Okay, here's the task. Using only two filters and the background layer (thus no effects) make photorealistic clouds. Mushroom and anchovy. Learning to like mushrooms and anchovies is the best way to protest your pizza from household pizza vultures. Doesn't work on cats.

Ooops -- amost forgot, but I said it before in the other thread -- the filters have to be stock Photoshop filters.

I don't know what I am fully doing with Photoshop yet, but I like a challenge. I may fumble into it, I may fail, but damn, it will be fun getting to the end. I'll let you know. Xeno66

Hey, this was to Trick-Art! Okay, you go too but if you figure it out don't tell him!

Ahem...as I was telling you before, I'm going to have to disappear for a bit. However, the term 'photorealistic clouds' could also be taken several ways. Perhaps you'd be so good as to post an image as an example of the kind of clouds you're looking to achieve so as to prevent me posting every cloud technique limited to two stock filters in my repertoire? I really don't think I'd even have time to type them all up... At any rate, post soon and I'll reply tonight if it's in the cards...otherwise, I'll have to reply sometime next week. Cheers! :-)

Ok, so other than using the filter, clouds, you want an alternative way? off the tangent, I am glad I am getting into Photoshop more and left Poser alone for a while. That room is rough. And sometimes Bryce is the same. Just some people cannot take a kind "suggestion" Well, anyway I just received my Total Training for P7. I might finally figure out what all things do. I attended the seminar for Digital Video which included Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop 7, and Illustrator 10. I hope to dump some of the stuff in my head out onto the floor and learn something in the process. Being a visual person is hard to learn from just reading books. At least for me. I truly only like to look at the pictures. so back again to the first question and not the rambling filler. That is the challenge? Sharp crisp well defined fluffy little clouds, not ones that look like smears.

We're going to need to make a new thread, I think...the challenge hasn't been clearly stated, and so far seems to be dedicated to a small vendetta Dodger seems to have to get me to order him an Anchovy pizza (it'll never happen). As for Total Training, you really can do no better. I was a Photoshop teacher for years and I'm nowhere near as good at it as Deke McClelland. You will learn a ton from him, but only if you expand and attempt the techniques elsewhere on your own. I don't mean to sound arrogant (I'm going to, but that's not the intention), but Deke is one of five people of whom I know that knows more about Photoshop than I do. He's been using the program longer than I have (which is saying something considering that I was using it before Adobe bought it or it had version number...1985 for you history buffs. Anyway, I've learned a great deal from him. I think it actually takes effort to not learn from him...he's that good. He also writes the Photoshop Bible and Photoshop for Dummies if you're interested. Both wise investments for users at any skill level. Dummy or not.

Mmm. Fishies. Okay, I don't mean to sound arrogant, either, but I'm a photoshop virtuoso. I can just look at it from across the room and it makes pretty pictures. Damn, I sounded arrogant. Oh well.

it's the attack of the pygmy ego-maniacs!!! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!! THE GODS ARE COMING AND DAMN ARE THEY EVER PISSED!!! oh, I'm sorry, did I sound like an asshole?

LOL thought I heard some hot air.

I would just like to say thank you to both trick-art and _dodger for telling us just how f'in amazing they are. I would've never been able to figure it out, but then you decided to let us all know. I personally couldn't see what was so god damn special, but now it's all been explained, thank you oh so much. It's awe inspiring to be blessed with both your presences. Gee, that makes me sound like an asshole doesn't it? Well, that really wasn't the intention. Please believe me.

Allow me to quote the TOS: Member/User Conduct: Members and users are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is constructive and respectful of others at all times. Additionally, we would hope that each member/user would do their best to facilitate a culture of collaboration and positive reinforcement, so that we can all share our passion for art while realizing our personal ambitions, and developing friendships. Members/Users will not use this community for; [among other things]... Personal attacks. This includes but is not limited to, destructive, abusive, defamatory communications in any form, and retaliatory attacks from personal attacks. If you need assistance, please communicate with someone from our Renderosity Team. Destructive commentary/communications made with the intent to disrupt or attack (Trolling). This applies to any communications within this community, whether in the forums, art galleries, graffiti wall, chat, or IM.

