Photoshop Elements – Pop Art Image

I love to create pop art paintings, so I need a pop art print to base my painting on. I find the easiest way to get this effect is to start by adjusting the image in Photoshop elements. It is extremely easy to create a pop art image from any photograph using these simple steps.

First, Open Photoshop elements, then up load your image into Photoshop by clicking, File then Open, Choose the picture you want then click Open.

Second, Make sure you have the photo in the Edit, Full tab. You can check this by looking to the right of the page, at the top you will see in orange Edit tab, in purple Create tab and in green Share tab. Click on the orange Edit tab. Below the Edit tab you have 3 tabs, Full, Quick and Guided. Click on Full.

Once you have checked this, go to the orange Effects tab and just below there are 4 options, Filters, Layer styles, Photos effects and All effects, click on All Effects.

You will then have a series of different pictures showing the different effects possible. For this pop art effect you will need to scroll down using the side bar on this section until Cutout is high lighted. This is the effect we are going to use. Click on the Cutout effect twice to be taken to a new screen or you can select the Cutout picture and then press Apply, this will appear just below.

Third, A new screen will appear and you will have your original picture in a large box on the left and the options to adjust the setting in a smaller bow in the top right corner. Here you will see 3 slide bars, Number of levels, Edge simplicity and Edge fidelity. By moving the cursor arrow over the center of these levels, clicking down and holding the left mouse button. You will be able to move the levels left and right to adjust the effect on your original photo. For my pop art paintings I tend to use the settings, Number of levels 4, Edge simplicity 3 and Fidelity 2. Play around with these settings until you achieve the desired effect and then simply press OK. Then you can go to File, and then Save as and chose a name for the file. By selecting Save as, instead of simply Save, you will insure the effect is not placed on the original photo. Leaving you free to play with the different effects as often as you wish.

I hope this helps you achieve the pop art effects you want.