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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Photoshop Lovers/Gurus: Help?
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Showing posts 1 - 8 of 8, (reverse)
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 04/11/2005 07:12:42 AM · #1
I was trying to get a shot where there's a tear dripping from out of a person's eye, but the tear was black. I tried using regular water to get the tear but it was to thin and ran too fast. Then I figured that a real tear was the only to go. I emptied the loose salt out of a pretzel bag I have in my dormroom and mixed it into a bowl of water and then rubbed it into my eye to try to get it to tear up. It stung like crazy but didn't really tear up. After half an hour with that crap in my eye, I finally settled for a shot that was less than what I wanted figuring that I'd get practice turning it black in photoshop...but I just couldn't do it. It alsways seemed too fake and computer generated. Here's the processes I tried (that I can remember):

1. cutting out the "tear" onto a new layer and playing with brightness, contrast and layer blending modes.

2. Tracing the tear and filling in the area with black on a new layer and then adjusting the blending options.

3. Drawing a black tear-shape on a new layer and using the plastic wrap filter to try and make it look wet. Then changing the blending mode so as to try and make it pick up the skin texture behind it.

Any one know how I can do it? The look I am going for is inspired by the Magic: The Gathering card "Defiling Tears."

Thanks for any help!
 04/11/2005 07:26:57 AM · #2
I can't help with Photoshop, but you'd be much better off using tear drops in your eye than salt.
 04/11/2005 07:28:39 AM · #3
I've heard that blowing with a straw in your eye causes you to tear up, and from waht I've heard that's what they use somtimes for tears in film and/or television.
Could be a myth, but worth a try maybe?
 04/11/2005 07:30:58 AM · #4
Try this! Draw a white blob on a new layer where you want there to be a tear. Then go to blending mode and follow these steps:

Drop Shadow
Blend Mode: Multiply
Opacity: 100%
Angle: 120 (Use Global Light)
Distance: 2
Spread: 0
Size: 2
Contour: The S shaped one
Noise: 0%
Tick 'Layer knocks out drop shadow'

Inner Shadow
Blend Mode: Color Burn
Opacity: 42%
Angle: 120 (Use Global Light)
Distance: 11
Choke: 0
Size: 22
Contour: The S Shaped one
Noise: 0%

Inner Glow
Blend Mode: Overlay
Opacity: 30%
Noise: 0%
Color: Solid Black
Technique: Softer
Source: Edge
Choke: 0%
Size: 11
Contour: Straight Diagonal
Range: 50%
Jitter: 0%

Bevel and Emboss
Style: Inner Bevel
Technique: Chisel Hard
Depth: 250%
Direction: Up
Size: 32
Soften: 16
Angle: 120 (Use Global Light)
Altitude: 30
Gloss Contour: Straight Diagonal
Highlight Mode: Screen (Color White)
Opacity: 100%
Shadow Mode: Color Dodge (Color White)
Opacity: 21%

Then you can save that as a style and apply it to any layer you want. You could use the liquify tool afterwards to make it less uniform, but the result is a very effective water droplet. If it doesnt look exactly how you want, try fiddling about with some of the variables such as light angle to match your photo, drop shadow opacity to match your photo, etc. :) Hope this helps! Here is a quick and dirty example I just did in about 2 minutes:



To get it better I could add other highlights, such as a copy of the catchlight in the eye, and match it more carefully, but it's just an example.

Message edited by author 2005-04-11 07:39:03.
 04/11/2005 07:33:47 AM · #5
The best way to 'tear up' is to have someone burn your house down while you're strapped to an armchair in the middle of the road.

However, if you need to do it artificially you'd be better off placing a bead of water on a surface (similar colour) to skin, shooting that and comping it into your other shot.
 04/11/2005 07:46:31 AM · #6
The best way to get someone to tear up or even yourself is to find someone with a 20D thats not insured and drop it. Chances are you will BOTH tear up. lol
 04/11/2005 08:22:04 AM · #7
Originally posted by notonline:
The best way to get someone to tear up or even yourself is to find someone with a 20D thats not insured and drop it. Chances are you will BOTH tear up. lol


hehehe... nah - the 20D is far too sturdy - you aren't guarenteed of success. Drop a 350D on the other hand, and you'll have the owner balling their eyes out in seconds.

Unfortunately you are then faced with the equally challenging problem of attempting to adequately photograph their tear whilst dodging assorted camera parts being pelted in your direction :).

Message edited by author 2005-04-11 08:24:13.
 04/11/2005 09:03:32 AM · #8
350D's plastic is actually more durable than the metal of the 20D. The metal will dent, whereas the plastic will keep its original shape much better.
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