I am glad I am here and with the right people. Also with the right stuff. I have accumulated tons of "crap" programs only to find, they don't have good tutorials or only a readme.txt. I had brought home the P7 tutorial had not a chance to use yet, still fighting with my picture idea and the darn challenge. Using only 2 filters UMMMMMMMMM It may take me time, if someone comes up with it before me, I won't look, I will mention when I am over my head. I am thinking of eventually getting the After Effects and the Premiere from Total, have to save up for those, but am currently downloading the free tutorial sections to see what I am getting into since I purchased them (Premiere is backordered due to popular demand so my order has not arrived). I spent way over my budget for the DV package. Oh, I did get prior the Bert Monroy book, watching him on TechTV really got me interested in the Adobe products, besides finding this site, further fueling the fire. For the After Effects I picked up the two books written by Trish & Chris Meyer. I probably should have posted this as a new entry. But it is part if TA's challenge. And what is up with all the abusive egotistic attacks lately? Must all be friends with Drac. I could be that way but reserve my energy as to not waste anyone's time in having to read through it. Nor do I like to visit the sewer. Anyway, It looks like I have two mentors whom do not know what they got themselves into. Me, I am not afraid to ask stupid questions, repeat questions, nor even if I know it is on page 2 of chapter 1 of the book. Just as long as the recipient does not get annoyed. If so, I only ask about 40 questions a week minimum. I hope I get as good as I think I can and as good as you guys here. The mature ones Ken

Slightly OT

but i'm allowed :)

Ken, don't worry about asking ANY questions. There are more ways to achieve any type of effect in PS then there are members in this forum. I've been using PS professionally since ver2.5, and i'm still learning stuff everyday. Maybe it is because of this some feel it is a bit presumptuous to assume to master PS at any given time.

Being the Moderator of this forum, I welcome any and all input (because there are ALWAYS different approaches to the solution). I have seen members come and go, some sharing a great deal of knowledge, some not. You learn from those that help and you play well with others. As to the question of "ego"s and reactions to challenges and banter, ... well, we are all one big happy family, we just don't always see eye-to-eye ;)

Please, EVERYONE keep in mind the TOS will be adhered to, and i can read all post (even if they've been deleted!)

Play Well, Play Fair

:)
retrocity

Retro: Didn't reckon you couldn't. Look at the timestamp of the post and the delete. That was the sudden realisation that he took the mick out of me and the decision to put it back ASAFP and call in admin instead. Others, regarding Trick and I: Now, just as a general sort of announcement... Trick-art and I see eye to eye just fine. None of you were under the impression this was some sort of serious conflict, were you? None of you really believe I can control Photoshop telepathically, do you? 'I said it's all good and it's all in fun So get in the pit and try to love someone' As to the trolling one: What really pisses me off is when a fun, harmless, and potentially useful* thread is driven into chaos because someone decided to troll. It's pretty clear to me that when someone deliberately and specifically states that they're being an asshole in the message and posts it anyway... * because we were not going to simply talk about knowing things, we're going to throw down some of what we know, that was the point aside from the silly Kung-Phoo fighting part Screw it. I'm not even going to bother. Retrocity, would you be so kind as to close this thread? I'll just talk to Trick in email where I don't have to worry that someone's going to start throwing knives because we stuck our tongues out at each other, and when I do back up my bragging with a sweet Photoshop trick that makes him go 'hmm', or he does it to me, I guess no one else will benefit from it. Whatever. Thanks a lot, Slynky. I'm sure the community at large appreciates that sort of thing.

ok, I deleted one thread. If its any consolation, its the exact same post as my first one, just with a different subject line. I never thought it was some sort of serious conflict. I just thought you were both comparing the size of your genetalia in public was all. also, I didn't insult anyone, I merely thanked you for pointing out how amazing you both are. Besides, you both said you were being really arrogant, and decided to post anyways... there's a correlation between what I said and what you said. I guess I'm kinda arrogant too. happy happy joy joy joy.

