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[Tutorial Request] Cyborg Effects


TFanel

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I've been using Paint.NET for a couple years now, but have never really gotten super creative with it.  Lately, I've been browsing the tutorials section, but there are only 3 pages worth of content.  I found it to be informative, but was unable to find what I am most interested in.  Is there any way we can use Paint.NET to take a picture of say, a beautiful woman or handsome man, and transform them into a cyborg-like creation, using only Paint.NET?

 

I'm very curious about this, but wouldn't know where to begin.  I'll play around with it a bit to see if I can figure it out, and if/when I do, I'll be more than happy to create a tutorial that may help someone else out.  Thanks in advance.

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If you can give a sample image, maybe some of us can give it a shot.

 

For starters, you can create a new layer and select this new layer, paint gray over the skin of your subject and see which layer blending mode and opacity works best for a cyborg skin.

 

You can do they same by painting some weird color into the eyes.

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I found a photoshop tutorial that details what I was thinking about.  I'm going to see if I can come close to doing this with Paint.NET

 

Here is a more in-depth description of what I'm hoping to achieve:

hxxp://icanbecreative.com/article/female-cyborg-photoshop-tutorial/

Hopefully such things are possible.

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I found another.

hxxps://www.behance.net/gallery/Cyborg-Girl/277686

I really like how people create the lines on the body, to give it that "cyborg look".  I'm not sure about how they're doing it, but I'm determined to find out.

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There are two main steps: Smoothing the image to give it an artificial look, and adding the seams. To smooth the image, you can try the built-in Blur>Surface Blur or Michael Vinther's Photo>Laplacian Pyramid Filter. Actually, I think either one quickly achieves a result as least as good as the example you gave. Also, take a look at the links in Drydareelin's comment on digitally-painted looks.

 

I'll try to add some suggestions for the seams later.

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5 hours ago, MJW said:

There are two main steps: Smoothing the image to give it an artificial look, and adding the seams. To smooth the image, you can try the built-in Blur>Surface Blur or Michael Vinther's Photo>Laplacian Pyramid Filter. Actually, I think either one quickly achieves a result as least as good as the example you gave. Also, take a look at the links in Drydareelin's comment on digitally-painted looks.

 

I'll try to add some suggestions for the seams later.

I started with that, but made a few modifications to better suit my liking.  Thanks for the pointer to such a good recommendation.  It's officially my first attempt at doing something semi-advanced, with PDN!  I'm excited!

 

So here's what that post says:

Open the image
Duplicate the layer.
Top layer: Press F4.
     Change the Blend Mode to Multiply  (enhances colors)
     Change the Opacity to around 135 (reduces severity of enhanced colors).
Merge top layer down (= one layer)
Duplicate the single layer
Top layer: Effects > Artistic > Oil Painting BS:2, C:78
Top Layer: Effects > Blurs > Gaussian Blur @ 3.
   Press F4
   Change Blend Mode to Darken.
   Change Opacity to around 216.
Merge top layer down (= one layer)

And here's what I did, to get the effect I like:

Open the image
Duplicate the layer.
Top layer: Press F4.
     Change the Blend Mode to Multiply  (enhances colors)
     Change the Opacity to 150 (reduces severity of enhanced colors).
Merge top layer down (= one layer)
Duplicate the single layer
Top layer: Effects > Photo > Sharpen+ Amount:40, Radius:100
Top Layer: Effects > Blurs > Gaussian Blur @ 1.
Top Layer: Press F4
   Change Blend Mode to Darken.
   Change Opacity to 218.
Merge top layer down (= one layer)
Duplicate the layer.
Top layer: Press F4.
   Change Blend Mode to Screen.
   Change Opacity to 100.
Merge top layer down (= one layer)

So far, that gives me the following:

 

Original Image:

KOHlyo.jpg

Then...

 

New Image:

2yDQXc.jpg

This is still a work in progress.  I'm just seeing what all I can do before adding the dissection lines. 

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gsZWxe.jpg

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Open the image
Duplicate the layer.
Top layer: Press F4.
     Change the Blend Mode to Multiply  (enhances colors)
     Change the Opacity to 150 (reduces severity of enhanced colors).
Merge top layer down (= one layer)
Duplicate the single layer
Top layer: Effects > Photo > Sharpen+ Amount:40, Radius:100
Top Layer: Effects > Blurs > Gaussian Blur @ 1.
Top Layer: Press F4
   Change Blend Mode to Darken.
   Change Opacity to 218.
Merge top layer down (= one layer)
Duplicate the layer.
Top layer: Press F4.
   Change Blend Mode to Screen.
   Change Opacity to 100.
Merge top layer down (= one layer)
Duplicate the layer.
Top layer: Effects > Color > Metalize Angle of Start:335, Type:0, Uncheck Grayscale, RGB
Top layer: Press F4.
   Change Blend Mode to Screen.
   Change Opacity to 100.
Merge top layer down (= one layer)
Layer: Effects > Blurs > Gaussian Blur @ 1.
Duplicate the layer.
Top Layer: Effects > Blurs > Smoothe.
Top Layer: Effects > Blurs > Smoothe.
Top layer: Press F4.
   Change Opacity to 75.
Merge top layer down (= one layer)

I've added a few more steps and very satisfied with the results!

 

Here it is:

ITGrHX.jpg

gsZWxe.jpg

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I added a new layer and drew two circles and joined them with two curved lines. Then I copied that layer to the clipboard.

I went back to the layer containing the model.

I used BoltBait's Paste Alpha effect to make transparent areas (the lines) on the face of the model.

Used BoltBait's Bevel object on the model.

Added a drop shadow.

Added a layer below the model and filled it with a dark gray color.

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Awesome!  I think I understand.  I'll be playing around with this.  It's much appreciated.  Paint.NET is awesome!  I just hate that I've only been using it to resize images, for all this time.  It's capable of doing so much.  It's like I've been using a gladiator's sword as a letter opener.  Thanks, Eli!

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A bit of advice on drawing lines. I'd create two transparent layers above the image. On the first, I'd sketch the lines with the Pencil tool. Once all the line placement had been worked out, I'd change the opacity of the layer to make the Pencil lines lighter. Then I'd switch to the other added layer, and use the Line/Curve tool to draw over the Pencil lines, being very careful to make the endpoints and the slope at the endpoints match so the lines look continuous. Using Lines/Curves is the only way I'm able to produce nice-looking lines.

 

(I'd also avoid a picture where the subject has her hands covering part of her face. Why make things more difficult then necessary?)

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TFanel, I think you overdid the Drop Shadow. Also, you could increase the thickness of the lines 1 or 2 more pixels. I noticed jaggy edges, you can soften the edges using AA's Assistant... effect. Also, do not forget to use the Bevel Object effect, this gives the impression of relief.

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