Learn to Photoshop
How it was done

• The original photograph was a black and white negative and scanned in.
  Never throw old negatives and transparencies away, if you have any; many times part of them can be used.
  The Background was duplicated and I worked on the copy.

• Photoshop Curves were used to adjust the tone and density to give a full contrast image.

• The cyclist and bike were selected with the Pen tool and copied on to a new layer.




• To create a full chrome effect, contrast needs to be increased considerably and partially reversed. A basic chrome curve is on the right.
  In fact, three separate curves adjustments were necessary here to give the desired effect. Using several curves gives more control over which parts of the image are inverted.
  Chrome is covered in greater detail in Photoshop In A Day .



• The image was changed to RGB Mode and the new chrome cyclist layer was copied.

• With Colorize in Hue & Saturation the new cyclist was given the blue colour.



• Using a layer mask, part of the blue cyclist was hidden to merge in with the chrome cyclist underneath. The opacity of the blue cyclist was also lowered slightly.

• The background black and white layer was given a good dose of Motion Blur with an angle to match the direction of the cyclist.
• One final touch. The chrome layer was selected by holding Control/Command and clicking on its layer in the Layers panel.

• A new layer was created and the selection was stroked with a blue colour. Much of the line was erased, leaving just the portion outlining the front of the rider and bike.

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