General Idea:
The basic principle involves finding a good portrait photo, extracting the subject, and then using various techniques to create bubbles around the face. This involves creating bubble shapes, adjusting their transparency and reflections, and layering them strategically to achieve the desired effect.
What you'll need:
* Photoshop CS3: (Obviously!)
* A High-Resolution Portrait Photo: Choose a photo with good lighting and a clear background. The higher resolution the better for detail.
* Patience: This effect takes some time and experimentation.
Steps:
1. Open Your Portrait Photo:
* File > Open, then select your portrait image.
2. Isolate the Subject (Remove the Background):
* Choose a Selection Tool: CS3 offers several options.
* Magnetic Lasso Tool: Good for high contrast edges. Click along the edge of your subject.
* Quick Selection Tool: Use this tool if the subject is distinct from the background. Paint over the person to select them.
* Pen Tool: The most precise, but takes practice. Click points along the edge of the subject to create a path, then right-click and select "Make Selection". Feather radius: 0-1 depending on the resolution of your image.
* Refine the Selection:
* If your selection isn't perfect, use the lasso tools (hold Shift to add to the selection, Alt to subtract) to clean up the edges.
* Invert the Selection (Select the Background): Go to Select > Inverse.
* Delete the Background: Press the Delete key. The background should now be transparent (indicated by a checkerboard pattern).
3. Create a New Background Layer (Optional but Recommended):
* In the Layers Panel (Window > Layers if you don't see it), click the "Create a New Layer" icon (looks like a folded page). Drag this new layer *below* your subject layer.
* Fill this new layer with a solid color (Edit > Fill > Use: Color). A neutral grey or a color complementing the portrait works well.
* Lock this Background layer (click the padlock icon) to avoid accidentally editing it.
4. Creating the Bubble Shapes:
* New Layer for Bubbles: Create a new layer *above* your subject layer and name it "Bubbles."
* Ellipse Tool (U): Select the Ellipse Tool. Make sure "Shape Layers" is selected in the Tool Options bar at the top. The Fill and Stroke should also be set from here.
* Draw Bubbles: Draw several circles of varying sizes on the new "Bubbles" layer. Hold Shift to make perfect circles.
* Color and Gradient Fill: Double-click on the ellipse shape's thumbnail in the "Layers" panel. This will bring up the Layer Style dialogue box.
* Gradient Overlay: Check the Gradient Overlay box.
* Click on the gradient to edit it. Create a gradient that simulates light reflecting on a bubble (e.g., white to a light blue, then back to white). Experiment with different color combinations.
* Adjust the Angle, Scale, and Opacity to control the gradient effect.
* Bevel and Emboss: Check the Bevel and Emboss box.
* Adjust the Style, Depth, Size, and Soften settings to create a 3D, rounded look. Aim for a subtle, realistic bevel. Experiment with the "Gloss Contour" setting to create a more reflective look.
* Inner Shadow: This can add depth, if you need it.
5. Adding Highlights and Reflections:
* New Layer for Highlights: Create a new layer above your "Bubbles" layer and name it "Bubble Highlights". Set the Blending Mode to "Overlay".
* Brush Tool (B): Select the Brush Tool. Choose a small, soft-edged, white brush.
* Paint Highlights: Paint small white highlights on the top-left portion of each bubble (or wherever your light source is assumed to be). This will enhance the reflective effect. Use low opacity (around 10-20%) for a subtle effect.
* Blending Options: Double click the highlight layer, change the blending mode to overlay.
* Optional: Add Reflection Points: Use a very small, hard-edged, white brush to add small, bright dots as pinpoint reflections.
6. Positioning and Scaling the Bubbles:
* Move Tool (V): Use the Move Tool to position the bubbles around the portrait.
* Free Transform (Ctrl+T or Edit > Free Transform): Use Free Transform to scale, rotate, and distort the bubbles to fit the contours of the face. Right-click within the Free Transform box to access options like "Warp" which is helpful for making the bubbles conform to the shape of the face.
* Duplicate Bubbles: Duplicate existing bubble layers (Ctrl+J or Layer > Duplicate Layer) and then use Free Transform to create variations in size and shape. This saves time and keeps the styling consistent.
* Layer Order: Adjust the layer order of the bubble layers to create depth. Bubbles that are "behind" the face should be lower in the Layers Panel.
7. Transparency and Blending:
* Opacity: Adjust the Opacity of the bubble layers to make them more or less transparent. Lower opacity makes them appear more subtle and blends them with the portrait.
* Blending Modes: Experiment with different Blending Modes for the bubble layers (e.g., Screen, Overlay, Soft Light). These can create interesting effects. "Screen" often works well for adding brightness and highlights.
8. Adding Variety:
* Vary Size and Shape: Don't make all the bubbles the same size. Use a variety of sizes and shapes for a more natural look.
* Clustering: Group some bubbles together to create clusters.
* Remove Excess Bubbles: After laying them all out, remove any bubbles that look unnatural or distracting.
9. Shadows (Subtle, but Helpful):
* New Layer for Shadows: Create a new layer *below* the "Bubbles" layer and name it "Bubble Shadows". Set its Blending Mode to "Multiply".
* Brush Tool (B): Use a soft-edged, black brush with low opacity (5-10%) to paint very subtle shadows on the areas of the face where the bubbles are closest to the skin. This helps ground the bubbles and make them look more integrated.
10. Final Adjustments:
* Color Correction: Adjust the overall color balance of the image (Image > Adjustments > Color Balance, Curves, etc.) to ensure the bubbles blend seamlessly with the portrait.
* Sharpening (Optional): If needed, apply a subtle sharpening filter (Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask) to the final image to enhance the details.
Tips and Troubleshooting:
* Non-Destructive Editing: Use adjustment layers for color correction and other modifications. This allows you to make changes later without affecting the original layers.
* Groups: Group related layers together (select the layers, then Ctrl+G or Layer > Group Layers). This helps keep your Layers Panel organized.
* Experimentation is Key: There is no single "right" way to create this effect. Experiment with different settings, techniques, and color combinations to achieve the look you want.
* Rendering Issues: If you encounter issues with reflections not appearing properly, make sure your graphics card drivers are up to date. CS3 is an older program and may have compatibility issues on newer systems.
* Performance: Complex effects can slow down Photoshop. Close other applications and increase Photoshop's memory allocation (Edit > Preferences > Performance) if you're experiencing slowdowns.
Summary:
Creating a bubble portrait in Photoshop CS3 is a creative process that requires careful attention to detail and experimentation. By following these steps and adjusting the settings to suit your specific photo, you can create a stunning and unique piece of digital art. Good luck! Remember to save your work often and in a PSD format to retain layers for future editing.