Close window when finished.  Below the images, you will see the list of steps I used to make the swan at the top of the tutorial page.

       
       
 
 
 

Swan on the lake

Prepare image according to specifications up to where it's time to add the water lilies.  Stop there.

merge all visible

increase Canvas Size to:
        width = 500
height = 300
mark both the Center Vertical
and the Center Horizontal
click OK


 


add new layer
move layer to bottom
flood fill with background color not in the color of the image

set paintbrush to :
size=30
shape=round
hardness=0
opacity=30
step=25
density=100
buildup=unchecked

DO NOT COVER ALL OF THE BACKGROUND AREA, use mine on the tutorial page as a guide;  keep the edges and corners of the background untouched!
select a water color and slap a few strokes on the bottom layer;
switch to the image layer and carefully brush 2 or 3 strokes across the very edge of the bottom of the swan;
change to another shade of blues, lavenders or greens and add a couple strokes of that on the top layer;
switch to the bottom layer;
crisscross a few strokes clear through the width of the swan and beyond;
change colors again and add a few more strokes;
three or four color changes should take care of it,
filling in an oval shape behind the swan but an irregular oval, not a smooth oval;

change to the TouchUp tool  (TA DA, the finger)!
match the same settings as for the paint brush except the opacity and size;
opacity = 10;
size = 17;
IF Smudge isn't the setting in the drop down box, change it to SMUDGE.

Still on the bottom layer, blend in slightly wavy horizontal lines back and forth through the colors
this will blend them BUT stop at each side, don't do a zigzagging, unstopping blending.
Change to top layer - just a few light strokes here! to help cover the very edge of the swan
so it looks like it's sitting on the water but slightly immersed in it.

While on swan layer;  add a new layer;
get the water lilies and copy/paste them to the new layer up by the swan's head.
Using the selection tool, select around one water lily and place it, using the deformation tool
to turn it if necessary;  then select the other water lily and place it where you want it.

Oh, by the way - the water lilies normally sit on the water - not on the swan's head!
When you are happy with the placements,  Merge all visible and follow tutorial to reduce colors and set transparency color (when picking the transparency color, click in an area where you did not add water coloring.


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