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davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
Oct 9, 2026 9:46 AM UTC
Question

Something for the Weekend - Part 269 - Off the cuff!

Thanks to all who took part in our ‘mystery’ challenge. It is amazing to see the variations explaining what might have happened in the woods.

Those who regularly take part in these challenges will know that sometimes we start with an object and sometimes a scene. This week it is the turn of these handcuffs. They are from Adobe 3D assets and were textured in Substance Painter, along with the other objects, then rendered in Blender 3D, before finishing in Photoshop. How will you use the cuffs? Will they appear on someone in your image or will you turn them into something else completely?

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.

    This topic is closed to new replies. Start a new post to keep the conversation going.

    179 replies

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    Oct 26, 2026 9:53 AM UTC

    The new challenge is up and running here: 


    Dave

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    faisu887
    Participating Frequently
    Oct 26, 2026 5:55 AM UTC

    I really enjoyed seeing how everyone turned the same starter image into such different ideas. A helpful tip for anyone trying this is to keep the original subject recognizable while letting the background and colors carry the new story. The variety here is a great reminder to experiment with textures and blending before settling on a final look.

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    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 26, 2026 8:33 AM UTC

    ​@faisu887 

    Everyone is welcome to join in the fun.  It’s a great learning experience as well.  You get an idea but you are not sure how to turn it into as picture, so you have to work it out.  Do this enough times and suddenly Photoshop seems less of a mystery.  So, show us what you can do.  It doesn’t need to be flash, and you can use Generative AI if you like.

     

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    Turtle.PSD
    Inspiring
    Oct 26, 2026 1:40 AM UTC

     

    The Vintage Photo Parametric Filter did some heavy lifting tying it all together and a texture sealed the vintage look. I would like to mention that the handcuff circles are the headlight mounts (so it doesn’t go unnoticed). 
     

     

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    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 26, 2026 1:50 AM UTC

    Does this mean they have fixed the image upload issue?  I managed to paste a couple of images into a thread earlier today, but they were gone when I posted.

    Testing

     

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    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 26, 2026 1:51 AM UTC

    Yay! :-) I’ll email Dave so he can start the next SFTW thread. 

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    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 24, 2026 9:07 AM UTC

    Dave, everyone,

     

    The current lack of image uploading means reminds me of the answer Peter received from his Pen Pal by floating stone tablet in BC when he asked the question: “What are you doing about the lack of ink over there?”

     

    The answer  found its way into Balnakeil Bay in SFTW 40,

     

     

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    Lavonne Hall
    Participating Frequently
    Oct 24, 2026 2:34 AM UTC

    Just hula hooping off the cuff!

     

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    Lavonne Hall
    Participating Frequently
    Oct 24, 2026 4:04 AM UTC

    For some reason my photo won’t upload. I’ve tried so many times.

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    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 24, 2026 4:08 AM UTC

    You’re not alone. It’s been an issue for the past three days or so. Supposedly because of a discovered PHP vulnerability that requires patching. But I’m beginning to have my doubts. Many businesses went off line entirely out of caution until the fix could be patched, but if the PHP vulnerability is the cause of the upload issue, Adobe hasn’t yet installed the patch.

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    Adobe Community Expert | I have miles to go before I sleep, but I'm all done on this end.
    Warren Heaton
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 19, 2026 4:28 AM UTC

    Something for a custom Photoshop (Beta) application icon.

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    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 19, 2026 10:42 AM UTC

    ​@Warren Heaton If you can also edit the Photoshop Splash Screen, then you’ll be elevated to the status Photoshop Legend.  

     

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    Warren Heaton
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 19, 2026 10:49 PM UTC

    A Community Expert can dream!

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    War Unicorn
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 19, 2026 12:33 AM UTC
    “Rise/Down”

     

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    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 19, 2026 1:29 PM UTC

    The cell seems cosy

    Against unbreakable glass

    Barring out the gloom

    The fine mural would serve well

    As Chief Constable emblem

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    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 18, 2026 4:35 AM UTC

    This is what they call ‘suffering for your art’.  Apparently, they let her use an ice-cube on her nose for a couple of minutes to numb it before doing that piercing. 

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    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    Oct 19, 2026 7:23 PM UTC

    A cuff ear-ring and a roll your own SFTW. As for that piercing - ouch!! 
    Dave 

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    fbeaume
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 17, 2026 5:31 PM UTC

    Because every detective’s notepad needs a cute pattern…
     

     

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    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    Oct 17, 2026 7:18 PM UTC

    All detectives will now be ordering one of these. 😀
    Dave

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    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 16, 2026 9:02 PM UTC

    Does anyone here _not_ follow Jesús Rameriz on The Photoshop Training Channel?  His latest upload is all about writing effective prompts and worth a look.  It’s more about creating from Generative AI starting from and empty canvas so not a perfect fit for the SFTW threads.  Useful and interesting all the same.

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    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 17, 2026 5:45 PM UTC

    I’ll take a look. Love his content. Thanks for pointing this out.

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    Adobe Community Expert | I have miles to go before I sleep, but I'm all done on this end.
    N8.
    Community Expert
    Oct 20, 2026 4:37 PM UTC

    Thanks for sharing the link ​@Trevor.Dennis I love Jesus. 

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