Author Topic: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..  (Read 12854 times)

Offline LauraGigs

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..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« on: October 29, 2006, 05:29:01 pm »
Hey all,

I see a lot of great fanart and pics being shared on this site. Need any tips? Read on. Have any questions? Lemme know.

Tip #1: Jpegs.  Jpeg is the most commonly-seen image format because it compresses images way down — good for quick emailing and web page loading. It is a lossy compression method, however. In other words, each time you save an image as a jpeg (epecially with a 'low' quality setting), you lose some of the image data permanently, and it's next to impossible to repair. Images repeatedly saved as jpeg have significant quality loss. (See examples.)

What to do? Any image you get off the web will probably be a jpeg. If you will be working with it in any way before forwarding it, (compositing, resizing, etc.) save as a TIF. Keep saving it as a TIF as you work, until you're ready to post it to the web or email it. Then save it as a jpeg once, paying attention to the quality settings in your dialogue box. Saving it "down" even to 95% can shrink the file size all you may need.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2006, 09:28:31 pm by LauraGigs »

Offline LauraGigs

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Grayscaling Images: a Big Space Saver.
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2006, 05:43:10 pm »
Tip #2: Greyscale Images.  Greyscale images should be in Greyscale mode. This will truly neutralize the grey color and make your file size much smaller without any quality loss!

You can tell what color mode an image is in by looking at the top bar of your image window. It will say 'RGB' 'CMYK' or 'Grey' at the end. In Photoshop, go under Image to Mode and click Greyscale. It will ask 'Discard color information?'. Hit OK. (Any Imaging or Paint program has this capability too.)
« Last Edit: November 01, 2006, 07:39:27 pm by LauraGigs »

Offline belbbmfan

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2006, 11:40:43 am »
hi laura,
great idea for a thread!
i have figured out how to post pictures (i load them on photobucket), but i don't know how to change the size (larger, smaller)?

thanks!
'We're supposed to guard the sheep, not eat 'em'

Offline Arad-3

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2006, 03:16:24 pm »
Hi Laura,
This is going to be a very interesting and helpful thread.

 :) Iv'e learned something new already! Thanks!


Geri
" Save a horse... ride a cowboy "

Offline Lumière

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2006, 03:49:42 pm »
hi laura,
great idea for a thread!
i have figured out how to post pictures (i load them on photobucket), but i don't know how to change the size (larger, smaller)?

thanks!


Hey Fabienne ..

Photobucket gives you different "Uploading Options" when you are trying to upload a picture.
- You just click on the Uploading Options link below the textfield where you "Browse" for the pic to upload.
- You will then see different options for the image size and it'll load it to that size for you!
That is one option.

There is another alternative to "resizing" a pic when you post it here.  You will have to use the "width" or "height" attributes to specify the width/height you desire.

For example:

Here is a sexy picture of Ennis (regular size):

[ IMG ]http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i285/Lucise/Fanart/5d06b725.jpg[ /IMG ]
(I put the spaces before and after the IMG tags here to prevent it from actually loading the image .. :) )



Here is the same pic "resized" (to width of 200):

[ IMG width=200 ]http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i285/Lucise/Fanart/5d06b725.jpg[/IMG]
(This doesnot actually resize the picture itself..)






Hope this helps!  ;)
« Last Edit: October 30, 2006, 03:52:34 pm by Lucise »


Offline belbbmfan

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2006, 03:53:12 pm »
Hey Fabienne ..

Hope this helps!  ;)

thank for that info! I'll try this.

oh, and great choice of picture there!  ;)
can't have too many of those
'We're supposed to guard the sheep, not eat 'em'

Offline Lumière

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2006, 03:54:38 pm »
thank for that info! I'll try this.

oh, and great choice of picture there!  ;)
can't have too many of those

I thought it might be a good incentive!   ;D


Offline Shuggy

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2006, 05:17:01 pm »
If you "resize" or "resample" pictures down before you upload them, they will up- and download that much faster, but of course enlarging them will lose a lot of quality. Just changing the image size on the browser means people who download them will get them at full size.
 

