Filed under: Design, Windows, Macintosh, Design Tips
Design Tip Series kick-off: Machine Wash filters bring the worn look to Photoshop
by David Chartier Feb 20th 2007
I would like to announce a slight shift in how we handle our image and design-related tips here at Download Squad. As a multimedia student myself, and with all the new talent we've been so fortunately gaining over the past weeks and months, we realized that we have a lot of general design talent to share with you readers that quickly surpasses the boundaries of mere 'imaging.' So as of today, our Imaging Tips series has evolved into a new, twice-weekly Design Tips series that will allow us to stretch our mice and expand our minds into video, illustration, web, motion graphics and a whole lot more. Look for tips, techniques, apps, plugins and linkage surrounding the whole world of design from here on out.
With that said, I present you the first post in our new Design Tips series which involves Photoshop and filters that can give your images that oh-so-cool worn look. Machine Wash filters from Mister Retro are three separate volumes of 60 filters apiece, all with their own unique attributes, that can apply texture, age and weathered aesthetics to Photoshop layers.
These filter sets are now at version 2, which was a very nice upgrade from v1. The first series were actually PDFs that were applied with a somewhat clunky custom action. Version 2 of these filters introduces a full-blown filter GUI for optimum live-previewing and application. Mister Retro also supplies a sample gallery online, which operates as a testing grounds for each filter set so you can get a good idea of just what you're paying for.
Speaking of money: as a happy customer, I personally recommend all three sets. They sell for $50 each, with volume licensing and bundle discounts available. The filters work in versions of Photoshop starting at 6.0 all the way up through CS2 (as well as Photoshop Elements 1.0 and above), with a free upgrade patch on the way for CS3 once Adobe officially releases it.
With that said, I present you the first post in our new Design Tips series which involves Photoshop and filters that can give your images that oh-so-cool worn look. Machine Wash filters from Mister Retro are three separate volumes of 60 filters apiece, all with their own unique attributes, that can apply texture, age and weathered aesthetics to Photoshop layers.
These filter sets are now at version 2, which was a very nice upgrade from v1. The first series were actually PDFs that were applied with a somewhat clunky custom action. Version 2 of these filters introduces a full-blown filter GUI for optimum live-previewing and application. Mister Retro also supplies a sample gallery online, which operates as a testing grounds for each filter set so you can get a good idea of just what you're paying for.
Speaking of money: as a happy customer, I personally recommend all three sets. They sell for $50 each, with volume licensing and bundle discounts available. The filters work in versions of Photoshop starting at 6.0 all the way up through CS2 (as well as Photoshop Elements 1.0 and above), with a free upgrade patch on the way for CS3 once Adobe officially releases it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Noah said 11:47PM on 2-20-2007
I don't want to rain on the parade of this awesome filter set, but if you're poor like me I have something that might do the trick. I'm a poor college designer and over the summer I worked out a pretty decent weather look, no it's no $50 filter but it can do the job. OK here you go
1. Create Layer Mask on layer you want to "weather"
2. Click on layer mask then apply diff. cloud effect (it's in the render filters) make sure it is black and white
3. Go change the brightness contrast to 62% B and 38% C
4. Apply filter grain - set at 100/100 vertical
5. Apply pixelate mezzotint - set at medium strokes
6. Fade mezzotint by 50%
7. Apply filter Brush Strokes Spatter and set to 4/5
and viola!~ (if you are having problems just make sure you have clicked on your new mask layer for all the above task, when you are done simple click back on the normal layer and the effect will be applied)
Have fun guys and girls
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justin said 8:06AM on 2-21-2007
yeah i agree this can be acomplished this by either doing the above comment or just by using brushes. However this does make it alot easier especially if you are working with a large photoshop file at 300 dpi for instance. Plus there are 3 different kind of these filters which i could see using all three instead of taking the time to do it any other way.
http://www.wiiuser.org
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bob said 12:47PM on 2-21-2007
i appreciate that this might make things easier, but i can accomplish the same thing in 30 seconds or less. i photograph textures anyway, so it's bloody easy.
step 1 - open file you want to "weather"
step 2 - open file which contains the texture you want the 'weathering' to look like
step 3 - use the wand to select color ranges from the texture image
step 4 - move selection (only selection, not any pixels) to the image to be textured (on the same layer as the image)
step 5 - create layer mask
step 6 - bask in your amazing design (not-so-original) gloriousness
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