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The 11 Best Movie-Effect Photoshop Tutorials
photojojo.com — 11 of the best tutorials that make your photos look like the movies. From Scarface to Pirates of the Carribean to '300' to A Scanner Darkly. It's all here.
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- BossPetta, on 10/10/2007, -23/+12Geniales como siempre en "Photojojo"
- insanebrain, on 10/10/2007, -2/+16que ?
- SiliconRain, on 10/10/2007, -18/+12Why does this guy get dug down for not speaking Englsih? Jeez, you Americans are such language-fascists. Remeber - America does not own the Internet!
- Grimdotdotdot, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Or speak proper English.
Cheerio! - maexus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17Probably because Digg is an English speaking site. Besides, I didn't know America was the only English speaking country. I learn something new every day.
- ayeroxor, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I would expect nothing less if I went to a Spanish site and didn't remotely try to speak Spanish, n00b.
- Tiak, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1wow... People just don't understand humor these days....
- toxicityj, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6America does own the internet. We've got a copyright and everything. and we're such kind overlords that we graciously share with you inferiors
*eye roll* theres nothing more annoying than an idiot who thinks Americans think they're superior to everyone.- Apoc, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1We did MAKE the internet.
And McDonalds.
- Apoc, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1We did MAKE the internet.
- Grimdotdotdot, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Or speak proper English.
- Davies, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2"Why does it always have to be in Photoshop?"
Because it's the best?
Porque es el mejor?- toxicityj, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3no its not. Jesus is the best.
- bimtott, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6You said it, man. Nobody ***** with the Jesus.
- RoboB0b, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1When he moved to Hollywood he had to go door to door to tell everyone he was a pederast.
- Apoc, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Judas did.
- bimtott, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6You said it, man. Nobody ***** with the Jesus.
- toxicityj, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3no its not. Jesus is the best.
- Sifter, on 11/01/2007, -2/+31You just know hard up geeks are going to be storing that cheesy romantic movie poster idea for the valentines day card....
- pavetheforest, on 10/10/2007, -11/+0did it once w/out tutorial. got me laid. nuff said
- justineatworld, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8this is still digg right? Then no it didn't.
- zip000, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9Well, now I am! Great idea :-)
- tg989, on 11/01/2007, -0/+17you mean the 300 one don't you? THIS IS VALENTINES DAAAAAAAYYY (kick her into the bed).
- pavetheforest, on 10/10/2007, -11/+0did it once w/out tutorial. got me laid. nuff said
- Avili2, on 10/10/2007, -13/+3I just a Scanner darkly a few days ago, loved the movie - especially the effect. They used Apple Quicktime rotoscoping to do that animated filter over the video. One of the coolest effects to date.
- ViktorVaughn, on 10/10/2007, -1/+27Not to call you out, but you have no idea what you're talking about. They didn't just apply a filter to the video they shot or use "Apple Quicktime rotoscoping", what ever that is.
They might have used footage in Quicktime format as the base for the roto work they did, but I can assure you, it was way more difficult than applying some filters. Animators drew by hand every single frame of this movie using DV footage as the base and a custom piece of animation software developed by one of the project leads. I actually was interning at Detour Productions right in the middle of all this. They had thirty animators working for them when they started but had almost fifty working in day and night shifts to get the movie done.
Roto work is extremely difficult and time consuming. They had an entire team of animators just for the scramble suit.- dbr_onix, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Continuing the "not to call out, but..' replies : A Scanner Darkly won't be using DV footage, and probably didn't use anything like Quicktime. Chances are it was film, which would be scanned ('Telecined') into image sequences. If I recall correctly, there was a custom rotoscoping application created for the animators (RotoShop it was called, I think)
I remember right : http://www.flatblackfilms.com/Rotoshop.html - That page also confirms the film effect didn't use image filters, it's entirely hand-traced
http://www.g4tv.com/techtvvault/features/23423/Rotoshop_Animation.html
And to call myself out : Rotoshop does use the Quicktime container to hold the video (Although it was probably stilled telecined to DPX image sequences)- ViktorVaughn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I promise you, it was shot on Panasonic DVX-100s in 24p with quick and dirty lighting and no make-up. Because they were drawing over the footage, they could make it look however they wanted, so there was no need to waste time on things that we're going to be in the shot anyway. The frames they were animating were film resolution, 4k I think, but the video they were drawing over was most certainly DV. I've seen it first-hand. Like I said, I was working up there at the time.
Read this:
http://www.uemedia.net/CPC/vfxpro/printer_15208.shtml
and this:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.03/scanner.html
Good call on the Rotoshop though.
