Peter Hill

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Peter Hill
September 24, 2008

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The Easy Guide to Creating the Orton Effect using Photoshop - UPDATED

The aim of this Guide is to provide easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to achieving the Orton Effect without the necessity of being a Photoshop guru.

I still call myself “new to Photoshop” and I have found a lot of tutorials on this topic assume a much higher level of knowledge than I have and are not very intuitive.

I have revised the Tutorial to show a shortcut to the 2 Blending Option steps, which I only found myself after posting the original tutorial (doh), but I have left the long way as well, as you may wish to play around with the default settings applied by the short way.

To achieve the Orton Effect you will be creating Layers, but don’t worry if you haven’t done this before. I hadn’t.

The method I am about to describe is the simplest I have found. It’s not my method, but the description is all mine. When I have more time (yeh, right) I will revise this tutorial to include screenshots of the various steps. But for now, you might like to print this Guide and have it next to you while you create your first Orton Effect.

I use Photoshop CS2 v9. The method described below originally came from someone using Photoshop Elements, so you can see this is not advanced stuff. The steps described below assume almost zero knowledge of Layering, and ignore other adjustments you might be making to the image, for example Sharpening the image before you start work on it (recommended).

Step 1

Choose your image. Any image will do, you are just learning at this stage, but if you have that favourite flower shot or portrait – cool.

Step 2

Open Photoshop.

Open the image you have selected to be your first amazing Orton Effect image. Feel the excitement. This is your Background Layer.

Step 3

Look for the Layer toolbox on the right hand side of the Photoshop work area. There should be a rectangular box with a small eye icon, a tiny thumbnail version of your image, and the word Background in italics.

Right-click the word Background and select Duplicate Layer. A small box should immediately appear in the middle of your screen. It is asking you to Name the Duplicate Layer. Name this Layer Focus and click Enter. (Note: It doesn’t really matter what you name it, but Focus will do for our current purpose.)

Step 4

There should now be a new rectangular box immediately above the original, and called Focus. (If there isn’t, stop, curse quietly, then try Step 3 again.)

Pause now and look at the tiny eye icon. You will see that it is now the Focus layer on your screen, so this is the “copy” you are working on. OK, moving on …..

Right-click the Focus rectangular box and select Duplicate Layer again. This time when the naming box appears just click Enter because we will use the default name for this Layer, being Focus copy.

Step 5

OK, now we are going to blend the Focus copy. There are 2 ways to do this – the long way and the short way. I will show you the long way first, just in case you want to go back and play with it after you get familiar with the process.

Long way – Right-click the Focus copy rectangular box and select Blending Options. This will open a new box with lots of options. Ignore them for now. In the top part of this box you will find a window showing the Blending Mode and the default setting of Normal with a pull-down menu (A downwards arrow). Open the menu (left-click) and select Screen. Click Enter to close the box.

Short way – look at the window which shows your layers. See the drop down menu at the top left, showing Normal as the default? Scroll down the menu and select Screen.

The Focus copy layer should now have a bit of a washed-out look to it as a result of selecting Screen as the Blending Mode. (I have found that if the Screen effect still leaves a fairly good image, the Orton Effect will be enhanced. Too washed out and the Effect is diminished.)

Step 6

Right-click the Focus copy rectangular box again, only this time select Merge Down (it’s near the bottom of the menu). This will collapse the Focus copy layer onto the Focus layer.

Step 7

Right-click the Focus rectangular box again and select Duplicate Layer again. Name this copy Blur. Click Enter to close the box.

Step 8

Now, find and open the Filter menu on the Tool bar running across the top of your screen. Select Blur. Another menu should open. Select Gaussian Blur (don’t ask).

A new window should open. You will see a Preview of the image with a default blur Radius setting of 15.9. You can play around with the radius later. For now, just click OK to close the window as we will accept the 15.9 (I have found 15.9 to be right for most images anyway).

The blur you are to achieve with this step should be enough to discern the shapes without the detail.

Step 9 – The Magic Happens!

This is the fun part. We now make one more blending option. Again, here’s the long way and the short way.

Long way – Right-click the Blur rectangular box and select Blending Options. As described in Step 5, this will open a new box with lots of options. Again, ignore them for now. In the top part of this box you will find a window showing the Blending Mode and the default setting of Normal with a pull-down menu (A downwards arrow). Open the menu (left-click) again and this time select Multiply. Click Enter to close the box.

Short way – Click on the same drop down menu you used to create the Screen effect, only this time select Multiply.

You should now be able to see the Orton Effect!

