How to alter photos
Back when I was using a film camera, I managed to collect tons of shots that were…well, ok…but certainly not remarkable. Fortunately, I saved them. All of them. (Remember our motto here: don’t throw out anything! I practice what I preach.)
Anyway, I’ve learned a number of very fun and fairly easy altering techniques that can be used on photos, so if you have already thrown out all your duds, just have a handful of your digital shots printed out. Many techniques work on shots printed on either photographic or regular printer paper (like inkjet prints), but I like the way the real photographs respond the best. Your mileage may vary.
Here’s what I did to these poor photographs:
- Soak them briefly in water to soften the top layer. Rub all or parts of the photos with medium grit sandpaper while they are still damp. The “Long and Winding Road” is the only one that I thoroughly sanded. The others are selectively done.
- Apply spots, streaks or lines of bleach. I used a clorox pen on “Picture Yourself” to make the spots. I also used a thin film of bleach on some other areas of each photo to lighten them up. Rinse the bleach off really well. I used some mild soap as well to make sure that it was all gone. You’ll have to experiment to see how long each photo will need to be treated with bleach to get the look you want. I don’t think I left it on any of these for more than about 45 seconds.
- Use water-soluable pastels to colorize your pictures. I like the surreal colors these give. Buff them with a piece of paper towel to really rub the color into the sanding cracks.
- Use a Micron or Pitt pen to write on your photos.
- Spray lightly with matte varnish to keep the pastels from rubbing off.
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POSTED IN: Mixed Media, Paper, Photography, Technique Tuesday, Tutorials & Techniques
12 opinions for How to alter photos
tamy
Aug 7, 2007 at 8:58 am
what a fab. idea - cant wait to try this out. Love the use of the clorox pen! Many thanks for posting.
Cyndi
Aug 7, 2007 at 9:50 am
Thanks Tamy! I love the bleach pen…it makes controling the lines so easy, and saves my brushes from a world of hurt LOL!!
Carly
Aug 7, 2007 at 11:26 am
Thank you for sharing lovely art and technique!
helen
Aug 7, 2007 at 1:21 pm
What a great idea…..thanks for sharing :~)
I sorted through dud photos and threw them out only a few weeks ago :~((( ha ha…..never mind….
Cyndi
Aug 7, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Carly, you are so welcome!
Helen! Don’t you know the rules? NEVER throw anything out…you’ll need it next week LOL!!
Leah
Aug 7, 2007 at 1:49 pm
And I thought this was going to be about digitally altering photos….what a cool idea, Cyndi!
Cyndi L
Aug 7, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Digital is great, Leah, but sometimes you’ve just got to get your hands dirty! :D
How to alter photos | Altered Art
Aug 8, 2007 at 5:13 am
[…] Zu How to alter photos […]
Gerry
Aug 8, 2007 at 10:44 am
These are wonderful. Thanks for sharing the process!
shiner
Aug 8, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Since I haven’t been willing to learn how to use our digital camera, I have lots of photos from my 35mm that would qualify! The clorox pen is a great idea. Thanks
Cheryl
Aug 9, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Very nice. I will have to give this a try. Can anyone please tell me what a Pitt or Micron pen is?
Cheryl
Cyndi L
Aug 9, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Faber-Castell is the brand that makes Pitt Artist Pens, and Micron Pens are made by Sakura :-)
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