- ViktorVaughn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I promise you, it was shot on Panasonic DVX-100s in 24p with quick and dirty lighting and no make-up. Because they were drawing over the footage, they could make it look however they wanted, so there was no need to waste time on things that we're going to be in the shot anyway. The frames they were animating were film resolution, 4k I think, but the video they were drawing over was most certainly DV. I've seen it first-hand. Like I said, I was working up there at the time.
- GhostWithToast, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Yes, Viktor is exactly correct in all of his statements. Definitely shot in 24p, standard definition, mini-dv video as a basis for the roto. They used it as tracing paper. Notice the tutorial is all hand done. It's the only way to make pleasing vector traced graphics. Anything like the cutout filter or levels or contrast adjustments in photoshop just doesn't cut it.
- dbr_onix, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Continuing the "not to call out, but..' replies : A Scanner Darkly won't be using DV footage, and probably didn't use anything like Quicktime. Chances are it was film, which would be scanned ('Telecined') into image sequences. If I recall correctly, there was a custom rotoscoping application created for the animators (RotoShop it was called, I think)
- avatarpalin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1either way, look at the movie from far away the screen and you see the real actors.
- ViktorVaughn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Up close in a theater they still look like the real actors.
- texpundit, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I love all the speculation on how the movie was done. If you want to know how it was done from the freakin' horse's mouth:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2006/07/06/movies/20060707_SCANNER_AUDIOSS.html?ei=5088&en=9cfec30c4699b028&ex=1309924800&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1152514209-ZgJM46sy0/G3tmt5TdVIzg - johnsaulrubio, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Avili2: I'm friends with most of the artists that worked on that flick. Several members of an art group I founded got hired to work on A Scanner Darkly, plus I personally went in to audition as an artist (I turned it down as it would have been a pretty massive paycut). I can assure you that it was all done by hand. And having personally used Rotoshop, I can also say it's a pain in the ass to use.
- GawtMilk, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1^ Full of *****. You don't decline working on a movie because of a paycut. That's a lie. Also, how could you've used RotoShop if you didn't work on the film? It's only used with the studio that made the movie (they still use it to make all kinds of ads).
- ViktorVaughn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1^ Full of *****
He got to use rotoshop as part of his audition. They had artist come in 8-12 at a time for a couple of days and see how fast and how well they could complete a small clip of footage to see who was worth hiring.
GawtMilk, are you in the industry? Do you really think it's not possible that someone would turn down a job because they'd be making a lot less money?
If I were making half the money I normally make doing freelance commercial work for the "prestige" of working 10-12 hours a day for 8-12 months doing rotoscoping (which by the way, is tedious, painstaking work) on someone's under-funded art house flick, I'd either have to be working for a friend or be passionate about the project. It sounds like for johnsaulrubio it was neither and he turned it down. What's so improbable about that?
- ViktorVaughn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1^ Full of *****
- GawtMilk, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1^ Full of *****. You don't decline working on a movie because of a paycut. That's a lie. Also, how could you've used RotoShop if you didn't work on the film? It's only used with the studio that made the movie (they still use it to make all kinds of ads).
- ViktorVaughn, on 10/10/2007, -1/+27Not to call you out, but you have no idea what you're talking about. They didn't just apply a filter to the video they shot or use "Apple Quicktime rotoscoping", what ever that is.
- shorty9, on 10/10/2007, -10/+1Photoshop Tutorials on Video:
http://www.hooqs.com/photoshop-tutorials/17021,12481 - SpamDog, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4This site has some great photo tips and techniques... (even if I am always to busy to use any of them)
- ray42, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13Ugh I tried that Scanner Darkly one a few weeks ago. Tip: Choose a pic with very little black.
- Davers, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7Great tutorials. It'd be really cool if someone could make these into photoshop filters of their own. Clearly ones like the Pirates of the Caribbean wouldn't work in that case, but the Sin City or Movie effects would.
- wedges, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10are you serious? let's convince more people they know how to use these applications, when they really don't!
- tizz66, on 10/10/2007, -1/+19Elitist much?
- Davers, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0You don't have to be an asshole. I can use photoshop, but it would save a lot of time and skip a lot of steps if they were separate filters.
- wedges, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10are you serious? let's convince more people they know how to use these applications, when they really don't!
- Intervention, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3nice thanks!
- gatoloco, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11mirror anybody?
- theluisdotcom, on 10/10/2007, -0/+24http://duggmirror.com/design/The_11_Best_Movie_Effect_Photoshop_Tutorials/
- WalkThePlank, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Look forward to this website coming back online.
- mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Looking at the source, it's a WordPress blog.
