How to Create Virtual Mermaids
A virtual mermaid is a computer-simulated, drawn mermaid that can be made using any digital image editing software like Photoshop, Gimp or Paint.Net. The finalized drawing can be printed and framed as a work of art or reduced in size to use as an avatar or website image. To make a virtual mermaid you need two images, a picture of the female form and a dolphin image with the tail. The combination of both will create the virtual mermaid.
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Instructions
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Locate or scan the image of a gymnast, or female body photographed in the upper body position you want the mermaid to be in. Open this image in any digital image editing software like Photoshop, Gimp or Paint.Net.
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Select the rectangular marquee tool from the left toolbar -- the dashed box icon. Drag a marquee around the female form. Right click in the boxed area and click "Color Range." Click the color picker and select the highlights of the form. Change the "fuzziness level" in the color range window to 200. Hit "OK."
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Locate the layers window on the right side and select the "Channels" tab. Check the "Save Selection as Channel icon." Wait for a new alpha layer to appear. Click the paint brush icon and select the white color swatch. Paint all the female form you want to keep. Next select the black color swatch to paint all the area you don't want to keep. Zoom in on the picture to make the painting precise.
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Press "Ctrl" and "C" to copy the image. Click on the "File" tab in the top toolbar and select "New." Press "Ctrl" and "V" to paste the female image without its background in the new document.
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Duplicate the layer of the model by clicking "Layers" and New. Select "Filter,""Blur" and "Gaussian Blur." Set the radius to three pixels. Click the "Filters" tab again and select the "Artistic filters" option. Choose "Plastic Wrap" and select "4" under detail and "10" for smoothness. Set the opacity of this layer to "60 percent" in the right layers window.
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Open the dolphin image and select the pen tool. Draw an outline around the dolphin. Locate the "Rasterize" option from the top toolbar and press "Ctrl" and "C" to copy the shape.
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Click on the female shape file at the bottom of the application to expand it and press "Ctrl" "V." Select "Edit" and transform to adjust the dolphin layer to fit over the female form so the tail will take the place of the legs.
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Navigate to the layers window and apply a layers mask. This is the square icon with a circle in the middle and is located at the bottom of the layers window. Select the paint brush and the black paint swatch. Set the brush opacity to "30 percent," which will give the fade out from the female form to the dolphin tail a softer look. Paint out the areas of the dolphin you do not want to be seen.
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Click on the female form layer and select the mask icon as well. Select the paintbrush and black color to paint out the legs of the form.
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Press "Ctrl" and "M" to adjust the brightness and contrast. Drag points along the diagonal line to curve slightly upward to adjust the lights and darks of the image. Hide your background layer by clicking the "eye" icon next to it. Click the "Layers" tab and "Merge" the mermaid layers down so they combine into one layer.
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Locate and open an ocean or water background scene in your photo imaging software program. Click "Image" and "Adjustments" to adjust the brightness and contrast as needed. Select the "Marque" tool and drag an outline around the image. Press "Ctrl" and "C" to copy it. Return to the mermaid image and press "Ctrl" and "V" to paste it.
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Find the background layer now covering the mermaid image and drag the layer under the mermaid layers. This will bring the mermaid forward in the image again.
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Select your mermaid layer Click the "Edit" tab from the top toolbar, select "Transform" and "Scale." Drag the box points out or in to resize the mermaid in the new background.
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Click "File" and "Save As." Name the file and save it as a .JPG image.
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References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
