
There is a pond on the greenbelt behind our house. Periodically, I’ll see ducks or geese swimming on the water. Then I walk out to capture them with my camera, near sunset for these ducks. I like that I gave can give our simple pond an artsy look with a few Artsy Transfers. Below I share how I masked the photo and created the background.
Blend and Mask
- Duplicate the photo and place on Solid Paper 1 from ArtPlay Palette Evenfall.
- Add layer mask to a copy of the photo and stamp with brush 9 from ArtPlay Palette Evenfall.
- Add layer mask to a second copy of the photo and stamp with white on a inverted layer mask with brush 10 from ArtPlay Palette Evenfall.
- In Topaz Studio, apply a watercolor filter to another copy. Reduce the opacity to 50%.
- Place another copy of the original photo above these layers on Normal blend mode and change the opacity to 50%.
Note: I adjusted the white balance of this .jpeg with the Camera Raw Filter in Photoshop.

Artsy Transfers
- Place the layers of file 4 from Artsy Transfers Evenfall below the photo layers.

- Below file 4 place the layers of transfer 2.
Note: I deleted two of the layers and added a layer mask to one to hide part of that layer.

- Below those layers place transfer 8 from ArtPlay Palette Evenfall and reduce the size to 85%.

Embellish
- Stamp brush 2 from ArtPlay Palette Evenfall and brush 15 from ArtPlay Palette Reflections in black on two new blank layers.
- Add word art from Evenfall WordART Mix No. 1.
- Place layers from .psd file 1 of MultiMedia Suns No. 4. Turn off button and starfish.
- Place pink button from ArtPlay Palette Evenfall.
- Place lace and it’s shadow from file 3 of MultiMedia Suns No. 4. Resize to 85%.
- Add Fotoglow from ArtPlay Palette Glance. Change the blend mode to Multiply at 15%.

This is a favorite photo of some ducks swimming in the pond, but I love the artsy look with my new background!