Inverting Images In Photoshop

As an outdoor photographer and digital artist, I find it fun to experiment with creative effects in post-processing. Here is a super easy and super fast way to completely transform a photograph by inverting images in Photoshop and then applying textures and colors in Topaz Texture Effects.

Here is an image of birch trees reflecting in a pond at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area near Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Not a bad image, but nothing that really makes my head turn, either.

Birch Reflection Straight Out of Camera
Straight Out of Camera

I tried a few other edits using different color palettes, but nothing really got my attention. Here is an edit using Topaz Restyle to make it more of a cooler tones “winter” look:

Topaz Restyle Frozen Landscape
Topaz Restyle Frozen Landscape

Another edit using Nik Color Efex Pro to give it a warmer look:

Warmer Edit
Warmer Edit

These edits were “OK” but nothing special.

Inverting Images

Then I tried inverting the original image in Photoshop. By inverting, I don’t mean flipping it upside down – I mean making it look more like a negative. Simply open the image in Photoshop and hit “Ctrl” “I” (command “I” on a Mac).

Inverted Image
Inverted Image

I then took the inverted image in to Topaz Texture Effects and added texture and a color overlay. This is surreal!

Inverted Birch Reflection
Inverted and edited with Topaz Texture Effects

It really is that easy! Complete transformation of a typical landscape photograph in about 5 minutes. While I like the looks I got with the other edits, inverting images in Photoshop gives this particular image a completely different and surreal look that really grabs my attention. With just a fast and simple trick. I don’t think this type of edit would work with every image, but for trees or forest scenes it seems to come out rather nicely. Give it a try and see what you think!

Happy inverting!