I. Conceptual Overview
The general idea is to:
1. Prepare the Photo: Start with a clear portrait image.
2. Create the Bubbles: Generate bubble-like shapes. These can be done in a few ways, but a good starting point is using a cloud-like texture, or drawing circles.
3. Displace the Image: Use the bubble layer to distort the portrait layer, making it appear as though the image is being seen through the bubbles.
4. Add Reflections/Highlights (Optional): Enhance the realism by adding specular highlights to the "bubbles."
5. Blend and Refine: Adjust the blending modes and opacities to get the desired look.
II. Step-by-Step Guide
1. Open Your Portrait Image:
* In Photoshop CS3, go to `File > Open...` and select your portrait image.
2. Duplicate the Background Layer:
* This is crucial for non-destructive editing. In the Layers panel (usually on the right side), right-click on the "Background" layer and choose "Duplicate Layer..." Name it something like "Portrait Layer".
3. Create a New Layer for the Bubbles:
* Click the "Create a new layer" icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (it looks like a folded page). Name this layer "Bubbles". Make sure the "Bubbles" layer is above the "Portrait Layer".
4. Create the Bubble Shapes (Method 1: Clouds):
* Fill with Black: Make sure the "Bubbles" layer is selected. Set your foreground color to black. Press `Alt + Backspace` (or `Option + Delete` on a Mac) to fill the "Bubbles" layer with black.
* Add Cloud Texture: Go to `Filter > Render > Clouds`. This will create a grayscale cloud-like texture.
* Adjust Levels (Important): Go to `Image > Adjustments > Levels...`. Adjust the black, gray, and white sliders to increase the contrast of the cloud texture. You want to see distinct, bulbous shapes forming. Aim for a good balance between light and dark areas to represent the bubbles. Don't overdo it.
* Apply Gaussian Blur: Go to `Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur...`. Apply a subtle blur (around 2-5 pixels) to soften the edges of the "bubbles" and make them look more rounded.
4. Create the Bubble Shapes (Method 2: Circles):
* Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool: Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (press `M` and possibly right-click to select the elliptical option if you see the rectangular one).
* Draw Circles: Hold down `Shift` while dragging to create perfect circles. Create several circles of different sizes, overlapping each other, on the "Bubbles" layer. Fill each selection with white.
* Gaussian Blur: As in Method 1, apply a Gaussian Blur.
* Repeat: Create more circles, adjust the blur until you are happy with the look.
5. Displacement Mapping:
* Save the "Bubbles" Layer: Go to `File > Save As...`. Save the "Bubbles" layer as a Photoshop PSD file (e.g., "bubbles.psd"). This file will be used for the displacement map. Make sure you save it in a location you can easily find.
* Apply Displacement Filter: Select the "Portrait Layer" in the Layers panel. Go to `Filter > Distort > Displace...`. A dialog box will appear.
* Horizontal and Vertical Scale: Start with values around 10-20 for both Horizontal and Vertical Scale. You'll need to experiment with these to achieve the right amount of distortion. Larger values mean more distortion.
* Displacement Map: Select the "bubbles.psd" file you just saved.
* Stretch To Fit: Make sure "Stretch To Fit" is checked.
* Repeat Edge Pixels: Make sure "Repeat Edge Pixels" is selected.
* Click "OK".
* Adjust Displacement (If Needed): If the displacement is too strong or too weak, Undo (`Ctrl+Z` or `Cmd+Z`) the displacement filter and try again with different Horizontal and Vertical Scale values. Adjust until the portrait looks like it's distorted by the bubbles.
6. Add Highlights (Optional - Enhances Realism):
* Create a New Layer for Highlights: Create a new layer above the "Bubbles" layer and name it "Highlights".
* Use a Soft White Brush: Select the Brush Tool (`B`). Choose a small, soft-edged brush with white as the foreground color.
* Paint Highlights: Carefully paint small white highlights on the upper left or upper right edges of some of the "bubbles" to simulate light reflecting off their surface. Reduce the opacity of the "Highlights" layer if the highlights are too strong. A layer opacity of around 30-50% usually works well.
7. Blending and Refinement:
* Adjust Layer Opacities: Experiment with the opacities of the "Bubbles" and "Highlights" layers to fine-tune the effect.
* Blending Modes (Experiment): Try changing the blending mode of the "Bubbles" layer. Modes like "Screen", "Overlay", or "Soft Light" can sometimes produce interesting results.
* To change the blending mode, look at the top of the layers panel, it will say 'Normal' by default. Click the drop down menu and select the blending mode you want to try.
* Masking: If certain parts of the portrait are being overly distorted, you can use a layer mask on the "Portrait Layer" to selectively hide the displacement effect in those areas. This is useful for keeping the eyes or other important features sharp.
* Select the "Portrait Layer" and click the "Add layer mask" button at the bottom of the Layers panel (it looks like a rectangle with a circle in the middle).
* Use a black brush on the layer mask to hide parts of the "Portrait Layer" (i.e., reduce the displacement in those areas). Use a white brush to reveal parts of the layer.
8. Final Adjustments:
* Color Correction: After creating the bubble effect, you can further enhance the image by adjusting the overall color balance, contrast, and brightness using adjustment layers (e.g., Levels, Curves, Color Balance). Place these adjustment layers above all the other layers.
* Sharpening: Apply a subtle sharpening filter (e.g., `Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask`) to the final image to bring out details. Be careful not to over-sharpen.
Important Tips and Considerations for CS3:
* Non-Destructive Editing: Duplicating the background layer and using adjustment layers ensures that you can always go back and modify your work without permanently altering the original image.
* Experimentation is Key: The best way to learn is to experiment with different settings, blending modes, and techniques.
* Resolution: Work with a high-resolution image for best results.
* Save Frequently: Save your work often as you go along.
* Layer Organization: Keep your layers organized and named clearly so you can easily find and modify them later.
Troubleshooting:
* Displacement Not Working: Make sure you've saved the "Bubbles" layer as a PSD file. Check that the Horizontal and Vertical Scale values are appropriate. Verify that "Stretch To Fit" and "Repeat Edge Pixels" are selected.
* Bubbles Look Too Uniform: Vary the size and shape of the bubbles by adjusting the levels or adding more manual circles and blurring.
* Displacement Too Strong: Reduce the Horizontal and Vertical Scale values in the Displace filter.
By following these steps and experimenting with different settings, you should be able to create a cool and interesting bubble portrait effect in Photoshop CS3! Good luck!