Masking question (specifically the edges)

[SPWA]

I'm trying to systematically work through basic areas of Ps while I'm still learning. At the moment it's masking. I've been experimenting & playing around. Sometimes you'll stumble across a win, but it always helps to know some definitive skills.

So, I did this rather freaky pumpkin. now, I'm quite happy with how it turned out, except possibly the edges. I tried using fx to give the features a carved out look, & added a shadow (in Ai.. I cheated.)

Is there any feature that will help me blend in the edge of the mouth & eyes with the shell of the pumpkin.

 

[iDad]

Mind you, I'm looking at this on an iPad but what I see is where the shadow meets the pumpkin underneath, you may want to burn the edges that are whitish within the pumpkin edges.darken those pixels

 

[Zef]

If your trying to do what i think you are trying to do then add a mask and use a soft brush on a low opacity and slowly go around the edges to give them that faded together look without it looking too fake.

 

[Renegade]

CTRL-click the mask to re-select it. Feather the selection slightly. Delete old layer mask, apply feathered selection as new layer mask. Using an effects layer, apply a faint multiply outer glow with a dark orange selected from the pumpkin.

 

[bgoodman4]

I would simply use the clone tool with a soft brush and a lowish opacity setting. I have found that this works very well to blend items from different images together so they look as if they belong together.

Look carefully at the attached, you will see a difference between the left side verses the right and you can see what I have done using the clone tool (and a bit of smudging).

As they say practise makes perfect so a bit of experimentation is called for but its pretty simple once you get an idea of whats happening.The opacity of my soft clone tool was 16% and the smudge tool was 30%. The key is to keep the opacity (or rather strength of the effect) low so you have control of whats going on. It means you will have to "click" more times but you can tailor the effect to what suits you.

I hope this helps.

 

[sprucemagoo1]

What about using the liquify tool to make the pumpkin bulge out where there would be bumps and lump.

View attachment 32963

 

[SPWA]

Thx everyone. I will attempt to put that advise to use & see what happens. I see there is a few ways to achieve, so I will try all.

@bgoodman4: The left eye looks exactly how I want it to. That is perfect.

@sprucemagoo1: The sunk in look on that face looks good. Maybe I will experiment with that also. I did use fx, but a tad harshly

use a soft brush on a low opacity.

hmmm, brush opacity.. I'm already having an issue there. I have no clue about this, or where to change it. If you can answer a previous question of mine, I would be eternally greatfull, as I've spent hours looking & trying things. This Thread

 

[sprucemagoo1]

Brush opacity is different to the problem you are having in the other thread. Whilst having your brush tool selected, you can alter the opacity of the effects of the brush, so you can add colour in a more graduated way.
View attachment 32972

 

[SPWA]

I didn't spot that opacity % at the top (facepalm)

Thx for all the advice everyone, here is a before after with further work added to the blending & edges.


It's made a world of difference.

 

[bgoodman4]

I agree, not sure what the problem was with the baseball image but may have something to do with the layer opacity. I suggest you play with both the brush hardness and the opacity. Also, play with the flow setting just for fun. Just change the various settings for whatever tool you have choosen to explore (if the opacity selector is active when you select a tool, you can adjust the effect ---- try it with the erase tool for example) and draw lines or smudge or clone or whatever. Experimentation is a great way to discover how things work,,,,,then, once you have played around with these tools,,,check out the brush presets panel. Combine the various effects possible with the pannel with the previously explored settings and tools and get ready to have some fun. A very powerful combination of tools IMO.Great job with the pumpkin by the way. Nicely done.