Type of graphics software user: Hobbyist
Experience with graphics software: About 2 years
Operating System: Windows
About the image: I used Photoshop CS2 to create this image. I extracted the girl from her background. Then I duplicated the layer, used the gaussian blur so no features were obvious, then set it to screen. I then adjusted the opacity for this layer to 72%. I found a suitable background and did the same thing to it as well.The same thing for the wand. I found the the skin tones were too cool, once I had this background layer set, so I used a warm photo filter. The wings I drew and painted within photoshop. Then I set the layer mode as screen. Then I duplicated the layer again and adjusted the opacity. I adusted the layers so the wings appeared to be behind the girl. I selected a new layer, entitled stars, and then I opened the assorted brushes and selected the small starburst brush. I adjusted the size as I worked to provide highlights and areas of interest.
What graphics software do you use on a regular basis?
Photoshop CS2, Xara
What was the first graphics program you learned?
Photoshop 5 LE
What is your all-time favorite graphics program and why?
Xara Xtreme. It is so user friendly and renders images significantly faster than any other illustration program that I have dabbled with.
How do you use graphics software in your day-to-day activities?
Restoring old family photos for my genealogy research.
What is your best graphics tip or piece of advice?
If at first you don't succeed, google it; there's bound to be a tutorial out there somewhere to help.
