Photoshop CS2: Vanishing Point Filter

Photoshop CS2’s Vanishing Point Filter allows you to preserve correct perspective in image edits that contain perspective planes, such as the side of a building or any other rectangular object. In this tutorial, Linda takes you through Vanishing Point “gymnastics” to show you how to utilize this tool to your advantage. The Marquee, Stamp, and Text tools will be used, as well as the Liquefy Filter and other options to create a new image from an original photograph.

Vanishing Point Gymnastics

I put off using the Vanishing Point Filter for a few months when I first began to use Photoshop CS2, as it seemed too complicated to learn at the time. Each time I tried to use it according to the handbook, I felt as though I was practicing back flips. But, since I’ve learned how to use that filter, a world of possibilities opened up to me and I want to share these tips with you in this tutorial.

The best way to learn how to use this filter is to begin with a simple landscape that carries some flat planes, like the Bahamian fish shacks that I chose for this lesson (included in the download). The image to the left below is the original image. The image to the right shows that the middle shack has lost a door and now sports some type, and the reflection in the water mimics those changes – and they’re all in perspective, thanks to the Vanishing Point Filter. That’s the goal for this lesson:

NOTE: You will want to resize the downloaded image to 300 ppi before you begin the tutorial (Image > Image Size > change Resolution from 72 to 300).

The tools that you’ll use for this lesson include the Vanishing Point Filter, the Liquefy Filter, and the Text tool, among other filters and layer options.