show you what I come up with.  I have never played with the linear light blend mode and the pattern fill layers, so it will be great to learn something new!  Thanks for walking me through this!

[Damien Symonds]

You're welcome.  It's great fun, isn't it?

[Robin Radzik]

It is!  I like learning from you!  

After this I really need to dig into the RAW class more!  You will see more from me there!

[Damien Symonds]

That's wonderful.  You won't regret it.

[Robin Radzik]

When you added the linear light to the image and added the mask, did you just use the brush at different opacities?  How did you get the different blues?  I feel like I am missing a step....

[Robin Radzik]

Wait I think I got it!  Adding a gradient to the mask, right?

[Damien Symonds]

Yes, using the gradient tool.

[Robin Radzik]

I did it!  Take aways....I never knew you could apply a gradient to a mask and I now have a noise pattern fill ready to go!  I cannot thank you again enough for your help.  Here is my final!

[Damien Symonds]

1 minute ago, Robin Radzik said:

I did it!  Take aways....I never knew you could apply a gradient to a mask

Just you wait.  In the Levels Class you'll learn amazing stuff with gradients and masks.