Image editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Gimp and Microsoft Digital Image Suite offer a wide range of tools that can be used to create beautiful photographs, many of those tools and the effects they crete originated in the world of film photography. One such tool effect is the Orton Effect.
The Orton Effect is named after Michael Orton who first used the technique is a sandwich of two images, one in focus the other out of focus. Freeman Patterson and Andre Gallant have both used the technique successfully in their work as well.
The Orton image has traditionally been done using slide film with the first, sharp, image overexposed by two stops and the second, out of focus image, over exposed by one stop. It is important to use a tripod for this type of work to ensure your photographic elements remain in register on the film. The shots were then sandwiched together in single slide mount to produce a beautiful, impressionistic image. We are beyond that now and with so many things in the world of digital photography, we can now duplicate the same effect in multiple ways.
For purists, you can use the same technique as with film, two images, overexposed the same way, and in your image editing program place your out of focus image on tip of your in focus image as a layer and choose multiply as your blending mode. Of course this means always taking at least two images of your scene and always using a tripod. Another method is to use a single image a create a layer, now opening up the effect to any image you have in your collection.
I will be using the new Adobe Elements 5 for this tutorial and a photo of a Wake-Robin I shot this past spring..
- Open your image (Image 1)
- Duplicate the background layer (Right click on the background layer and choose duplicate) and name that layer Sharp
- Create another duplicate of the background layer.
- Change the Blending mode of the Sharp Copy to screen
- With the Sharp Copy layer selected, right click and choose Merge Down (Image 2)
- Right click on the Sharp layer, choose Duplicate and name this layer Out of Focus
- On the Filter Menu, choose Blur – Gaussian Blur (Image 3)
Depending on the resolution of the image you are using, the amount of blue needed will change. Use enough that the shapes are still visible, but detail is not. For this 6.1 Megapixel image, a value of 15.9 was sufficient. - Change the blending mode of the Out Of Focus layer to Multiply. (Image 4)
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Final image including levels adjustment and cropping
Once you are complete, you may find it necessary to adjust the opacity of your Out of Focus layer and/or apply a levels (or curves) adjustment layer to the Sharp layer if some tweaking is necessary.You can also adjust the amount of blur you apply to the out of focus image, as well as adjustments such as level, brightness and contrast and it is good practice to apply sharpening to your image Sharp layer. (Image 5)
Not all images work well with this effect, but digital photography makes it easier to try it out on wide range of photos. I have included a few examples here of other photos with the Orton Effect applied, though the effect is lost on the small images. You can view another on my personal site, or view the Orton flickr.com group.
Until next time, happy shooting.
The digital photography tip of the week is written by the PCIN Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and is currently the President of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send Chris, or a question about digital photography he can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.
[…] Oh and as for the technique, this would be my first photo which uses Orton – a technique which combines an out of focus image with an in focus one for a very soft and sublime result. I think it suits this shot nicely. For more information see the excellent tutorial written by a fellow photographer here […]
You can also do this as an in-camera effect if you’re shooting traditional film. Do a double exposure with one out of focus image and one in focus image.
[…] been having a go at using the Orton effect – not sure I actually like it , but interesting to experiment. The original photo is here – taken […]
To the point tutorial. Amazing work.
Thanx a lot!!!
[…] découvert un tutoriel de retouche numérique de photos très intéressant, l’effet Orton. Voici des résultats de tests que j’ai faits en cinq […]
I prefer setting the blend mode Multiply before applying the Blur.
If so, the final result is more easy to figure out.
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=254325#post254325
[…] Quem tem o Adobe Elements 5 pode seguir este tutorial aqui. […]
[…] method I am trying to explain here can be dismissed as the so called “Orton Effect“. While the Orton effect is a blend with the exact same layer/slide, only one of them being […]
[…] : Photobuddy types , maybe we should try this effect out on some shots and see what the end results are like, I think thr esults are similar to when one […]
Step 5 is not clear, otherwise great tutorial.
[…] The Orton Effect – Digital Photography Tip of the Week at PCIN.net Update (tags: photography tutorial) […]
THANX for the tip!!
Thanks Chris, for the great tutorial! Your explanation made it super easy!
New to the forum family, terrific tut’s, everyone seems to be
so helpfull & patient in giving of their time
Norm
[…] photo was modified from its original state through the use of the Orton Effect. This effect through use of blurring and exposure settings creates a dreamlike […]
thanx a lot !
A friend of mine showed me a feature on his camera that allows him to automatically take a picture with -3 stops up to 3 stops exposure for a total of 7 photos for one button push.
Then he has an Adobe plugin that will automatically combine the photos. Is this the same as this technique or does it have another name?
I’m wondering because this technique is talking about an out of focus shot and my friend’s camera was just changing the exposer.
[…] http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php…p-of-the-week/ […]
Hi Joe, I believe your friend’s camera is capturing an HDR-type image. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging ).
It is combining shots exposed for different parts of the same scene. E.g. with a very bright sky contrasting with a dark landscape, you will either get a blown-out white sky, or a silloutted/black landscape if you shoot with one exposure. His camera is capturing an image of the same scene exposed for the sky and then the landscape, and also points in between.
And it’s automatic? Wow, that’s cool! What camera is he using?
I’m sorry … PS, Chris, this is a great tip and I love it! One of the first tutorials I found when I started out to improve my Photoshop skills. Thanks!
