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This lesson demonstrates how to create image-filled tarts. To work along, download the start images Here. Unzip the file and open the contents onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Note
To create the glass effect I utilised an Eyecandy Glass filter. A trail of Eyecandy Impact can be downloaded Here. Alternatively, my lesson Here demonstrates how to create a reflective (glassy) effect from scratch.
Tip
When working with your own photograph, resize it so it is slightly larger then the aluminium baking tray. Additionally, choose a landscape or seascape photograph.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards.
Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Open your start images onto Photoshop’s workspace.
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Then activate the jam tart image. And using the Move Tool 
Drag the jam tart onto the baking tray. With the Free Transform Command, reduce its size so it fits inside a tart dish. Free Transform Command Lesson.
Note
To speed up your workflow, click a dot into the Move Tool’s Auto Select box.
You will then be able to quickly move individual jam tarts from the workspace - without touching the Layers palette.
Tip
After you have reduced the jam tart’s size, and dragged it onto the baking tray, you can delete the original (large .psd) jam tart image.
Tip
After resizing the jam tart - apply a sharpening filter to it. Lesson.
After you have resized and sharpened your jam tart, you are ready for the next step.
 
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Click the f-fx - Add a layer style icon, found at the bottom of the Layers palette, and apply a Drop Shadow to the jam tart’s layer. Lesson. I chose Photoshop’s default drop shadow settings, with an Opacity of 50%.
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Now, activate the Move Tool. Then press and hold your keyboard’s Alt key, and hover your cursor over the jam tart. When you see two arrows, (one black and one white), left-click, and drag the jam tart way from itself. This duplicates the jam tart. Repeat this, then drag each jam tart into an empty dish; until the tray is full.
Tip
Nudge the jam tarts into position using your keyboard’s arrow keys.
 
After you have filled your tray, you are ready for the next step.
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Zoom into the top left jam tart.
For a convincing effect each jam tart needs to be filled with part of the photograph,
one-by-one - there is no quick way of creating this effect. Therefore, activate the Move Tool and left-click the top left jam tart. Then activate the Elliptical Marquee Tool.
Ensuring its Options bar is set to the following.
Press and hold your keyboard’s Shift key. Then carefully drag out a circular
marquee, so it surrounds the jam filling. At this stage, the fit does not have to be perfect.
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Now, from the top menu, choose Select then choose Transform Selection. And with the Shift key pressed - manipulate the square transformation handles, to resize the marquee, so it hugs the jam tightly. Free Transformation Command Lesson.
Tip
Nudge the transformation box using your keyboard’s arrow keys.
Important
You will be using the same marquee throughout, therefore, positioning is an important step. With this in mind, ensure the marquee surrounds the red jam filling snugly, as demonstrated below.
When you are happy with the marquee’s position, press your Enter/Return key to complete the change.
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Now, activate your sea/landscape photograph, and from the top menu, choose Select then choose All. A selection marquee will then surround your photograph.
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From the top menu, choose Edit then choose Copy, and the photograph will be copied to Windows Clipboard.
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Now, activate the tray of jam tarts. Then from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Paste Into. A portion from the top-left side of your photograph will then be pasted into the selected area of the top left jam tart.
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You will notice the selection marquee surrounding the jam tart has disappeared. To retrieve it, from the top menu, choose Select then choose Load Selection. Click OK in the subsequent Load Selection dialogue box, and the selection marquee will be reapplied to the top left jam tart. More About Alpha Channels Here.
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You can now apply a filter of your choice to the selected area of the jam tart - or create a glassy effect. I am going to apply an Eyecandy (Impact) Glass effect. To do likewise, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Eyecandy and apply a clear glass filter. I chose the following Eyecandy 5 Impact Glass Filter.
Click OK to apply the filter.
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Activate the Elliptical Marquee Tool, then left-click and drag the circular selection marquee onto the next jam tart.
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Then fill the second (then the third and fourth - and so forth), jam tarts with a portion of the photograph, exactly as you did in Chapters 7 to 12. After you have completed this, you will have different portions of the photograph, pasted into each jam tart.
Remember, this type of effect takes time and patience, and cannot be rushed.
For each completed image-filled-tart you will have to drag the circular marquee onto
it, then Copy and Paste a new area of the photograph into the circular selection.
You will then retrieve the selection marquee, (from its alpha Channel), before applying a glass - or a Photoshop filter to the filling area.
After you have filled each jam tart with a portion of photograph, you are ready for the next step.
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If required, sharpen each individual image-tart. To do this, activate the Move Tool, then
left-click each tart (from the workspace), and apply a sharpen filter. Lesson.
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If required, smooth the area outside of the photograph (between its edge and the pastry), using a very low Strength of the Blur Tool - ensuring you apply it to just the edges.
Lesson.
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When you are happy with your artwork, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Merge Visible.
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Now, apply a Drop Shadow to your tray of image-tarts, then create a New Fill Layer and fill it with your choice of Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient - as described in my lesson Here. To finish, drag the Fill Layer to the foot of the layers stack; Merge the layers and save your work.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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