INTRODUCTION – We thank Nancy Lehrer of TOPCC for introducing us to the Orton Effect.  Here an image is overexposed and sharp while the same image is overexposed and blurred.  When the two images are combined, the result is an image that appears to be  correctly exposed and it’s saturation greatly increased.

OPEN PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS AND LOAD A PICTURE - Open Photoshop Elements in the Edit mode.  Hold the Ctrl key and tap the letter O key (Open) > navigate to a pictures folder and click a picture such as trees, leaves, flowers… > click Open.

CREATE A LAYER COPY – Select the Background layer > hold the Ctrl key and tap the J key > double-click the name Background copy and rename it Sharp > click OK.  (You should now have 2 layers)

CREATE A LIGHT LAYER COPY – Select Sharp > hold the Ctrl key and tap the J key > set the Layer Mode of Sharp copy to Screen using the layer mode pull down menu at the top of the Layers palette. (You should now have 3 layers)

MERGE THE TOP 2 LAYERS – Select the Sharp copy layer > click Layer + Merge Down.  (You should now have 2 layers)

CREATE A BLUR IMAGE – Make a duplicate of Sharp (hold Ctrl and tap J) > double-click the name Sharp copy > type the name Blur > click OK > set the Layer Mode to Multiply > click Filter + Blur + Gaussian Blur > set Radius: between 4 and 8 to suit (place cursor on the word Radius: and click/drag to change the number) > click OK. (You should now have 3 layers)

FLATTEN THE IMAGE – If and when you are satisfied with the results, click Layer + Flatten Image.  (You now should have one final image)

CONCLUSION  - This procedure is said to do the following to an image: create a dreamy luscious feel, give it a pseudo 3-d effect, saturate the colors and soften textures.  If even one of these is true for your modified image, it’s well worth the effort.

GOOD WEB SITES
NEAT TRICKS CLASS NOTES http://leisurevillage.us/nt/classnotes.html
LEISURE VILLAGE http://leisurevillage.us/
BILL’S HOME PAGE http://bzus.com
TOPCC http://topcc.org
CIPCUG  http://cipcug.org
GAVTRAIN PHOTO TRAINING http://gavtrain.blogspot.com/