Photograph Manipulation!

[Vicky]

I know this is not the right place for it... but, I'll just post it here and let you relocate it to the right section:o

Here's the original RAW..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/_MG_2059_original.jpg

The image was slightly underexposed...pulling around a few sliders in Adobe Camera RAW, I got this..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/01.jpg

Opened up the image in Photoshop CS3...
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/02.jpg

Now select the 'Polygon Lassoo Tool' and feather of 1pixel..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/03.jpg

Now, make a selection of the camel and rider...take care to leave more space around the sandy areas
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/04.jpg

Once this area is selected, do a Ctrl+C (copy selection) and then Ctrl+V to paste selection as new layer like this..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/05.jpg

Now, hide this layer from view by un clicking in the layer pallete. Now, get back to the original layer and using the 'Polygon Lassoo Tool' and feather of 30pixel, do a rough selection like this..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/06.jpg

now, do a Ctrl+C (copy selection) and then Ctrl+V to paste selection as new layer like this..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/07.jpg

Now, drag this selection over the original layer and position it such that we hide the camel's upper body and the rider..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/08.jpg

Similarly, going back to the original layer, we do a selection like this to cover op the lower portion of the camel..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/09.jpg

Now, drag this selection over the original layer and position it such that the camel is completely hidden
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/10.jpg

The camel is completely hidden, but a small portion of the original shadow is still showing.. to get rid of this, we'll use the clone Stamp tool.. I selected a brush diameter of around 130pixel and hardness of 1%..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/11-1.jpg

Now, go to the area you want to clone out and press ALt to select the source... nor clone out the shadow like this...
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/12.jpg

Our field is now, all clear:)
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/13.jpg

[Vicky]

now, enable view of the camel selection layer..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/14.jpg

now, hide all layers exceop this one and select the eraser tool with size 70pix, hardness 1% and opacity around 90%
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/15.jpg

Now, start erasing along the hard edges like this..
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/16.jpg

Here you go...
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/18.jpg

Or, drag the camel and place it wherever you want...
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/19.jpg

Now, crop as per your preference...
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/20.jpg

This is how the final image looks after slight USM and levels:)
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/_MG_2059_edited.jpg

Spent a total of 30mis on this including taking all the screen shots and saving them... actual PP time must have been close to 10mins;)

[Devil.DJ]

Wow !!! Thats some awesome PP work Vicky !!!

I'm a FAN !!! :)

Cheers,
DJ

[KrishnenduKes]

Post Moved and New Thread Created

Great work Vikash. I am sure this will REALLY help a lot of people who want to use these techniques. Like Cameron Diaz having Sylvester Stallone's body! :D (Just joking!)

[powerslave]

Neat tutorial!

[nelson_sanjoy]

Vicky .Really !!! there is a lot to learn from you.

[archistar]

Very detailed tutorial Vicky, thanx for sharing and we are expecting more such PP tutorials... :)

[Aryan]

@Vicky: Could you put a nice dual purpose bike like a KTM 690 or perhaps even a massive 4-wheel drive SUV instead of the camel in the picture? I bet you can do that especially looking at the 'Our field is all clear now' step.

Gosh, this is brilliant work Vicky! Thanks a ton for sharing, although it'll take me QUITE some-time to get it to work even half as well as your final product!

[Vicky]

...a massive 4-wheel drive SUV instead of the camel...

amen!


P.S. Now I'm really starting to show off:cool:

[KrishnenduKes]

amen!


P.S. Now I'm really starting to show off:cool:

Whoa man!!! Can you put Uma Thurman on top of that vehicle now!

Coming back to the topic, it is a similar flowchart then for this photograph as well I suppose.

[Vicky]

Whoa man!!! Can you put Uma Thurman on top of that vehicle now!

Coming back to the topic, it is a similar flowchart then for this photograph as well I suppose.

Yes, same process... I already had the clear field shot.... just did a Google image search for 'baja desert race'.. looked for a side profile shot... cut out the portion I wanted... and then blended here:)

[Aryan]

amen!


