layers

here's a quick look at the photoshop process i worked out to make king uther a ghost.

i drew it exactly the same way i would have if he weren't a ghost:


then i carefully cut him out of the merlin layer:


and moved him to his own, semi-transparent layer:

(multiply layer, 50% opacity)

on another new layer, i copied over just the outline, reusing this hex value of merlin's robe (0054a6) for a little added continuity:

(normal layer, 50% opacity)

on yet another separate half transparent layer, i filled in all of uther's area with solid white:

(normal layer, 50% opacity)

i did the same thing with a very bright blue (66ffff), but turned the transparency down more:

(normal layer, 25% opacity)

with both layers visible, uther looks translucent and mostly white with a blue tint:


then, turning the color layer back on combines pure ghost with the natural color of a living king:


it's by no means professional, but i think he reads as a ghost so it works for me. it's also super easy to accomplish and has the added bonus of being totally fun to screw with the layers independently.