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davescm
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Jun 20, 2025 8:49 AM UTC
Question

Something for the Weekend - Part 243 - Stoned!

Hi,
Thanks to Trevor for creating our last 'Smörgåsbord' challenge, and thanks to all who took part in it. There were some very clever, and imaginative, images.

 

For this week's starter image, we have these pebbles on a beach. You could use them as a background, a pattern, a texture, or cut them out and use them as indidividual objects. How far will your creativity take you?

 

The “rules”:

  • Use the starter image as at least part of your own image entry.
  • Anything goes, as long as it meets the forum rules on decency, copyright, etc.
  • Anyone, and everyone, is welcome to have a go, whether you are a complete beginner or a Photoshop expert. This is not just for our forum “regulars”.
  • There are no prizes apart from the chance to practice, show off your skills, or bring a bit of humor and fun. Don't be shy, join in and have a go!
  • The starter image is made available for you to use in this forum challenge only.

 

To download the starter image, hover over the image and click on the circle with the arrows at the top right. Then, when the image opens in its own window, right click and choose “Save Image As/Save Target As” (or similar depending on your browser).

 

 

When posting back your image — please use the blue reply button in this first post and use the 'Insert Photos' icon at the top of the reply box. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry, then please use the grey reply button next to their image post.

 

Have fun!

 

Dave

 

151 replies

Brad @ Roaring Mouse
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Jul 1, 2025 12:29 AM UTC

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davescm
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Jul 1, 2025 8:47 AM UTC

Nice idea and nicely done, Brad. 🙂
Dave

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Brad @ Roaring Mouse
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Jul 1, 2025 7:06 PM UTC

Thanks! i wasn't even "stoned"!

 

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Michelle Chocolita
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Jun 30, 2025 2:40 PM UTC

 

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davescm
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Jul 1, 2025 8:48 AM UTC

That would make a very colourful beach, Michelle. 🙂
Dave

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Monika Gause
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Jun 30, 2025 12:10 AM UTC

 

Water image by Killy Ridols - Patagonia, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10275490

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Trevor.Dennis
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Jun 30, 2025 6:01 AM UTC

Hah!  Excellent Monika.  Now we are all wondering, how did I not think to do this?

I'm going to try and remember this as an example of what a wet rock looks like.  It's all down to those strong highlights.  Your homework for today is to take one of Dave's rocks (an unfortunate phrase 😞 ) and make it look wet.

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Monika Gause
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Jun 30, 2025 8:39 AM UTC

If the top of the rock gets wet at this, then you lose, Trevor.

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Trevor.Dennis
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Jun 28, 2025 3:34 AM UTC

 

I really tried to do this with Photoshop, but it was a nightmare.  So I did the effects in AE and put them together with Photoshop.

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davescm
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Jun 30, 2025 6:53 AM UTC

Nice job Trevor. I like the way you started with the folds prior to the kaleidoscope.

Dave

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Community Expert
Jun 27, 2025 8:19 PM UTC

Hard Rock life

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Trevor.Dennis
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Jun 28, 2025 3:38 AM UTC

This one made me hungry for a big greasy burger and fries, with a caramel milkshake and triple scoops of icecream. 

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AlanGilbertson
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Jun 27, 2025 5:58 PM UTC

Say Hello to My Little Friend

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AlanGilbertson
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Jun 27, 2025 6:00 PM UTC

All Washed Up

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@mj
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Jul 2, 2025 12:04 PM UTC

Quite the balancing act!

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AlanGilbertson
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Jun 27, 2025 5:55 PM UTC

The Startled Surfer

I took you at your word, Dave. Photoshop to material to object in Stager,  back to Photoshop and composited using Substance 3D Viewer. Two variations coming up.

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davescm
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Jun 30, 2025 6:48 AM UTC

I like it Alan and it's great to see the 3D apps being used in SFTW.

Dave

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Trevor.Dennis
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Jul 2, 2025 5:18 AM UTC
quote

I like it Alan and it's great to see the 3D apps being used in SFTW.

Dave


By @davescm

 

Oh wow.  I was thinking how realistic it looked, but did not realise it was a Substance render.  Would that be less complicated than Blender renders, or is it the same process?  In the last week I feel like I have worked out basic After Effects for the Kaleidoscope, did some basic animations with Animate — but I'm not so sure about that as I think it is all vector.  I also had a play with Adobe Express after discovering that's were the Firefly Text Effects had disappeared to.  It even still had the last text I'd done with Firefly.  It's a job to keep up. 😞  The other thing I have been doing is swapping to video timelines in Photoshop, and I can't see me going back to frame animations — Photoshop is more capable than I realised regards video.  We have said it a bunch of times, Dave's SFTW threads are a effective Adobe app teaching aid.  You have an idea, and you'll do whatever it takes to make it happen. 

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Yss12345
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Jun 27, 2025 3:19 AM UTC

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davescm
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Jun 27, 2025 4:53 PM UTC

The blue stone is there to distract our attention. You've hidden lots of objects amongst the other stones. I like it 🙂

Dave

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Trevor.Dennis
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Jul 2, 2025 1:50 AM UTC

It's like Cluedo, except I am not sure how Colonel Mustard would murder anyone with a snail. 

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Participating Frequently
Jun 26, 2025 6:18 PM UTC

Yeah thats nice...

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JR Boulay
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Jun 25, 2025 8:44 PM UTC

Footprint

 

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Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
Trevor.Dennis
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Jun 26, 2025 1:44 AM UTC

If toe-prints are unique in the same way that fingerprints are, then you could use your big toe to unlock your MacBook.  Bad people would never think to use your toe.  😉

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Participating Frequently
Jun 28, 2025 7:39 PM UTC

Nice result.....

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