P.S. Now I'm really starting to show off:cool:

MY GOODNESS! This guy (you) are good, and one CANNOT really make out AT ALL that it's a PP job! Damn! This guy is TERRIFIC! :D :D I am AMAZED! :eek::eek: Yes, I am talking in third person, because you are my PP guru! :D

I bow to you sire!

I would love to 'show-off' this kind of talent! :eek: I still cannot believe it!

[Vicky]

It was a lazy sunday morning.. my nephew was visiting us.. he had woken up early and was playing around with the PnS... mom had just woken up and was sipping her 'lal-chai' in a semi asleep state.. suddenly, the kid started snapping some shots of her.. being in the state she was, she instinctively raised her hand to block the shot..

When I saw the photo, it gave me a cool idea:cool::eek: he..he

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/Vikash2007/a.gif

They all had a blast when they saw it:)

[powerslave]

HAhahaha your mom is gonna kick your ass :D

[Vicky]

HAhahaha your mom is gonna kick your ass :D

Yes, she did!:)

[KrishnenduKes]

Yes, she did!:)

And I suppose you used the same procedure...

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

and the orthodox put PS as an untouchable taboo..

great work.

[Devil.DJ]

Vicky: The picture is longer there, can you please re-load it ?

[Xavier]

Awesome work Vicky!
Nice detailed explanation.

[Aryan]

Okay, I don't really know whether this should go here, but since this thread deals with PP, here is a picture that I posted on the 'D-SLR Photo of the Day' thread, and I am just sharing what all PP went in this picture, here in this thread.

http://i41.tinypic.com/33olhnb.jpg

1. In Photoshop CS-3, converted the picture into Black & White, and played around with the different color channels till I got what I desired.

2. Adjusted the brightness/ contrast levels.

3. Adjusted the 'Levels'.

4. Did a selective coloring of the leaves by duplicating the original image into a "new layer" and then putting the image of the new layer on top of the original image.

5. Used the simple eraser tool to bring out the original color of the leaves.

6. Used the polygonal lasso and did a careful selection of the leaves.

7. Then increased the saturation levels just a wee bit little. I made a selection of the leaves because I didn't want the whole picture to get affected when I changed some values (like the saturation levels, brightness/ contrast, highlights, shadows, etc.)

8. Adjusted the contrast, highlight and shadow areas just a little.

9. Added a border to the image.

9. Uploaded the image! :D

[KrishnenduKes]

Here is a picture that I posted on the 'D-SLR Photo of the Day' thread, and I am just sharing what all PP went in this picture, here in this thread.

1. In Photoshop CS-3, converted the picture into Black & White, and played around with the different color channels till I got what I desired.

2. Adjusted the brightness/ contrast levels.

3. Adjusted the 'Levels'.

4. Did a selective coloring of the leaves by duplicating the original image into a "new layer" and then putting the image of the new layer on top of the original image.

5. Used the simple eraser tool to bring out the original color of the leaves.

6. Used the polygonal lasso and did a careful selection of the leaves.

7. Then increased the saturation levels just a wee bit little. I made a selection of the leaves because I didn't want the whole picture to get affected when I changed some values (like the saturation levels, brightness/ contrast, highlights, shadows, etc.)

8. Adjusted the contrast, highlight and shadow areas just a little.

9. Added a border to the image.

9. Uploaded the image! :D

Moved your post to this thread.

Thanks Aryan for the detailled post. You did all that. I have to say that I did not quite follow all of it. Especially 4,5 and 6. But I must say that there has been a good concerted effort gone in there.

[Xavier]

The easiest and simplest way of selective colouring is to desaturate the entire image and then use the History brush over the areas you want coloured.

[Xavier]

Ok, please don't compare this post with Vicky's awesome first post of this thread. It's just a simple attempt at showing how one can save a picture in which the main subject is 'slightly' out of focus.