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2006, 01:23:36 pm »
It sounds like your scanner is automatically adjusting/calibrating for each image it scans.  In other words, it's taking an average color density of the top of the page, and doing the same with the bottom — therefore giving each one a slightly different output.  You may be able to turn off "automatic color-correction" (or whatever your scanner interface calls that function). Then if any color-correction is needed, import both images into the same Photoshop file and correct them simutaneously.

From looking at that image, it looks as if the colors are very similar, but there is a "shadow" along the edge of the top image that is making them look mismatched. 

If you were to make your two scans with some "overlap" (a common area scanned on both), you could layer one over the other and nudge until that area is covered.  That might help with that shadow and make them match better.

Do you know about adjustment layers? If mismatch is still a problem, have each scan on a seperate layer and give one of them an adjustment layer. This allows you to keep working over and over in the correction interface without commiting the correction until you choose to flatten it (or save a flattened copy).

Let me know if that helps . . .   -L.

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2006, 02:20:33 pm »
I write a nice answer and he deletes his question...  okaaay...   ???

<violins playing for me>   ;D

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2006, 09:02:51 pm »
I write a nice answer and he deletes his question...  okaaay...   ???

<violins playing for me>   ;D

Sorry about that, I THOUGHT that I had it figured out.  THAT is why I deleted the question.  I have color correction turned off.  (I color correct in Photoshop.)  The next scan that I made I didn't use the whole scan of the top image.  I figured that if pasted less of it, the 'problem area' would be out of the picture and the problem solved.   And that is exactly what I did on my next attempt.   It turned out PERFECTLY and you couldn't see ANY line between the two pastes and the colors matched up perfectly.  SO, not wanting to waste Phillip's website with superfluous material, I deleted it and was grateful that I had solved.   But on my next attempt there it was back again.  This time it was so bad the colors looked like they were from two separate pictures!

Here's my procedure:  I scan top of image.  I scan bottom of image.  I rotate each 90 degrees.  I use the Recticular Marquee Tool to 'capture' all of the bottom image.   I then create a 'new' image and, of course, it thinks that I want the same dimensions of the bottom scan.  I change the height to match the width and then Paste it into the 'new image' with the Move Tool.  I capture less of the top of the image and again align it with the paste tool  (BTW I just remembered that I made the combo that WORKED on a 'new' image with TRANSPARENT contents.   The combo that didn't work was made with WHITE contents...   Hmmmm...)   All that I really know about layers is doing the kinds of procedures that I have described.  When I have a completed image I "flatten" it and save it as a .jpg.   Since I'm writing this I will read what you wrote before about another layer as soon as I finish.   I really wonder if just using the TRANSPARENT contents solved the problem.   What do you think about that?

And really, really, really THANK YOU for responding!!!   So very,  very sorry!
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #11 on: November 09, 2006, 09:23:45 pm »
It sounds like your scanner is automatically adjusting/calibrating for each image it scans.  In other words, it's taking an average color density of the top of the page, and doing the same with the bottom — therefore giving each one a slightly different output.  You may be able to turn off "automatic color-correction" (or whatever your scanner interface calls that function). Then if any color-correction is needed, import both images into the same Photoshop file and correct them simutaneously.

From looking at that image, it looks as if the colors are very similar, but there is a "shadow" along the edge of the top image that is making them look mismatched. 

If you were to make your two scans with some "overlap" (a common area scanned on both), you could layer one over the other and nudge until that area is covered.  That might help with that shadow and make them match better.

Do you know about adjustment layers? If mismatch is still a problem, have each scan on a seperate layer and give one of them an adjustment layer. This allows you to keep working over and over in the correction interface without commiting the correction until you choose to flatten it (or save a flattened copy).

Let me know if that helps . . .   -L.

Now that I've read your original reply I can respond to it!   I have auto color correction turned off.   I will have to study this aspect of my scanner rmanual to make it stop making decisions like this.   I DO scan with LOTS OF OVERLAP!   The calendar is 12"x12" and 8.5"x12" are being scanned as the top and bottom.   That's why I thought about using another overlap area which I did and it worked - that time - . 

