Photoshop Blend If: The Secret to Vectorize Images in Seconds
TLDRIn this tutorial, the process of vectorizing images using Photoshop's Blend If feature is explained in detail. The video begins by creating a new document and placing an image into it. The image is then masked and converted into a smart object to apply non-destructive filters. A series of adjustments and filters, including Hue & Saturation, Levels, Posterize, Oil Paint, Surface Blur, and Unsharp Mask, are applied to achieve a stylized effect. The 'Shadows & Highlights' adjustment layer is used to enhance details. The video also covers how to use the Blend If feature to separate colors for vectorization and introduces a free action that automates the process of creating vector layers for each color. The final steps involve exporting the vector image to Illustrator and adjusting the effect for a new image. The tutorial is sponsored by Wondershare DemoCreator, a tool for creating professional videos with various editing features.
Takeaways
- 🖼️ To begin, create a new Photoshop document of 2500px by 2500px and place your image using File > Place Embedded.
- 🎭 Use the 'Select Subject' tool to isolate and mask your image, then convert the layers into a smart object for non-destructive editing.
- 🎨 Apply a Hue & Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the image and a Posterize layer to reduce the color palette to a specified level.
- 🖌️ Add filters like Oil Paint, Surface Blur, and Unsharp Mask to achieve a stylized, drawn-like appearance.
- 🔍 Utilize the 'Shadows & Highlights' adjustment layer to enhance details in the darkest and brightest areas of the image.
- 🌈 Experiment with the Levels adjustment layer to control the color distribution and achieve the desired black, white, and gray balance.
- 🔵 Use the Blend If feature to blend layers based on brightness, which is crucial for vectorizing the image without gaps between colors.
- 🔄 Run a custom action to automate the process of revealing and picking each color for vectorization, simplifying the workflow.
- 📄 Save your work as a PSD file for future edits and to maintain the layers and effects.
- 🔄 To vectorize, duplicate the layer, apply Oil Paint again with different settings, and repeat the filter process to finalize the vector effect.
- 📈 When upscaling the vector image, it retains its quality without losing any details, unlike raster images.
- 📐 Open the EPS file in Illustrator to access a fully editable vector with layers, paths, and vector data ready for further editing.
Q & A
What is the first step to start creating the vector effect in Photoshop?
-The first step is to create a new document with dimensions of 2500px by 2500px.
How do you make the filters applied to the image non-destructive and editable?
-You can make the filters non-destructive and editable by selecting both layers, right-clicking, and converting them into a smart object.
What is the purpose of adding a Hue & Saturation layer and setting the saturation to zero?
-Adding a Hue & Saturation layer and setting the saturation to zero desaturates the image, which is a step towards creating the vector effect.
How does the Posterize adjustment layer affect the image?
-The Posterize adjustment layer reduces the number of colors in the image to a specified level, which is crucial for creating a vector-like effect.
What are the three main filters applied to the layer to achieve the final effect?
-The three main filters applied are the Oil Paint filter, the Surface Blur filter, and the Unsharp Mask filter.
How does the 'Shadows & Highlights' adjustment layer help in enhancing the image?
-The 'Shadows & Highlights' adjustment layer helps bring back details in the shadows and highlights by brightening the shadows and darkening the highlights, respectively.
What is the benefit of using the 'Blend If' feature when vectorizing images?
-The 'Blend If' feature allows for a smoother transition between layers by controlling which parts of layers are visible based on brightness, preventing gaps in the final vector output.
How can you ensure that the vector image does not lose quality when upscaled?
-By using the vectorization process described in the script, the image can be upscaled without losing quality due to the nature of vector graphics.
What is the recommended file format to save the PSD file for later use?
-The recommended file format is PSD, which can be selected by going to File > Save As and choosing PSD as the file format.
How can you adjust the color distribution of the image during the vector effect creation process?
-You can adjust the color distribution by manipulating the sliders in the Levels adjustment layer.
What is the role of the Levels adjustment layer in the vector effect creation process?
-The Levels adjustment layer controls the color distribution of the image by allowing you to change the amount of black, white, and gray in the image.
How does the opacity of the top layer affect the final vector effect?
-The opacity of the top layer can cause some details, such as those in the eyes, to be lost. To bring back details, you can reduce the opacity of the top layer or add a layer mask and paint with a black brush over the areas you want to reveal.
