Thanks to everyone who submitted an image to our previous ‘Move Closer’ challenge. This week we start with a straight razor, a popular shaving tool until the safety razor came out although some still use the straight razor today. What will you make from this object? Will you incorporate it in a scene or make something completely new from it? Please add a few words with your image describing how you went about it, it may help others and it is always good to see alternative approaches. 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”. The challenge is not limited to Photoshop. Any Adobe software can be used. 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, click it, 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 reply button in this first post and use the 'Insert Photos' icon at the bottom of the reply box. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry, then please use the reply button next to their image post. Have fun! Dave.

Community Expert

Question

Something for the Weekend - Part 267 - A close shave!

Forum|Forum|25 days ago
September 11, 2026
102 replies
1109 views

Thanks to everyone who submitted an image to our previous ‘Move Closer’ challenge.

This week we start with a straight razor, a popular shaving tool until the safety razor came out although some still use the straight razor today. What will you make from this object? Will you incorporate it in a scene or make something completely new from it? Please add a few words with your image describing how you went about it, it may help others and it is always good to see alternative approaches.

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”.
The challenge is not limited to Photoshop. Any Adobe software can be used.
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, click it, 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 reply button in this first post and use the 'Insert Photos' icon at the bottom of the reply box. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry, then please use the reply button next to their image post.

Have fun!

Dave.

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Show previous replies

KShinabery212

Community Expert

I could not resist.…. since I have a mini poodle. I automatically pictured a Pixar or Illumination style cartoon where the baby found shaving the dog more fun than playing with the toys. And partly why this came to mind is that I actually need to give Winnie a haircut.

So I used Adobe Firefly to create this fun image.
And here below is a picture of Winnie that was taken by a photographer. Just so you know what he looks like…. but yes every month I have to shave him. So much cheaper than spending 70€ every few weeks at a salon.

Let's connect on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kshinabery/

davescm

Author

Community Expert

Haha, a fun image @KShinabery212 . Do we need a health warning, please do not give your kids at home a straight razor? 😉

Peru Bob

Community Expert

davescm

Author

Community Expert

A very clever use of the handle, Bob. Nicely done.
Dave

War Unicorn

Community Expert

(I do apologize for the bleakness. I got not one but two job rejection emails today. Wouldn’t bother me as much but the second one was from a job application from months ago. It was like a cosmic joke, reminding me how much I suck and no one wants you, by the way.) lol

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

Every one of the regular posters should write you a glowing reference James. I’ve been doing this since 2009, and you have always been here AFAIR. We all believe in you and think any employer would be lucky to have you. So, feck the rejectors. It’s their loss.

‘James has been scaring the living daylights out of me for 18 years. He is inventive and has a very particular set of skills. Skills he has acquired over a very long career of scaring people. Skills that make him a nightmare for a prospective employer who doesn’t take him on. If you give James the job, he will find you, and work for you. If you don’t give him the job, he will look for you, and he will find you, and you’ll never dare go to sleep again.

(I made this just for you buddy)

N

Nils M. Barner

Community Expert

Another great challenge! Thank you so much, Dave, for all your hard work and your seemingly endless ideas 😊

This one looks very reflecting to me…

Nils

davescm

Author

Community Expert

Scary reflections, Nils. I like the change in wording on the blade too. 😊
Dave

N8.

Took the razor and created 2 elements in Firefly Boards. Used FF boards to create the image of the Jellyfish cowgirl walking through a ghost town spinning the razor.

Brought the image of the cowgirl into PS edited out the unwanted extra bits and pumped up the colours.

spinning razor.mp4

davescm

Author

Community Expert

She’s quick on the draw, but I’m not sure that AI’s interpretation of cowgirl got her feet right 😆

Dave

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

You might be surprised, but none of the AI models would do this for me, even though I promised I was making a safety poster. So, I had to cut my own head off! :-(

N8.

Well, that s a close shave there Trevor.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

N8.

You definitely have a lot of fun w Fido. Definitely admire your integration with Fido.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

Zero AI in this one. The background is the original reworked. The razers FT Step & Repeat with lots of masking and hand painted shadows. They were all grouped into one smart object (315 nested Smart Object layers). I used Free Transform > Warp > Split because the original was hand illustrated and more organic than the perfectly aligned S&R layers. Base is a texture, letters hand painted with one of Kyle’s Cartoon Inking presets. About five hours work, but it was nice doing it without any AI this time.