GLASS

 
Sample or Preset files are available at the main index Mastering Brushes for Photoshop.
Other Techniques to consider when working with Object brushes...Ask yourself, what is the Object made of?
 
There are certain factors that may need to be addressed here, such as Transparency, Surface Texture and Physics of the specific material being Created to help bring it realistic qualities.
 
1.) To demonstrate the Above mentioned principles... Go ahead and Open a New Document. Make it at least 650 X 650 pixels at 300 dpi in RGB Mode on a White Background.
 
2.) Go to Layer > New > Layer. When the dialog box appears, name this layer Bottle 1, then click OK to Create.
 
 
3.) We are about to Create a Bottle. Click the Foreground Color swatch and choose a Color you would like it to be. (I Selected #339900.) Now, Select the Brush tool . Right-Click on the work area to Open the Brush-Picker. Click the blue arrow (located Top Right corner) and a pop-out menu will appear. Select SS-glass-bottles. A dialog box will appear, just click OK and the correct library will load.
 
These brushes have been supplied specifically for this Tutorial Courtesy of Stephanie Shimerdla. You can find more great brushes at her website at http://www.obsidiandawn.com
 
 
(These brushes have been enlarged for viewing purposes.) Select the brush named bottle-stopper 1, then press Enter on the keyboard to Close the library.
 
 
Click once in the Center of the work area to Create the image. The image will carry well our first factor to be addressed - Transparency. Now, press V to remove the brush from the curser.
 
 
4.) Next, go to Layer > Duplicate layer. When the dialog box appears, name this layer Glass, then click OK to Create. Now to add the Second factor - Surface Texture. Go to Filter > Distort > Glass. When the Filter appears, adjust settings as shown below, then click OK to apply.
 
 
Go to the Top of the Layers palette now and adjust Opacity to this layer Down to 18%. Should now have similar image as shown below.
 
 
5.) Click the Background to Select. Now, once again go to Layer > New > Layer. When the dialog box appears, name this layer Bottle 2, then click OK to Create. (Notice this layer is positioned Below the Bottle 1 layer, allowing us now to place a new Object Behind the first one.)
 
6.) Select a New Foreground Color to use for Bottle 2. (I Selected #0000FF.) Press B to Reselect the Brush tool , then Right-Click on the work area to Open the Brush Library. Select the brush named decanter 4, then press Enter to Close the library. Click once to Create Bottle 2. Press Ctrl+T to bring up the Free Transform bounding box. Drag the curser on the Outside edge of a corner and Rotate bottle to give it a fallen over appearance. (You can click Inside the bounding box and Drag image to position.) When finished... press Enter on the keyboard to apply.
 
 
7.) Next, hold the Shift key and tap L until the Polygonal Lasso tool becomes Selected. Click and Drag to Create a Selection covering the Inside of the bottle that covers the bottle behind.
 
 
8.) With the Selection in place, Go to Filter > Distort > Ripple. You can use the settings shown below if you like, then click OK to apply. You can then use Ctrl+D to Deselect Selection.
 
 
This fulfills our last requirement - Physics of the material. The Inside of the bottle now has a distorted appearance as of refracted glass.
 
 
By placing items Behind Objects (when made of glass) and distorting them, adds realism to the viewer. This Technique helps trick the mind in saying OK I'm seeing glass! Though more work is needed here to complete the work as believable Objects, it carries with it good starting qualities in which to build from.
 
Combining many of the Techniques used on this CD, I completed the image below.
 
 
Don't be afraid to explore other possibilities when it comes to distorting glass. Two other filters worth mentioning are Crystallize and Fragment, both found under the Pixelate category.
 
Copyright © 2006-2007 Glenn Schemenauer - Spacific Designs™ - All rights reserved.