I know NOTHING about adjustment layers.   Each Scan remains on it's own layer throughout the whole process; i.e., Background, Layer 1, Layer 2 (after I have erased the original scans).  I tried color correcting the bottom layer in Photoshop and while I was able to make SOME colors match, it made others look WORSE.   Teach me how to give one (which?) of my layers an adjustment layer.  That sounds promising!

And Again THANK YOU for your expert advice!
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #12 on: November 09, 2006, 09:46:38 pm »
Quote
When I have a completed image I "flatten" it and save it as a .jpg.

You ARE keeping a copy of the image in PSD or TIF format, right? Jpegs lose data (see the first post).

I can't picture the white contents having anything to do with it. You're pasting the images over it (in Normal mode, right?) so the background is covered.

From the look of the image you posted earlier, both halves have good color quality and are not that different from each other. What you might try if you have a lot of overlap space is a layer mask with a gradient, so that one layer will blend gradually into the other. Totally solves the problem of a line or seam between your images.

Quote
This time it was so bad the colors looked like they were from two separate pictures!

Was one image good (needing NO correction), the other having a strong color cast? In this case, you want the adjustment layer over the image with the color cast. In your layers palette, float your mouse over the line between the problem image layer and its adjustment layer. A symbol that looks like 00 will pop up; click it. The adjustment layer will now only affect the image immediately below it.

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2006, 10:24:00 am »
I can't picture the white contents having anything to do with it. You're pasting the images over it (in Normal mode, right?) so the background is covered.

From the look of the image you posted earlier, both halves have good color quality and are not that different from each other.

Again, THANK YOU for your input.  I found the culprit in my scanner settings.  AUTO EXPOSURE!  Also, other than turning off color correction, the only options the Epson Scanner offers for manipulating colors are much like those in Photoshop and seemingly would be a waste of time for a project such as this.  I would much rather use the same type of controls in Photoshop.  And I do have to color correct in Photoshop to get the scan to look like the orginal; i.e., face too red, reflected sun on the fake fur of Jack's coat not yelllow enough.  But that's FUN kind of work to do.   It is also neat to use the Rubber Stamp to get rid of the hole to hang the calendar up with.

Another question, unrelated is...  How do I make the BLUR Tool work.  I can change brush size, change it into a finger, etc. but it has absolutely NO EFFECT on the pic?  Very confused???   On other projects I have had to use another program, Sierra's Print Artist 4.0 to blur properly.  The Rubber Stamp (called Clone) in this program is easier to manipulate than the one in Photoshop.   But talk to me about Lossy Jpegs.   Only can use this prog with REALLY good quality pics because they save at about half of their original size.

Thanks Again for your help!
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline coffeecat33

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #14 on: November 10, 2006, 11:20:49 am »
Thanks for this thread. I just acquired photo explosion and am making my first attempt to alter photos. (It is so much fun!) Anyway most of this shop talk is over my head at the moment but I will keep checking back for ideas, and post any questions I have. Thanks again.

cc33 / Leslie K.

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #15 on: November 10, 2006, 01:07:04 pm »
Quote
How do I make the BLUR Tool work.  I can change brush size, change it into a finger, etc. but it has absolutely NO EFFECT on the pic?

What are your options set at for the blur tool? There should be a setting called "strength". I always have it set at 100%. (If it still has no effect, make sure you're using it on the proper layer.)

If you change the icon to a finger, it becomes the smudge tool — not what you want. Go into Preferences and make sure "Show Tool Tips" is checked.

Quote
But talk to me about Lossy Jpegs. Only can use this prog with REALLY good quality pics because they save at about half of their original size.

Patrick, like I emphasized before, jpeg is great for emailing & posting on the web, but you lose quality. If you're going to do all this work, it's worth it to have a backup copy saved as PSD or TIF in case you ever want to print it.