First open the image in Photoshop and select either the Lasso tool or the Magnetic Lasso tool. I prefer the Lasso tool in such cases.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/11-2.jpg

Now make a selection of the subject and try to keep some breathing space near the edges of the selection.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/22-2.jpg

Once you've made the selection, simply ctrl+c (Copy) & ctrl+v (Paste) as shown in the next 2 screenshots. This will automatically create a new layer which will contain only the aforementioned selection.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/33-1.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/44-1.jpg

Next, go to Filter->Sharpen->Unsharp mask and select an appropriate value on the slider. Remember that choosing a very high value can introduce a lot of noise and also produce a halo effect around the subject. I've chosen a value of 90% (even though I could have bumped it even a little higher) in this example

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/55.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/66.jpg


Now merge the two layers so that whatever changes (brightness, contrast, levels, etc) you make from this point onward applies to the entire image and not just one layer which would make it look weird.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/77.jpg


Fine tune the image as per your liking and you've got the final 'sharpened' product :)
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/88.jpg

The main reason why we made a selection and then applied the USM (Unsharp Mask) is because if you apply it to the entire image, the entire image would look sharp and also.. err.. plain weird. :p


Hope this was of some help. :)

[nelson_sanjoy]

^^^ Thanks a lot.

Really appreciate your effort - Now I know how to revive some old photos of mine.

[Xavier]

^^^ Thanks a lot.

Really appreciate your effort - Now I know how to revive some old photos of mine.

Glad you liked it Nelson. :)

[Aryan]

@pageisgod: Lovely tutorial, that. :) Thanks for sharing it in such a detailed way, with each step described, not only in textual format, but also with a picture attached! :) Really appreciate the effort you have put in.

[Xavier]

@pageisgod: Lovely tutorial, that. :) Thanks for sharing it in such a detailed way, with each step described, not only in textual format, but also with a picture attached! :) Really appreciate the effort you have put in.

Thanks Aryan :)

[rio008]

good tutorial my friend.

Here i am adding two video links from youtube.com for those who are looking to Color Enhancement & Sharpening in photoshop

Part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E_gIKJnaH0

Part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ewU2i8OJzg&feature=related

Hope these videos will help you guys :)

[srikeerthi]

This is a portrait I had edited few months back but forgot to post here I guess.

The before and after are shown here. The changes are more clear if you could flip between the two images.

Before:

http://www.jeetenge.com/jgallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5037&g2_serialNumber=2


After:

http://www.jeetenge.com/jgallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5040&g2_serialNumber=2

[KrishnenduKes]

This is a portrait I had edited few months back but forgot to post here I guess.

The before and after are shown here. The changes are more clear if you could flip between the two images.

Before:

After:


Would be nice to see more details about how you went about doing this!

[Xavier]

@ Srikeerthi
Absolutely amazing!

Here's my common Selective Colouring workflow as promised to Amvj last night.

Here's the image in Photoshop :

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/1-3.jpg

Create a duplicate layer and use the 'black and white' tool on the upper layer which is superior to desaturate or any other method of getting monochrome images.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/2-3.jpg

Set the opacity of the layer at around 75% so that it doesn't completely lose its saturation and makes life easier whilst using the History Brush tool.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/8-1.jpg

Next, select the History brush tool and use it on the areas which you want to colour.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/5-1.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/6-1.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/7-1.jpg

Now, set the opacity to 100% and you're done! :)

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/9-1.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/10-1.jpg

For photographs like these, it doesn't usually take more than 5 min.
Here's the final result.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p160/xvrdsouza/IMG_2409.jpg

[rio008]

good tutorial xavier.
Selecting the areas using any lasso tool before using the history brush will give you more freedom to run the brush without breaking the boundaries :)
but for a quick finish it not necessary.

[Xavier]

good tutorial xavier.
Selecting the areas using any lasso tool before using the history brush will give you more freedom to run the brush without breaking the boundaries :)
but for a quick finish it not necessary.

Thanks Rio.
And yes, I agree, but the lasso tool(s) sometimes seems to have a mind of its own and does tend to increase the time involved.

