Understanding the Basics
The core idea is to:
1. Isolate the Subject: Carefully cut out the person (or object) from the background.
2. Create the Bubble Effect: Use distortion filters (Spherize, Polar Coordinates, etc.) to give the impression of being inside a bubble.
3. Add Highlights and Shadows: Make the bubble look more realistic with light and shadow effects.
4. Blend and Refine: Adjust the opacity and blending modes to seamlessly integrate the bubble into the scene.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Open Your Image:
* Launch Photoshop CS3.
* Go to `File > Open` and select the photo you want to use for your portrait.
2. Isolate Your Subject:
* Choose Your Selection Tool: The best tool depends on the complexity of your image.
* Magic Wand Tool (W): Good for backgrounds with clear color separation from the subject. Adjust the `Tolerance` value in the options bar for better selection.
* Lasso Tool (L): Freehand selections. Good for simple shapes.
* Polygonal Lasso Tool (L): Straight-edged selections. Useful for subjects with distinct geometric outlines.
* Magnetic Lasso Tool (L): Tries to snap to edges automatically. Good for subjects with high contrast edges.
* Pen Tool (P): The most accurate but also the most time-consuming. Create paths around your subject.
* Make Your Selection: Carefully select the person (or object) you want to put in the bubble. Use the `Shift` key to *add* to the selection and the `Alt` (Option on Mac) key to *subtract* from the selection.
* Refine the Selection (Crucial!): This is where you can improve your selection edge. Go to `Select > Refine Edge`. This is *extremely* important in CS3 as newer versions offer a superior `Select and Mask` Workspace.
* View Mode: Choose a view mode that lets you see the edges of your selection clearly (e.g., "On Black" or "On White").
* Radius: Increase the `Radius` slightly (start with 1-3 pixels) to soften the edges.
* Smooth: Increase `Smooth` to reduce jagged edges.
* Feather: Add a *very* small amount of `Feather` (0.5-1 pixel) to soften the transition.
* Contract/Expand: Adjust slightly to move the selection inward or outward, cleaning up stray pixels.
* Output To: Choose "New Layer with Layer Mask" and click OK. This creates a new layer with your subject isolated and a layer mask allowing you to refine the edges further.
3. Create the Bubble Base (Circular Shape):
* Create a New Layer: Press `Ctrl+Shift+N` (Cmd+Shift+N on Mac) or go to `Layer > New > Layer`. Name it "Bubble". Make sure it's *below* your subject layer in the Layers panel.
* Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M): Click and hold the Rectangle Marquee Tool in the toolbar and select "Elliptical Marquee Tool."
* Draw a Circle: Hold down the `Shift` key while dragging with the Elliptical Marquee Tool to create a perfect circle. Make the circle large enough to encompass your subject. Position the circle where you want the bubble to be.
* Fill the Circle: Choose a neutral color (like a light gray, #cccccc) by setting it as your foreground color. Press `Alt+Backspace` (Option+Delete on Mac) to fill the selection with the foreground color.
* Deselect: Press `Ctrl+D` (Cmd+D on Mac) to deselect the circle.
4. Apply the Spherize Filter:
* Make sure the "Bubble" layer is selected.
* Go to `Filter > Distort > Spherize`.
* Adjust the Amount: Start with 100% and increase or decrease the value until you get the desired "bubble" curvature. Higher values will create a more pronounced bubble effect. Click OK. You may need to run this filter multiple times.
5. Apply Polar Coordinates:
* Go to `Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates`
* Select `Rectangular to Polar` and click `OK`. This step is optional and can distort the bubble in interesting ways to create the bubble effect more effectively.
6. Refine Bubble Shape and Size:
* Free Transform (Ctrl+T / Cmd+T): Select the "Bubble" layer and press `Ctrl+T` (Cmd+T on Mac) to activate the Free Transform tool.