(If I only had $1 for every time I had to tell folks that no, that gorgeous RGB 72 dpi jpeg will not print well!!)
« Last Edit: November 10, 2006, 04:41:13 pm by LauraGigs »

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #16 on: November 10, 2006, 09:13:02 pm »
=aside=  Thanks Geri!  Coffeecat, good to see ya!

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #17 on: November 12, 2006, 01:27:09 pm »
What are your options set at for the blur tool? There should be a setting called "strength". I always have it set at 100%. (If it still has no effect, make sure you're using it on the proper layer.)

If you change the icon to a finger, it becomes the smudge tool — not what you want. Go into Preferences and make sure "Show Tool Tips" is checked.

Patrick, like I emphasized before, jpeg is great for emailing & posting on the web, but you lose quality. If you're going to do all this work, it's worth it to have a backup copy saved as PSD or TIF in case you ever want to print it.

(If I only had $1 for every time I had to tell folks that no, that gorgeous RGB 72 dpi jpeg will not print well!!)

Thanks!  This prg has SO much capability that it's learning curve is STEEP!  And I have been using it for about 5 years, once or twice a month.  The setting for the blur tool is called "Pressure" and it was 50% and the drop down box choice was set to "Color."   When I made it 100%, like you said, and changed the drop down box to say "Normal" - BEHOLD!  I now have a blur tool and undestand the settings.   Tool tips are on like you suggested.  The only thing that I DON'T use Photoshop for is PRINTING.  I have a REAL HARD TIME getting the margins set AND the COLOR to look like it does on screen.   So, for all of my printing, I use a prg that came with my WIN95 computer.   Microsoft Picture It 2.0.  It does things really well like removing scratches from old photos and it's manipulation of layers is much more intuititive than Photoshop.  The worst part of it is it complains about saving in anything other than it's native file type.  But what I always use it for is PRINTING.  Because it will print whatever you send it perfectly centered in perfect color - this is the third machine I've used it with.   So, in Photoshop, I usually save as .jpgs with a quality of 10 and a 3 progressive scans.  I ONLY do this if I am absolutely SURE that I won't need anything better.   But MS has BOUGHT (they don't do it themselves) some really good image enhancement / enlargement subroutines or libraries because the results are simply stunning.   My new computer has MEDIA CENTER 2005 and I have a 20" widescreen monitor.  It's slideshows with  tiny oversaved .jpgs as bad as you showed above blows me away!   Plus, it gives you two levels of ZOOM to enlarge even bigger!   Everything is Full Screen and looks Great.  I often enlarge pictures this way and Ctrl-PrtScr them into Photoshop.  Then whatever the original size was, I have a beautiful 1680 x 1050 pixel enlargement to do whatever I want to; mainly color correct, levels, curves, etc.

Sorry to go on and on.  REALLLLLLY thanks for your help.  You have taught me more about Photoshop than I could have hoped for.   I hope you plan on sticking around!!!!
« Last Edit: November 12, 2006, 01:45:27 pm by Br. Patrick »
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline LauraGigs

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From a PM — Thought I'd post it here too.
« Reply #18 on: November 16, 2006, 02:55:50 pm »
Quote
I have thousands of images and in about 75% of the old ones, fleshtones are yellow instead of pink.  Now, I can change that but it changes the entire image to a degree that makes it look unreal.  So, my question would be, is there a way to CHOOSE the color that one wishes to modify and then modify ONLY that color?

I recommend either the Selective Color or the Hue/Saturation tool. Go under Image —> Adjust —> and choose one or the other.

Selective Color is pretty self-explanatory: Choose a color in the top field, then add (or subtract) desired amounts of any of the 4 colors shown until the preview looks like you want. ("Relative" is more natural-looking; "Absolute" is more precise.)

Hue/Saturation: The dialog box will have several fields: Edit (a drop-down menu with a choice of color channels), Hue (literally, what color something is), Saturation (how vivid or subdued it is, like the "Color" setting on your TV), and Lightness (Don't use this too much; it will "grey out" your shadows).

