Crystal Ball

If created correctly it’s not the future which you’ll view.

https://meanderingpassage.com//wp-content/uploads/images/2020/06/EBM-20160123141232-3.jpg

I have a vast Youtube backlog of Affinity Photo (AP)¹ training/how-to videos awaiting my efforts to learn more about the App.  Many of the videos are on areas, features, and usages of AP I may not need in day-to-day photo editing, but to my pleasure, I’m finding a great deal of value in all the videos.

The photo above is my second effort at creating a photographic crystal ball in AP.  Going in, I didn’t have much interest in this subject matter, but working through this process, I discovered useful examples of masking as well as the use of AP distortion tools.  I realized after my first try how important selecting the right image is for this technique.  I wasn’t satisfied with the results of that first effort, which began with a less than appealing photo, and I’m not fully satisfied with the quality of the crystal ball in this image.  It may not be shiny enough.  I’ll probably give it another go.

At the very least these learning efforts are providing some feeling of accomplishment and productivity, which is positive in these days when all the news seems negative.  Coronavirus may somewhat shut-in the body but I’m trying to keep the old brain gears turning. 

^{1. Affinity Photo is an application similar to and as an alternative to Adobe Photoshop.}