About Dan Loffler Expertise I can help with specific "How To" questions. No Photoshop Elements questions please.
Experience I have been using Photoshop every day in my work as an Art Director and Graphic Artist since 1993 with version 2.5. I am currently employed as a Creative Director in Miami. I have taught computer graphics classes at CompUSA, Computer City. I currently teach a crash course on Photoshop to digital photographers on Digital Photography Corner's Digital Photography Cruises. I have worked as a personal Photoshop tutor for clients as far away as Seoul Korea.
QUESTION: I have several automotive images that I would like to apply a radial blur (spin) to. What I am trying to do is create a "turn" in the concrete below the car I am shooting. As normally applied, the radial blur will create a "circle" and is not what I want. I need to create a "turn" or partial circle on the concrete to give the impression of a moving vehicle. I don't have an image to attach as an example, however, on the cover of the April issue of Motor Trend magazine there is a Dodge Challenger making a turn, and the concrete below it is "curved" and is exactly what I want to do.
Thanks!
David
ANSWER: Hi David,
I don't have my copy of Motor Trend handy but I think I have the general idea.
I think it will be easier and you have better results if you can shoot the concrete separately without the car unless you want the car to look like it is moving too. The problem with radial blur and motion blur is they go blur both ways, forward and backwards. I have done similar things in the past.
1. Make a selection and put your car on a separate layer. Or better yet put your car on a blank concrete photo. (skip this if you want the car to look like it is moving WITH the concrete).
2. Make a circular selection around the area you want to blur. Go into "Quickmask" mode. (it's at the bottom of the tool bar).
3. Make a selection of half of the circle and apply an "Angle Gradient" fill with Black to Transparent settings. You will need to try this a couple of times until you get it just right. Then before you deselect, run Levels and move the left slider up until you get to the black. Now select the other side of the circle and do the same, only backwards.
You should have a good mask to now run your Radial Blur on, so it looks like it's spinning one way.
Have fun.
Dan
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dan,
Thank you so much for the fast reply. This question has been in my mind for some time.
I read your reply and am not sure that is exactly what I need.
I took a small resolution picture of the Motor Trend magazaine cover with the concrete curved. This is what I am trying to duplicate. The curve is at the correct angle with the turned front wheel to give the impression that the vehicle is turning. I know this is all a photoshop creation and it looks great.
To further state my question... Is it possible to bend the concrete below and then apply a blur? Or, better yet, change the angles when radial blur is applied?
Thanks again!
David
Answer Hi David,
I can tell you that this is not a Photoshop trick. This is the actual photograph. I can tell because the wheels are turning and you can see the brakes inside not turning. The shot is achieved by moving the camera at the same speed as the car and taking a long exposure. It was probably done with a camera mount attached to the car then removed in Photoshop.
I could not achieve this effect on a photo of a car standing still, and make it look real.
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