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ohshit i just found it (the washout effect)!

Image> Adjustments> Exposure

it's a lot smoother-looking than "posterize" (under same 'Image' menu)

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I don't have the Exposure option in my version of Photoshop. What version do you have? (I really like that effect though, so I kind of wish I had it, but my computer probably couldn't run a higher version of Photoshop effectively)

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"When, I wonder, and where will there be relief?"
But he knew the answer: never and nowhere.

Take your image and (this is how I've always done it, I guess this first step is optional), duplicate the background layer, and then desaturate that duplicate layer. Then on top of that, select a medium gray colour (The one I used is #747474), create a new blank layer, and fill that layer with the colour. Set the layer blend to darken.

I wasn't happy with those results, so I did the following: I duplicated the duplicate (how confusing lol), and then played around with the blending modes, and found the following give a nice effect:

Exclusion
Screen
Pin Light
Multiply (which gives it a slightly rougher feel, which I liked).

Not quite the same, I know, but you can achieve a similar effect.

Hope that helps somewhere. I suppose you can screw around from there, haha.

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"When, I wonder, and where will there be relief?"
But he knew the answer: never and nowhere.

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So... I got a kind of similar effect. The look is a bit different, it's not the same kind of smooth quality, but i still like the effect regardless.

Take your image and (this is how I've always done it, I guess this first step is optional), duplicate the background layer, and then desaturate that duplicate layer. Then on top of that, select a medium gray colour (The one I used is #747474), create a new blank layer, and fill that layer with the colour. Set the layer blend to darken.

I wasn't happy with those results, so I did the following: I duplicated the duplicate (how confusing lol), and then played around with the blending modes, and found the following give a nice effect:

Exclusion
Screen
Pin Light
Multiply (which gives it a slightly rougher feel, which I liked).

Not quite the same, I know, but you can achieve a similar effect.

Hope that helps somewhere. I suppose you can screw around from there, haha.

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Oooh, that does look neat. I like. :)

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[The Myspace]
[Sick Puppies World Crew]