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HowtoAchieveMiniatureEffectviaPhotoshop by
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12Steps

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AnalogueChick
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Bio:Iloveinternetreading.IthinkIhave
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MorebyAnalogueChick:
(/file/F80LF94GU1UZ13M/)
(/id/MakeYour

Tiltshiftphotographyreferstotheuseofcameramovementsonsmalland
mediumformatcameras,andsometimesspecificallyreferstotheuseoftiltfor
selectivefocus,oftenforsimulatingaminiaturescene.Sometimesthetermis
usedwhentheshallowdepthoffieldissimulatedwithdigitalpostprocessing
thenamemayderivefromthetiltshiftlensnormallyrequiredwhentheeffectis
producedoptically.(Wiki(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiltshift_photography))
SinceIdon'thavetheexpensivetiltshiftlensandIdon'thaveenoughtimeto
makemyownlensfortheminiatureeffect,Iexperimentedonsomestock
photosIhaveviaPhotoshopCS4instead.It'squiteeasyanditbringsyouthe
exacteffectyouwant.Miniatureeffecthasbeenapopularmediumusedin
commercialslately.Butanyway,togetanidea,somecooltiltshiftphotography
canbeseenhere(http://www.designfloat.com/blog/2010/06/10/40incredibletilt
shiftphotos/).

ImagesInterestingwithGalaxyOverlay/)

(/id/ControlArduino

WirelesslywithMATLAB/)

(/id/Steampunk

Bonsai1/)

Step1:ChoosingtheRightPhoto

Tags:
photography(/tag/typeid/keywordphotography/)
miniature(/tag/typeid/keywordminiature/)
effect(/tag/typeid/keywordeffect/)
tilt(/tag/typeid/keywordtilt/)
shift(/tag/typeid/keywordshift/)
ps(/tag/typeid/keywordps/)
cs4(/tag/typeid/keywordcs4/)
photoshop(/tag/typeid/keywordphotoshop/)
modify(/tag/typeid/keywordmodify/)

Related
TiltShift(StepbyStep)
(/id/TiltShiftStepbyStep/)
bycaptureillustration
(/member/captureillustration/)
(/id/TiltShift

(/file/F34K4JTGU1I4GG6/)

Notallphotoscangivetherightminiatureeffect.Whenchoosingphotos
onemustrememberthefollowing:
1)Chooseapicturethatwastakenfromaafar.
2)Itisalsoadvisabletochooseanimagenotonlythatitwastakenfromafarbut
ratheronanelevatedlevellikeyou'reon4thor5thfloorofabuildingtakingcity
streetsdownbelow.Agoodperspectiveisalwaysakeypoint.
3)Mostofthetime,cars,buildingsandtreesarethebestsubjectsalthoughif
youwanttotakepicturesofpeople,justmakesurethatthere'sanelementin
thepicturethatwouldmakethemlooklikeplastictoymodels,forexamplea
buildingoratleastafewcars,treesanystructure.
ForthistutorialIchoseoneofmyfavoriteminiatureeffectsubject,trains.Take
notethatIchoseaphotothatwastakenafloorhigherthanthesubject.

Step2:GettingStarted

(/file/FEDWCWMGU1I4GGG/)

OpenupyourchosenimageviaPhotoshop.Inmycase,IusedCS4.

PrintableTiltShiftLens
Adapter(/id/PrintableTilt
ShiftLensAdapter/)
byJoeMurphy
(/id/Printable (/member/JoeMurphy/)
Howtoachievefisheyeeffect
withoutgettingtheactual
expensivelens?(/id/Howto
achievefisheyeeffect
(/id/Howto withoutgettingthe/)
LayersandshapesinAdobe
Photoshop(/id/Layersand
shapesinAdobe
Photoshop/)
byxenia003
(/id/Layers
CreatingDepthofFieldUsing
Photoshop(/id/Creating
DepthofFieldUsing
Photoshop/)
(/id/Creating byajmalhassan

Step3:

(/file/FCS1XR2GU2QYQPS/)

AfteropeningtheimagetoyourPhotoshoppresson"Q"toenableQuickMask
Mode.

Step4:

(/file/FDK7C0UGU1I4GJD/)

Afterpressing"Q"youmaythenpress"G"toenableGradient.Choosethe
ReflectedGradientfortheminiatureeffect.

Step5:

(/file/FVI49QIGU1UZ142/)

Afterenabling"Gradient,"drawaverticallineonthepicture.Afterdrawinga
verticalline,areddishcolorgradientshouldappearwhichwillmarkthatthose
partoftheimagewillbethefocusorthesubjectofyourpictureandnottobe
blurredout.

Step6:

(/file/F8H0CM4GU1UZ147/)

Afterdeterminingthefocusandsubjectofyourpicture,presson"Q"againto
exitQuickMaskModeandgobacktoStandardMode.Clickingonthiswillmake
themarchingantsselectionlinesappearwhereour"LensBlur"shouldbe
appliedlateron.

Step7:

(/file/FORCXIEGU1I4GMR/)

AfterexitingtheQuickMode,gotoFilter>Blur>LensBlur.

Step8:

(/file/FON0CQDGU2F3OKO/)

Adjusttheradiusuntilyoureachedthedesiredoutputandpresson"OK."Inmy
case,Iadjustedtheradiusuntil40.

Step9:

(/file/FHT5RUUGU1I4GO7/)

PressCTRLDonthekeyboardtoremovethemarchingantsselection
boundary.

Step10:

(/file/FU6QTO7GU0L7P3I/)

(/file/FBJHNVWGU1I4GOI/)

Oncedonewiththefocus,youneedtoenhancethesaturationofyourimage.To
achieveminiatureeffect,mostofthetime,saturationoftheimagesareadjusted
to40abovethenormalsaturationsinceminiaturemodelsusuallyarebrightly
painted.Soinordertoachievethedesiredoutput,youneedtoadjusteitherthe

vibranceorthesaturationoftheimage.JustgotoImage>Adjustments>
Hue/Saturation.

Step11:

(/file/FGPIA4KGU0L7P3P/)

(/file/FDUR6OVGU2F3OM6/)

Youalsomaywanttoadjustthecontrast.TodothisjustgotoImage>
Adjustments>Curves.Experimentonthecurvesuntilyoureachedthedesired
output.
Oncedonewiththefollowingjustsaveyourimageandfindyournexttarget
image.

Step12:SampleOutput

(/file/FDB5BJKGU0L7P42/)

(/file/FB4XHA1GU1I4GPP/)

(/file/F48DAM7GU0L7P3R/)

(/file/FY92PL3GU1I4GPK/)

(/file/F7CRU9IGU2F3ON0/)

ShowAllItems

IwantedtotrysomethingwithbridgesbutIdon'thavephotosofbridgestaken
fromabovesoIborrowedthistotryandseehowitwouldlooklike.Original
imagesofthesecanbeseenhere(http://www.panoramio.com/photo/51417751).
Anyway,somecooltiltshiftphotographyhere
(http://www.designfloat.com/blog/2010/06/10/40incredibletiltshiftphotos/.).

Wehaveabenicecommentpolicy.

Pleasebepositiveandconstructive.

pzgwal(/member/pzgwal)

wIMadeit!

AddImages

PostComment

6monthsago

Reply

Awesome!Agreedwithoneofthecommentersthatnewadjustmentlayersin
generalarebetterforpreservingtheoriginalimagebutthiswasingeneral
superhelpful,thankyou!

NabilJacob(/member/NabilJacob)

6monthsago

Reply

8monthsago

Reply

Devanshpahariya(/member/Devanshpahariya)

11monthsago

Reply

Devanshpahariya(/member/Devanshpahariya)

11monthsago

Reply

ayearago

Reply

justwhatiwaslookingfor.muchappreciated.thanks

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baelza.bubba(/member/baelza.bubba)

Lovelydescriptionandsomegreataffects.Thebridgeshot
isprettycool.I'mdefinitelygoingtogetbacktomyold
photosandgivethisago.I'vebeenwonderingabouthow
toachievethiseffect,thanksverymuchAnalogchick

back_scatter(/member/back_scatter)

Beautiful!Veryeasyandrehandlableinstructions

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F95/1BY3/I0HYNXG4/F951BY3I0HYNXG4.LARGE.jpg)

MajesticClicksT(/member/MajesticClicksT)

2yearsago

Reply

2yearsago

Reply

supercool!!!wouldlovetofeaturethisonmysite

chtwrone(/member/chtwrone)

HerearesomeexamplesthatI'vedonerecently.

chtwrone(/member/chtwrone) . chtwrone(/member/chtwrone)

Heypresto.

Reply

2yearsago

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F80/2D03/HO7XGFP5/F802D03HO7XGFP5.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F6X/WB1G/HO7XGFP9/F6XWB1GHO7XGFP9.LARGE.jpg)

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piggleliggle(/member/piggleliggle)

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Haplo1(/member/Haplo1)

4yearsago

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4yearsago

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Thatissoawesome:DI'vebeentryingtothinkofwaysto
editsomephotosthatItookwhilstIwasinFrance,andthis
isjustbrilliant.Ireallylikethewaythisaffectsthetrees.

Thatisveryverycool

jfailma(/member/jfailma)

ayosto...salamat

Gr3at_Whit3_North_Guy(/member/Gr3at_Whit3_North_Guy)

ThisisveryneatandagooduseofPhotoshopbutwhyis
thetopandbottomofthephotoalwaysblurred.

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nathb1028(/member/nathb1028)

Makeaniphoneapofthis!

TomK32(/member/TomK32)

Nowhereareafewmistakesthatyoumade.Thisselection
hastobealotmorecomplicated,foreverythingthatrises
verticallyfromafocusedintoablurredareaneedstobe
selectedtoandkeptfocused.Inyoupicturetherearethose
polesnexttotherailtracks,theyareaperfectexamplefor
thetopofthepoleisalmostthesamedistanceawayasthe
bottomthusithastobesharpforthewholelength.

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jeanv(/member/jeanv)

awesome...itscrazythatsucharelativelysimpletweakcan
makethewholeworldlookminiturized...amazing...theres
gottabesomeweirdneurologythatexplainsthis
phenomenon...thanksforsharing.

TheAlp(/member/TheAlp) . jeanv(/member/jeanv)

itscalledthe"Scheimpflugprinciple"
youcanreadaboutithere:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheimpflug_principle

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jeanv(/member/jeanv) . TheAlp(/member/TheAlp)

thanksforthelink...seemsprettyinterestingbutimhavingahardtime
makingsenseofit...definitelyseemsworthlookingintofurtherthough..

simplebeep(/member/simplebeep)

4yearsago

Reply

4yearsago

Reply

Niceeffect!IlikehowyoudemonstratedtheLensBlurfilter,
whichtendstolookmorerealisticthanasimpleGaussian
Blur.However,Inoticedonemajorproblem:Yousuggest
selecting"Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation"and
"Image>Adjustments>Curves."
Instead,itisalwaysbettertogoto"Layer>NewAdjustment
Layer>Hue/Saturation"and"Layer>NewAdjustment
Layer>Curves."Thislattermethodcreatesadjustment
layerswhichhaveexactlythesameeffect,butthe
advantageistheycanbedoubleclickedintheLayerspanel
laterandmodified,withoutcompoundedlosstoimage
quality,andtheycanbeturnedonandoffanytime.
Theonlyreasonforexpressingmyconcernisthatthereisn't
anydisadvantagetotheAdjustmentLayermethod,andit
indoctrinatesnewPhotoshopusersintousingprofessional
bestpractices.

willyjoeshow(/member/willyjoeshow)

Notbad,it'satadbittooblurryinmyopinionbuthey,nice
instructable.Here'soneImadeacoupleweeksago.Ikeep
myradiusatabout1520dependingonthepicture.this
one'sat17

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FWA/IBW5/GUBQLUHK/FWAIBW5GUBQLUHK.LARGE.jpg)

jaireh(/member/jaireh)

4yearsago

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4yearsago

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l0rdaryan(/member/l0rdaryan) . voytikof(/member/voytikof) 4yearsago

Reply

i'lltryMRTasmysubjectfortiltshift..
bytheway,isthisnearshaw?

voytikof(/member/voytikof)

Andhereissolutionforlazyone:)
http://tiltshiftmaker.com/

hey!thanx...

voytikof(/member/voytikof) . l0rdaryan(/member/l0rdaryan) 4yearsago

Reply

Bemyguest:)

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rcisneros(/member/rcisneros)

WOW..IhavealltheseboringpicturesfromIraq/Kuwait.
[Welltheboringifyou'vebeenintheArmyforawhile.]
Withthisitmightmakesomeofthepicsreallyinteresting.
Thanks.

RufdaCamen(/member/RufdaCamen)

4yearsago

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Irealyloveyourwork!!!thanksforshare!!!

4yearsago

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Treknology(/member/Treknology)

4yearsago

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4yearsago

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4yearsago

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4yearsago

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You'vepresentedmewithanewwayoflookingat
photography.Ihavealwaystriedtotakephotosofmodels
suchthattheycanbemistakenfortherealthing.Itcanbe
awkwardatanexhibition,becausesometimesI'mtrying"to
fitaheftycamerathroughamatchbox"...
You'rewantingtodetachthecamerafromthephoto,
whereasI'mtryingtoburrowthecameraintothephoto.e.g.,
Iftheabovephotowereamodel,Iwouldbetakingmyphoto
inbetweenthetwotrains,oratleastlookingTHROUGHthe
railing.
IwouldeasilyagreethatinBOTHcases,perspectiveis
particularlyimportant.

arjay1491(/member/arjay1491)

awesome,isawsomethinggoodtoday

branwag(/member/branwag)

Thankyou!It'sawonderfultrick!

bigcatpants(/member/bigcatpants)

Thistechniqueisfair,howevertherearesomecaveats
whichwilltakeawayfromtheeffect:
Thepointoftheblurissothatthingstoocloseortoofar
fromthepointoffocuswouldblurout.Forexample,inthe
4thimage,thepeopleonthesideoftherailareratherin
focuseventhoughtheintentwastofocusonthestreet
[bikeway?walkway?]below.youcouldalwaysgettheblur
tooloutandjustblurthemoutasmidgenanditwilladdto
thepicture.
Theverticalfadeoftheblurisgoodonthe2ndimage,but
onthe3rdimage,sinceit'sabitofawideanglelens,you'll
wanttoblurtheleftandrightsidesabit,too.Perhapsinthis
case,insteadofthereflectedgradient,you'dprobablyuse2
or3radialgradientssidetoside.Ordoitbyhand.:)
Agoodruleofthumbwhenwantingtoachievethiseffectis
lookathow'far'thefocalpointis,andmakesureeverything
closerorfarthergetsblurred,withmoreblurthefarther
back/closerupitis.
Author,youhitthenailontheheadaboutthesaturation!I
justoverHDR'd[whichledtosomeoversaturation]animage
Iappliedthiseffectto,anditmadetheimagethoughIdidn't
knowwhy.NowIknow!:)

lennartinstructables(/member/lennartinstructables)

this..is...ameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaayzing
(notareferenceto"lookatthisamaaayyyyyzingcrocodile")
Nicework!

wncranger(/member/wncranger)

Wow!Just,WOW!Thephotototallygotme.Iactually
thoughtitwasaphotographofaminiaturescene/diorama.
ThatisSICK!Igiveyou5starsandahugethankyoufor

sharinghowyouaccomplishedthis.

dennisdlmd(/member/dennisdlmd)

4yearsago

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Goodjob!Haven'tseenManilafromthatperspectivebefore.
Thanksforthegreatideaonanewpetproject.

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CaptPikel(/member/CaptPikel)

I'vebeendoingthisalongtimebecauseIaswellhavenotilt
shiftlens(yet),butit'snicetoseeaninstructableonitnow.
Thiswouldhavehelpedalongtimeago:)

sfurick(/member/sfurick)

EvenafterIknewwhatwashappeningIhadtrouble
believingthephotowasn'tofamodeltrain.Nicelydone!

webb114(/member/webb114)

Thankyou.ThisisanistructablethatIwillusemorethan
any.Theeffectsareverywelldone.

aboyce1(/member/aboyce1)

ThankyouI'vealwayswonderedaboutthoseAdultSwim
pieces!Greatinstructions,ifyouknowanythingabout
Photoshopitissimple.

monkeyman123(/member/monkeyman123)

Ilovethistutorial!!Itiseasytodo,andlooksgreat.

Krasen(/member/Krasen)

hey,someofthosearereallycool:)

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KaptinScarlet(/member/KaptinScarlet)

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farzadbayan(/member/farzadbayan)

Agreatlook,alsoyoucouldtryinvertingtheselectedarea
afteryouhavedonetheblurandplaywithSharpenand
SharpenMoretoincreasethecontrastbetweentheblurred
andinfocusareas.

Great!

Sabinbp(/member/Sabinbp)

wowmanyouafilipino?ncstuffyoudo

Ratzo(/member/Ratzo)

Ahahahahathisisbrilliant!Verywelldone!

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PeckLauros(/member/PeckLauros)

Niceinstructables.Thankstoshareitwithus.

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ezarate(/member/ezarate)

4yearsago

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