Caturday Art: Embossed Bookends

Mom really likes the way the sun glows on the boy’s fur in this photo but wondered if she could do anything special with it in Photoshop. (Yes, that’s mom’s leg between them.)

Embossed bookends originalSo the first thing she did in Photoshop was to create some duplicate layers to play around with. She changed the default colors to purple and gold. Then she created a layer with the charcoal filter.

Embossed bookends charcoalThen on another duplicate layer she used the stamp filter. These two layers look similar but you’ll see how they change the overall effect when they are blended.

Embossed bookends stampNext, she created a layer using the emboss filter.

Embossed bookends embossShe stacked the layers in this order, with the embossed layer at the bottom. Here’s what it looks like with just the stamp layer over the embossed layer using the overlay blending mode.

Embossed bookends overlayAdding the stamp filter layer also using the overlay blending mode added lots more depth and vibrancy. Maybe even too much vibrancy, which was toned down by changing the opacity of that layer.

Embossed bookends stamp overlay

So here’s the final image with the stamp layer at 50% opacity.

Embossed bookends final

Mom loves playing with multiple layers and blending modes. So many possibilities. And this would have been a totally different picture using different colors.

I think my favorite is the very first using the charcoal filter. Do you have a favorite?

Whew, that was a lot of work watching mom do that. Time to get back to napping! Have a super restful weekend.

Christy Paws

As we try to do every Saturday, we are joining the Caturday Art Blog Hop hosted by Athena and Marie. Click on the badge to see more great art or to join in the hop.

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21 Responses to Caturday Art: Embossed Bookends

  1. Cathy Keisha says:

    Whoa! When you have talent and know-how, the possiblities are endless. Great art and tutorial.

  2. Very pretty! We like it when moms play around with our photos. Well, most of us do anyway. Good job, Echo and Ocean’s Mom!

  3. Great work with this photo. I really need to learn how to use Photoshop!

  4. speedyrabbit says:

    love the way it turned out,xx Speedy

  5. Lovely!

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

  6. We like the embossed filter the best, but they all look good. One of these days, Mom Paula is going to learn how to use PhotoShop Elements.

  7. Cool photo and super great work with the layers!!

    The Florida Furkids

  8. I’m a photoshopper – at least sometimes – and I very much enjoyed your LAYERS explanation. I haven’t been able to delve much into layers, use them mainly for collages but being inspired by your process, I will try that sometime soon, to blend the layers. Thank you also for your visit to Peaches & Paprika’s box day celebration! Much appreciated.

  9. Summer says:

    My human enjoys adding layers to photos too. I like the second one a lot!

  10. Clooney says:

    Wow, we love all of your photos, beautiful! We really admire your Photoshop skills.

  11. Very cool! Your mom is a Photoshop whiz!

  12. Penelope says:

    Your Mommy is like my Mommy, always, playing with layers! Wes sure likes what your Mommy did!
    Kisses
    Nellie

  13. That is absolutely exquisite…every single one of them! I wish I had the patience to learn PhotoShop.

  14. Ellen Pilch says:

    I like them all 🙂 I am too lazy to try different effects, but I enjoy seeing when others do.

  15. They turned out lovely! I just use http://www.ribbet.com and picmonkey and a few others for photo editing and adding effects. Similar things available but MUCH easier!

    • Christy Paws says:

      Mom says it is all in the learning curve! She’s been using Photoshop for years and finds all these freebies confusing. I say it’s because she is old and you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, as they say!

  16. OMC Ya’ lost us at blendin’. MOL Mommy keeps twyin’ dat fotoshop but it confuses da bujeebiz outta her. MOL On anudder note:

    Weez got a box fwum yous all today and…guess who’s gunna be “cookin'” fur us so to speak. Fank you so much. Weez wuld send mommy to da stowre wight now but weez so faw behind in visitin’ weez givin’ hers a bweak. And it’s a holiday.

    Luv ya’

    Dezi and Lexi

    • Christy Paws says:

      Mom says she doesn’t know Photoshop all that well — she just likes tinkering around in it to see what she can create. So glad you received the package already! You’re very welcome — mom knows you all will make the most of it! Have a great weekend.

  17. Annabelle says:

    We love the final look! YOU did such an amazing job. Our Mom wishes she understood PHOTOSHOP better.