Stepping Outside the Dream

The Matrix is dissolving. It's Just a Matter of Time.

ART MIX-UP CONTEST contribution of Jey Blue

How this is made

3D Popup Images

I’m quite a beginner when it comes to working with Photoshop. One of the things that I’m learning is how to create ‘3D’ images from existing images. The idea is to create images which are no longer ‘boxed’ by a rectangular frame; parts of the image appears to pop-up and so create a 3D illusion. The white background in Steemit is then acting as a wall or floor.
It’s always a challenge to think and create outside the box, but that makes working with these techniques so appealing.

Cinemagraph

There is another element I’d like to add to these popup-images, which is movement using the so called cinemagraphic technique: A cinemagraph is a still image with just a hint of motion somewhere in the scene. The motion in a cinemagraph is always repeating because the original medium is that of a looped video.

Putting it all together

This animated image consists of three separate short videos, converted into a continuously looping GIF of 5 seconds (which took 2 hours to render lol)

-- The image in the middle has the girl stepping outside the ‘box’ (see original below). Added to that is a so called ‘sandstorm effect’ where the right part of the image dissolves into tiny particles, blowing back to the source of creation: symbolized by the universe

-- The still image of the universe has some subtle cinemagraph effects; pulsing lights of stars. The dissolved particles of the middle image are merging with the stars.

-- The clockwork image is a looped video of the insides of a clock.
The motion of all three images are synchronized to create a never-ending loop effect. (which is always the greatest challenge to create a seamless loop, but I’m learning… )

NB The end result image is 1920 px wide 1080 px high. It may be that when the image is shown in a smaller size then it will be displayed in not such a good quality as individual pixels are discernible. I’m still trying to figure out how to create the best gif-formats for all devices, pc, tablet and phones.
Tools Used: Photoshop, After Effects, coffee