Tutorial: AKVIS ArtSuite

Seasons

This example was made after our New Year 2009 photo-editing competition. In the category “4 Seasons”, the winner was Andrew Blazhin, for his photo “4 Seasons”. His idea inspired this example.

Seasons Click on any of the images to see a larger version in another window

All work was done in Adobe Photoshop using the AKVIS ArtSuite and AKVIS Decorator plugins.

• Step 1. Open the image in the photo editor.
  
• Step 2. Here is our picture of summer. We will use it to represent the other seasons too. Let's start with autumn. A characteristic of autumn is yellowed vegetation, so let's begin our change there. To begin call the AKVIS ArtSuite plug-in (in the menu select Filter -> AKVIS -> ArtSuite).

  On the Settings panel we will choose the effect Channel Mixer and adjust its settings. We recommend that while making adjustments, click Autorun , which automatically updates processing after any change. Set the parameters as shown below.

  

  Click on to make the changes.

  Here is the result:

  
• Step 3. The image looks gloomy. We will brighten it up with one of the standard features of Photoshop. In the main menu select Image -> Adjustments -> Brightness/Contrast and increase the amount of Brightness.
  

  Click on OK to apply the change.

  Here is autumn:

  
• Step 4. After fall, of course, is winter. But what is missing here? Snow. We will give the mountains a frosty appearance by applying an ice texture with the AKVIS Decorator plug-in.

  First use the Quick Selection Tool to select the mountains.

  

  Call the AKVIS Decorator plug-in (Filter -> AKVIS -> Decorator). In the Texture Library we will find a suitable texture and adjust it to our liking. For example:

  

  Start the process of applying the texture by pressing the button. The result will be shown in the After tab.

  To accept the result and return to the photo editor, press .

  

  The mountains are encased in frost.

• Step 5. Let’s continue. Now select the ground and the house.
  

  Once again we will call the AKVIS Decorator plug-in. This time we choose a different texture and adjust the parameters.

  

  Press to start the texture application process and to apply the result and return to the photo editor.

  
• Step 6. We will try to cover the grass with snow. In order to imitate snow we will use a gradient. We select the desired area with the Quick Selection Tool as before. Then in the editor’s main menu we click Image -> Adjustments -> Gradient Map and in the window that appears, we choose the kind of overlay gradient, as show below. The colors will take on a white and light blue hue.
  

  Click on OK to apply the effect.

  
• Step 7. Let’s return to the mountains. We will brighten them, as well as the home and fence, thereby reducing contrast and making a great realistic portrait. To do this we used the Dodge Tool in Photoshop.

  A few simple steps and we have winter: