Watercolor Painting Effect

Step One: Open File

• Open the file you wish to change.

• It will appear as the background layer in your layer window.

Step TwoDuplicate Layer 3 Times

• You need 3 copies of the background layer. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J

• Do it 3 times to duplicate the Background layer

Step Three:Turn off top 2 layers

• On the far left of each layer in the Layers palette, you'll see a small eyeball icon. This is the Layer Visibility icon, and it tells you if the layer is visible.

• Click on the icon for the top two layers.

• When you click on it, it will disappear, indicating the layer is not visible.

Step Four:Select layer one

• Click on "Layer 1" in the Layers palette to select it.

• You will know what layer your in because it will be highlighted in

blue.

Step Five:Apply Cut-Out filter

• With "Layer 1" selected, at the top of the screen go to Filter>Artistic>Cutout

• Change the Levels to 4

• Simplicity to 4• And Fidelity to 2

Step SixChange Blend Mode

• With "Layer 1" still selected, go up to the Blend Mode options in the top left of the Layers palette.

• Click on the down-pointing arrow and select Luminosity

So far your image should look something like this

Step Seven:Turn on layer above layer one

• Turn on ("Layer 1 copy") in the layer box

• Make sure that Layer 1 copy is selected

• “Layer 1 Copy” should be highlighted in blue

Step Eight:Apply Dry Brush Filter

• With "Layer 1 copy" selected and visible

• Go to Filter>Artistic>Dry brush

• Set Brush Size to 10• Brush Detail to 10, • Texture option to 3

Step Nine:Change Blend Mode

• With "Layer 1 copy" still selected,

• Change the blend mode in Layers palette,

• Change the blend mode for the layer to Screen

This is what your image should look like

Step Ten:Turn on top Layer

• Turn on ("Layer 2 copy") in the layer box

• Make sure that Layer 2 copy is selected

• “Layer 2 Copy” should be highlighted in blue

Step Eleven:Apply Median Filter

• Go to Filter>Noise>Median

• Set the Radius to 12 pixels

• Change the blend mode to Soft Light

Finish Product