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This tutorial demonstrates how create Shiny Metallic Photographic Conversions using the Detail Smart Brush Tool. To work along, you are welcome to download the Start Image Here. Unzip the file and open your choice of Start Image onto Element’s workspace.
Undo Note
You can step backwards at any time by clicking the top menu’s Undo Tool.
Please Note: Elements 8’s Orange Horizontal Bar
The following Orange Horizontal Bar is exclusive to Photoshop Elements 8. Please link here to read my comprehensive Understand Elements 8, 9 and 10’s Workspace tutorial.
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Open your Start Image onto Elements’ workspace.
Tip
To centralise your image - snap it to the top menu’s orange horizontal line by dragging it towards it.
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From the Toolbar, activate the Detail Smart Brush Tool.
Then from the Smart Brush Tool’s Options Bar, click open the Adjustment Presets by clicking the following black arrow.
And from the subsequent drop-down Palette, ensure Show All is active: then scroll down the thumbnails, and locate then double-left-click the X-Ray Preset, as illustrated below.
Then select a Brush from the Options Bar.
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Smart Brush And Detail Brush Notes
The Smart Brush and Detail Smart Brush Tools apply colour and tonal adjustments to specific areas of a photograph. By selecting a Preset Adjustment, certain effects can be applied using these Tools. Both Tools automatically creates individual Adjustment Layers to which the effect is applied to. When you apply the Smart Brush Tool, it makes a Selection based on your image’s colour and texture, and then the Adjustment is applied to just the Selected area. The Detail Smart Brush Tool can also be used for fine detail adjustments.
 
Both Brush Tools let you Add and Subtract from the areas being adjusted. Because each Adjustment is applied to its own Layer, you can have more than one Adjustment Preset application. In addition, you can tweak the settings for each Adjustment separately. When a correction has been made, a Pin appears where you first applied the Adjustment. The pin provides a reference for the specific Adjustment. A new Pin appears when a different Adjustment Preset is applied: this feature makes it easier to modify a specific correction, especially if you apply different Adjustments.
Refine Selection Edge Note
Clicking the Option Bar’s Refine Selection Edge tab brings up the following Refine Mask dialogue box, where (once it has been applied), you can edit the Selection Marquee to suit your photograph’s needs.
 
Quickly Resize The Brush Size
The Brush Size can be quickly resized by tapping the Outer Bracket Keys - (Caps OFF).
Tip
To quickly apply the X-ray Brush over the entire image, enlarge the Brush so it is slightly larger than your image.
Tip
As an alternative to transforming the entire photograph, you can apply the Brush to smaller areas of photographs.
Tutorial Continued
Now, left-click three or four times over your image. After left-clicking, the circular area (where you have just clicked) will be transformed into a metallic x-ray effect - as illustrated
below.
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And an X-ray Adjustment Layer will then be applied above the Background Layer - as illustrated below.
Now, pass your cursor over the entire image until it has been fully converted.
Note
You can deepen the metallic affect by repeatedly left-clicking over the same area.
Darken Your Image: Optional Tip
To darken your image, from the top menu, choose Enhance then choose Adjust Lighting then choose Levels - Ctrl then L. From the subsequent Levels dialogue box, move the Black and the Grey Point sliders slightly to the right, as illustrated below: then click OK.
Tip
You can change the X-ray’s appearance by changing the X-ray’s Blending Mode from Normal to your choice.
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To finish, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Flatten Image.
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Congratulations, your shiny metallic X-ray conversion is complete and is ready to save.
Sharpening Tip
For extra clarity, apply a Sharpening Filter: from the top menu, choose Enhance then select a Sharpening Filter of your choice
Now you are familiar with this technique, you can have lots of fun applying shiny metallic X-ray effects to your favourite photographs.
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