I. Preparation: Finding Your Images
1. Portrait Photo: Choose a high-resolution photo of your subject. Make sure it's well-lit and in focus. A clean background is helpful, but not essential.
2. Bubble Image: Find or create a bubble image. Ideal images have:
* Transparency: The most important thing. Look for images on a white or light background that you can easily isolate. Alternatively, find PNG files of bubbles with transparent backgrounds (these are ideal).
* Variety: Different sizes and shapes of bubbles add visual interest.
* Good Quality: Sharp details help the effect look realistic.
3. Background (Optional): If you want to change the background of your portrait, find a suitable image.
II. Photoshop CS3 Steps:
1. Open the Portrait:
* Go to `File > Open` and select your portrait photo.
2. Isolate the Subject (if needed):
* If your portrait has a busy background you want to remove:
* Magnetic Lasso Tool: (My personal favorite for older versions) Carefully trace around the subject. It snaps to edges making it easier. Set the `Width` (edge sensitivity) higher for clearly defined edges and lower for more complex areas. Close the selection by clicking on the starting point.
* Quick Selection Tool: This newer tool is still useful in CS3. Adjust the brush size and click and drag over the areas you want to select.
* Extract Filter: (`Filter > Extract`) This is a slightly clunkier method. Use the Highlighter tool to outline the subject, then fill the inside with the Fill tool. Click "Preview" and adjust the settings until the subject is well-defined.
* Once Selected: Go to `Select > Inverse`. Press the `Delete` key. This removes the background. You may need to clean up rough edges using the Eraser Tool.
3. Open the Bubble Image(s):
* Open each bubble image you want to use in separate Photoshop windows.
4. Isolate Bubbles (if needed):
* Magic Wand Tool: This works well if the bubbles are on a uniform background (like white). Click on the background with the Magic Wand Tool. Adjust the `Tolerance` setting in the options bar to control how much of the surrounding area is selected. Higher tolerance selects more similar colors. Then go to `Select > Inverse` to select the bubble.
* Color Range: (`Select > Color Range`). Sample a color from the background around the bubble. Adjust the Fuzziness slider to refine the selection. Click OK. Then `Select > Inverse`.
* Lasso Tool: For more complex backgrounds, you might need to manually trace around each bubble with the Lasso Tool (or Polygonal Lasso Tool for straight edges).
5. Move Bubbles to the Portrait:
* Move Tool (V): Select the Move Tool from the toolbar.
* Click and drag the selected bubble(s) from its window onto the portrait window. This creates a new layer for each bubble.
6. Resize and Position Bubbles:
* Edit > Free Transform (Ctrl+T or Cmd+T): Select the bubble layer you want to adjust.
* Drag the corner handles to resize the bubble. Hold down the Shift key while resizing to maintain the aspect ratio (prevent distortion).
* Rotate the bubble by moving the cursor just outside the corner handles until it changes to a curved arrow. Then, drag to rotate.
* Position the bubble by clicking and dragging it within the transform box.
* Press Enter to apply the transformation.
* Repeat this for each bubble layer, placing them strategically around the subject's head and shoulders.
7. Adjust Bubble Opacity and Blend Modes:
* Opacity: In the Layers panel, adjust the `Opacity` of each bubble layer to make them appear more translucent. Lower opacities (around 50-80%) usually look more realistic.
* Blend Modes: Experiment with different blend modes in the Layers panel. `Screen`, `Overlay`, `Soft Light`, or `Multiply` can sometimes create interesting effects. Try them out to see what works best for your specific images. `Screen` is often a good starting point for adding light to bubbles.
8. Add Shadows and Highlights (Optional):
* This is where you can add realism.
* Create a new layer above the bubble layer you're working on.
* Clipping Mask: Right-click on the new layer and choose "Create Clipping Mask." This makes the layer only affect the bubble layer below it.
* Soft Brush: Use a soft, round brush with a low opacity (around 10-20%) to paint highlights and shadows on the bubble.
* Use white or a very light color for highlights, painting on the side of the bubble that would catch the light.
* Use black or a dark color for shadows, painting on the opposite side.
* Adjust the layer opacity to fine-tune the effect.
* Repeat for other bubbles as needed.
9. Background (Optional):
* New Background Layer: If you want to use a different background:
* Open your desired background image.
* Move it to the portrait file.
* In the Layers panel, drag the background layer to the *bottom* of the layer stack, below all the other layers.
* Simple Background: Alternatively, you can create a solid color background:
* `Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color`.
* Choose a color for the background.
* Drag this layer to the bottom of the layer stack.
10. Final Adjustments:
* Overall Color Correction: Use adjustment layers (`Layer > New Adjustment Layer`) like `Levels`, `Curves`, `Color Balance`, or `Brightness/Contrast` to make the portrait and bubbles blend together seamlessly. Clip these adjustment layers to the portrait layer (right-click, "Create Clipping Mask") if you only want them to affect the portrait and not the entire image.
* Sharpening: Apply a subtle sharpening filter (`Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask`) to the final image to enhance details. Be careful not to over-sharpen.
11. Save Your Work:
* `File > Save As`. Save a working copy as a PSD file (Photoshop Document) to preserve all the layers for future editing.
* `File > Save for Web & Devices`. Save a flattened copy as a JPEG for sharing.
Tips for Photoshop CS3:
* Non-Destructive Editing: Use adjustment layers and clipping masks whenever possible. This allows you to make changes without permanently altering the original images.
* Zoom In: Zoom in to 100% (View > Actual Pixels) to check the details and make sure your selections and adjustments are accurate.
* Practice: Creating a good bubble portrait takes practice. Don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques and settings.
Key Considerations for Realism:
* Lighting: Pay attention to the lighting in your portrait and try to match the highlights and shadows on the bubbles to the existing light.
* Perspective: Consider the perspective of the bubbles. They should appear to be floating in the same space as the subject.
* Scale: Use bubbles of varying sizes to create a more natural and visually appealing effect.
* Subtlety: Don't overdo it with the bubbles. A few well-placed bubbles can be more effective than a large number of poorly integrated ones.
Good luck! While CS3 is older, these techniques still work and can produce impressive results. Be patient, experiment, and have fun!