No, we weren't being arrogant because we weren't being serious. What will it take for that to sink in? I thought it was pretty obvious that we weren't being serious, but I can't say I always understand the ways of obtusity.

In regards to the comment I posted earlier regarding Dodger's vendetta against me, I would like to reenforce the fact that there is no actual conflict between Dodger and myself. Any jibes we throw at one another we are both well aware are simply in good fun. Were anything serious to come of any conflict developed (and it's really tough to imagine why something like that would ever happen), the forums would not be the place in which to handle them...and I'd like ot think that we're all sophisticated enough not to let something like that occur.

In regards to the challenge at hand, I will admit that with this particular effect, I'm not certain that I have a 100% answer. It would appear to be the result of the clouds and displacement filters, probably used more than once, but I cannot for certain say.

I will admit defeat and have a pizza delivered to Dodger, on one condition. The challenge I stated was not totally clear, and Dodger posted a challenge to me in regards to Photoshop technique, rather than functionality...which from now on, will be the terms of the challenge. There are always more than ways to achieve results than any one person could develop on their own, and leaving the challenge open in that regard, well, let's just say I'd probably keep Domino's in business for a couple years.

So, my condition is based on two things. Firstly Dodger, since you stated the same challenge, I'd like you to tell me how the above image was achieved...using no filters, no layer effects, and no custom brushes or actions. Secondly, a vote from the members that have so far participated in this little exchange. If I am in fact wrong about Dodger's technique, considering the rules of the challenge, do I still owe him a pizza?

By the way, for anyone else interested in trying to tackle this one...no filters means NO filters. No Gaussian Blur, no Noise, no Render Clouds, and especially no Lens Flare. No Layer effects means no Outer Glow, Bevel&Emboss (if you were even thinking about it), Inner Glow, or Overlays. Blending Modes are still allowed. No custom Brushes means only round brushes, no shaped or effect brushes. Everything else is open game, save the fact that use of any programs other than Photoshop is prohibited. It's a post to prove a point...this is Photoshop technique, not functionality...but I will admit defeat if someone can call me on this one.

L I didn't say no filters, I said only 2 filters. But you don't have to send the pizza, because you got it. However, as long as you could come up with a way to do it that looked the same, I'd have counted it anyway. That also means that I'm going to count it if I can do the same thing even if it's not precisely the same way you did it. The technique was: open a new image Run the Render->Clouds filter Save the image as a PSD Run the Distort->Displace filter, load custom image, load the image itself that you just saved. Click Ctrl-F to rerun the filter a few times to taste. (I said only two filters, though I duidn't say they could not be applied more than once). As to yours, I'll have to think about the large starburst. The diffuse circles are easy to make with a stroked circular selection and the stars are a piece of cake -- adjust any brush's space to 100-200% and just doodle around the screen with it and watch stars fall into place. I think I can make the starburst shape with a perspective-transformed filter on some simple streaks, but I'll have to try it to be sure.

Actually, I just realized that I gave you an unfair challenge. The
technique for that image involves a tool setting that wasn't
introduced to Photoshop until version 6. However, for the sake of
anyone still interested in trying to solve it, I won't post the
answer just yet. Oh, and just to keep with the theme... Who's your
daddy? >disclaimer: again, it's all in good fun. I would never
think of insulting anyone or claim to be superior to any member of
this or any other community. Nor do I wish to question Dodger's or
anyone's parentage in any way.

Aha! I knew it, you villain! You'll never take me alive, copper, see! You'll rue the day! Curses! Foiled again! Poppa cap in yo arse! Stand and deliver! Or something! Take this line seriously and I'll be forced to fill your car with toothpaste. And to answer your question: Odin, the all-daddy.

The rest will be available to you, however...so the remainder of the chalenge still stands. Hwaaaahhhh! >Kung-Fu stance assumed< And actually, I could use some more toothpaste...I'm about out. Aquafresh OK?