Under Edit, choose "Yellows". (To see whether you and Photoshop agree on which pixels are yellow, grab the Saturation bar and drag it way to the right — those pixels should brighten way up. Then return that slider to "0".)

Move the Hue slider slightly to the left. It will make the yellows in your image lean a little toward red. If Photoshop thinks the pixels in question are more red, then choose "Reds" under Edit, move the Hue slider to the left, which will make your reds lean toward Magenta.


Both of the above methods will correct only the chosen colors in your image.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 03:21:37 am by LauraGigs »

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: From a PM — Thought I'd post it here too.
« Reply #19 on: November 16, 2006, 04:01:21 pm »
I recommend either the Selective Color or the Hue/Saturation tool. Go under Image —> Adjust —> and choose one or the other.

Selective Color is pretty self-explanatory: Choose a color in the top field, then add the desired amounts of the 4 colors shown until the preview looks like you want. ("Relative" is more natural-looking; "Absolute" is more precise.)

Hue/Saturation: The dialog box will have several fields: Edit (a drop-down menu with a choice of color channels), Hue (literally, what color something is), Saturation (how vivid or subdued it is, like the "Color" setting on your TV), and Lightness (Don't use this too much; it will "grey out" your shadows).

Under Edit, choose "Yellows". (To see whether you and Photoshop agree on which pixels are yellow, grab the Saturation bar and drag it way to the right — those pixels should brighten way up. Then return that slider to "0".)

Move the Hue slider slightly to the left. It will make the yellows in your image lean a little toward red. If Photoshop thinks the pixels in question are more red, then choose "Reds" under Edit, move the Hue slider to the left, which will make your reds lean toward Magenta.


Both of the above methods will correct only the chosen colors in your image.


That pretty much says what I a currently doing.  I thought that the prg might have had the ability to let me 'point' to an area of consistent color and then adjust ONLY that color.  OH WELL.  It STILL gives me the most control over what I am seeing than any other program that I have used... And since Brokeback came out, I've been using it a lot.  Thanks for moving the personal post HERE where it belongs!  FWIW, I use lightness to restore the flesh color UNDERNEATH the yellow after doing the adjustments.  Then it's back to Levels....   Thanks a lot for your help!!

« Last Edit: November 16, 2006, 04:08:02 pm by Br. Patrick »
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #20 on: November 20, 2006, 10:01:26 pm »
Quote
I thought that the prg might have had the ability to let me 'point' to an area of consistent color and then adjust ONLY that color.

I have used that magic wand on occasion but find it unwieldly at best at exactly what it selects.  Is there a sensitivity control for this tool?

Yes, it is called "Tolerance".  Enter a number from 0 to 255.  The higher the number, the greater the tolerance (the wider the range of color it will select).


Alternately, you can use the Color Range command under the Select menu.

[The following is from Photoshop Help]

Position the pointer over the image or preview area, and click to sample the colors you want included.

Adjust the range of colors using the Fuzziness slider or by entering a value. To decrease the range of colors selected, decrease the value. The Fuzziness option partially selects pixels by controlling the degree to which related colors are included in the selection (whereas the Tolerance option for the magic wand and paint bucket options increases the range of colors that are fully selected).

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #21 on: November 25, 2006, 04:48:47 pm »
Here is an example of the 'yellow skin' that we have been talking about.   When I make her skin flesh tones her hair changes too - for the worse.
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #22 on: November 25, 2006, 05:00:34 pm »
Color film in the late 50s, 60s and early 70s tended to print with a yellow cast. (Color photos of people today are enhanced toward a yellow or red cast, for a healthy look.)

Keep in mind, this Marilyn photo has probably been retouched quite a lot. Were you trying for a more natural look? What is your goal with this? (not that I mean it argumentatively — I'm just saying that someone has taken pains to do the opposite with this image, and that you will be working to 'undo' this, more than if this were a "from-scratch" photo.)

Anyway, blondes and grey-haired folks are tough; the hair will go green or cyan in a second if you're not careful. I would select the hair carefully (either with the lasso or a pen-tool path) and save the selection so you can always go back to it. Then mask it off as you correct the skin.

