Something for the Weekend - Part 249 - Poison Pen!

[davescm]

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).

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

[Nick Gioia]

Love Alice in Wonderland. Don't forget the key!

[daniellei4510]

Oops.

[Christelle RD]

The effects of the water are magnificent. I love the work on the reflections.

[Trevor.Dennis]

A convincing looking spill @daniellei4510 complete with reflection.  Dare I ask if it was illustrated or Ai?

[daniellei4510]

Gemini 2.5 Flash, available within Firefly. Its primary purpose is for editing existing assets, rather than creating new ones.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Gemini 2.5 Flash, available within Firefly. Its primary purpose is for editing existing assets, rather than creating new ones.

By @daniellei4510

I have been using it (mostly via the LMArena.ai page) but I was excited by this recent heads up from Terry White.

I have helf off from getting a Nano Banana subscription because I was hoping it's full functionality would come to Firefly and Generative Fill, but I will subscribe if it doesn't. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@Trevor.Dennis From everything being previewed in the beta app (public not prerelease) Gemini 2.5 (Nano Banana) is coming to Firefly as a third party model. You can test on the FF website and PS Beta released yesterday. 

[Trevor.Dennis]

@Trevor.Dennis From everything being previewed in the beta app (public not prerelease) Gemini 2.5 (Nano Banana) is coming to Firefly as a third party model. You can test on the FF website and PS Beta released yesterday. 

By @Kevin Stohlmeyer

OK Kevin. Thanks for the heads up.  I did wonder what with the beta version going to 27.0.0  I have been checking for updates at least once a day since seeing the Terry White video.  I am not a big user of Firefly, but I use Gen Fill and I am only seeing Firefly models 1 and 3.

I can see those options in Firefly.  Can I access them from inside Photshop?

[fbeaume]

Impressive use of AI! Well done Daniel!

[davescm]

I like it Daniel. The bottle on it's side looks good. Maybe the ink could have looked thinner as it came over the edge of the table, but overall a nice job. 🙂

Dave

[Nick Gioia]

You did an outstanding job on that wet ink! You are definitely a master of your craft!

[J E L]

[davescm]

Very clever JEL. The bottle fits in well in that scene. Straight back to the 60s.

Dave

[J E L]

Thanks, Dave. I recently had a lively discussion on who has been the best Bond. For me, it's Roger Moore. Thoughts?

[Nick Gioia]

Pretty cool. It was like a Where's Waldo. It took me a minute to find the bottle. lol

[fbeaume]

Nicely done!

[Trevor.Dennis]

I couldn't get this under the forums 10Gb max file size limit, so I had to upload as a video. 

The only Ai was Generative Expand to stretch the background to 16:9.  The parachutes and background (with the water pump but not the tree, are Adobe (free) stock. There's a surprising amount of decent free stuff.  I came across a Adobe free stock tab in Photoshop when doing this, but of course I can't find it now. 😞    I use SketchFab a lot as you can ointate the models to match your perspective and screengrab them.  It helps to have a 4K screem to get the pixels.

[EDIT] Video replaced after wondering why it was only 720P and finding that I had Photoshop set to render out to SD (duh!)

[davescm]

Wow. It's like a surreal painting brought to life with animation. Very nicely done, Trevor.

Dave

[War Unicorn]

There's a "Free" tab under the Creative Cloud Desktop app; contains a variety of free assets but I'm not sure if the same assets are available in Photoshop. (There are also free templates under the New Document dialog.)

EDITED TO ADD: The "Free" tab is under the "Stock & Marketplace" module, bottom left.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Really useful James.  Thanks.  It's interesting comparing the free assets with those that say 'Available with trial'. As in 'not free'.  The free assets are at the top of the page and invite you to Download if you hover the cursor over them.  

@davescm  how do we use the 3D assets?  There are plenty of free 3D assets, but you can't orientate them on the webpage.  I'm guessing we have to use one of the Substance apps?

[davescm]

@Trevor.Dennis  In the CC app choose Stock and Marketplace then the 3D tab and on the left then choose 'More 3D assets. That will take you to the Substance 3D assets website where you can search and choose from thousands of materials and models.
From 3D assets you can download materials in sbsar format (to use in Substance Painter) or editable sbs format (edit in Substance Designer). You can also download 3D models in fbx format which can be opened in many 3D applications. They are already UV unwrapped in preparation for materials to be added, so it is as simple as downloading then opening in Substance Painter, to apply the materials to the model's surfaces. Once done, you can take them to your chose application for lighting and rendering e.g. Substance Stager.

Dave

[AlanGilbertson]

The free stock link is here:

and here:

[Nick Gioia]

Dang! You took this to the next level!

[lambiloon]

[Trevor.Dennis]

I love the red ink. Not that Adobe would have a use for red ink.  I'm thinking there should be a pair of Adobe cuff links (never mind that no one wears them nowadays) and a belt buckle to go with the Adobe pen.