Best way to create an "orb" - DPChallenge Forums

11/16/2011 05:32:50 PM · #1

I have the hankerin' to do some fairy tale type forest shots similar to my shot of Laine as Little Redcap or myself as Rip Van Winkle:

It's funny the inspirations you get, but on a little drive home yesterday I happened to hear a song on NPR by a group called "Peatbog Fairies". I envision a dusky, moody forest path with glowing orbs sprinkled here and there. My question is how best to make the voluminous light in photoshop. I think I'll do some of the work at the site with various light sources (candles, lanters, etc), but I'm guessing they aren't going to glow like I want them to. I'm only so good at blending modes and wondered if there was a particular mode suited for this?

Message edited by author 2011-11-16 17:34:23.

bmatt17

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

11/16/2011 05:57:08 PM · #2

Like this?

//www.slicktutorials.com/plasma-ball

hihosilver

Nikon D200

11/16/2011 06:11:19 PM · #3

I like this idea! Oddly enough, Rip Van Winkle wouldn't have been the first fairy tale to come to mind for your starring role...

::daintily adds thread to watch list::

11/16/2011 06:34:04 PM · #4

Originally posted by bmatt17:

Like this?

//www.slicktutorials.com/plasma-ball

Well, that's not bad. What I'm thinking of though is how to change the quality of a sphere of light so that the colors behind it change from cool tones to warm ones. What blending modes do I use to accomplish this?

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/16/2011 06:37:40 PM · #5

I wonder if I can find my Joey L tutorial DVD. Didn't he "turn on" a light in photoshop? That seems to be the effect I'm going for.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

11/16/2011 06:44:50 PM · #6

//www.ulead.com/download/freegoodies.htm

The Ulead particle plugin is a good app for this. You would use the bubbles filter, you can customize.

eta: I'm looking for an example in my portfolio, but this one is also done with a filter from that freepack...

OK, found one...

Message edited by author 2011-11-16 18:58:12.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/16/2011 06:59:35 PM · #7

I guess it depends how you picture fairy lights as looking, but I imagine soft glowing orbs, like a pool of fireflies. Those can be made fairly easily by taking an isolated light source and hitting it with strong gaussian blur and perhaps a bit of noise if you like it more particular. If you assign it to a lighten level it works pretty well.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/16/2011 07:07:52 PM · #8

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

I think this is pretty good inspiration for what I'm looking for. The glow of the orb does not necessarily need to be opaque and I'd actually think it was cool if it wasn't.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

11/16/2011 07:16:13 PM · #9

Please limit images posted directly in the forum thread to 500 pixels wide. Thanks.

I would first try this to create glowing orbs similar to what you pictured:

On a new layer, create a (roughly) circular selection, feather it, then fill it using the radial blur tool, transparent-to-foregroung.

With the blur area still selected, try running the Difference Clouds or a similar filter, or use the Smudge tool to introduce some irregularity.

Next, if necessary, apply a color or use an Adjustment Layer linked to the layer with the orb to shift the color.

Finally, adjust the layer transparency if desired.

If you try this, let me know if it works. ;-)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

11/16/2011 07:19:26 PM · #10

Thanks! I will. (and sorry about the big picture, but does anybody really feel limited by their bandwidth these days?) I probably won't be able to get to my forest path at dusk or dawn until this weekend.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

11/16/2011 07:24:53 PM · #11

Bummer, Kelli's plugin is only for Windows. Darn!

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

11/16/2011 07:28:46 PM · #12

There's only one member who springs to mind when discussing orbs. Unfortunately, she's not with us anymore.

I think.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/16/2011 07:31:25 PM · #13

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Thanks! I will. (and sorry about the big picture, but does anybody really feel limited by their bandwidth these days?)

It's not bandwidth, it's horizontal scrolling - the bane of our existence.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

11/16/2011 07:44:14 PM · #14

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

It's not a question of bandwidth -- it screws up the thread display for people who don't have humongously wide monitors, so you have to scroll sideways just to read the posts.

That, and it's also Forum Rule #5 ... ;-)

Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited

11/16/2011 07:45:18 PM · #15

But it's such a purdy picture!

Qiki

Fujifilm X100T

11/16/2011 08:38:58 PM · #16

Originally posted by JH:

There's only one member who springs to mind when discussing orbs. Unfortunately, she's not with us anymore.

I think.

You don't really think 'she who must not be named' will ever disappear do you? :)

Ja-9

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/17/2011 12:18:28 PM · #17

Jason I don't think your looking for this

...I've been looking in my Elements magazine and they have an article on how to do that but

roz had that picture...

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

11/17/2011 01:45:02 PM · #18

You should easily be able to create them by using a splatter brush. Create several new layers for this. That way you can keep the shades of color separate and also have a top layer for the highlights. Start by choosing your base color and create a single splat using a roundish splatter brush. Then on separate layers paint your other shades using a more conventional brush tip or one that has the type of strokes you want to see in the orb. If you keep each color separate you can then blend them in later to create some depth or transform them individually by using the smudge tool, liquidfy, warp or whatever to get the shapes you want. You'll probably want to add a glow effect afterwards.

Or for the lazy, just search for some free clip art that gives you the basic shape and color depth you want and go from there.

Also, you can probably find something at PSD Tuts+

Message edited by author 2011-11-17 13:49:48.

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

11/17/2011 01:57:05 PM · #19

I have orbs, real life orbs. they are very thin glass bowls, kinda look like old fashioned fish bowls, the biggest size is about 10x10 and decreases from there. You can hang them, stick different lights in them and have orbs. you can buy them from me!~ they will work just like your picture you posted

=)