= if you're correcting for color this carefully, I trust you've calibrated your monitor carefully, right? =
« Last Edit: November 25, 2006, 08:18:07 pm by LauraGigs »

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #23 on: November 25, 2006, 08:11:39 pm »
I'm on a better screen now: I see what you're saying. This photo was modifed and the contrast turned way up, so her skin color jumps from a natural color in the midtones, to a vivid reddish-yellow in the shadows.

This is a tough one, Patrick. Tough for even a pro to retouch it the way you want it, I think.

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #24 on: November 26, 2006, 05:01:07 am »
= if you're correcting for color this carefully, I trust you've calibrated your monitor carefully, right? =

No, I don't know how to do this.  In Control Panel, Displays, Advanced; I have installed the Color Management files that came with my monitor.  Monitor = Dell 2007fpw 20.1" WS; Video is ATI Radeon 256mb; digital connection.   In my startup folder, Photoshop has it's "Adobe Gamma Loader.exe" loading.   FWIW, with any photo editor my system has just about the same color.  This wasn't true with my last system.  In it, files saved in photoshop had to be corrected by 'over correcting' the color.

This pic that I attached, although typical, does not have any background color which would be overly yellow as well.  I just assumed the problem was with the first scanners.
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline Kelpersmek

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #25 on: November 26, 2006, 10:13:20 am »
Hello!

Useful tips already, so thank you.  I'm interested in monitor calibration too.  I know a graphic designer who essentially told me that it's not worth his time to calibrate the monitor properly, because there are so many variables that still affect the output.  Is there a sweet-spot sort of quick-fix for the calibration where you don't spend too much time doing so, but it improves the overall output?  Or is it a process which is simply a necessity to get a good image?


One other question while I'm yakking away (and not to derail the monitor-calibration...) but I find it difficult to resize and combine images.  When you get a while could you share anything you know about that?  I'd really appreciate the help on manips.
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Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #26 on: November 26, 2006, 02:51:31 pm »
Quote
Is there a sweet-spot sort of quick-fix for the calibration where you don't spend too much time doing so, but it improves the overall output?

Hi Kelpersmek! Yes, there is. If you're on a Windows machine, go out of Photoshop and into Windows Control Panels and click the Adobe Gamma icon.

[from Photoshop Help:]
To use Adobe Gamma:
Start Adobe Gamma, located in the Control Panels folder (or in the Program Files/Common Files /Adobe/Calibration folder on your hard drive).
Do one of the following:
  • To use a version of the utility that will guide you through each step, select Step by Step, and click OK. This version is recommended if you're inexperienced. If you choose this option, follow the instructions described in the utility. Start from the default profile for your monitor if available, and enter a unique description name for the profile. When you are finished with Adobe Gamma, save the profile using the same description name. (If you do not have a default profile, contact your monitor manufacturer for appropriate phosphor specifications.)
  • To use a compact version of the utility with all the controls in one place, select Control Panel, and click OK. This version is recommended if you have experience creating color profiles.
* At any time while working in the Adobe Gamma control panel, you can click the Wizard button to switch to the wizard for instructions that guide you through the same settings as in the control panel, one option at a time.

There is a similar process for Mac users depending on your OS.  -LauraGigs

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #27 on: November 26, 2006, 02:57:31 pm »
Quote
I just assumed the problem was with the first scanners.

So what is your goal with this (the Marilyn images)?  What are you trying to do, ultimately?  Will you be printing these?

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #28 on: November 27, 2006, 01:59:36 am »
So what is your goal with this (the Marilyn images)?  What are you trying to do, ultimately?  Will you be printing these?

Probably not going to need to print.  I'm just tired of yellow skin.  I have many more pictures that are worse than the one I posted.  You have given me good advice as to what I can do, now I just have to 'do it.'  Obviously it is a problem with the original scan.  There are things one can't correct without messing up the color for everything else. 6 of 1,  half dozen to the other...
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline LauraGigs

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..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies: RESIZING
« Reply #29 on: December 07, 2006, 02:26:18 pm »
Quote
I find it difficult to resize and combine images. When you get a while could you share anything you know about that?

