Flypaper Textures
Being able to create images that are just a little different from all the others out there is a challenge, particularly when it comes to a subject that is so often photographed. One answer that a lot of photographers use is to add more saturation, more contrast or turn them into High Dynamic Range (HDR) images. Of course the other option is to be at a location at the right time, with the right light to be able to get something a little different. Even in those cases, with a well photographed subject like the Ponte Vecchio taken early in the morning, the challenge is still there. Personally, I have a particular aversion to overly saturated images and have tended to become a great fan of is Tony Kyper's Luminosity Mask to create a pleasing, yet persuasive image. However, there are those times when the image needs a little something to really make it a little different. In some cases, I have turned to a product called Flypaper Textures as was the case with the image above of the Ponta Vecchio which used Tabula overlay at 85% opacity.Essentially Flypaper Textures are a group of various created overlays to use on a photo with various blending modes and in combination with other that one can use to create their unique result. Flypaper has now created approximately 20 different types of groups with a couple of others that can be used with Nik Color EFX Pro. Even Russell Brown, a Senior Creative Director at Adobe is a fan of Flypaper Textures and has written a couple of scrips for installing them, unfortunately that don't work with the current versions of PS.Here is an example of the various textures that come with each group. This happens to be their Distressed Painterly.
As I have said before, having ones own web site does present its challenges. I getting ready to create this blog entry I wanted to figure our how I could present a before and after presentation of the image where one could move their mouse pointer over the image to see the effect applied, similar to what Flypaper textures do on their web site. But alas I could not find the plug-in to let me do that. What I did find was a Before-After presentation where one moves the mouse pointer from right-to-left or the reverse to see what the image first looked like and then the effect of the textures used.Essentially, there are two blending modes that I use with these textures, Overlay and Soft Light. Secondly, I almost always adjust the opacity to a desired level less than 100% of either one or both. In the first example, I am sorry to say that I lost the individual items I used as somehow the file got flattened. I particularly like the effect of this one because it is a decent image but just to flat and uninspiring. I think the use of the textures created a nice effect. This is one of the town of Siena, Italy
These textures work particularly well with flowers, plants and still life images. This image is one of my favorites and it uses the Sisley texture at about 60% Opacity
Just to round out the examples, here are a couple more.The first of the dandelion uses Beau Linge Pausage at 77%, The second one of the vineyard in Tuscany uses Aoede at 100% overlay and Andaman Softlight at 70%. The last one of the well in Tuscany uses Kore, Overlay at 100% and Sisley, Softlight at 100%.