Creating a pewter look

[mary_3202]

Is there any way to make an existing image look like pewter? I've seen AI generated images with a beautiful, bas-relief pewter look, but I need a way to make an existing drawing or photo look like a pewter medallion. Is the any filter or effect that can do that?

[creative explorer]

@mary_3202 there are likely a few techniques in Photoshop that you can combine to make an existing image look like a pewter bas-relief medallion. You won't get the exact same unpredictable results as some AI generators, but you can achieve a convincing and controllable pewter effect. I would just google that or YouTube the techniques that you want. Metallic Effect in Photoshop

[c.pfaffenbichler]

If you need more advice please post the image in question and an example of the appearance you want to emulate. 

[mary_3202]

The problem is that people are becoming spoiled by AI. I have been creating mock ups of custom ornaments, using Photoshop effects to make photos of customers' products look more like pewter, but that's not good enough anymore. People want it to look exactly like pewter. They see examples created with AI, like the Santa in front of a tree below, and they expect their mock up to look like that. However, I can't use an image randomly generated by AI. I have to include an accurate rendition of the customer's product. The things I know how to do in Photoshop still end up looking like a doctored photo. (See Claas ornment below.) I was hoping that there is a filter or something that could give the sort of realistic pewter look that AI generated images have.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please post the original image in question. 

As for being spoiled: No argument there. 

[davescm]

I would like to have started with your original image rather than the partial simulation, but you can try the principle below which is often used to get a shiny metallic effect. Add a curve and add ripples to it rather than the normal smooth curve. I changed the blending mode of the curve to linear light and turned down the opacity to 38%. You have to experiment with the curve and opacity depending on the individual image. The Hue & Sat layers and the second curve are just to add colour and contrast.

Dave

[mary_3202 · Accepted solution]

Thank you for all the suggestions. I definitely need to experiment with curves more. It turned out that what actually worked the best for me was using the Emboss filter. If I change a photo to grayscale, use FX>Bevel & Emboss to make it stand up a little, then make another copy of it, and apply Filter>Stylize>Emboss>height 4 pixels, at 50% opacity, I get a reasonably good pewter bas-relief effect. It doesn't have the rich, rounded look of an AI image, but at least it looks like something molded.