[rio008]

Thanks Rio.
And yes, I agree, but the lasso tool(s) sometimes seems to have a mind of its own and does tend to increase the time involved.
I know it needs more time. but for a perfect finish i prefer selecting the areas before editing it.
main thing is that you can save your selections and can be used later if you are changing/adding more effect to the same areas.

[Xavier]

I know it needs more time. but for a perfect finish i prefer selecting the areas before editing it.
main thing is that you can save your selections and can be used later if you are changing/adding more effect to the same areas.

Agree. Though I wish I had that kind of patience each time I worked on PS :p

[srikeerthi]

PLugins, plugins, plugins!

I have started using a few good ones now that make editing much more easier and accurate. The 4-5 main ones I use now are:

1. Portrait pofessional (used in the picture posted earlier): Used to enhance features of the face.
2. Imagenomic Portraiture : Used for softening skin if needed (not in the case above).
3. Nik Viveza : Used to selectively enhance brightness/contrast/saturation of regions of images. I'd highly recommend this tool. It allows use of control points rather than selecting regions that you'd want to enhance. Very very useful. I dont need the Shadow/Highlight tool in PS anymore.
4. Color Efex Pro: Also for Nik. Can be used to apply effects to images with control points as earlier.

The process I used to edit the previous image was:

1. Portrait professional: Corrected some facial features and softened the skin in this.
2. Viveza: Whitened the background properly and enhanced brightness on certain parts of the face.
3. Selected the white background and deleted it using magic wand.
4. Added the fractal background and blended it with model.
5. Some other basic saturation/vibrance enhancement and sharpening of the picture.

Thats it :)

[rio008]

from where i can find those plug-ins ? :)
are you using them with Ps CS4 ?

[srikeerthi]

Well, you can find them on the internet! Trial version is available too. And yeah using with CS4.

[Xavier]

^
I already downloaded the first two softwares that you mentioned and they're friggin' amazing! :D

[rio008]

^
I already downloaded the first two softwares that you mentioned and they're friggin' amazing! :D

do you mind passing me the links to those websites ??? :D

[Xavier]

do you mind passing me the links to those websites ??? :D

You've got PM. :D

[rio008]

You've got PM. :D

thanks dude :D

[amvj]

This is a portrait I had edited few months back but forgot to post here I guess.

The before and after are shown here. The changes are more clear if you could flip between the two images.

Before:

http://www.jeetenge.com/jgallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5037&g2_serialNumber=2


After:

http://www.jeetenge.com/jgallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5040&g2_serialNumber=2

Absolutely jaw dropped ! amazing dude. :D please provide the tut with elaborate instructions. thanks
EDIT: oops i think u have already spoke abt this sorry.

[Vicky]

I saw a lot of potential in this shot by hitanshu:)

This is a 3min edit on a 0.5 mp image;)

[rio008]

I saw a lot of potential in this shot by hitanshu:)

This is a 3min edit on a 0.5 mp image;)

vicky do let us know about YOUR 3MINS work behind this image, what all you did @ 3mins to achive this change :)

[hitanshu]

Vicky,

I will send you the full file. Please spend 3 more minutes. It is so awesome, I am planning to print out the picture in large size

[powerslave]

I saw a lot of potential in this shot by hitanshu:)

This is a 3min edit on a 0.5 mp image;)

This is what PP is about! Awesome job!

[Vicky]

Vicky,

I will send you the full file. Please spend 3 more minutes. It is so awesome, I am planning to print out the picture in large size

Thanks Hitashu!

Pls email me the original RAW file... will be gladd to do it for you:)

This is what PP is about! Awesome job!


Thanks Manas:)

[Vicky]

I really liked this shot... from Shutterbug:)

[hitanshu]

You my friend, are a MAD genius. Me likes. I so wish you'd joined on for Bandhavgarh!!

[shutterbug]

Vicky, i was going to ask you if you could try doing something with that image, when I saw this thread! Thank you boss and job well done! Exactly what it needed, esp the greens on the bg wall were quite distracting. My prob is I am very bad at selecting objects accurately!

