My Poster Creation (step-by-step)

[Sonny]

The Klein Eagles wanted to do something special for 15 of their players. These young men played all four years together on the same team. They started out on the Freshman team at the ages of 7 & 8 and played until they the age of 12 years old on the Senior team.

This photoshoot happened right after a tough loss which was the last game of the day. I thought this would be to my advantage. Instead the boys were joking around and having some fun. While we explained to the parents what we were trying to achieve, I asked the boys to pick a spot and a pose themselves. Afterwards we made some minor adjustments. It took about two minutes and multiple threats from their parents NOT to smile. We had about 15 minutes to position the boys and fire off a few test shots. At this point I asked the boys to give me three more minutes. If they stayed perfectly still (faces & bodies) then we would be done! THAT WORKED!

If I had more time I would have slowed down and paid closer attention to the spacing of the players on the back row. I would also have moved the helmet out from between the legs of the player kneeling and the helmet from the boys on the palette.

I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to share my custom poster process. So here it is. Feel free to leave comments or questions. Thank you for looking.


1. Imported photo into LR3. SOC no adjustments made.



2. Created an 11x14 document in PSCS5 and enlarged photo to fill the document.



3. Used various clones tools to clean up the foreground.



4. Used Content-Aware to fill in the rest of the empty canvas. Then clone and blended some problem areas.



5. First pass using Topaz Adjust 5 (TA5). Bringing out some midtone small details. Adjust opacity to interact with the next two layers.



6. Next pass using TA5. Bringing out some highlight details. Adjust opacity to interact with the previous layer and next layer.



7. Third pass using TA5. Added some heavy grunge details. Adjust opacity to interact with the previous two layers.



8. After advice from the wife, removed the center line from concrete.



9. Added text to side of the palette.



10. Chose font for text on the concrete.



11. Rasterized text layer. Free Transform text using Perspective. Added layer mask and brushes to distress text. Also used Displacement map. Set Blend Mode to Overlay or Softlight and adjusted opacity to taste.



12. Added logo. Used Displacement Map. Set Blend Mode to Overlay or Softlight and adjusted opacity to taste.



13. Added name of players. Lowered opacity. Blurred names to protect the innocent.



14. Added 1st texture layer (Scratches). Used layer mask to remove texture from center of photo and faces of the players.



15. Added 2nd texture layer (Grunge). Used layer mask to remove texture from center of photo and faces of the players.



16. Added Vignette. Used layer mask to remove texture from center of photo and faces of the players.



17. Finally, added Levels, Hue/Saturation, & Brightness/Contrast adjustment layers.

[iCe]

That is awesome Sonny!

[PhotoByLeal]

COOL job Sonny, now can you remove that BIG BLACK line in the middle???

later....

[Killjoy]

Very cool!

[c6cowboy]

Awesome!

Love your workflow...especially input from the wife!

Thanks for sharing!!!

[texkam]

.....and what's the most important thing we've learned here?

Always listen to the wife.

.....Oh, and thanks for the other info too. : )

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by iCe

That is awesome Sonny!

Thank you.

Originally Posted by PhotoByLeal

COOL job Sonny, now can you remove that BIG BLACK line in the middle???

later....

It is green and that would be too much trouble.

Originally Posted by Killjoy

Very cool!

Thanks.

Originally Posted by c6cowboy

Awesome!

Love your workflow...especially input from the wife!

Thanks for sharing!!!

Sometimes she can be helpful.

Originally Posted by texkam

.....and what's the most important thing we've learned here?

Always listen to the wife.

.....Oh, and thanks for the other info too. : )

The one time my selective hearing paid off.

[craigb456]

Very Nice