A useful thing to do first is to go into Preferences (Ctrl-K or Command-K) Units and Rulers and set it to the units of measure you're most comfortable with (pixels, inches, mm, etc).

Resizing: There are 2 choices: changing the Image Size (enlarging your picture) or changing the Canvas Size (adding to the physical size of your document while leaving the picture alone).

Under the Image menu, go to Image Size. There are 2 options at the bottom of the box: Constrain Proportions (I always keep this checked) and Resample Image (keep checked, unless you want to change the resolution without actually resizing the image). Then, enter the values you want in the Dimension or Size areas.

* * * * *
Under the Image menu, go to Canvas Size. There will be a box with 9 squares (like tic-tac-toe) indicating where you want to put your additional space. The white square represents your original image; the others, the space you're adding. (If you want to add to the top-right area, click the bottom-left square.)

You can always Undo if the results aren't what you want. This is a bit detailed, but easy to get the hang of after a while.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2007, 06:31:01 pm by LauraGigs »

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #30 on: February 12, 2007, 05:10:54 am »
Hi There!

I need your help once again in Photoshop.   How can I make the White part of the pic Transparent so I can ovelay it on a different layer?  I am trying to make a new Scene List for the Collectors Edition...

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,3405.msg154719.html#msg154719

Thanks in advance!

peace :)
br. patrick
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #31 on: February 12, 2007, 12:51:15 pm »
In this particular case, you can just put the layer with the Brokeback logo in Darken mode.  (Go to the top of the layers palette to the drop-down menu that says 'Normal' and click 'Darken'.)  Voila!!
« Last Edit: February 13, 2007, 01:01:16 pm by LauraGigs »

Offline Br. Patrick

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #32 on: February 12, 2007, 04:16:36 pm »
Hi Patrick, put the layer with the Brokeback logo in Darken mode.  (Go to the top of the layers palette to the drop-down menu that says 'Normal' and click 'Darken'.)  Voila!!
Thanks ever so much.  Everyone who finds uses for it will benefit!

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,3405.msg154719.html#msg154719

peace :)
br. patrick
« Last Edit: February 12, 2007, 04:54:42 pm by Br. Patrick »
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
Who cares where we go on this rugged old road
In a world that may say that we're wrong.

...Cause I know - A love that will never grow old.

Gustavo Santaolalla & Bernie Taupin

Offline Pipedream

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Photoshop help needed!
« Reply #33 on: March 03, 2007, 06:32:23 pm »
Help! German Brokie wants to create silly pictures for a Bettermost thread but, all of a sudden, can't use her text tool in photoshop anymore!  :-\

It worked yesterday, but today I just can't write anything in photoshop. I can click on the picture, but the curser appears either diminutive or giant, and in either case no text appears. Damn it.
Can anybody help?

 ::)

Offline LauraGigs

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #34 on: March 03, 2007, 06:56:45 pm »
Pipedream, it sounds like a font problem. Go under "Window" and click "Character" if that palette isn't already showing.  When you have the text tool selected, what does the Font field in the Character palette say?  At what size is your text set?

Also, the type tool will usually create a new layer on top of all the others. But maybe it's under another layer for some reason, rendering what you type invisible for the moment. Let me know if any of this helps.

Offline Pipedream

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Re: ..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..
« Reply #35 on: March 03, 2007, 07:13:33 pm »
Pipedream, it sounds like a font problem. Go under "Window" and click "Character" if that palette isn't already showing.  When you have the text tool selected, what does the Font field in the Character palette say?  At what size is your text set?

Also, the type tool will usually create a new layer on top of all the others. But maybe it's under another layer for some reason, rendering what you type invisible for the moment. Let me know if any of this helps.

Hey Laura!  :)

Thanks for your reply! But nothing helps. I've tried everything with fonts and layers. But alas. I even reinstalled the whole software twice with no result. Maybe the programme just needs to rest until tomorrow? Lol. Just kidding. It sucks.

 :P