* Adjust Size and Position: Resize and reposition the bubble to perfectly enclose your subject. You can rotate it slightly if needed. Press `Enter` to commit the transformation.
7. Add Highlights and Shadows (Inner and Outer):
* Inner Shadow (for Depth):
* Double-click the "Bubble" layer in the Layers panel to open the Layer Style dialog.
* Select "Inner Shadow".
* Adjust these settings (experiment!):
* Blend Mode: Multiply (or Linear Burn)
* Color: Choose a dark gray or a color that complements the scene.
* Opacity: 20-50%
* Angle: Adjust the angle to match your light source.
* Distance: A few pixels.
* Choke: 0-10%
* Size: A few pixels.
* Outer Glow (Highlight):
* In the Layer Style dialog, select "Outer Glow".
* Adjust these settings:
* Blend Mode: Screen (or Lighten)
* Color: Choose a light color (white or a very light shade of the background).
* Opacity: 10-30%
* Size: A few pixels. Increase to make the glow more pronounced.
* Click OK to apply the layer styles.
8. Create Reflections (Optional, but Adds Realism):
* Duplicate the Background Layer: Select the background layer and press `Ctrl+J` (Cmd+J) to duplicate it. Move the duplicate layer *above* the "Bubble" layer.
* Create a Clipping Mask: Right-click on the duplicated background layer in the Layers panel and choose "Create Clipping Mask". This will clip the background layer to the shape of the "Bubble" layer.
* Distort the Reflection:
* Go to `Edit > Transform > Distort`.
* Drag the corners of the layer to create a distorted reflection effect on the surface of the bubble. Make it subtle. The idea is to suggest that the bubble is reflecting the environment around it.
* Reduce Opacity: Lower the opacity of the duplicated background layer to around 10-20% to make the reflection more subtle.
* Add Blur (Optional): You can apply a slight Gaussian Blur (`Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur`) to the reflection layer to further soften it.
9. Refine the Subject (if needed):
* Layer Mask Refinement: If the edges of your subject (the layer with the layer mask) look too harsh, you can edit the layer mask directly.
* Click on the *layer mask thumbnail* (the black and white rectangle) in the Layers panel.
* Choose a soft-edged brush tool (B).
* Paint with *black* on the mask to hide parts of the layer. Paint with *white* to reveal parts of the layer. Use shades of gray for partial transparency. This helps blend the subject into the bubble.
10. Adjustments (Color, Contrast, etc.):
* Add adjustment layers (Layer > New Adjustment Layer) above *all* other layers to fine-tune the overall look.
* Common adjustments:
* Brightness/Contrast: Adjust the overall brightness and contrast of the image.
* Curves: More advanced control over tonal range.
* Color Balance: Adjust the color balance.
* Hue/Saturation: Adjust hue, saturation, and lightness.
* Selective Color: Make adjustments to specific color ranges.
11. Final Touches:
* Sharpening: Apply a slight sharpening filter (`Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask`) to the final image. Be careful not to over-sharpen. A small amount of sharpening can enhance details.
12. Save Your Work:
* Save as a Photoshop PSD file (`File > Save As`) to preserve all layers for future editing.
* Save as a JPG or PNG file (`File > Save As`) for sharing or printing.
Important Tips for CS3:
* Patience is Key: Achieving a good bubble effect takes time and experimentation.
* Non-Destructive Editing: Always work on copies of your layers and use layer masks to avoid permanently altering your original images. Adjustment layers are also non-destructive.
* Experiment with Blending Modes: Try different blending modes on the "Bubble" layer and reflection layers to see what effects you can achieve.
* High-Resolution Images: Start with high-resolution images for the best results.
* Shadows and Highlights: Pay close attention to the placement and intensity of shadows and highlights to create a realistic 3D effect. The direction of light needs to be consistent.
* Refine Edge is your friend: Master this tool.
This detailed guide should help you create a visually appealing bubble portrait effect in Photoshop CS3. Good luck!