Image manipulation starter.
 

I have come up with an idea that maybe of interest to those who like to play around with digital images, it can be used as a learning tool as well.

The idea is three or four images are loaded onto this thread either from the same person or from different people. Once the three or four images are loaded. Those who want to play download all of them and play around and see who comes up with the best picture but you must say how you have done the various tasks that make the finished photo.

e.g http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...6&limit=recent

I will load the seascape as the first image.
Uploaded another image seaweed

I see a crescent moon and a dhow or felucca sailboat in this. Anyone??

Gerry

Has anyone any photo's that can be used they don't have to be worked on beforehand. The purpose is to learn how to edit, extract elements from photo's, clone, filter. Use as many editing features as we are able to find in the various programs, it will also be a great way to start learning the layer tool, so if you do make a mistake you don't have to start from scratch.

Christine,cannot come up with any images at the moment,but just to say,I love your seaweed image.So sharp and clear.What sort of images would be best for your project?.

Hi Christine anything really, it will be down to the individuals imagination on putting the images together. Its only for fun but we may learn something.

I just noticed in the gallery there is a cracking photo of a whale. It would be great if skaggst loaded that one, or the lifeboat by George Newport but I won't be using there images thats up to them. Anything on them lines.

This is just an example of adding items I have left the background as is.I opened one of my ice photo's and the seaweed as seperate files worked on the ice first with the extract tool or you could use the magic wand.Copied then pasted onto the background changed the layer to luminosity so it takes on the colour of the background then stretched it to fit. I then did exactly the same with the seaweed.

It's a good idea Christine. I wonder if anyone can make use of this.

I will get the ball rollimg and mess with the four images, watch this space

Here is my effort.

Gerry

Very nice! I plan to try this as soon as I get some time.

Thats brilliant I like the bird.

I started out with the sunset. I opened the boat picture then using the polygon lasso tool. I outlined one of the boats and then to fine tune this I pressed Q for the quick mask and used the paintbrush to cleanup around the rigging anywhere that was untidy or any rigging that was missing I used the Line tool, I then copied this onto the clipboard created a new file then pasted and saved for future use. As I did each boat I pasted them onto the main photo. Another method of Mask which could be quicker is to start using the magic wand then press Q to bring in the quick mask its much easier and quicker with the paintbrush to highlight the item. While using the mask if you can switch between forground and background if you make a mistake. I forgot to add to get the sun effect i went to filters, render, lighting effect.

Looks great Christine, move to the top of the class. I will continue to add to the one I started over the coming days; takes a long time to search out suitable images.

Gerry

Gerry I have I have put the frost and the boat photo in the first thread for people to use rather then search for items.

John

I have put your photo in the first thread with the other photo's. Thank you.

Here's a picture that I've been trying to insert into the seascape but can't figurre out how. I extracted the whale but can't insert it into the other picture. Neither of my PS7 books are clear on how to do this sort of thing. maybe soeone else can do it and tell me how.

I will have a go. I explained above on how to use the mask tool do you have that function in ps7. Unfortuntely I have removed mine what I will do is isolate the whale and repost it for you.

Snowyowl
Here is the image back ,I have just tried it and it will work in the photo. You could use the magic wand on it own if you don't have the quick mask.

I have managed to place the orka into your picture. I extracted her then did a simlpe copy, paste. I also gave a slight yellow tinge. Needs more work where the tail enters the water.

Very nice. I'll have to work on this stuff.

Snowyowl
When you pasted the image onto the scene does it make a new layer if it does, I think you will be able to change the layer to luminosity, then it will take on the colour of the scene.

Great to see people join in, let's all try. It's a learning curve for all of us and lack of experience should not be a barrier. There must be a multitude of suitable pictures out there just waiting for an airing.

Have fun,
Gerry.

Gerry

This is the screen for the render filters.

Not very good Christine but at least I've tried. Might have another go when I have a bit more time.
I think the sky is a bit better on the second image but still not happy with reflection.
I have raised the horizon in image 3. I think I prefer image 2 inspite of the equal split between sky and sea. The sky seems too cramped in 3.

John A smashing idea. Needs a little more thought with the light source, (sun) and the boat. 1. It would be a shadow longer than the height of the mast given the low angle of the sun. 2. The angle of that shadow from the boat must be in a diagonal line from the sun. Plus it would be a silhouette and rippled not a mirror image. The light source on the grassed area would indicate another strong light source from behind. Makes the composite picture look totally false. This is after all a learning idea each learning from the other so that our manipulation techniques will improve all round.

My own image still has a lot of work to be done on it to make it more plausible and when you are working on your own photo's you don't always see the faults.

But to add to Christine's comments...thanks John for having the courage to try and a good effort. I hope that doesn't sound patronising - that's the last thing on my mind.

Gerry

I have just done a simialr thing to my own image on the previous page. What do you think.

Shadows are something you don't always think about but which make such a difference to the image. Looks good on the middle boat, now the one on the LHS !! I am going blind playing with lighting effects, thought the sun should be halfway under the horizon to give this sort of halflight??

Gerry

John your PM box is full

Gerry.
Can you correct it so I know where the shadow should be. I am not sure. It was just a whild guess with the others.

Christine

Here goes with another. Decided to use 2 boats only otherwise the water gets a little cluttered with sealions, boats and birds.

Gerry

Christine,
I think, on reflection!!, and having looked at it again, the edge is dark enough to not need a shadow. If the purists disagree then move the boat a little to the left so the shadow wouldn't show anyhow.

Gerry.

Thanks Gerry, I like what you have done so far. I think if I was using the picture to fool someone, then I must make sure I get it right. ;) This is becoming fun and I am learning.

John's PM Box
 

Thank you Christine. I have purged it now.

John

As you know from my P.M. It is supposed to be a reflection not a shadow. I repeat it here for the benefit of others.

Thanks John, sorry I got it wrong.:( (Typical jump in feet first.) I do like the composition its very pleasing as a photo wouldn't it be nice if we had views like that.

I have had another go at using the same images and chnging them to Black & White.
We could do with some more images loading so we have more to play with. Most of my photo's are of birds.

Last one Christine. We'll start another when I find a suitable image.
I don't want to swim in the waters of your black & white now, it's gone wintry. It's been fun but costly in time.

Gerry

Nice one Gerry, I have noticed since I started playing around more in CS some of the actions are becoming easier to remember, up to now I have used the distort tools, extract and render tools and how to use the layers and masks properly.