huma

I encountered the same message as wbiss.

I just occured to me that your chrome ball looks alot like the chrome preset for Bryce.

Blinky2004

Aw really? Crap! Sorry guys i didn't know you had to be registered there just to READ the boards... sheeesh! What's with that crap?! pffft!

Ok well... since it's my tute i'm gonna just C&P the text over here then.

And Moth... if it looks like the preset from Bryce, then blame the guys at "whoswe.com"... they made the original... mine's just a good knock-off.
It can be noted then that their version was made with a 3D app (don't know... mighta been Bryce?), and it's part of an animated Flash page. Checkout their site if ya like: www.whoswe.com .

Blinky2004

Hiya Rap! Maybe i can help?!

I checked out that site... nice stuff, albeit a little too heavy in the file size department with the Flash stuff -- and i have DSL too. Anywho...

Those images ARE done in 3D. But that doesn't mean they can't be done in PS too... with a little bit of know-how and some good ol' object study.

I'll use that chrome ball as an example...
To do that though... you really need to study the source image and break down the object into very basic parts -- which in this case is just some simple grayscale sections, strategically constructed so as to fool the eye.
Like this example below. This is 100% Photoshop. And no fancy filters either... just the basics -- i.e. tools. I feel a bit silly trying to duplicate that exact image from that site, but it was the best way to get these points across.
My apologies to the original creators of this idea.



As far as reflections go... you'd be surprised to see just how simple they can be, by using the proper (most appropriate) photo, and some gentle blurring. Reflections like the one above are NOT like the kind you see when the objects in the ball are very close to it -- like someone's face staring into the ball. The type of reflections used in this example image are distant objects. Therefore they're a little blurry, and not over-spherized. In fact, using the SMUDGE tool would be a better choice in this case to slightly 'bend' the reflected image to match the curve of the sphere's outer surface.

In my example image here, i've done just that, plus some simple gradient blending (done on multiple layers) to "haze over" parts of the photo reflection somewhat. I wish i could go into some fine details with this effect, but it would take a fair bit'o typing to explain all the steps needed, and more importantly - WHY - they're needed; which is something i really love to do in my tutes!

And if you have any sort of basic knowledge with PS, you'll understand how to create the light glow and subtle floor reflection parts. Just don't "over think" those things.

Hercules

Mark you start tread with this post.


I was hopeing that you did that at FXZone.com

May be, when you have time we can get the tut for this one!

Thanks.

Hercules

Moth your chrome sphere is very good. [righton]

I had to try it , so here is my attempt.
Can you see chrome?

Blinky2004

Nice effect lilly. Yours has a soft metal look to it.

I'll see what i can do about a mini-tute for this effect. At the moment my time is tapped, but i'll see what i can do.

Check the blend mode you've used for the light shining on the floor through the slit Lilly. It looks like you've used Normal mode, but you should use either Overlay/Color Dodge/Hardlight for that part.

And check the "scraps" hanging off the right-bottom side of the sphere. That needs to be masked out or erased.

:B

Hercules

Thanks Mark for inputs. I would like really to improve metal
look ( not to be soft).

I know that you are very busy, no rush for the tut , when you have a chance.
[righton]

wbiss

Very nice job Lily! [righton]

All you need to do in order to get more of a chrome look is to harden (sharpen) up the reflections!

Hercules

wbiss Thanks!