#sims edit tutorial

Step 1. Start off with your sim cutout on one layer (tutorial here) and then a white background on another layer.

Step 2. Create a new layer by clicking on the icon on the bottom of the layers palette. Now use the rectangle tool and a color of choice to create a rectangle on this new layer.

Step 3. Now right click the top sim layer and choose “merge down” to merge the sim and the rectangle.

Step 4. There is no perfect way to do this next step, I had to retry a couple times to get it to look right. Take the rectangle selection tool and select some long selections. Create the first selection and then hold SHIFT to add more selections. Once done with 4-5, click the move tool (v) and then use the arrows on your keyboard to move this selections a little to the left or right. 

Step 5. Do this a couple times so it looks something like mine, don’t get too close to the face yet. Now duplicate this layer by right clicking and choose Duplicate Layer.

Step 6. Repeat what we did before, add selections and then move them a little to the right or left, this time though you can get a little closer to the face and make the selections smaller.

Step 7. Now use the selection tool again but this time make the selections a little bigger, this is where our wave distorts will be.

Step 8. Next to go to Filter>>Distort>>Wave and set your settings similar to mine, I had to adjust a little depending on image size. Click OK when done.

Step 9. Mine looked like this when done. Now right click the top layer and choose “Merge Down”. You should just have one sim layer now, but we need to duplicate for a 3d effect so right click this layer and choose “Duplicate Layer”.

Step 10. Now double click the little icon of your top layer and the blending options will come up, uncheck G and B channels and click OK. Then use the move tool to move this top layer a little to the left or right to get a 3d effect.

Step 11. For the last step download this Smoke .psd and open it in photoshop. Drag the smoke folder onto your own image. Set the opacity to around 65%.

Step 1. Start off with a simple edit, just a sim on a background. Make sure everything is on one layer.

Step 2. Now go to Image>>Canvas Size. Change the drop down menu to percent, type 100 in the width box, make sure Relative is checked and click the left arrow so the arrows shift to the left.

Step 3. Now go to Layer>>Duplicate Layer. You should have two layers exactly alike. Use the Move Tool to move the top layer to the right. Your images should be side by side now.

Next go to Edit>>Transform>>Flip Horizontal, this will mirror your image on the right.

Step 4. With the top layer selected go to Image>>Adjustments>>Black & White. I just left the preset at Default and didn’t change any settings. Click OK.

Step 5. Duplicate this black/white layer by going to Layer>>Duplicate Layer. Set this layer to Soft Light at 100% Opacity.

Step 6. Next create a new layer by clicking the little icon on the bottom. Make sure this new layer is on top.

Step 7. To add the color orbs click on the Brush Tool. Select the round brush, set the size to around 813px (something large) and make sure the hardness is at 0%. You can change the size depending on how large you want the orb to be. Also make sure you select the color you want the orbs to be. I chose a dark peach color.

Step 8. Finally, click on the image to add an orb, I just added two, one on each side. Set the layer to Screen at 100% opacity.

Step 1. You will need to start with your sim and background on separate layers. Learn how to cut out your sim here. While holding ALT on your keyboard, click on the sim thumbnail. This will select your sim automatically.

Step 2. Next create a new transparent layer by clicking the icon at the bottom of the layers window. Choose Transparency and click OK.

Step 3. Make sure to change the foreground color to the color you would like your stroke to be. I chose white (#ffffff).

Step 4. Next go to Edit>>Stroke Selection. Change your settings to match mine, you can change the line width depending on what thickness you want the line to be. Click STROKE when you are done.

Step 5. Now move the layer with the stroke below you sim layer by either clicking the down arrow or drag the layer down. You sim layer should be on top, stroke layer in the middle and your background on the bottom.

Step 6. Finally click the the move tool and click and drag stroke to move it to where you would want it. If you want more than one stroke click Layer>>Duplicate Layer.

Step 1. Start off with an image preferably with a white background, it just makes it easier! :)

Step 2. Now select the magic eraser tool and set your settings somewhat similar to mine, you might have to play around with the settings sometimes. Erase all of the white so you are just left with the sim.

