Look ma, no plugins: the "Freaky details" effects, using of-the-shelf Gimp 2.10

[Ofnuts]

The "Freaky Details" effect has been around for a while(*), but it requires a "Vivid light" layer blend mode that was not available in 2.8 (until it was added in GMIC, but not everyone uses it). Since "Vivid light" has been added in 2.10 there is now everything we need.

The effect is quickly done:

• Make two copies of your original image (three layers total)
  
• Color>Invert the top layer
  
• Filters>Blur>Selective Gaussian blur the top layer (radius around 5 px, max delta around 0.2)
  
• Add a layer group at the top, and move the top two layers in it
  
• Set the color-inverted layer to Vivid light mode
  
• Set the layer group to Overlay mode
  

Your layer stack should look like this:

   

You can adjust the effect by playing with the opacity of the layer group or the inverted layer. You can also compare the before/after images by toggling the visibility of the layer group.

Even better: once you have  values for the opacities of the layers and group, undo everything, up to and including the blur, set the layer and group opacities (this should give you the initial image) and then apply the blur. Since the blur is applied in real time to the layer, you can adjust the crispiness of the final image using the blur radius cursor.

(*) See Pat David's excellent tutorial on pixls.us from which this one derives.

The Before/after samples:

[Espermaschine]

Nice !

[Ofnuts]

Since I have another nice image for this:

Before:

   

After:

   

(click on both images for full-size, effect is very visible on hairs near the ears, and in the eye (cornea/iris).

[rich2005]

Nice: Is this your freaky details method ? Edit: Just done what I always complain of others. Not reading the title, not reading the earlier posts. Of course it is Freaky details

[Ofnuts]

(09-13-2021, 07:35 AM)rich2005 Wrote: Nice: Is this your freaky details method ?  Edit: Just done what I always complain of others. Not reading the title, not reading the earlier posts. Of course it is Freaky details

Not actually "my" method either

[denzjos]

Nice find  : the cat does't bother but the result is outstanding.
before :
   
after:
   

[Krikor]

(10-16-2018, 09:30 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: The effect is quickly done:

• Make two copies of your original image (three layers total)
  
• Color>Invert the top layer
  
• Filters>Blur>Selective Gaussian blur the top layer (radius around 5 px, max delta around 0.2)
  
• Add a layer group at the top, and move the top two layers in it
  
• Set the color-inverted layer to Vivid light mode
  
• Set the layer group to Overlay mode
  

Ofnuts, this effect is achieved with simple steps but the result is really amazing!

Another method I use:

01- Duplicate the original layer;
02- In the new layer change the mode to Grain extract;
03- Apply a Selective Gaussian Blur - defaults. (Here I usually used Gaussian blur, but you have to be careful with a halo that appears around the image if the blur is excessive);
04- New from visible (it will generate a new layer - third);
05- On the new layer (greyed out) change the mode to Linear Light. (it can be Vivid light, it depends on the image);
06- Close the view of the second layer.

For the purpose of comparing the methods I used the excellent image from Pixonuts. I hope it's not a Copyright violation.

[Ofnuts]

(09-13-2021, 09:05 PM)Krikor Wrote:

(10-16-2018, 09:30 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: The effect is quickly done:

• Make two copies of your original image (three layers total)
  
• Color>Invert the top layer
  
• Filters>Blur>Selective Gaussian blur the top layer (radius around 5 px, max delta around 0.2)
  
• Add a layer group at the top, and move the top two layers in it
  
• Set the color-inverted layer to Vivid light mode
  
• Set the layer group to Overlay mode
  

Ofnuts, this effect is achieved with simple steps but the result is really amazing!

Another method I use:

01- Duplicate the original layer;
02- In the new layer change the mode to Grain extract;
03- Apply a Selective Gaussian Blur - defaults. (Here I usually used Gaussian blur, but you have to be careful with a halo that appears around the image if the blur is excessive);
04- New from visible (it will generate a new layer - third);
05- On the new layer (greyed out) change the mode to Linear Light. (it can be Vivid light, it depends on the image);
06- Close the view of the second layer.

For the purpose of comparing the methods I used the excellent image from Pixonuts. I hope it's not a Copyright violation.

Pretty sure that your technique can be made easier by using the adequate layer group. All these techniques are mostly subtracting a blurry version of the image from the original to keep only the sharp components... (in other words, they are mostly impovements on "Unsharp mask";

[Krikor]

(09-13-2021, 10:00 PM)Ofnuts Wrote: [...]
Pretty sure that your technique can be made easier by using the adequate layer group. All these techniques are mostly subtracting a blurry version of the image from the original to keep only the sharp components... (in other words, they are mostly impovements on "Unsharp mask";

Taking that into account, here with the use of a layer group:

01- Duplicate the original layer;
02- Create a layer group and move the copy to that group;
03- Duplicate this copy;

04- Among the layers within the created group, select the top one and change its mode to Extract grains;
05- Apply to Selective Gaussian Blur - defaults;
06- Set the layer group to Linear Light mode;

What would be a good technique to reduce the noise generated by this technique?

Sharpness highlighted in the main object of the image is welcome (it is actually the object of this technique), but at the expense of producing noise in the adjacent areas.

I try Wavelet-Denoise and Smooth Anisotropic under a mask created with the technique described at https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-How-to...3#pid25483 . Not a bad result, but I think there could be a better technique for reducing noise without compromising the desired sharpness.

I don't mean the technique of creating the mask, but the selective use of noise reduction filters.

P.S.: 
In the image used in this post, the situation is a little simpler, as the original image has practically no noise and can serve as a basis for a mask applied to the layer where the noise reduction is applied. But this will hardly ever be the case.

[PixLab]

(09-14-2021, 02:13 PM)Krikor Wrote: 05- Apply to Selective Gaussian Blur - defaults;

Instead of the "Selective gaussain blur" do > Filters / G’MIC / Repair / Smooth [bilateral] (these 3 sliders are your friends)
It's what can be the closest of the closest of the PS "Surface blur"