I have to thank friend Steve K. for putting me onto this "make your own lightsabers in Photoshop" tutorial by Ryan Weaver. I decided to practic with it today using the funky rockstar/Michale Jackson posing Yoda as my first attempt. You could also use this method for adding blaster shots and lasers! Have fun, and as Ryan says, "kick some butt." May the Force be with you.
Your quite welcome. I'd be due more credit if it were something I came up with myself. But I just pointed you to what seems like the quickest and best way to add the effect to every day photos.
*Hint* If you find your saber wielding subject in front of a white or bright, washed-out background - do the effect as described twice or copy the flattened layer. Desaturating it and playing with the opacity, then sandwiching it between the background layer and the colored blade layer helps it stand out better.
Example of a reworked still from ROTJ before: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/skareiva/luke.jpg
And after: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/skareiva/lukerev.jpg
You can kinda see the dark haze around the blade against the sand and sky. When I originally did the effect, you could hardly see the blade.
The one thing I haven't figured out how to do yet though is match the glow reflected off surrounding subjects. Like what the FX sabers do.
Now "kick some butt" on those shots from the day of the Mini reveal. The FX sabers didn't show up to well outdoors during the day. Give 'em some help!
Posted by: SteveK on October 30, 2005 03:46 PM