Oil Based Painting Effect

In this tutorial we will be using any landscape image (for best results) as our platform for this simple and beautiful effect!

(Click for high-res copy)

Image published with permissions by the author, Jackson Hines; http://www.atomicstud.com

Step 1

Open the image in Adobe Photoshop and we need to prepare the image be increasing its saturation (and hue if we want), but first copy the background layer! The shortcut for opening the Hue & Saturation window is command/control + U or we can go to the half black/half white circle to create a new fill and effect layer and choosing Hue & Saturation. Increase the saturation to about +25 but not to the extreme either...

Step 2

Next we're going to use - you guessed it! - photoshop filters!!! Start off by going to filters > distort > glass and we want to set the Distortion to 3, Smoothness to 3, Texture to Canvas, and The Scaling is subject to the type of image (generally, anything between 70-82% is good) and then hit OK.

Step 3

While Layer 1 is still selected, go to Filters > Artistic > Paint Daubs with a Brush Size of 4, Sharpness of 1, and a Brush Type of simple. Our result will look something like the image on the right: and then click OK.

(Click me)

Step 4

Layer 1 is still selected and now we want to go back to Filters > Brush Strokes > Angled Strokes with the Direction Balance at 47, Stroke Length at 3, and the Sharpness at 1. Note: The result is minimal so no image is needed and the direction balance can be adjusted to anything between 40-60 and the Stroke Length can also be adjusted to anything between 3-5.

Step 5

Layer 1 is selected still and go to Filters > Texture > Texturizer with the Texture as Canvas, Scale at 65%, Relief at 2, and the light source coming from the top left with the Invert box unchecked. You can scale to any size <100% and alter the relief to any depth of your choice. Our result will look like the image on the right.

(Click me)

Step 6

Now that our oil effect is technically "done" we want to make it look more realistic and darken the image! Duplicate "Layer 1" by pressing command/control + J or by dragging onto the new layer icon and then desaturate the image by pressing command/control + shift + U or by going to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate, and then change the blending mode of "Layer 1 Copy" to Overlay.

Step 7

If you've ever looked at an oil based painting close up, you'll notice that usually the background paint will dry before a new coat is put on so it gives the effect of being stacked (for lack of a better term). We can obtain this effect by highlighting "Layer 1 Copy" and then going to Filters > Stylize > Emboss with the Angle of light being at 135 degrees, the height at 1, and the amount between 250-600%. Click on "Layer 1 Copy" and change the opacity of the layer to 40-80% and there you have it!

(Click me for Hi-Res final)