[…] The Orton Effect Image editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Gimp and Microsoft Digital Image Suite offer a wide range of tools that can be used to create beautiful photographs, many of those tools and the effects they crete originated in the world of film photography. One such tool effect is the Orton Effect. […]
[…] PCin […]
OMG!!!!! This tutorial rocks!!!!! Very well explained…!!! Even a begginer like me can do it..!!
xoxox
Shaindel (Venezuela)
[…] is the ability to control opacity. I have referred to opacity in previous tips: Feel the Burn, The Orton Effect, and Black and White from Colour Images, Part […]
[…] Orton effect is to give a photo a nifty glowy/mystical/dreamy feel. This is from the tutorial on this website, but if that website goes bye-bye I still have this blog to refer to. […]
[…] steg, körde bilderna genom Photomatix och plockade sen in i Photoshop där jag lade pÃ¥ en Orton effekt samt ”blanda kanaler” till en IR liknande […]
[…] The Orton-Effect […]
This is great, I’ve been trying to create this effect for awhile now but I have a problem. Im using Fauxto and I got everything going the way it should be but when I try to save it to my computer, the orton effect are gone! Leaving a blurry image..what happened?
anyone figure this one out in microsoft digital image?? I would love to see a tutorial if so! thanks!
[…] This final photo from last week is a little different from my usual style. I used what’s known as the Orton Effect to get the dreamy look. The jury’s still out for me on this shot, I’m not sure why…maybe it’s a little too chocolate box-y? Still it’s fun to do and in my opinion works best on shots of landscapes rather than people. There are many different ways to get this effect as a google search will show you but you can find a good tutorial at this link. […]
[…] Read More… […]
[…] Digital Photography Tip of the Week at PCIN.net Update Applicare l’effetto Orton Effect – Digital Photography Tip of the Week (tags: orton effect) […]
Thanks for this simple, yet effective tutorial in PS Elements 5. I’ll try it out as soon as I get home.
BTW, I think you mean “blur” here? Or are you suggesting we increase the blue saturation? 🙂
> Depending on the resolution of the image you are using,
> the amount of blue needed will change.
This is the best tutorial I have ever used. Simple, beautiful. And the effect is perfection. Thank you.
I’ve been doing this for 8 years without knowing what it was. Now i’m dissappointed! Orton Shmorton.
Nice effect but it has been done to death.
[…] effect A nice tutorial on making the Orton effect. (usefull for creating impressionistic images). __________________ […]
[…] there a term for this type of photograph I think you are referring to the Orton Effect. Check this out. […]
[…] can’t make up my mind if i like it, but keep finding myself drawn it! It sort of grows on you. Orton effect cheers Attached […]
[…] The Orton Effect – Digital Photography Tip of the Week at PCIN.net Update a sandwich of two images, one in focus the other out of focus. The Orton image has traditionally been done using slide film with the first, sharp, image overexposed by two stops and the second, out of focus image, over exposed by one stop. (tags: digital effects howto photography todo tutorial orton technique tips gimp) […]
[…] became my subject. Many thanks to Claire for also posting up a very simple yet effective tutorial to get this effect. 18. October 2007, 22:16 show comments (2) Posted in: Bridges Tagged […]
I like this tip and it is easy to use. Regardless of how much one thinks a tip may be of value, any and all tips should be reviewed and remembered for that one occasion that you find yourself suddenly able to benefit from it. I plan on starting my own newsletter about photography tips by January of 2008 and you can view a sample of it at http://www.PhotoTipOfTheWeek.com/Downloads/FreeNewsletter.pdf . Please feel free to let me know what you think about it. Thanks.
Joseph Tremain
http://www.PhotoTipOfTheWeek.com/Downloads/FreeNewsletter.pdf
I was so surprised to discover that the technique I am using since I abandoned the the”double exposure”I used with the old slides( 6 years ago ),has a name!
and this name is not mine!
when this Orton “discovered”this?
I am really upset!
it should be called vladi’s effect!
vladi alon, tel-aviv,israel
Thanks — found this on Flickr and it is a great quick guide. Thanks!
[…] The Orton Effect, a Adobe Photoshop tutorial by PCIN. Lifthacker coverage is here. […]
[…] The Orton Effect – Digital Photography Tip of the week. Interesante tutorial en inglés que explica como conseguir este efecto, creado originariamente por Michael Orton, con Photoshop o Adobe Elements. Podemos ver ejemplos en el uso de esta técnica en un grupo de flickr denominado Orton. […]
[…] CS3 batch script/action for the Orton Effect with smart filters can be found here (the one without for CS2 from last time […]
[…] da una sola foto, come? Ce lo spiegano migliaia di tutorial sparsi per la rete, uno è questo (link) e uno, videotutorial questa volta, è questo (link); non resta che provare. Dopo […]
[…] photo is a an altered photo that I took on vacation. Using a photoshop version of The Orton Effect I have altered this photo to give it a softer, dreamy feel. I am not sure how often I will use this […]
[…] an old photo that I took on vacation about 2 years ago in Maine. Using a photoshop version of The Orton Effect I have altered this photo to give it a softer, dreamy feel. I am not sure how often I will use this […]
[…] used this editing technique to create the ethereal atmosphere of the footbridge, if you’ve got a hang of working with […]