- praveenmarkandu, on 10/10/2007, -3/+11Visual effects in the style of 300 was crap. the rest was fine. the scanner darkly one needs some extreme patience
- TrainingName, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8http://www.duggmirror.com/
- thuang513, on 10/10/2007, -16/+1why the hell do people always post this? we all know that we can find a mirror at duggmirror...if ur gonna post this why dont u jus post the mirror to the article?
- JoWiGo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4They did post the mirror to the article. Duggmirror detects the referring page and automatically gives you the mirror for the site. Some older browsers prevent this from happening though so the full link is preferred, but this does fine for most people.
- judbeasley, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Retard!
- thuang513, on 10/10/2007, -16/+1why the hell do people always post this? we all know that we can find a mirror at duggmirror...if ur gonna post this why dont u jus post the mirror to the article?
- senatorpjt, on 10/10/2007, -0/+25If anyone is thinking about trying the Scanner Darkly one. The guy says at the end that this image took four hours of work. He basically had to draw everything, using the photoshop pencil. This is going to require some talent, not just hard work, and a graphing tablet would probably help, a lot.
- YossarianDent, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5...or you could take the image into Illustrator, auto-trace, composite, and be done with it in 1/2 hour or less. I'm pretty sure I remember a guy at the Adobe booth at NAB '06 showing how to automate the creation of a similar effect for video, and it was much easier than what you're talking about.
The tutorial's not loading properly for me right now, so I can't take a look at it to see what he did, but the pencil tool? Seriously?- eatsushi, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2it's gonna look like *****. auto-trace, live paint = lens flare filter in photoshop
- gutistg, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2If you're trying to emulate the various visual styles of popular movie posters, you probably can't tell that it looks cheesy, or care, for that matter.
- tinselsnips, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Live trace should be used as- at the very most- a starting point. Images done entirely with live trace look like crap.
- eatsushi, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2it's gonna look like *****. auto-trace, live paint = lens flare filter in photoshop
- riah, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2The guy's bio at the bottom said he actually worked on the movie, too.
- YossarianDent, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5...or you could take the image into Illustrator, auto-trace, composite, and be done with it in 1/2 hour or less. I'm pretty sure I remember a guy at the Adobe booth at NAB '06 showing how to automate the creation of a similar effect for video, and it was much easier than what you're talking about.
- |ant|, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1Broken link. Mirror?
- RadicalEdward, on 10/10/2007, -7/+4http://duggmirror.com/design/The_11_Best_Movie_Effect_Photoshop_Tutorials/
- ahpro, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1http://duggmirror.com/design/The_11_Best_Movie_Effect_Photoshop_Tutorials/
- vivalagoat, on 10/10/2007, -9/+4http://www.duggmirror.com
...thought i would say it. Every1 else seems to be. - ohhoe, on 10/10/2007, -7/+2oh god.
now the next trend on myspace is going to be even more horribly photoshopped photos of yourself in "movie stylings". - beerbarron, on 10/10/2007, -12/+1Accept a scaner darkly is done in illustrator ;) http://www.illustratortechniques.com/imitating-a-scanner-darkly.html
- yo_daddy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Well, okay. I guess I'll accept it.
- johnsaulrubio, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0It's actually done in Rotoshop. Accept that.
- beerbarron, on 10/10/2007, -18/+1accept a scanner darkly is produced in illustrator http://www.illustratortechniques.com/imitating-a-scanner-darkly.html
- htheeditor, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0nice.
- beerbarron, on 10/10/2007, -10/+4Why did I get a - for that? I meerly linked direct to the correct tuttorial :-s
- DoMifer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+101. There is no 'correct' tutorial. Both tutorials work fine.
2. A Scanner Darkly was not done in Illustrator.
3. You sound like you were dropped as a child. From a cliff. Repeatedly.- mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I believe he meant the "Imitating A Scanner Darkly" tutorial is done in Illustrator.
A Scanner Darkly was not done in Illustrator, you're correct.
However, not only does the article say it's a Photoshop tutorial/effect (which it is not, that tutorial DOES use Illustrator), but you would not have access to the software that was used in A Scanner Darkly to begin with.
Quit trying to call people out; you're making an ass of yourself.- DoMifer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Yea... clearly, that's what he meant by "a scanner darkly is produced in illustrator" And I don't remember claiming to have access to the software used in A Scanner Darkly.
From your lack of argument, I'll assume you agree with #3.
Buried for failing to point out anything wrong with what I said. - dearsweetbriar, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I was more annoyed by having to "accept" his comment.
I also vote dropped off a cliff. I Dugg him down for twice failing to realize why he was dugg down.
- DoMifer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Yea... clearly, that's what he meant by "a scanner darkly is produced in illustrator" And I don't remember claiming to have access to the software used in A Scanner Darkly.
- mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I believe he meant the "Imitating A Scanner Darkly" tutorial is done in Illustrator.
- Peavey, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1You were dugg down for improper spelling.
Accept, as you used, means to consent to, agree to, or be designed for something.
You should have used, except, which means not including or other than.
Also, in your question about why you were dugg down, you misspelled merely.
- DoMifer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+101. There is no 'correct' tutorial. Both tutorials work fine.
- beerbarron, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4The only thing that is lame is your comment joe, the effects arnt amazing, but the average person learning photoshop, can be inspirational.
- snarkleclackers, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2The only thing that is lame is your non-use of the reply button.
- EclipseGSX, on 10/10/2007, -2/+47Here are the direct links:
Scarface
http://www.13dots.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13471
Pirates
http://www.imarc.net/communique/view/97/ps_quickie_your_own_crazy_movie_poster
Sin City
http://tutorialseeker.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2279
Cars
http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/pixar-cars-photoshop-makeover/
White Noise
http://www.graphicdesignclass.com/intermediate-school/white-noise-movie-effect/index2.php
300
http://www.rickdavidson.com/2007/04/30/visual-effects-in-the-style-of-300
Scanner Darkly
http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/a-scanner-darkly-photo-effect/
Indie Movie
http://www.artworld.si/achieve_the_indie_movie_look-tutorial-560.art
"Old-Timey" Effect
http://www.biorust.com/tutorials/detail/245/en/
Cheesy Chick Flick Effect
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/photo-blend/
"Cinematic" Effect
http://ebin.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/how-to-turn-your-photo-into-movie-like-effect-using-photoshop/%22
Haunted House
http://gabrannon.com/prison.html
Exploding Planet
http://www.tutorialwiz.com/exploding_planet2/ - jstem1994, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Love Photoshop, gotta try a few tonight after work...
- Proctor, on 10/10/2007, -13/+8Quite possibly the lamest photoshop tutorials ever.
- ultralights, on 10/10/2007, -7/+3wow, photoshop skills, now thats newsworthy story.......
- littleodie914, on 10/10/2007, -0/+15Gotta say, was pretty disappointed by the 300 "effect." Scroll down to the bottom for the final pic, and you'll see what I mean.
- darnit, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2THIS IS... MY SON!
- eyefork, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1too bad they dont have the steps to download
- TheKingInYellow, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1that "old movie effects" tut is pretty lame. try mucking around with leveling your channels for an even better saturated look. just my two cents.
- MrTovson, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2It would be great if these were all Photoshop tutorials as titled...
"Using Illustrator's pencil tool..." - L0g1X, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Better White Noise Effect:
http://www.webdesign.org/web/photoshop/photo-editing/white-noise.3887.html
Cause the movie White Noise has those deformations and bluish tint... not just black & white speckles.- mimilena, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Nice! I followed the other white noise tutorial, but I was wondering how to distort it to make it look like the movie. It's a pretty easy effect so any beginner should give it a try.
- identifiedlogo, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4I did "Scanner Darkly" Jessica Alba, not so pretty, but you be the judge... http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/60256225/
- ashefire, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5For Jessica Alba, that's a hilarious insult and looks nothing like I'd expect.
But if you just said, "Here's something I made", I'd say that is pretty ***** cool.- identifiedlogo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I will crawl in to my shell with shame :(
- ashefire, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5For Jessica Alba, that's a hilarious insult and looks nothing like I'd expect.
- giveer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Some of those tutorials aren't even tutorials. "I added this and blended it. Then I added colours. and an Explosion. Next,...."
Well no ***** Sherlock, he may well have just said: "open up a new canvas. Add Stuff until it looks like a poster."- TheKingInYellow, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3so true. seems like everyone is an expert nowadays but no one knows what the hell they're talking about when it comes to doing photoshop stuff.
- jordanf, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Take your bad photographs, and make them into bad photographs...WITH EFFECTS.
- sally00, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I did the SIN CITY one a long ass time ago. It was fun.
- dcpweb, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Thanks for all the great tutorial effects - very useful
pshah - www.dcpweb.co.uk - Wyek, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1thanks for that, it's great !
- Richandler, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1These tutorails fail in that they don't all tell you exactly what they did to their photos.
- jaundiced, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1all pretty lame - it's mostly just using basic PS filters, which any monkey should be able to figure it out. oooooo sliders, oh so complicated, please show me how!
- anackonda, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0some links you'll apreciate :
http://freeonlinemovies.yamour.com
http://onlinetv.yamour.com
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