Need tattoo help from Photoshoppers!

[gavracadavra]

I realize that there is another thread somewhat similar to this one, but I felt I should make a new one specific to my request. I'm interested in getting a tattoo of an Atokirina'/Woodsprite. I've looked for several images and the ones I've found I couldn't manipulate well myself. All of the pictures are either exceedingly small or blurry, or just don't have the right position I'm looking for.

I have minimal experience with photoshop and I have a very specific and planned idea of what I want.

On the back cover of the Avatar Extended Collector's Edition DVD, there is this picture:
(I took my own picture of the real holograph)

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/756...endedcolle.jpg

Now, this position is perfect but the problem is that it's holographic and I need a silhouette version in just straight black, without losing the little details. But I did find the detail in this picture, but it looks more like a scientific dissection. =/

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

I doubt inverting the colors would provide me with a workable image, just because it is a holographic image.

So, I'm asking the help of anyone who is willing. This is something I'm very excited about. But I need some help to make this reality.

[Eltu]

A quick google search revealed some pre-made atokirina brushes - which I made a transparent PNG out of:

http://i.imgur.com/56oUA.png

Is that what you are looking for?

[gavracadavra]

That's definitely a silhouette, like I'm looking for. But I wanted it in the position/form it is in in the picture I took, like on the back cover of the dvd. Plus, and I could try it, I like the little details in the original picture. It almost looks feather-like around the tips and base of the seed body.

I'm not trying to be terribly picky, but it is going to permanently be on my body :]

[Eltu]

Getting the shape correctly can be done pretty quickly using the Transform and Liquify tools:

http://i.imgur.com/gufuA.png

What's left is of course to add the detail - you could try that yourself For instance, pick a regular 1px brush, and manually draw the "feathers" onto it - the desired effect can be achieved pretty quickly

[gavracadavra]

Thank you very much for your help!

I'll try it right now, actually. I'll probably screw it up though. I'm much more attuned to traditional arts. Something about using a mouse to do detail just doesn't click with me. Hence asking for help. :[

[gavracadavra]

I've been screwing around with it for quite some time and I am not able to successfully reproduce the effect in the original picture. Would it be totally impossible to try and get a silhouette from the picture I took? I've been trying that too, but I am failing miserably. lol