So you have some hair, fur that you want to flow and look real? This is SO easy and fast and the effects are great! I will be using "Princess" from my Unicorn texture pack for an example here, but you can also use this for hair on people also :-)

First you will need the Eye Candy filter. If you do not have it you can download a free copy from Eye Candy Special Edition which I am told is a fully functional version of Eye Candy. I cannot install it over my registered version so it is impossible for me to test it. If it doesn't work for you you may have to consider purchasing it, but it is well worth it!

There is a newer version of Eye candy, 4000, which gives you even more effects but is not free. There are discounts available on the link above for Eye Candy 4000, but Eye candy 3.0 or 3.1 will work for the purpose of this tutorial also if you have that. :-)

This filter works for Photoshop as well as PSP. Not sure about Photo Imact. If you use that program you'll have to check that one out...

Here is a preview of what we will end up with after a couple little steps...

Open your image in your graphics editor. With your lasso or selection tool draw an outline around the tail as close to the edge as possible. You don't have to worry about it being perfect, this filter will blend any extras bits in with the fur/hair. Now copy the selected area and paste as a new (raster) layer.

Locate the Eye Candy filter in your fliter list and choose fur. You will want to choose long and flowing and then adjust the settings as shown below. When it looks good, go back to settings on the top toolbar and save the setting you have now as a new name that you will remember for next time. This will save you from having to adjust the settings every time.

You should now have something that looks like this....

Go back to the filter again and do the same thing a second time. If necessary change the direction of the fur a bit to change the highlights. You will end up with something like this.

Now we will tweak the mane a bit to add a little depth to it. The easiest wat to do this is to create a new raster layer. With your color picker choose a color within the unicorn/hair or mane to use as your mane color. Choose your paint brush tool and set the size to about 8-10. Draw a line along the top of the unicorn as shown below. This will be your new mane.

Go back into the Eye Candy fur filter. Use the same settings as you used on the tail. Then click on the tab at the top for lighting. Choose a color that is a little lighter than the color of the line you drew. Then adjust the angle of the lighting and highlight intensity until you have a good contrast of colors that match the original colors in your mane. Exit out. You will have something like this...

If you want more intensityand highlights to either the tail or mane, make sure you choose the layer that has that element and use the filter again. Every time you apply the fur filter you will increase the debth and flow of the fur. When you are satisfied with your new fur, merge your layers so your image is all one layer again. You can then continue to postwork any other areas of your image you like.

Shown below are 2 other images before and after the fur filter is applied. Youcan see a little tweaking makes then really come to life!

BEFORE

AFTER

Remember your undo button, you can always start over if you don't like a setting!

Questions??? Feel free to contact me at videorama@xtalwind.net