Step 3. Create a new layer by clicking the icon and drag that layer to the bottom, underneath your sim.

Step 4. Take the paint bucket tool (G) and fill this new layer with the color #f8f4ee.

Step 5. Create another new layer just like before, make sure it is in between your sim and the background color. Take the rectangle selection tool (M) and drag it to create a selection behind your sim. I redid it a couple of times to get it just right. Once you like the rectangle, fill it using the paint bucket tool with the color #1a1a1a.

Step 6. Click on your top sim layer and one again take the rectangle selection tool to select any part of your sim below the dark grey rectangle. Once selected, hit delete on the keyboard so it disappears.

Step 7. Now to start adding some images! I used this lemon png and added it in a new layer underneath my sim. I played with resizing and rotating until I liked the position. It should be under your sim but on top of the rectangle.

Step 8. This is where it gets a little trickier. Right click your lemon layer and select duplicate layer. You now have two lemon layers. Take the new layer and drag it to the top. If you want to flip the lemon, go to Edit>>Transform>>Flip Horizontal. Then rotate and resize it as needed. I put right next to my sim because I want to come out from behind her back.

Step 9. Change the opacity of this layer so you can see through it, I set mine to 31%. Now take the Polygon Lasso Tool (L) and select any part of the image that would be behind the back of the sim. When finished, hit delete on the keyboard and set the opacity back to 100%.

EXTRA STEP. This is an extra step you don’t have to do, but I am picky. I didn’t like the color of the leaf so I went to Image>>Adjustments>>Replace Color. I then used the dropper tool to select the green leaf color and replaced it with the color #c9ff75. I did this for both lemons and the rest of the leaves/floral I used.

Step 10. I repeated the above steps adding more floral and greenery. I used this flower, this leaf, and this leaf. Some of them went on top of my sim and some I put under. I spent most of my time on this step, moving things, rotating them, and moving them up and down. Get creative here! :)

Step 11. Before you start this step, download this pattern, you will need it in a second. Next click on your rectangle layer and choose “fx”, from that menu select outer glow. Change your settings to something similar to mine, I used the color #000000. Do not click okay yet.

Step 12. While that window is still open, check “Pattern Overlay”. Select the pattern you just downloaded and change the setting to lighten, 50%. Now click okay.

Step 13. Now to brighten and enhance your image! Right click on any layer and select flatten image. You should just have one layer now. Open up one of these Dream PSDs. (I used Ember) Drag the top folder from the Ember PSD onto your own image. It will automatically enhance your image. I didn’t want the blue hue so I hid the Selective Color 1 layer in the Ember Folder.

Step 1. Use this tutorial to cut out your sim, the sim should have a transparent background.

Step 2. Create a new layer by selecting the icon at the bottom of the layers window. Choose a White Layer Fill Type and click OK.

Step 3. Click the green down arrow to move this layer to the bottom. (You can also drag it down)

Step 4. Now select the Blend Tool (Gradient Tool). Double click the Foreground and Background colors to choose the two colors you want your gradient to be. I chose a subtle medium and light pink. I also chose the shape to be Radial, and Repeat is set to none.

Make sure you choose FG to BG (RGB) to get your Foreground and Background colors to be the gradient. Also I had to click the double-sided blue arrow to reverse my gradient (darker color should be to the right, my screenshot is backwards).

Step 5. Now click and drag to place the gradient, you may have to try a couple of times to get it to look how you want.

Step 6. Now go to the top and choose Select>>All. This will select the whole image.

Step 7. Next go to Select>>Shrink. This will be how thick your border is, I chose 60px. Click OK.

Step 8. Click on the icon to add another new layer, I chose a White Fill Type, click OK. Then go to Edit>>Clear to delete the middle section of this white layer. You should be left with a white border.

Step 9. If you want to delete the part of your sim overlapping the white border, click on your sim layer. Then go to Select>>Invert.

Step 10. Finally, click the Eraser Tool and increase the size to 200-300px. Then erase the bottom part of your sim.