Step 10

If you want to accept the result, right-click the Blur rectangular box one more time and this time select Flatten Image (it’s the last option on the menu). This basically collapses all the layers into one final image and is the last thing you do in Layering. You can now save the image as normal.

Does it look something like this?

If it looks too dark though, you can adjust the Opacity level with the sliding bar before flattening the image. Look for the tiny Opacity tool in the top right of the Layering toolbox. But if you find you need to go below 90% the Effect is significantly lost and maybe it wasn’t the right image.

Another option is to adjust the Fill and leave the Opacity at 100%.

Have fun! I am.

Peter

Kazzoom IPA

wow thanks Peter will be trying it out tonight lol
Rosina Lamberti

thanks peter will give it a go

cheers
Peter Hill replied

no worries Rosina – I’ve revised it and shown some simpler options.
Tamara Bobst

Thank you , I’m always looking for tips and way to improve my photographs.
Nikki Trexel

awesome!! just what i asked about before. i’ve been trying it out and i like the effect. thanks!
Peter Hill replied

Great Nikki! Note I revised it just now to show some shortcuts.
Lois Romer

Peter I found a tutorial on that ages ago. I love this effect but havent done it in a while.
Chris Clark

Hi Peter

will certainly try this out on my Chestnut Tree Image … Watch this space lol
rmenaker

sweet! gonna try this one now… !!!
LudaNayvelt

Thanks, it would be easier , if I read this first,instead of figure out by myself, I will try yours way tonight. It would be interesting to work on the same image using different methods and see result.
Peter Hill replied

Hi Luda, how did you go??? I have just revised the Tutorial to show some shortcuts.
Rajdev D

Nice lesson, thanks.
jarede

i am just loving this…..i have uploaded ortons to the left and ortons to the right…..it is so fun to see the effect happen and your shot look cooler! thank you thank you thank you!!
Peter Hill replied

my pleasure jarede!
BarbaraManis

Thank you so much. I did my first orton effect thanks to you!!!
Kevin Kroeker

Can’t wait to try this out. I’ve been looking for a easy version of this to follow. Thanks a bunch :o)
Peter Hill replied

No worries Kevin, thanks
DottieDees

Thank you so much…I have wanted to know how to do this…love the look…
Peter Hill replied

thanks Dottie, good luck with it!
kenspics

Many thanks for the time you took to write this.. and THANK YOU for sharing!!!
Peter Hill replied

Not a problem, ken. I’m a writer by trade. :)
Jane Keats

Thank you, I am off to try the layer thing because I keep putting it off. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! x :o)
Peter Hill replied

No worries Jane. I hope it worked for you!
Di Jenkins

very kind of you to share your knowledge!! thank you!!
Peter Hill replied

Thanks Di. I’ve found that what you put into RB you get back in spades.
Memaa

Peter, thank you so much for your time and information that you are sharing with us. I cannot tell you have much I appreciate it. I love the injected humor…......and I am sure the quiet cursing is an integral part of the process. I wish I could share one back with you, but I am very new to Photoshop and am struggling with the basics. Thanks again.
Peter Hill replied

I am glad you derived benefit from it Memaa, and thanks for the feedback!
stevendesiow

Peter, your step by step instruction really suite me coz I am a computer idiot. Thanks for the unselfish sharing. I find the effect really fun. Thanks again.
Peter Hill replied

cool! thanks for the feedback Steve!
Larry Llewellyn

Thanks so much.. funny I was unable to print this entry an error msg kept coming up!!?
Peter Hill replied

Hi Larry. If you are still having printing problems sent me a bmail with your email address and I’ll get you a separate version in a Word doc.
Philip Golan

Thanks heaps Peter.
Peter Hill replied

no worries Philip!
DottieDees

Peter…you are super! Thank you so much for the easy to follow instructions..I was able to do it and dedicated my first one to you!! Thanks again!!
Peter Hill replied

thanks Dottie, and that was so kind of you too!
Memaa

I have not gotten to try it yet, Phil. I am bogged down with Veterans Day Parade Photos for my grandsons. I will try soon. But, I am so happy you shared it with us. I do not know how to do much on Photoshop.
Peter Hill replied

:)
GailD

Thanks heaps. Will play.
Peter Hill replied

For a flash I thought you said “pay” !!
dlmorrow

Thanks, Peter … this is very helpful!
Peter Hill replied

Glad to!
GailD

We’ll see how I go first. lol
Ravenor

Many thanks for this!!
Peter Hill replied

my pleasure!
Duncan Waldron

I tinkered with something like this about 30 years ago, using the double exposure facility on my camera, and taking 2 exposures, one with the focus changed. The result was a lovely soft-focus effect that I obviously should have written an article about, for the BJP (or at least, used more often)! Still, at least I know what it’s called … now ;-)

