Variable Backgrounds Search Results

How To: Add lightning effects to a monster castle in Photoshop

This Photoshop software tutorial shows you how to add lightning effects to a monster castle scene in Photoshop CS3. ZAP! Remove the background behind lightning and flame images so you can add special Layer Effects, and avoid Blending Modes when necessary. Whatever your lightning and fire needs may be, no need to go to a compositing software, this Photoshop how-to will cover it all.

How To: Understand depth of field while focusing a camcorder

Depth of Field (DoF) is easy to understand, but it is often extremely poorly explained. It's all about selective focus. For consumers with conveniently small camcorders, you only have two options: get your subject away from the background and then (1) zoom in or (2) get the subject close to the camera. No 35mm lens adapters, no secret techniques, no complex math: That's it!

How To: Do the Ribbed Spider Web Stitch

The spider web stitch and the ribbed spider web stitch are both "woven" embroidery stitches, either used as isolated accents or used in clusters. They aren't a line stitch or a filling stitch, and they aren't really a "small" detached stitch that can speckle a background lightly, either. Watch this video from Needle 'n Thread to see how it's done.

How To: Composite photos in Photoshop

When creating an aesthetically pleasing image, sometimes more is more. Blending images together and blurring the edges is a great method for creating desktops featuring multiple photos of hottie Sam Worthington, or simply for creating a pretty website background.

How To: Build a spaceship

Erik from Indy Mogul teaches you how to build a miniature space ship for your films for under $20. Also covered, are using green screen to create background effects for your UFO film.

How To: Shoot on a green screen

Looking to create great special FX for you films using a green screen. Steve from Indy Mogul teaches you how to shoot using a blue screen or a green screen and also how to add in your own digital backgrounds.

How To: Draw a Chibi Orochimaru from Naruto

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a Chibi Orochimaru from Naruto. Start off by drawing the outline for the character, then add in the details for it as well. After this, you will start to draw in the shading and the additional lines to give it more details. Then, you will need to erase the background lines that you used as a guide to draw the final product. From here, you will start to shade in colors on the character and then draw in any additional details or facial features. To finish ...

How To: Draw a swan

In this video, we learn how to draw a swan. First, draw the head and the neck, then draw an egg shape for the body. Next, draw in the wings for the swan and erase any background lines to make it look more realistic. From here, add in details to the face and make the beak more apparent. Then, you will color in the background and color the swan white, adding in lines for the feathers. After this, use white and grays to create a reflection underneath the swan. Then color the swan with light brow...

How To: Draw Darth Vader from Star Wars

In this video, we learn how to draw Darth Vader from Star Wars. Start out by drawing the outline for the body, then draw in reference lines around to figure out where the facial features will go. From here, use a darker paint brush to make the outline darker and then erase any background lines. Then, start to add in the details to the body as well as to the outfit of the costume. Color in the background and then draw on the muscular details to the body. Add in color to the body and the cape t...

How To: Draw a cartoon Iron Man

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw Ironman. First, draw the outline of the body, make sure to include the heart in the middle of the body and the squares to make it look like metal on the outside. From here, start to add in the finer details on the body as well as the features on the face. Once finished, erase the background lines and then color in the background of the drawing. After this, color in the character with the appropriate colors and then define the features. This will finish u...

How To: Draw a scene from Star Wars

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a scene from Star Wars. Start off by coloring the background peach, then adding orange with the spray paint tool to the bottom. After this, color in clouds to the sky with a light tan. From here, add in a spaceship in the sky and then two large machines on the bottom of the ground. Draw in another spaceship in the far right background. Then, start to add in details to each of the different ships or tractors. Draw a person on the ground carrying a gun wit...

How To: Draw Optimus Prime of Transformers

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw Optimus Prime of Transformers. Start off by drawing the outline of the entire body of the character. Make sure to add in the large arms and feet as well. Next, draw over this to make a more elaborate outline including the details for Optimus Prime. Once you have all the details draw, erase the background lines. Ten, color in the character and add in lines and shading to make it look more realistic. Once you have done this, then you will finish off with a...

How To: Draw a cartoon frog

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a cartoon frog. First, draw an oval fro the face with two small circles sticking up. After this, draw the outline for the legs, arms, and body. Then, draw on the eyes, nose, and a big smile. Make sure to make the toes on the bottom of the feet. After this, erase any background lines and start to add in some color. Use green and dark greens to shade the sides and middle areas on the frog. Then, add dots to the legs to give it some character. After this, c...

How To: Take better photographs for selling on eBay

In this video, we learn how to take better pictures for eBay. If you're selling something on eBay, you want your item to look good so it will sell quickly. People are more likely to buy from you if you have good pictures which showcase the product you're selling. The first thing you can do is to clean the product thoroughly and then set it on a sheet with a green background and green all around it. From here, take different shots with your camera and then load it onto your computer. After it'...

