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4

Something for the Weekend - Part 249 - Poison Pen!

Community Expert ,
Sep 12, 2025 Sep 12, 2025

Thanks to all who took part in our previous 'What goes up' challenge. 

This week something a bit different. I heard the phrase 'Poison Pen' in a TV drama recently and my thoughts arrived at the image below. Made in 3D, the objects on the 'desk' are from Substance 3D assets, which I textured, along with the desk, in Substance Painter.  The background was AI generated in Photoshop, using Firefly, and blurred to match the image before taking into Blender prior to rendering. Finishing was in Photoshop.
 
So we have our starter image, what will you do with it? You could use any or all of the objects, or make something using the entire scene. 

When you post your response can you add just a few words on how you went about it. It may help others see the potential of different approaches, software, and tools to such a challenge.

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, 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).

 

SFTW249PoisonPen.jpg

 

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

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iPadOS , macOS , Windows
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replies 162 Replies 162
Community Expert ,
Sep 20, 2025 Sep 20, 2025

Red ink, now it's a teachers pen! 

Nicely done.

Dave.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 20, 2025 Sep 20, 2025

 

 

Click to get closer, Click again to get closer still

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Community Expert ,
Sep 20, 2025 Sep 20, 2025

Woah there Jacob.  Mixing fonts is like crossing the streams with a ghost catcher, or allowing antimatter chop sticks to touch.  You just don't do it!

 

image.png

image.png

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Community Expert ,
Sep 20, 2025 Sep 20, 2025

I am still trying to grasp the hidden meaning of Mixing fonts here, Trevor.

 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 25, 2025 Sep 25, 2025

This is funny! lol

 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

That looks like something that 'Q' would invent in an old Bond movie, Jacob. 🙂
Dave

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Community Expert ,
Sep 23, 2025 Sep 23, 2025

I really like that, Dave: an answer to my own wondering what we are looking at, considering all sorts of allegories and categories.

 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 21, 2025 Sep 21, 2025

I had some composites left over from the detective story challenge, and since this is in same general ballpark, I put them to use! The first is a multiple composite with GenFill and GenExpand from the original figure generated by Imagen 4. I've added a couple of bits to the original: the book title and the deceased person.

249-Detective-1.jpg

This detective (or psychopath, depending on what  you think is going on here) was from Firefly 4. Victim added with Gemini 2.5 Flash using Rob de Winter's awesome script, then blurred to match. Book title, like the previous one, is a smart object.

249-Detective-2.jpg

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Community Expert ,
Sep 21, 2025 Sep 21, 2025

Nicely done Alan. I am going believe that the man with his head on the table is just sleeping. 🙂

 

A wee tip for getting the perspective right in this sort of situation.

Make the text a smart object and open in a new window.

Expand the canvas (I just use Crop and drag)

Create a temporary layer and add a stroke that aproximates the book cover, and trim the window.

Save and go back to the image, and Ctrl drag your corners to match the outline.

Go back to the edit window and turn off the temporary layer.

I also used a temporary curves layer so we could better see the book outline.

image.png

 

 

 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

I have plenty of ways to handle perspective; what I don't have is a lot of time. In the first composite, the idea was to avoid making the cover and title stand out. The text is in Linear Dodge blend mode at 40% opacity. I enjoy dropping in a few Easter eggs.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Great job Alan. It's nice to see that in both, the bottle is blurred to match the 'lens blur' on its surroundings.
Dave

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

And the bodies! 😉 Nothing breaks the illusion faster than getting the depth of focus or illumination wrong.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Great job Alan!
Love both!

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Merci, monsieur!

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Community Expert ,
Sep 25, 2025 Sep 25, 2025

They both are great, but I am digging the second one the best! 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 25, 2025 Sep 25, 2025

I agree. I prefer that one.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 21, 2025 Sep 21, 2025

sftw-poison-pen.png

“Remember folks — the Poison Pen Set isn’t just for writing letters, it’s for sowing doubt and sparking chaos… Anonymously! Call now, and stir up scandal at half price!”

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Community Expert ,
Sep 21, 2025 Sep 21, 2025

This made me laugh!  I was thinking that you could have used a picture of the mushroom lady, but that would have been in questionable taste.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Happy that I can bring a few laughs with the piece. That was my intent. Thanks!

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Brilliant idea! You can almost hear the pitch! 🙂
Dave

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Thanks, Dave. Operators are standing by to take your order! 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

lol...
That's so good Daniel!

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Oh, man, Dan... what a marvellous satire! My grin kept getting wider the more I read. This would be completely at home on The Onion website.

 

Back in the day (late 1980s), MCI (the big AT&T long-distance rival, now defunct) supplied fiber service to the big HSN studio a bit south of where I live now. There were something like 10,000 incoming lines going to hundreds of "Operators-are-standing-by" employees. Contemporary telecom industry journals ran occasional articles predicting 10 cents/minute transcontinental phone calls, which almost nobody believed. Almost nobody believes them now, but for a very different reason.

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Community Expert ,
Sep 25, 2025 Sep 25, 2025

HA HA HA! This is super awesome and super funny!! Love it!

 

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Community Expert ,
Sep 22, 2025 Sep 22, 2025

Element 1-100.jpg

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