Have You Created Fantasy Portraits?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

05 Mar 2008 11:27 AM

Fantasy portraits, magic portraits, prop portraits, they are referred to by several different names but the concept is very similar. The computer program turns an ordinary image into a fantasy photograph. With Easter just around the corner (and since we won't be spending the holiday with my side of the family this year) I have been toying with the idea of creating my own fantasy portraits and giving them out as gifts.

Magic Portraits is a popular photo software program used by numerous photo shops and other stores that offer photo products. There are dozens of Magic Portrait templates available, including forest, water, sky, floral, and many other scenes. The program basically allows you to place an image (e.g. a shot of your child) in a "fantasy scene." For instance, I could take a medium size shot of my daughter and have her magically appear on the edge of a koi pond, sitting under a rainbow, on a butterfly, or nestled in the middle of an Easter basket surrounded by colorful eggs.

I've tooled with the program a bit and found it is simple to use. First, you browse the Magic Portrait galleries and choose the template you like best. Once you find the template you like, you'll want to examine it closely. Note what direction the light coming from and whether or not there are any shadows? To make your fantasy shot look as realistic as possible you want the lighting and shadows in the image to match the template as much as possible.

Also, it's important to consider your subject's attire. You want your subject's clothing to match the template. For example, you wouldn't want a shot of your shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt clad son to be used in a fantasy winter scene. I also learned (through trial and error) that it is a good idea to carefully examine the color themes in your favorite template. Once you choose a template you can coordinate your subject's outfit to complement it.

Finally, you'll need to find an existing photo in which your subject is posing appropriately. For example, if you are choosing the unicorn template you'll need a shot of your subject sitting on animal similar to a unicorn. Their positioning and facial expressions will only enhance your final product.

Have you tried Magic Portraits? Were you pleased with the results?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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