I’ve also been playing around with similar effects in PSP in recent times, trying to recreate that old effect, but got nothing I’m really happy with yet. Soon! Thanks for this write-up.
Peter Hill replied

And thanks for the feedback Duncan. The original technique was pioneered by michael Orton, of Vancouver Isalnd, in the 50s. He used the technique with slide film, taking 2 exposures and phsyically taping the 2 slides together. See this excellent article.
Duncan Waldron

Thanks for the extra info Peter. I’ve made the odd slide sandwich but not in this way. Meanwhile, I’m having fun with this technique :)
cherylc1

Thank you so much Peter!!
tonymarsh

Thanks Peter. I’ve been wanting to try the orton effect for awhile.
Virginia N. Fred

Thanks for sharing this Peter
amante

Thanks for the input. Very helpful.
Béla Török

Thanks Peter!
resin8n

Much appreciated, thanks Peter.
dogfish

The Easy Guide to Creating the Orton Effect using Photoshop – UPDATED

very easy, thank you!
mmills3080

great tutorial! I have Serif photo plus 12 – I have not tried it out yet. Hopefully the steps will be similar.
Diane Schuster

Thanks Peter, I appreciate your excellant tutorial on this subject! Dee
Carol Lewsley

Hi Peter thanks for sharing i’ve always wanted to try the orton affect i will give it a try
Jennifer Vickers

I tried this out. What a cool effect. The picture was a bit dark and moody. I will have to try it on other images as well. Thanks for an easy and effiecent tutorial.
Karen Helgesen

Thank you for the tutorial! I have recently been experimenting with the Orton Effect…your instructions sound somewhat different than what I have been doing. I was wondering if there are different steps between Mac and Windows photoshops? Or else…I haven’t been doing correctly! (I have a Mac) Thanks!
Karen
Karen Helgesen

Me again…Karen Helgesen! I use Mac’s Photoshop 7.
Victoria Jostes

thanks so much, peter! your method is sooo much more effective than the one i found on the web! it worked beautifully on the first try – again, many thanks!!! :)
Ginny York

Thanks Peter! I love to read explaintions of how to change a phot. I have only tried a few things, but I will definately save this and try it sometime when I get a minute (lol) Ginny
digitalillusion

brilliant, taking this a bit further I’ve created a script that does all of the above automatically so you can point it to you folder of images and away it goes and doe the Orton to them all….
Peter Hill replied

Cool!
queensknightjbh

Will this work w/ photoshop version 7???
queensknightjbh

I just found out by trying….YESSS it will….dayum this is cool!!!!
Peter Hill replied

Cool back at ya!
DJ LeMay

Thanks very much for these instructions, Peter! You sure put a lot of work into this! It’s sooo helpful and soooooo much fun!! :)
Peter Hill replied

Thanks DJ, I just hope it worked for you! :)
Richard Veal

Thank you for posting this Peter.
Peter Hill replied

My pleasure Richard
Dragan Petrovic

Cool, doesn’t look scary at all! Thanks for sharing!
Peter Hill replied

No worries Dragan, hope it helped
Kate Litzow

i tried to create the effect myself without a tutorial, and i thought id done ok, but this is even better!! thanks
Peter Hill replied

Cool, thanks Kate!
Rosy Kueng

Thank you Peter, I appreciated your excellent tutorial on this subject!
Peter Hill replied

No probs Rosy – hope it helped!
clarkey

Lol, it sounds like you found the same tutorial I originally did Peter. You’ve re-written it so it’s easy to understand. thank you for that. It’s a fun effect to use.
Peter Hill replied

Hi Jan, sorry to disappoint, but no, I didn’t find yours, or anyone else’s on RB when I wrote it. I was intrigued by people uploading images saying they used the Orton Effect. After googling it, I became quite frustrated by the on-line tutorials available, as they all assumed a high level of knowledge of Photoshop, which I stil do not have. I eventually figured it out using one such tutorial then realised how easy it was, then wrote my tutorial from scratch without reference to anyone else’s. It was after I uploaded it that I noticed some others had gone before me on RB. I certainly don’t claim dibs on the technique, and never have, but the content of the above is all mine. Right now I am working up another tutorial, on basic things you can do in Photoshop which again will be all my own words and without referecne to anyone elses. :)
Fineli

A great tutorial. Thanks Peter.
Peter Hill replied

No worries!
clarkey

Sorry, I didn’t make my self clear, Peter, I meant that I thought you found the same tutorial I found, I forget where, but, i probably Googled it, too. I know I have three here, and one of them sounds just like the one you’ve written, but, it isn’t quite the same. Yours is quite easy to follow.