[Vicky]

Am not happy. Anyways, here is another one. I need help on this aspect:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5011468154_002f483565_b.jpg

Shot handheld at f8, 8:10pm in Rome. Now I've realised that anything less than f8 does not give me the dof I need. Beyond 800 ISO, i don't like the images. On trips, I can't use a tripod.

Any cool tricks/tips on taking such photos better/sharper?
PS: I hate the bloody distortion!

Here's a very similar photo of the same monument taken in 1988 before Al- Quaida had blown away one of the two towers...

http://www.thephotographer.in/darkroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=1826&stc=1&d=1285166350

:p

[KrishnenduKes]

Here's a very similar photo of the same monument taken in 1988 before Al- Quaida had blown away one of the two towers...

:p

Vicky up to his usual tricks yet again. How did you do this? Used Mirror tool on Liquify?

[robin234]

mirror image of half the monument .


how you did it please let us know :P If you want or else will be do

[hitanshu]

He is an evil, evil man. I had enough people in the original shot - infact, after cleaning up the first shot (he did the PP), he sent me this one - I was like bhaiya, marwaoge :D

Really well done. Wonder how he manages a business, a family, his photography and then these kind helps in the 24 hours!!!!

[Vicky]

How did you do this? Used Mirror tool on Liquify?


mirror image of half the monument .how you did it please let us know


Its just a quick edit guys...

I copied portions of one side which i wanted to clone into another layer ... then used the transform>flip horizontal tool:)

Did not mirror the entire half of the photo. If you look carefully,you will spot many differences between both the sides. If it were a direct mirror job then both the clocks would be showing different times

Used the clone tool to remove the tourists..

converted to BW...

added some semi blurred flying pigeons to add to the mood and give the impression of a tripod shot;)

He is an evil, evil man. !!!

Thanks for the compliments mate:)

[KrishnenduKes]

Its just a quick edit guys...


Quick edit job he says! I would spend an entire a'noon just trying to figure out what he explained here! :)

[Viny]

A Single shot with some PP to get different looks, I hope you guys will like it

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4985/choclatecar.jpg

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8087/bettlecar.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8110/snowcarz.jpg

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2927/vintagecar.jpg

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/2586/ruggedcar.jpg

Orignal shot is yet to come :)

[Vicky]

http://www.thephotographer.in/darkroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=2125&stc=1&d=1293866413

+

http://www.thephotographer.in/darkroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=2128&stc=1&d=1293866825

+

http://www.thephotographer.in/darkroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=2129&stc=1&d=1293866825

=

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5308903797_9237aa0e6e_o.jpg

[hitanshu]

Vicky bhai: Standard PP!

[anirban]

Here is a simple step-by-step procedure for stitching panoramas using Photoshop CS3
Took the test shots using a P&S since my phone battery just died before I was about to start! Tried a lot of manual alignment but couldn't do justice. Then typed panorama in PS help and found it.

Step 1: Open Photoshop. Under the File menu, go to Automate and then Photomerge.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_W2kA7xxEITw/TdkGR-MVVYI/AAAAAAAAARM/iMTDFfS-dxc/s720/step1.jpg

Step 2: In the dialog box that opens, click Browse
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_W2kA7xxEITw/TdkGPEDEReI/AAAAAAAAARI/jwS0z2J7830/s720/step2.jpg

Step 3: Select the files required to be merged and click OK
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_W2kA7xxEITw/TdkGpxlrGrI/AAAAAAAAARQ/T6VKvjkL-hE/s720/step3.png

Step 4: Click OK again in the dialog box. Photoshop will get to work!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_W2kA7xxEITw/TdkHSpsy0LI/AAAAAAAAARY/FsDg8vt9p5Q/s720/step4.png

Step 5: The result will be something like this.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_W2kA7xxEITw/TdkHQk9QmuI/AAAAAAAAARU/mWiwZap_hH8/s720/step5.jpg

Step 6: Flatten the image and crop it to remove the white parts.

Tip:
The thickness of the 'waist' or central part of the image can be increased by taking a number of overlapping shots. The fewer shots, the more one will have to crop the image due to the slim 'waist'!

[KrishnenduKes]

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