clever and very well done good luck author

That is sooooo cool.

Thanks!

This is so .... punk!
Good idea, author, good job too.
But looking at hi-res, It could take better care of the edges... IMO.
However, your job is pretty cool.
Good luck

Fun job, author! This is really cool. I agree with DanielaOwergoor...she has a good eye!

Another case of a really good composition and idea, needing a few tweaks to take it to a whole other couple of levels: arm is a bit too "cartoony" compared to the rest of the image (needs something like the specular hilites that are present in the face), the blurry top edge of the sunglasses don't match the sharp bottom edge, the character's mohawk kind of ends abruptly in a squared off angle at the very top of his head ... I'll shut up now.

Thanks for the comments. I agree with the edges. Any suggestions to take care of them? What tool would you use?

Author, the CLONE tool works great on finishing edges if the image has been flattened, if not, an erase tool set at 80% in a sharp edge setting can do the trick.. ,you can also use the BLUR tool if the edges are super tiny but have a lot of sharp edges, blur will soften and blend..

to hunt down Outer debris I usually use the STROKE setting and erase the bad stuff and then shut off the Stroke tool after I've cleaned..

Lots of other suggestions may follow I hope.. (I really have never understood photoshop that much, it's all quite Greek to me, but I got the basics).. Good Luck

Thanks! I'll try these. The clone tool for sure.

Please post source links.
Edges need a lot of work...instead of using the magic wand, use the pen tool or lasso tool to extract objects cleanly.

I agree with CMYK here

I was trying to add the steps and source links when commented. I could probably have spent a little time on the edges. Lasso tool is probably the best idea. Worked this out during lunch. Thanks for the comment.

The truck and girl are not published photos...no url. They are from my own camera and taken by me.

Sorry that I used a copyrighted image...the windows. They really weren't that important to the image and I really did think I had borrowed it from an open source. I fixed the windows by taking them out and using the original windows of the truck photo. Probably looks better anyway. The truck and the girl come from two of my own photos. They are not published on a web page and don't have a url. I have displayed them in my step by step. Sorry that broke the rules on this one, but it was unintentional. I really just enjoy trying to come up with the image. Hope this works now.

Let's try this again. I have fixed the step-by-step and taken out the truck that i used for the windows earlier. Hope that corrects the issues. I'll be more careful next time I enter a photoshop contest. Wish i had more time to get involved in these things. Sorry for the troubles.

Party time.A good mood

Very nice party!
Good luck author!

Interesting concept and transformation.

IMO Step 3 looks better. The HDR effect gives the whites a yellow cast. (Why the hairy smoke?)...

this is just SUPER!!! good luck

I have to agree with CMYK46, step 3 has the look that could have been preserved in the 4th step if you'd have wanted to have the smoke trail spiral around like you did -- still, this is a great composition

Thanks. I think you are right. Probably should have left it alone.

Thanks. I think you are right. Probably should have left it alone.