I’m looking forward to your tuts on Photoshop basics, there is so much I need to learn!
Peter Hill replied

Cool, thanks Jan!
Rick & Deb Larson

Had to check out your tutorial, DJ had the link attached to one of her photos. This is great, can’t wait to give it a try. Take Care ~ Rick & Deb ~ :)
Peter Hill replied

Hope it helped create something!
Tim Sanders

You have made my Day and week…. Thanks a bunch for this…. I have been wanting to do this effect for ever and you made it seem easy…..I really appreciate this more than you know…....
Tim
Peter Hill replied

No worries Tim, hope it helped
Alixzandra

Well, Thankyou for putting your fingers to keyboard and writing this tutorial Peter! It is the most straight forward step-by-step guide I have come across for learning this effect. I have tried and succeeded with my first Orton effect, thanks to you! Most appreciated. Alix :)
Peter Hill replied

My pleasure Alix!
robpixaday

Gosh thank you!!!

My mouse can’t right click but I managed to figure it all out anyway…VERY Cool!!!!!!!
Peter Hill replied

My pleasure Robin!
robpixaday

I hope you don’t mind: I added this tutorial as a link in my entry for the All in, Editing Challenge…

Robin
Peter Hill replied

Cool.
LjMaxx

Peter this is great.. I also adored your writing-teaching style on this. Very enjoyable read.. Got me all excited! lol.. Thank you~ Lj
Peter Hill replied

Thanks LJ – I’m only too pleased to write and assist.
Tama Blough

Woo-hoo! A new toy!! I have an older version of PS but I managed to find all the things I needed. Thanks!
Peter Hill replied

My pleasure, Tama!
VVVenus

This is much easier than I thought!!1 I spent alot of time playing with filters and burn and dodge to get this effect! I did find that the images look even cooler if you start by sharpening the image first, either with smart sharpen or just just a little to make the small details pop a little more.
Peter Hill replied

Cool back at you V! Thanks
Orla Cahill

Must try that out. Thanks for sharing it Peter.
Peter Hill replied

My pleasure Orla, let me know how you go!
MaeBelle

Thanks,Peter. I’m gonna give it a shot! I’m not good at following written instructions,seems I have to mostly bumble through things!! :o)) God Bless,Mae
Peter Hill replied

Thanks Mae. I tried really hard to express myself in plain terms, so please let me know if I succeeded or not.
MaeBelle

I’ve done 2 so far and they turned out OK, so I ‘d say you did your job well!! Thanks!!:o))
Peter Hill replied

Cool! :))
maileilani

Wow!!! This is excellent! Thank you for this tutorial! I really like the results I got when I gave it a go!
Peter Hill replied

I’m only too pleased to have been of some help, Maile – thanks for the feedback!
Tatiana R

Thank you Peter, easy to follow, works well! :-)
Peter Hill replied

Cool!
HippyDi

What a wonderful tutorial, brilliant & easy to follow, I have been having such fun & have posted my first effort to the Orton group.

Thanks! ;-)
Peter Hill replied

Thats excellent. I am very much pleased to be able to help!
L J Fraser

What a great tutorial – easy to follow – and humor, to boot! Thanks for explaining the Orton Effect. I’ve given it go with this photo .

-Linda
Peter Hill replied

Thanks Linda! It worked very well!
Calsidyrose

Thank you for posting this. I love the effects I can achieve with this. Your tutorial was easy to follow, as others have noted.
Peter Hill replied

No problem, thanks!
marcwellman2000

Xie Xie = thank you
Peter Hill replied

And thank you!
Iris Greenwell

Thank you!
Peter Hill replied

:)
billfox256

Thank you very much. Will try it with my CS3. Bill
Peter Hill replied

Cool! Hope it goes well!
horsegoggles

Thank you very much, a very straight forward tutorial, and I liked the results of my first guided attempt very much.
Peter Hill replied

that’s great – only to pleased to help!
billfox256

It work out excellently. Thanks again, Bill
NatureGreeting...

Thank you Peter!! Very helpful!! Carolyn
JamieGreen

You just made my day. I just got photoshop and this is invaluable
Arrowman

Cheers, this is the method I use, with brilliant results !
restlessd

Excellent!! Quick & to the point… Thank you!
stumbelina

I just did this in gimp and it worked perfect! Thanks.
Monica Scanlan

This is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!
Mariebm56 25 days ago

OMG, Peter! This effect is outrageous! I love it! I just tried it out & it really transformed my photo…......THANK YOU! Ü
Kelvin Hughes 19 days ago

Good effect, great result thanks