How To: Draw The Incredibles

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw The Incredibles. Start out by coloring the background orange, yellow, and white. Then, draw the outlines of the bodies for all of the characters in the family. After this, draw in the details, giving them a 3D type of image. Next, you will color in the clothing and add in the fine details for the hair and the face as well. Erase any background lines from the drawing to clean it up, then add in some shading to make it look more realistic. To finish this, ...

How To: Make stencils in GIMP

In this tutorial, we learn how to make stencils in GIMP. Start with heads or faces if you are new to this. Then, use the rectangle tool to select the head. Then, go to image and fir canvas to selection. Now, remove the background by using the background tool. Once finished, go to colors, then threshold. The image should turn black and white. Turn the dial to the right, then turn it to the left to make it lighter and darker. Find the spot to where it shows detail but it's not distorted, then h...

How To: Isolate your subject to get better photos

In this tutorial, we learn how to isolate your subject to get better photos. If you are taking a picture in an area with a lot of people or surroundings in the background, have your subject stand up on something. After you do this, you can take the shot and have nothing in the picture with your subject but the background. You can also have a child go on a playground and zoom in on them if you are taking a picture of a child. On the playground, you can find tons of spots where the child can be...

How To: Sketch a female face

In this tutorial, we learn how to sketch a female face. Start with an upside down egg shape for the face, then draw in the contours of the chin. Use reference lines on the face to help you place where the eyes, nose, and mouth are going to go. After this, start to draw in the additional features, using a lot of lines to contour the face and make it look as realistic as possible. It's very important to use the lines in the background of the face so everything is even and lined up. After this, ...

How To: Simulate teleportation w/ film effects & camera tricks

In this tutorial, we learn how to simulate teleportation w/ film effects & camera tricks. First, take a shot of your actors moving and doing something active. Then, take a shot of the frame without the actors. After this, go frame by frame masking the actors out of each of the frames. Use radio blur to make them leave the shot, then add in evaporation. From here, you can play the clips of the background on the scene so it looks like the have been sent somewhere else. Smooth out the background...

How To: Make crayon resist watercolor background sheets

In this video, we learn how to make crayon resist watercolor background sheets. First, draw a pattern onto a piece of paper with crayons. You can make any kind of pattern that you want. After this, add some water color paint to the picture and use a credit card to push the paint around the picture. You will see that the crayon resists the paint and the paint sticks to the paper instead! Let this dry, then you will see that the crayon is still resisting the watercolor ink. After this, enjoy yo...

How To: Draw a galaxy in Photoshop

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a galaxy in Photoshop. First, open up a new project and color the background black. Next, create different lines and circles inside of the black, and then blur out the image. Now, it will look like a galaxy in black space. Next, color a new background black and white with spots and mix it into the galaxy image that was made. Continue on to change different settings on the picture as you prefer, changing the opacity and different settings as you wish. Whe...

How To: Draw a woolly mammoth

In this video, we learn how to draw a woolly mammoth. Start off by drawing the head, body, tusks, and feet. After you have the basic outline of the animal done, draw over it with a black paintbrush over the entire body and erase the lines underneath that. Next, draw in an eye and color the mammoth brown. Color the tusks ivory, then make the background of the picture purple with green underneath. Next, color the background with orange making it look sunny but also like sunset. To finish, start...

How To: Draw Spider-Man back in black in Photoshop

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to draw the black Spider-man in Adobe Photo-shop. Begin by drawing the shape of Spider-man and then scan it. Now extract the ink from the white page. Then change the ink from black to white. Make the background black. Then fill the entire figure of the character in black color, using the pencil tool. Now create a blue layer over the entire image. Add white to the eyes and center spider symbol. Finish by adding details and a spider web in the backgroun...

How To: Create dynamic, colorful background elements in AE

Discover how easy it is to harness After Effects to create compelling, deep motion graphics with very little thought. In this episode, Dennis of the Genesis Project walks through how a single element can be combined and reused to create a nice background element. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well se...

How To: Find the diagonal sum in Excel

In this how to video, you will learn how to create a diagonal sum in Microsoft Excel 2007. First, open the program and make a large selection. Type in =int(rand()*500) and then press control enter. This will create random numbers for the cells in the selection. From here, click conditional formatting and select new rule. From here, type in =column(A1)-row(A1)=$H$1. For the format, choose a contrasting look, such as a purple background and bold numbers. Click okay. If you type -1 or -2 in this...

How To: Remove date and time stamps from your photos

There are various ways to remove the timestamp on your photos using Photoshop. You can use the crop too and crop out the photo, but then you'll lose parts of the photo as well. You can use the patch tool, and draw a border around the date, then drag the date to another area, let go and press ctrl+D. The time will disappear and the area will be patched up with surrounding colors. Another method is to use the spot helium brush tool, and simply just brush over the text, and the spot helium brush...

