How is this effect done?

**jimhanus** · 20 April 2010, 03:14 PM

I came across a series of photos using this technique/look. I think the effect was achieved with software manipulation and not in the camera but not sure. Can anyone tell me how this effect might have been achieved?

Jim

**Soquili** · 20 April 2010, 03:30 PM

Hi Jim,

It looks to me as if a photo of the fountain was used with a painted sky. The sky could have been created using Corel Painter or similar application.

**jimhanus** · 20 April 2010, 03:33 PM

Soquili,
Thanks for the suggestion. Yes the clouds are positioned quite good to be accidental...
I'll see what I can come up with.

Jim

**molucca** · 21 April 2010, 11:31 PM

A natural cloud inverted and level adjusted. Then saved to JPG. Opened in Xara and made bitmap transparent by itself. Next a bitmap copy with alpha. Since this in garyscale, both light and dark can be recolored.

Rich

**jimhanus** · 21 April 2010, 11:45 PM

molucca,
Thanks for the suggestion. Looks very promising.

Jim

**molucca** · 22 April 2010, 12:43 AM

A test cloud.

Rich

**Rhanna** · 24 April 2010, 03:21 AM

Good cloud Rich!
Rupert

**molucca** · 24 April 2010, 01:50 PM

Rupert,

I shaped the cloud and then colored it in XXP3. In this case multiple copies and various transparancies.

Rich

**angelize** · 24 April 2010, 07:46 PM

What program are you refering to by XXP3? That is not a screenshot of a Xara Xtreme Pro window that shows the cloud being shaped.

**molucca** · 24 April 2010, 08:40 PM

Screen shot of Expression 3.2. Post work done in Xara Xtreme Pro 3. The earlier version is more compatible with the programs I use.

The cloud is an image stroke. In Expression, the white in grayscale images becomes transparent. The stroke is flowed along the path, and the shape adjusted with variable width. It was saved out as a transparent png.

Rich