The original image was shot on 35mm film & scanned into PS7.

I have been asked several times for the technique I used. Since I didn't take notes as I worked, I can only give you the basics.

The "black velvet" was created using a threshold layer. Detail in the black areas was manipulated by making a duplicate of the original layer and burning the areas that needed more detail and dodging the areas that needed less. Additional layers in screen mode were added to boost color saturation. I added the (filter>distort>glass) filter in selected areas to give more of a magical feel.