Photoshop Filter

[Jacqueline1818]

Is there a good photoshop filter to make a photograph of people look like an oil painting or anything else artistic???!!!

Cheers!

:)

[ohood]

Depending on your version of photoshop, you could use the 'watercolour' filter which can be found in the 'artistic' plugin menu. I think.

[rwniel]

What I like to use is duplicating layers and then experimenting with different effects, varying the level that the layer above shows through.

For example, take your original image and do Layer, Duplicate Layer.
On the 'background' layer use Filter, Artistic, Watercolour
On the 'background copy' layer use Filter, Artistic, Poster Edges
Initially, the copy layer completely blots out the water colour effect. Now vary the level of Opacity for the top layer (- try around 50% initially and drag the level both up and down until you get a pleasing compromise between the detailed and the abstract).
Layer, Flatten then combines both layers permanently (so remember to use Save As to protect your original image).

If you wish, you can then duplicate the layer again and add additional affects. For instance Filter, Texture, Craquelure on the new background copy layer. Again it'll initially totally obliterate the lower image, so once again adjust the opacity for the top layer.

Here is that described effect shown on an actual photograph:
Original Image (http://www.pbase.com/rwniel/image/33540157)
Version 1 (http://www.pbase.com/rwniel/image/33540188)
Version 2 (http://www.pbase.com/rwniel/image/33540230)

As well as that, have a look in the 'Retouching' forum on the web-site Digital Camera Review (http://www.dpreview.com/) as lots of useful information can be found here. Here are some tutorials (http://myjanee.home.insightbb.com/tutorials.htm) which you might also find of some use.

Robert