Interesting Effect: Any Ideas How It's Done?

[DMGreene]

Hey guys! 

Long time lurker, first time poster I've always used Affinity Designer for graphics and design but have gotten into Photo lately and am slowly self-teaching to be a book cover designer. I'm an author by trade and am trying to hone my skills. My basic process is to find covers and images I like and then try to recreate the effects/design.

I came across an interesting cover the other day and I'm stumped. I've tried blend modes and ranges, levels and brightness/contrast adjustments, removing backgrounds and infilling the face... I've even gotten in touch with a couple of youtube channels which cover tutorials, and no one has the answer!

So, I was wondering if any of you Affinity whizz kids might be interested in casting an eye over it? 

It's a really cool effect and a striking cover, and would be a great one to add to the arsenal, so to say. 

 

Much appreciated!

Daniel

[GarryP]

Welcome to the forums @DMGreene
I suspect that image has been created from maybe four images: background; woman; smoke; ‘bokeh’ effect.
Each image used will probably have been modified in various different ways and there are probably many different methods to do each modification, depending on the specific image you want to modify.
Is there any specific thing you would like to know how to do?
Also, if you would like to try and do this yourself, are there any particular images you would like to use (methods may differ widely for different images)?

[Alfred]

3 minutes ago, GarryP said:

background; woman; smoke; ‘bokeh’ effect

“Person, woman, man, camera, TV.”

Sorry, just too irresistible! 

[carl123]

A bigger image may show more of the "interesting effect" the OP may be trying to emulate

 

[DMGreene]

Hey guys, thanks for the reply!

 

The fog stuff is okay -- I got some sweet fog and smoke brushes from a YT channel for free. And the background is an image behind the portrait i believe, and then the same image in front of, with the opacity turned way down so it continues in front in low opacity while being a higher opacity behind. Or it's probably done with a blend mode. Either way, that kind of stuff I can muddle with! Unless it's completely wrong.

The thing I'm most focused on is getting the picture of the figure to look like this I don't have any specific images as of yet, as I have the feeling that it's as much about the post as it is about the base image -- something I'm also trying to improve! I'm learning there's a big difference between an image that looks good and one that's fit for purpose.

Thans so much!

[firstdefence]

You could use a basic black and white portrait and then use the live lighting filter to cast most of the image into darkness and the right side of the face gets the highlight.

the image in the book cover looks backlit With a low light and with a spot light (snoot) to pick out the side of the face.

another way is to mask the person and edit the mask to pick out the edge lights and face side

[DMGreene]

That sounds like an intersting idea. And position one to the left, one to the right, and remove the background? 

[GarryP]

A few minutes of experimentation got me the attached image.
One of the experts will be able to do something better.
I’ve also attached a short video giving some quick ideas for basic techniques (and some ‘deliberate’ mistakes).
Again, I’m sure the experts will be able to show you much better methods, but the best methods will depend on your choice of images.

[ESPR]

I've seen PS tutorials that transform an ordinary image into a glow in the dark effect.

The darkness effect is solely created with Contrast and Brightness.

 

This one for example:

 

[DMGreene]

That's definitely intriguing. I didn't realise there was even the option to just remove white. I'll have to check that out and play around with it. The burn tool definitely seems to be a good option here too to darken the highlighted sections a little!

 

I think that glow tut is great as well for then lightening the highlights and emulating a light-effect.

 

Thanks guys, I'll keep playing!