**
NOTE:
an updated, far superior, version to this tutorial has been posted
HERE. 
**
©2010 ~ Sasha H. Muradali
***This has been cross-posted on my Deviant Art***
I, like a lot of other Photoshop addicts, was awed by the graphics in James Cameron’s ‘Avatar.’ I was in awe so much so, that I really wanted to try my hand at making myself into a Na’vi.
I’m not going to sugar coat it and tell you it was easy. Unless you are a graphic design wizard (which I’m not, I’m just a girl who likes Photoshop) this is going to be a challenge.
So let’s get started…
What you will need/What I used:-
*Adobe CS4 Photoshop Extended Edition
* Filter -> Liquify (SHIFT+CTRL+X) <——– MAJORLY!
* Saturation Tool
* Desaturate Tool
* Burn Tool <——– MAJORLY!
* Dodge Tool
* Blur Tool
* Clone Stamp
* Paint Brush Tool w/ Colour Sampler being used frequently
* A few images, preferably high resolution, of Na’vi and the characters from ‘Avatar’. ( I have a folder on my Picasa filled with images, you are welcome to use.)
* Photoshop’s ‘Blending’ features
*Various layers
* Make sure to SAVE your image as a .psd file while working on it.
***NOTE: This is a photomanipulation & blend. I’d be insane and way too talented if I actually did this entire thing from scratch. ***
FILE SIZE:
At it’s largest while editing w/ all the layers: 130MB
At it’s smallest with only backgrounds, 1 original image, 1 altered image and 1 Na’vi image of yourself in multiple layers:- 90MB
TOTAL TIME: 7-9 hours (if you are a perfectionist whose hobby is graphic design like me )
©2010 ~ Sasha H. Muradali - Click to Enlarge Image
Body:-
{3 Layers – your picture, 2 layers of different blue}
Use a clean and clear image of yourself. If you have blemishes, bad eyebrows, or anything out of place, Photoshop it out. You need a least ‘problematic’ image to work from.
Take any of the images you use as your references and pick out one of the darkest colours of blue, as well as one of the middle tones of blue.
Setting your OPACITY to about 30%, PAINT the darkest blue across your skin, not touching your eyes or mouth. BLEND (I played around w/ different blends. I liked Luminosity for some, Colour Burn for other, Vivid Light etc. It’s up to you.)
REPEAT with second blue.
MERGE DOWN to your ‘original’ image of yourself. You should resemble a smurf at this point.
Ears:-
{2 Layers – one per ear}
I got a Na’vi ear from one of the reference images. Opened it in a new window, cut it, pasted it, altered it with Ctrl-T (I did not have my hand on the SHIFT button b/c I need to scale to size freely) and placed it.
See below “Making your Na’vi Come to Life” for the rest.
©2010 ~ Sasha H. Muradali - Click to Enlarge Image
Nose:-
{1 Layer}
Ha! This was the biggest pain in the derriere to try to do and I still feel like mine came out all wonky. This is what took me the longest to do and perfect.
Basically, LIQUIFY your image and play with the Brush Size, Brush Density and Brush Pressure. It requires a lot of trial and error, so I suggest having another layer in your giant monstrosity of a .psd file of your blue smurf self, unaltered as a just in case.
At the end of this, your nose should look smushed, flat, narrow and with a ‘V’ shape at the bottom of it.
Your lips should look normal as if nothing has changed.
MANIPULATE your image by copying and pasting a real Na’vi nose on top of your smushed nose in a new layer. Erase around it and fit to place. DO NOT MERGE or BLEND…yet.
Eyes:-
{1 Layer}
Use LIQUIFY tool to make your eyes bigger and your pupils larger. MANIPULATE your eyes using a real Na’vi eye, by placing it over yours, erase, fit to place, set OPACITY around 80%.
MERGE DOWN once you got it where you want it, SATURATE, DODGE and BURN to taste.
When image is finished, go back and LIQUIFY to taste if needed.
©2010 ~ Sasha H. Muradali - Click to Enlarge Image
Making your Na’vi Come to Life:-
{Multiple Layers – at your own discretion}
So your nose is in place, your skin resembles a smurf and your eyes are big, bright and glassy yellow. Now what the heck are you supposed to do?
Take your reference images, choose about 3-4 different types of Na’vi skin and CLONE STAMP them onto your face and body.
BLEND to taste.
Now, BLEND your NOSE.
MERGE DOWN.
After you’ve done this BURN, DODGE, SATURATE, DESATURATE etc. your skin to get that bioluminescent look. This is the time to make your nose look correct, get your eyes working properly, fixing your lips etc. etc. etc.
If you find that any part of your skin looks ‘rough’ — I used the BLUR tool at 100% to smooth out.
Backgrounds:-
I looked up Pandora on images.google.com and put myself in there.
…and you’re done!
©2010 ~ Sasha H. Muradali
GOOD LUCK!
***My likeness and image belong to me and only me. The rest is between you and James Cameron.***
You might also be interested in:-
- Love AVATAR? Download the Script from 20th Century Fox
- Graphics, Bioluminescence & Sex – AVATAR is pretty much awesome - movie review
- AVATAR: Get the Look of a Na’vi – makeup tutorial
- Great Expectations of an Avatar Kind
Copyright © 2009-2010 Sasha H. Muradali. All Rights Reserved.
