Even More Trickery

[Glenn Rossiter]

RPGers.
Anyone done much with Polar Co-ordinates distortions. I have tried a few to get Ovals and Spheres as in the attached construction called "Gravity waves". Anyone tried similar techniques, let me know of any successes, and of course tell me how you feel about this Image.
Many Thanks Glenn 

[Wearwell Mike]

Hi Glenn, now this I like I , not sure about the sky though, it rather conflicts with the main part of the image,I like the way you have created the the warped effect below the orbs it makes them seem very heavy indeed,also the grid effect leading the eye right through the image is unusal but extremely effective,yep this one get the thumbs up from me.  You asked, "Anyone done much with Polar Co-ordinates distortions." Well I use Flexify to distort and within that I also use Polar & Mirror Ball,see attached image "Creation" Regards. mike.

[Glenn Rossiter]

Mike.
Congratulations on the "Creation" Image .... I like the concept and the use of The Sphere is along my line of thought. Love the starfield, how did you get that ?. The use of the Lens flare element is also nicely handled, with a very realistic palm support.  Your thoughts and mine must be closely aligned ... I have just finished a follow up to Gravity waves .. I call it "Eden-Evolution" ... Less sky in this one as you suggested correctly ... more work on the Polar Co-ords Spheres.  Tell me more about Flexify !
Glenn

[Joe Tully]

Hey you guys, this looks like developing into a "who has the greater balls" competition, if you will excuse my turn of phrase. All three images are quite wonderful, especially your starfield Mike. I wouldn't know where to start I'm afraid, so that'm mw put in my box for the day. I have used the polar co-ordinate filter, indeed, as recently as last week, but only for the type of stuff attached. I have to assume that you guys are using something special to achieve those lovely globes. Have you come across a plug in or is it a stand alone? Anyway, whatever, these are scintillating images. Thanks for the peek.

Joe

[Glenn Rossiter]

Joe.
I don't mind your creations at all, Interesting ... Mike seems to us a Plugin called "Flexify". I create my own Spheres and Ovals using the STEPs shown below.
Give it a try ... Happy experimenting ... Glenn  
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Open your favourite image in PSshop, go to ……..Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates
Click on the Lower “Polar to Rectangular” button > Click OK.
Go to ………..Image > Image Rotation > 180degrees
Go to  …….. Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates.
Click on the Upper “Rectangular to Polar” Button > Click OK
Use an Eliptical marquee selection tool [5 px Feather] … to select the Polar image OVAL.
Use  ….. Layer > Create a new Layer via copy.
Delete the original background layer to leave ONLY the OVAL Polar Image
Use  EDIT > transform > distort    & move drag handles to … create a Sphere…. Hit ENTER
This is your basic OVAL or SPHERE production technique  .... Use it as you will ..
This Image (with its transparent background)  can now be …. “Save As”…. a digital bit file for later use in other Images as a  *.png  file ….
This enables very easy selection and moving into other images as a separate Layer .. for Creative – Altered Reality work
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[Wearwell Mike]

Well now this is spooky.........Before all this talk of ovals,sphere's & orb's took off I was working on an image from a photograph taken last Sunday on a visit to Wakehurst Place gardens in Sussex, as we were leaving my wife......... Bless her, said she would like to look around the gift shop, me.exit stage right,head for the outside plant area,and so with my trusty compact I took some images,later on the PC I started working on this, now finished, see attached "The Bubble & The Bee".

My image "Creation",the star field was created with noise,plus some diddling

Correction,not noise but the action snow.

[Joe Tully]

Hi Glenn and Mike

I am still in awe... even more so having seen Mike's "Bee and Bubble". Your wife and mine should get together sometime, they would have great stories to swop concerning the two of us and our rapid exits at the drop of a hat.
Many thanks Glenn for that valuable set of instructions. Silly me, I had never considered using both of the polar co-ordinate thingies at the same time as it were. All I was doing was inverting my images so that the sky appears on the outside in the finished picture, increasing the canvas to accomodate the thing and then running rectangular to polar. With the right starter it can produce a little miniature "discworld" floating in space. Your instructions though, open up a huge array of possibilities. To check that I was understanding them ok I quickly grabbed two files and ran this off on the PC while reading your stuff off the laptop. It works a treat. World beware.......... here I come clutching my orbs!!!

Thanks lads. Joe

[Wearwell Mike]

Heh Jo I like this pic of yours even without the orb its a cracker, I hope you don't mind but I've played with it in Flexify and added a bubble       just to wet your appetite,look up the software and have a play with the trial version. You will find it here. Let us see what you come up with if you try it.
 http://www.flamingpear.com/flexify.html 

[Joe Tully]

Ooooh! I really hate you..... yours is so much better than mine!! Just you wait though, one of these days I'll get you....

Joe

[Glenn Rossiter]

Boys
GREAT BALLS of FIRE !! .... you've done it ,  I like all the constructions .... that is a great little shot Joe the yellow ORB ( I like it !!) is just supereb. Glad the STEPS went well and you're off and running.   Mike, I shall look into Flexify ... sounds interesting.  Mike your ORB is a little dull in appearance .. perhaps a slight lens flare or judicious use of Render Lighting to brighten it maybe.   Keep up the Good work All    Actually the first to come up with an "ORB of FIRE" wins the prize eh!!
I'm off for the weekend to run a Photoshop Seminar ... see you next week.
Glenn

[Joe Tully]

Great Balls of Fire.... you guys might live to regret this yet! As you will see from the attached Joe has been doodling again. Enthused by Mike and Glenn I put this together this evening. The backdrop was put together by copying and pasting one small home made section about 30 times. Lens flare has been applied as you can see and the globe/orb/flaming planet was originally a burst of fireworks shot ages ago. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Thanks for the encouragment. Joe.

[Wearwell Mike]

Well done with this one Jo,were moving on now.................Smoking. Here then is my offering,your up next Glenn. Mike.

[Glenn Rossiter]

Mike.
Great extra additon of the Smoke and Firefighter, although I feel the Balls need to come out more and perhaps not the extra drop shadow insert BUT just an even Blend fade.
Joe, love the simplicity of your Image, although the Background star field is a little one-dimensional, perhaps work on an uneven darkness and brightness, with maybe a Coloured Nebulae effect across a diagonal ... But we are getting some great Altered Reality shots ... I'll have to induct you guys officially into the Clan eh!!
I have something just produced which should warm your British Hearts ... A Fireplace ! ... used one once, up in Cold Stanthorpe on our Granite belt wine country region of Queensland. The Port I was drinking at the time made the flames even more inviting !!
I call it "The FireSprites" ..comments please.
Glenn.

[Wearwell Mike]

"The Fire Sprites" What a super image you've created Glenn, the balls/orbs give a feeling of sparks flying when one pokes the fire you can almost feel the heat coming from it,yep I would feel right at home infront of this one sipping a wee glass of fine malt,and another thing,my good lady wife likes it,and that's like receiving the George cross medal    Thanks for the comment on my effort as well. I've been working on some images with the theme "Dreams", which of course feature balls/orbs.etc.So how about some images along those lines !!  Mike.

[Glenn Rossiter]

Mike.
Thank your good wife for my medal ..... Like it, she obviously has great taste .... I'm waiting for the Dream sequence shot example from you .... !!
Glenn.