Tree Challenge was open from Nov 17 to 24. It is now closed to new entries. Thank you for participating and sharing your creativity. Look for the next Challenge to be posted soon!

-DVP

DVP said at 3:38 p.m. on Nov 17, 2006:

Top Layer: Delete background from tree using EXTRACT and manual erasing. Duplicate tree multiple times and arrange pleasingly.

Layer Two: Use GRADIENT to create a colorful pattern that you find pleasing. Change gradient layer style to EXCLUSION

Layer Three: Type something interesting. Apply Drop Shadow and Bevel Emboss

Layer Four: Use RENDER to create a layer of clouds. Change layer style to Difference

Tweak endlessly until you're happy with the overall effect and upload.

Dcs said at 6:27 p.m. on Nov 17, 2006:

For my B&W1; version, I used the Carr method and tweaked the curves a little.

Then I added some grain on another layer to add some texture, and I brought the opacity down so that the grain wasn't overpowering.

The original image is a bit too small and too compressed to make lots of adjustments. But this conversion method can give some nice results, in general.

Wantuhere said at 1:39 a.m. on Nov 18, 2006:

1. Selected a portion of the tree and background with the magic wand tool.

2. Applied ink outlines brushstroke filter.

3. Changed mode of entire photo to grayscale, then changed again to RGB.

4. Selected a green color that I liked from my swatches and applied color to needles and moss at base of tree with the color replacement tool.

5. Repeated procedure for brown in trunk and red in potting container.

6. Edited in the quick mask mode using the eraser I erased around the tree until satisfied that I had selected all I wanted.

7. Switched out of quick mask mode, and “grew” my selection by choosing ‘grow’ from the ‘select’ menu.

8. Inverted my selection in order to select the background and chose the deep blue photo filter at about 75%.

Sydney.michelette said at 6:37 a.m. on Nov 18, 2006:

First Challenge

1 - filter / liquify / turbulent to righ ad left.

2 - copy background / past new layer / less opacity

3 - edity / transform / scale / replace this new layer

4 - reapeat steps 2 and 3

Second Challenge

1 - With the first challenge: layer, flatten image

2 - filter / artistic / poster edges

ElZorroTOX said at 12:45 a.m. on Nov 18, 2006:

ElZorroTOX's Photoshoped Bonsai.

Here's how I did it:

1. Selected Filter...Stylize...Find Edges

2. Selected Image...Adjustments...Desaturate

3. Selected Image...Adjustments...Levels

A. Set input level to 0 1.00 214

4. Duplicated layer

5. Under blending options selected multiply as the mode

6. Erased blemishes by hand

7. Selected Buckeye Scarlet and Gray (Beat Blue) for Foreground and Background colors

8. Selected the tree on the BG layer

9. Selected Filter...Sketch...Photocopy

A. Set detail to 3 darkness to 25

10. Erased any other blemishes and voila!

Anjad said at 12:57 p.m. on Nov 20, 2006:

Ok, I want those bonus points! Here is what I did to the picture of the Bonzai tree. As I already mentioned, I'm not a Photoshop or PSP wizard so I used both programs to get this result (because I didn't know how to do it all in one program ..) . At first I opened the picture in Paint Shop Pro 9 and did an automatic improvement which made the colours somewhat brighter. Then I added some "tubes" of mountains, flowers and the Buddah. I also added sunbeams. And then I used an effect that accentuates the edges of the illustrations. I saved the picture and re-opened it in Photoshop where I used a Mehdi plug-in (see Cruiser's tabblo "An Abstract Tree: Mehdi Plugin examples...") called "Absolute Color". And the result was "Bonzai and Buddah".

Ghostbones said at 9:12 a.m. on Nov 18, 2006:

Tree Challenge

1. I cut out the pot.

2. Applied a ocean ripple effect.

3. Added a layer of clouds for the sky background.

4. Added alighthouse layer and applied a lensflare effect for

the light beacon.

5. and finished of with a porcelin effect.

MabelsMom said at 1:15 a.m. on Nov 23, 2006:

1- Added a little 3D effects

2- Added a ripple effects

3- Added a page curl

I thought of it as if lifting the page(the curl) and the photo rippling as I lifted it

Just starting to learn, thanks for making it fun!

THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING.

See the Apple Challenge for more!

~dvp