How To: Draw a Halloween cat

We are shown how to draw a Halloween cat in a several easy steps. First A large circle is drawn. Then in the middle a cat is drawn with an arching back, tail held high. After the cat is completed the background around the cat is filled in with black, giving a silhouette illusion. After the background is completed in black, small details are drawn in white. The fur of the cat, whiskers on the face, hair raising on the arched back and even a gleam in the cat's eye. After this the drawing is com...

How To: Easily make a reflection in Photoshop

River City Graphix Tutorials demonstrates how to make a reflection in Photoshop. First, fill the background layer with black. Then, select the text tool and a color of your choosing. Type the words that you would like to reflect. Next, duplicate the layer to make a copy of the layer. Hold shift and bring it down, setting it on the bottom of the other layer. Select the rectangular marquee tool, right click to get the free transform tool. Right click again and then flip the image vertically. Se...

How To: Light your own web show

In this how-to video, you will learn how to light your web show. This is important as it will make your web show look more professional. Proper lighting allows you to see your face, eyes, and the colors of your shirt. If there is not enough light, you cannot see yourself as well. You will also look dark and grainy. Too much light will cause your face to look too hot. Backlit lighting will cause your face to be too dark because the light is in the background. This is why background lighting is...

How To: Do a simple drawing of Yoshi

In this how-to video, you will learn how to do a quick drawing of Yoshi from Mario Brothers. First, start off with the outline of the eyes. Fill in the eyelids and then go to the mouth. Fill in the pupils and nostrils. Next, move onto the arms and body of the figure. Do the saddle before you move on to the tail. Draw the boots once the other parts mentioned above are finished. Add in the smaller details. You can also add a background, such as an egg or the landscape in the background. By view...

How To: Create a glass text effect in Photoshop CS3/CS4

This Software video tutorial shows how to create a glass text effect in Photoshop CS3/CS4. Download a free trial version of Photoshop CS4 from Adobe. Open Photoshop, go to ‘file’ and click ‘open’. In the next box, give it a name, select width and height at 90 pixels, background contents to ‘transparent’ and click OK. Select the color palette and choose the background color and click OK. Now open ‘paint bucket tool’ and fill in the color. Then go to ‘text tool’, select the font, size and posit...

How To: Draw Tarzan

In this video you will learn how to draw Tarzan. The video shows first the outline of Tarzan's body, then it shows the details, followed by the background. This video includes everything from the sketch up until the coloring and detailing. Tarzan is a man who was raised by apes and lives in the jungles. If you're looking to learn how to draw Tarzan this is a good video to learn as it shows how to draw him in a swinging state and the background is a jungle like green, leafy, and vine-like sett...

How To: Use refine edge in Photoshop

This video in the Fine Art category will show you how to use the refine edge in Photoshop. This video tutorial is from Yanik Photo School. This feature is available in Photoshop CS3. If you are shooting objects in isolated background and you want to cut that object out and put it on a different background, the object will have jagged edges. Refine edge will help in smoothing those jagged edges. First select your object, then go to ‘select’ and click on ‘inverse’ and you have selected your obj...

How To: Draw Pucca

This how-to video offers you a simple, straight forward lesson about how to draw one of the simplest and funniest anime characters ever seen in a cartoon. She is none other than Pucca. The video consists of a simple walk through that shows you how to draw this unique character line by line. Starting from a simple white background, you slowly progress by drawing the silhouette, followed by the clothes, facial expressions, tiny details and in the end a simple, elegant pink background. If you fo...

How To: Make someone fly in After effects

CathyDirector teaches you how to make someone fly using After Effects. You will need two clips: one with the background and one with the background and the person walking or running. To have the same type of footage, use a tripod for stabilization. Duplicate the second layer and go to frames and cut the frame in which the person is in the air jumping. Use the mask tool to create a contour of that person. Add radial blur at the time he is still close to the ground and some sound effects. Next,...

How To: Create a transparent background in Xara3D

EggBram walks you though changing background colors in Xara3D and shows where to find the transparency setting. This is a simple walk through in high detail, very visible. Xara has been a part of internet development from the very beginning. Xara one of the original Internet service providers when it came about in the 1990s. Xara does most of its work online and has millions of customers online around the world. Xara Online is a leading edge online web service that gives you solutions for a m...

How To: Cut a person or object out of a picture in Photoshop

Ok, so you ditched the ex like a bad habit but now every picture on your Myspace features their face? No problem! You can use PhotoShop to cut objects out of your picture or to make people disappear. This video shows how to do both of those so you can forget the bad memories and move on! After you master the techniques shown you can also use them to cut the background out of your picture and then replace it with a background of your choice!