Image-software packages such as Photoshop (TM) offer a wide range of menu options and commands that allow you to do some pretty amazing things with your photographs.
Filter Effects
Under the Filters menu item, the cutout filter allows you to turn an ordinary photograph into a graphic image that looks like a collage made from from cut-out paper. In our demonstration, we began with a color photo of a macaw (figure A).
By opening the image in Photoshop, then selecting the menu item "Filters," and the options "Artistic" and "Cutout," an interface appears (figure B) that allows you to set several levels and tolerances. By watching the preview screen within the interface, you can see the effects of the changes you're making. Once you're satisfied with your selections, click "OK" to initiate the changes.
The program will go through some calculations that will take a few seconds, then will display the new image with the cutout effect (figure C).
A much different effect can be achieved with the graphic pen filter. Simply select "Sketch," under the "Filters" menu, then select "Graphic Pen." As before, you'll then see an interface (figure D) that will let you set some parameters with respect to this filter. Adjust the levels as you wish, then click "OK" to initiate your changes.
After a few seconds, the graphic pen effect will be displayed (figure E).
These are only two examples of a great many filters and effects that are available in this program. Experiment with these, and others, to expand your creative options.
NOTE : As you make changes to an image, you can always reverse the changes you've made by selecting the "Undo" menu option. To make your changes permanent, select "Save" from the File menu.
Creating a Photo Montage
One fun application of the Photoshop software is the creation of photo montages from several digital photographs or scanned images.
In our demonstration, Rick Sammon superimposed a photo of a frog into a snapshot of his son Marco and his pet cockatiel -- giving the effect that both the frog and the bird were perched on the boy's shoulders. He began with two separate digital photos open in Photoshop: the snapshot and the color picture of the frog (figure F). - To do this, he first selected and copied the frog image. He then activated the window of the snapshot by clicking on that image. From the edit menu, he pasted the frog image into the snapshot image.
- Using his cursor, he dragged the frog image to the part of the snapshot where he wanted it superimposed.
- The background of the frog image didn't match the background of the snapshot, so some image alteration was needed.
- To create a uniform background, the frog image was first magnified, using the "Zoom" tool (figure G), to enlarge the area of the image to be altered.
- With the image enlarged so he could see it better, Sammon then selected the "Erase" tool.
- Once the erase tool was selected, he was able to pick the size of his "digital eraser" from an array of brush-sizes (figure H). He opted for a brush selection that simulates an airbrush effect, to create soft edges and better transitions between the superimposed images.
- He then used the selected tool to erase the dark areas from around the frog image (figure I), so that the superimposed image blended seamlessly into the snapshot for a believable effect.
- In the finished image (figure J), it would be difficult to discern that the frog was only superimposed and not part of the original snapshot.
- With a little imagination, you can achieve some surprising effects by combining individual photos to create montages.
RESOURCES :
Rick Sammon, professional photographer
Web site: www.ricksammon.com
Learn more about photography with Rick Sammon's new e-book on CD. More than 100 tips and photographs from Rick's travels around the world.
And check out Rick's column on Kodak's site:
Web site: www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/magazine/tips/2001_10
Rick Sammon
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Email: RickSammon@aol.com
Website: www.ricksammon.com
Special Thanks for DIY's Digital Photography workshop, episodes 101-105
Adobe Photoshop
Web site: www.adobe.com
PC Photo magazine
Web site: www.pcphotomag
Kodak
Web site: www.kodak.com
Epson America, Inc.
Web site: www.epson.com
Kinkos
Web site: www.kinkos.com
Ulead Cool 360
Web site: www.ulead.com
The Digital Wallet
Web site: www.mindsatwork.net
The L.A. County Arboretum
Web site: www.arboretum.org
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Systems
Buffalo, NY 14240-1034
Website: www.adobe.com
PC Photo magazine
Website: www.pcphotomag.com
Online version of the magazine devoted to digital photography and related technologies.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital Photography
Model: 002864235X
Author: Steven Greenberg
Order this book from Amazon.com.
Prentice Hall
Paramus, NJ 07652
Digital Photography For Dummies
Model: 0764506463
Author: Julie Adair King
Order this book from Amazon.com.
Hungry Minds, Inc.
Complete Digital Photography
Model: 1584500077
Author: Ben Long
Order this book from Amazon.com.
Charles River Media
Website: www.charlesriver.com/
50 Fast Digital Photo Techniques
Model: 0764535781
Author: Gregory Georges, Cris Rys
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Hungry Minds, Inc.
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
