Creature flips

[Ken Childs]

I'm calling this a Beaked Cyclopsfly.

These instructions are for Photoshop.

Choose an interesting image that has at least one good eye or eye-like thing that could potentially be conceived as looking straight at the camera. If there is work to be done on correcting something such as the eyes or some cloning etc in the half of the image you're using, be sure to do that editing before you create the flip.

If necessary, create some extra canvas to make room for the flip. Using the Rectangular Marquee tool, select the side of the image that you want to use. Copy (ctrl+c), paste (ctrl+v) and then go to edit/transform and choose 'flip horizontal'.

Use the move tool to line the selection up with the other half.

If you think a different angle or selection might look better, go back to the rectangular marquee step and try again. Maybe a slight rotation of the image will produce something better. Experiment a lot.

Once you're happy with what you have, zoom in to a detailed spot along the center line where the 2 halves join, select the Move Tool and use the arrow keys to nudge the selection into place. Once the 2 side are lined up, flatten the image (shift+ ctrl+e).

Zoom back out and crop.

You're creature is now ready for any further tweaks.

For some inspiration, visit Dave Phillips' site at
http://critterscapes.zenfolio.com/p89658114
Not everything has to have eyes or even be an animal! :-)

[Ken Childs]

Here's the original.

[Brendan Dozier]

That is wicked cool Ken! The detail on the eyes is amazing. This dude looks like he means business. Thanks for the instructions, I'm inspired to do some macro

[denise ippolito]

Ken, You are doing a fantastic job with the flips!! Thank you once again for your step by step instruction!! You re-created the bug in an interesting way! Well done.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Awesome flip Ken. Love the original capture too!

[Steve Adkins]

This is a wild and wonderful flip, Ken! Love the effect, sharpness and colors. Thanks for the tutorial.

[Kerry Perkins]

Way cool! Wouldn't it be nice to have a real-time "reflection" tool that would show you what a flip is going to look like?

[Ken Childs]

Thanks, y'all!

Thanks for the instructions, I'm inspired to do some macro

If you start shooting macro, please bring some of it over to the macro forum. For those of us that actually have a winter, macro season will soon be upon us and I can hardly wait!

Wouldn't it be nice to have a real-time "reflection" tool that would show you what a flip is going to look like?

Kerry that would be great but it would make an easy process almost too easy!