What is the advantage of using the provided free action to vectorize images?
-The free action automates the process of vectorizing each color separately, which is a time-consuming manual process. It allows for quick and efficient creation of vector images.
Outlines
🖼️ Photoshop Vector Effect Creation
This paragraph outlines the process of creating a vector effect in Photoshop. It begins with opening a smart object and placing an image, which instantly applies the effect. The video offers a free action to convert the image into an editable vector for use in vector software like Illustrator. The steps include creating a new document, placing an image, masking the background, and converting layers into a smart object. Adjustment layers for Hue & Saturation, Levels, and Posterize are added and adjusted to achieve a specific visual effect. Filters such as Oil Paint, Surface Blur, and Unsharp Mask are applied to refine the image. The Shadows & Highlights adjustment layer is used to enhance details. The process concludes with duplicating the layer and applying the Oil Paint filter multiple times to finalize the vector effect, which can be saved as a PSD file for later use. The paragraph also discusses the Levels, Posterize, and layer opacity settings for optimal results and introduces a sponsored product, Wondershare DemoCreator, a screen recorder and video editor.
🎨 Blend If Technique for Vectorization
The second paragraph explains the use of the Blend If feature in Photoshop for vectorizing images. Blend If allows layers to blend based on brightness, with sliders controlling which parts of the layers interact. The tutorial demonstrates how to use Blend If to isolate and vectorize individual colors in an image. After merging layers, the process involves adjusting the Blend If sliders to reveal specific colors, making selections, and converting them to vector shapes. An action is introduced to automate the vectorization process, guiding users through isolating and selecting each color. The result is a set of vector layers that can be scaled without quality loss, showcasing the crispness and detail of the vector image. The paragraph concludes with instructions on exporting the vector image to Illustrator and emphasizes the advantage of using Blend If over other selection tools to maintain quality.
🔄 Applying the Vector Effect to a New Image
The final paragraph demonstrates how to apply the previously created vector effect to a new image. It guides through opening the PSD file, importing a new image into the smart object, and removing the background. The Posterize levels and Levels adjustment layers are modified to suit the new image, and the eyes' details are fixed by adjusting the top layer's opacity. The action is then run to vectorize the new image, with colors being revealed and picked one by one. The paragraph highlights the ability to change each layer's color and concludes with a reminder that the process can be repeated for different images, offering a fast way to vectorize using the provided action.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Smart Object
💡Hue & Saturation
💡Levels Adjustment Layer
💡Posterize
💡Stylize Filters
💡Surface Blur Filter
💡Unsharp Mask Filter
💡Shadows & Highlights
💡Blend If
💡Action
💡Vectorization
Highlights
Photoshop's Blend If feature can be used to vectorize images in seconds.
A FREE action is available to transform images into fully editable vectors for export to vector software like Illustrator.
Create a new document in Photoshop with dimensions 2500px by 2500px for the process.
Use the 'Select Subject' button to hide the background of the image.
Convert layers to a smart object to make filters non-destructive and editable.
Apply a Hue & Saturation layer to desaturate the image for the vector effect.
Utilize a Posterize layer to reduce the number of colors in the image to a specified level.
Add filters like Oil Paint, Surface Blur, and Unsharp Mask to enhance the drawn-like appearance of the image.
The 'Shadows & Highlights' adjustment layer can be used to bring back details in the image's darkest and brightest areas.
Duplicate the layer and apply the Oil Paint filter again with different settings for a more stylized effect.
Save the work as a PSD file for later use or further editing.
Experiment with the Levels adjustment layer and Posterize settings for optimal results with different images.
Use opacity adjustment or layer masks to bring back lost details in areas like the eyes.
Wondershare DemoCreator is a tool for recording, editing, and creating professional videos with a range of features.
Blend If allows blending layers based on brightness, which is useful for creating selections for vectorization.
The process of vectorization involves creating selections around each color and converting them to work paths.
An action is available to automate the color selection and vectorization process for efficiency.
The final vector image can be exported to Illustrator as an EPS file with full vector data included.
The vectorized image maintains quality even when significantly upscaled, unlike raster images.
The tutorial demonstrates how to use the PSD file and action to quickly vectorize a new image.
