What You'll Need:
* Photoshop CS3 (or later)
* A portrait photo: Preferably with a clean, well-lit background. You'll be isolating the subject.
* A bubble image (or images): You can find these online by searching for "bubble transparent background" or "soap bubble png." You can also create your own if you are savvy with 3D software.
* Patience and practice! This can take some time to get right.
Steps:
1. Prepare Your Portrait Image:
* Open Your Portrait: In Photoshop, go to `File > Open` and select your portrait image.
* Duplicate the Layer: In the Layers panel (usually on the right side), right-click on your background layer (usually named "Background") and choose "Duplicate Layer..." Rename the new layer to something like "Portrait" or "Subject." This is crucial so you don't damage the original.
* Isolate the Subject: This is the most time-consuming part. You need to remove the background, leaving only your subject. There are several ways to do this in CS3. Choose the one you're most comfortable with:
* Magic Wand Tool (W): The simplest, but least accurate. Click on the background with the Magic Wand. Adjust the `Tolerance` setting in the options bar at the top. A lower tolerance selects only colors very similar to where you clicked; a higher tolerance selects a wider range of colors. After selecting the background, press `Delete`. You may need to repeat this multiple times, adjusting the tolerance.
* Magnetic Lasso Tool (L): Click and drag around the edges of your subject. The tool tries to "snap" to the edge. This is more accurate than the Magic Wand but requires more manual effort. After completing the selection, press `Delete`.
* Pen Tool (P): The most accurate, but also the most time-consuming. Click to create anchor points around the subject. Create a closed path. Right-click inside the path and choose "Make Selection..." Feather Radius set to 0. Press `Delete`.
* Extraction Filter (Filter > Extract): This was a filter available in CS3 which made masking easier by painting the edges of your selection with a highlighter. It might give decent results.
* Refine Edge: (Sometimes, in selection menus) After making a selection with any of the above tools, look for the "Refine Edge" option in the options bar (if available) or in the Select Menu. This will help you clean up the edges and deal with hair.
* Important: After deleting the background, you might need to clean up any remaining bits around the edges using the Eraser Tool (E) or the Healing Brush Tool (J).
* Create a New Background Layer (Optional): Create a new layer *below* the "Portrait" layer. Fill it with a solid color (Paint Bucket Tool - G) or a gradient. This is to give you something to work against and see your bubbles better. You can change this later.
2. Add the Bubble Images:
* Open Your Bubble Image(s): `File > Open` and select your bubble image.
* Move the Bubble to the Portrait: Use the Move Tool (V) to drag the bubble image from its own window into your portrait window. This will create a new layer with the bubble.
* Resize and Position the Bubble:
* Scale: Press `Ctrl+T` (or `Cmd+T` on a Mac) to activate the Free Transform tool. Hold `Shift` while dragging the corner handles to resize the bubble proportionally. Position the bubble on your portrait.
* Rotate: Move your mouse cursor just outside a corner handle to get the rotate cursor. Click and drag to rotate the bubble.
* Change the Blending Mode: In the Layers panel, change the blending mode of the bubble layer. Try `Screen`, `Overlay`, or `Lighten`. `Screen` is often a good starting point, as it makes the dark parts of the bubble transparent. Experiment to see what looks best.
* Adjust Opacity: Adjust the opacity of the bubble layer in the Layers panel to make the bubble more or less subtle.
3. Masking and Blending Bubbles (Key to Realism):
* Add a Layer Mask: This is *crucial* for making the bubbles look like they're integrated with the subject.
* Select the bubble layer in the Layers panel.
* Click the "Add Layer Mask" button at the bottom of the Layers panel (it looks like a rectangle with a circle inside). This creates a white rectangle next to your bubble layer.
* Paint on the Layer Mask:
* Make sure the *layer mask* is selected (click on the *white rectangle* next to the bubble layer).
* Select the Brush Tool (B).
* Set your foreground color to black. Black on a layer mask *hides* the content of the layer. White *reveals* the content.
* Use a soft-edged brush: A soft brush will create smoother transitions. Adjust the `Hardness` setting in the options bar at the top.
* Start painting on the layer mask where you want the bubble to appear *behind* parts of the subject. For example, if the bubble is overlapping the person's hair, paint with black on the mask to hide the part of the bubble that should be behind the hair. You can paint over edges, and reduce the appearance of the bubble.
* If you accidentally hide too much, switch your foreground color to white and paint to reveal the bubble again.
* Experiment with Brush Opacity: Lowering the opacity of the brush allows you to create gradual fades.
4. Add More Bubbles and Variations:
* Duplicate Bubble Layers: To add more bubbles, duplicate your existing bubble layers (right-click on the layer and choose "Duplicate Layer...").
* Vary Size, Position, and Rotation: Use `Ctrl+T` to resize, rotate, and reposition the duplicated bubbles.
* Adjust Blending Modes and Opacity: Experiment with different blending modes and opacity levels for each bubble to create variation.
* Different Bubble Images: Mix different bubble images for more realism.
5. Refinements and Final Touches:
* Color Correction: Adjust the colors of the bubbles to match the overall tone of the portrait. You can use adjustment layers (Layer > New Adjustment Layer...) like Hue/Saturation or Color Balance. *Clip* the adjustment layer to the bubble layer to only affect the color of the bubbles.
* Shadows and Highlights: If the bubbles look too flat, add subtle shadows and highlights using the Dodge and Burn tools (O).
* Sharpening: A slight sharpening (Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask) can help make the bubbles stand out.
* Background Adjustments: Tweak the background color or add textures to enhance the overall composition.
Tips and Troubleshooting:
* Non-Destructive Editing: Use layer masks instead of directly erasing parts of the image. This allows you to easily make changes later.
* Organization: Keep your Layers panel organized by grouping related layers into folders (click the folder icon at the bottom of the Layers panel).
* Opacity: Experiment with the opacity of both the bubble layers and the brush you're using on the layer masks.
* Edges: Pay close attention to the edges where the bubbles meet the subject. Use a soft brush on the layer mask to create smooth transitions.
* Realistic Lighting: Consider the direction of the light in your portrait and try to match the highlights and shadows on the bubbles.
* Patience! This technique requires patience and practice. Don't be afraid to experiment and try different approaches.
* Bubble Source: If you're using a bubble image with a white background, you can often quickly remove the background by using the "Screen" blending mode.
* Experiment: It's a matter of playing around with the tools and techniques available.
In summary, the key steps are:
1. Isolate your subject.
2. Add bubble images.
3. Adjust bubble positions, sizes, blending modes, and opacity.
4. Use Layer Masks to blend the bubbles realistically with the subject.
Good luck! Have fun experimenting! Remember that these instructions are tailored for Photoshop CS3, so some things may be in slightly different locations compared to newer versions. If you have more questions, feel free to ask.