How to create the Retro Polaroid.

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Eugene
Struthers

www.EugeneStruthers.com

How to create a Polaroid Image.

By Eugene Struthers

In this months tutorial. I will try to demonstrate another of the editing processes I go through to create that aged vintage appearance to create a polaroid. I'll illustrate the steps I go through to give an image that marked distressed feel, fading in image quality with light leaks.

This months article is linked directly with last months tutorial, where by I illustrated the editing process I go through to create a Polaroid. If you missed last months editorial, please click on this link to preview it:- How to create a Polaroid.

Original image

In this simple technique to create the appearance of a Polarod image. I will be using Photoshop CS5 to do all my editing.

As always press Crtl+J to duplicate your existing layer. Then click onto the new adjustments layer panel (Half black & White circle) to open up the selection required. Choose the Levels command option. Once this opens up. Select the Shadows slider and drag this to the right. So that it is approximately between 5 - 10. In this example I have choosen 9. Next for the midtomes input a value of about 0.98. In the last step choose the Highlights slider and drag it left until its about 247 in value.

Next slect the curves adjustment layer and change the drop down menu to the Red channel. Input the follow values. Ouput: 69 and Input 65. Try to create a inverted S-bend on your curves graph. As illustrated above.

Following on from the last step. Select the curves adjustment layer and change the drop down menu to the the Green channel. Input the following values. Ouput: 188 and Input: 198. Try to create a slight bend in your curves graph. As illustrated above.

Once again select the curves adjustment layer and change the drop down menu to the the Blue channel. Input the follow values. Ouput: 232 and Input: 255. Try to create a straight line just off the centre line in your curves graph. As illustrated above.

Then click onto the new adjustments layer panel (Half black & White circle) to open up the selection required. Choose the Gradient Fill command option. Once this opens up. Choose the Orange to Yellow radial gradient from the Gradient selection list. This will create a new layer.

To blend this into the image. Change the Blend mode to Soft light with an Opacity of about 50%.

Then click onto the new adjustments layer panel (Half black & White circle) to open up the selection required. Choose the Hue & saturation command option. Once this opens up. Change the strength and fine tune the saturation to about minus 28% to 35%. This will tone down the affect across the whole image.

Create a new layer. As illustrated by the red arrow in the right hand corner in the illustration above. Press Crtl + D to fill this new layer white. (Edit scroll down the list and pick the command option Fill and then choose a colour).

Then proceed to the top menu bar. Select Filter scroll down the list and pick the command option Noise Then add Noise with the settings of 35%, Uniform, Monochromatic.

Set this layers Blend mode to Soft Light with an Opacity of 50%.

This next step is optional. It does however give yoor image that realistic Vintage feel and appearance. Create a new layer, then choose a suitable brush and size. Pick a dark red colour from the pallette. And begin to paint along the edges and inner sections of your image. Be Careful not to paint the whole image in red.

This time set this layers Blend mode to Linear Dodge with an Opacity of 35%.

This next step is to draw the readers attention directly into the image. Create a new layer. Select a suitable brush & size. Pick the bright white colour from the pallette. Then click into an area of the image which you know will draw the viewers attention. In the Glamour-Photography this is fairly easy. I have choose an area just above the models left personality. Being extra careful not to cover her face.

Set this layers Blend mode to Soft Light with an Opacity of 100%.

Set this layers Blend mode to Soft Light with an Opacity of 92%.

Select a suitable brush & size. Then select the Grey colour colour from the pallette. And begin to paint out along the edges of the image. To draw out and create scratches and marks within the image. You may want to download a few scratch type brushes to create the appearance of age deterioration.

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