Snow Scene Illustration - Photoshop Photo Retouching
Artist, Illustrator: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
A company in Mobile, Alabama approached me with a project. There was a need for a holiday card photo of their offices. They wanted a snowy scene at night. Unfortunately, the only images available to them were during the day and without snow (since it doesn't snow in Mobile). The photo was great and the basis of the project.
ABOUT PHOTOSHOP ILLUSTRATIONS:
Adobe Photoshop was originally developed as a photo retouching tool, and it continues to excel in that role. Over the years, however, artists and designers have expanded its use far beyond simple photo editing, exploring its capabilities for digital illustration, compositing, and creative image manipulation. Photoshop can be used to create original artworks from scratch, dramatically transform photographs, or produce complex visual effects comparable to those seen in television and film - only in still image form. While I have not yet ventured into fully replicating traditional oil painting in Photoshop, I have created original works and modified images so extensively that “retouching” no longer fully describes the process.
Photoshop is the industry standard for bitmap image editing, and I rely on it daily, often in combination with other tools such as Adobe Illustrator and SketchUp. Even when working on more routine tasks like resizing, compressing, or preparing images for print and web, I apply the same techniques and attention to detail that I use in full scale illustrations. This practice ensures that my skills remain sharp and adaptable across every type of project.
Nearly every illustration featured on this site has been touched in Photoshop in some way, whether for final compositing, color adjustment, or output preparation. Its versatility allows me to combine precision and creativity, producing images that are both visually striking and technically polished. From subtle enhancements to bold, original illustrations, Photoshop remains an essential tool in my workflow, enabling me to deliver professional-quality imagery for a wide range of applications.
EXPLORE MY PORTFOLIOS
- Illustration: Find custom illustration, book covers, illustrated maps, and architectural rendering.
- Fine Art: Browse original paintings and drawings, the Custom Halftone Series, and murals.
- Graphic Design & Motion: See my graphic design work, plus motion design and animated illustrations.
- Maps by industry: Illustrated maps tailored for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transit & parking, towns & cities, parks, and wayfinding.
- Other project types: Also available: cover art, vehicle & vinyl wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Techniques: Explore work in vector, isometric & axonometric, painting, black & white, GeoData, overhead, and halftone styles.
- Software: Primary tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and InDesign. Motion work uses Premiere Pro & After Effects.
Additional Portfolios:
- Augmented Reality Portfolio
- Racing Related Portfolio
- Medical Illustrations Portfolio
- Character Illustration Portfolio
- Portrait Portfolio