Heart Redone - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/22/2006 09:57:04 AM · #1

Ok, no one has to reply to this thread but for the people who commented on my heart entry that they didnt like the yellow eyes and nose I went back and re gimped the pictures. Had to use a different rose but I think I achieved something close to what I wanted. Neither of these were exactly what I wanted and others could probably do better but I had so much fun doing these pictures. Anyway here they are:

My entry.........................My outake

Kaups

Canon EOS-50D

02/22/2006 09:59:58 AM · #2

The 2nd one looks a tiny bit washed out but I still like it more than the yellowing affect. Nice work!

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/22/2006 10:25:03 AM · #3

Originally posted by Kivet:

My entry.........................My outake

The reprocessed image is much improved. Looks like the whole thing was redone from scratch.

Did you have the rose in a separate layer and, if so, did you attach a layer mask to it for adjusting the blending of the rose to the face? The reason I ask is because it does not look like it in the original.

Message edited by author 2006-02-22 10:26:05.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/22/2006 10:36:48 AM · #4

I have no idea what a layer mask for adjusting the blending is. I did use layers but have no idea what the blending method you mentiond is. The original was basicly me and the rose, I didnt try to blend it too much, the second one I tried to blend more, make it more a part of me than something just superimposed over the top. They were 2 seperate pictures, different layers.

How do you do what you asked? I loved how this turned out but I would like to refine it a bit and any help is appreciated.

edit, beacause I dont always make sence.

Message edited by author 2006-02-22 10:39:02.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/22/2006 10:44:36 AM · #5

Originally posted by Kivet:

I have no idea what a layer mask for adjusting the blending is. I did use layers but have no idea what the blending method you mentiond is. The original was basicly me and the rose, I didnt try to blend it too much, the second one I tried to blend more, make it more a part of me than something just superimposed over the top. They were 2 seperate pictures, different layers.

How do you do what you asked? I loved how this tured out but I would like to refine it a bit and any help is appreciated.

When you have two different elements in two different layers then a layer mask can help with the "fine tuning".

If you use photoshop I can give you a quick lesson to get started. Think you would find using a layer mask fun.

Message edited by author 2006-02-22 10:45:50.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/22/2006 10:53:37 AM · #6

I use Gimp, it had a great pricetag :) In gimp you can add a layer and then change the layer properties i guess it would be. I think there are about 15 options, lighten only, darken only, screen, overlay, extract grain, merge grain (which I used on one layer)Burn, dodge, multiply, divide, add, subtract, Hard light, soft light, Hue, Color, Saturation and Value. Im sure I missed some. Is this what your talking about? There is also a button down on the bottom called Toggel quick mask but all it ever seems to do is change my pictures red so I have no idea what that is for.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/22/2006 12:14:50 PM · #7

Layer masks are important tools for non-destructive image editing.
They can be used to make incredible fine detailed adjustments where formerly you would have used the eraser or the history brush tools. Those are destructive tools and once saved there is no later recoverability from them should you want to make changes.

Here are the boring things you gotta know about layer masks:

Layer mask fundamentals
1-Each layer can have a mask attached to it.
2-A mask determines the transparency of information from that layer to the rest of the image.
3-Mask tranparency is determined by the amount of black, white and grey on the mask itself.
4-Black is used to block out things from a layer. Black is complete transparency. This means it "blocks" or covers up what is in that place in that layer so it will not show up on the image at all but everything "below" it shows through. It does not erase anything.
5-White is used to let things show up from that layer in the image. White is complete opacity. White completely "covers up" whatever is BELOW that layer so it can't be seen in the image.
6-Grey is used for partial transparency. That is, where there is grey then part of the contents of the layer will show up in the final image and part of what is below shows through.

There are a variety of tools that can be used to create black, white and grey on a mask. In your picture the paint brush would be the one used.

The fun part of masks!
Painting a little black to block or a little white to show things up on different areas of the layer is the creative, artistic fun part of layer masks!!

The confusing part of masks!
It sounds strange to think that black makes things transparent and that white makes them opaque and you would be right... it is strange! But you have to think in terms of the layer itself and its relationship to the other layers of an image to understand it better.

For the layer alone it makes sense to think that painting black would block out things on that layer. That idea originated with masking from way back in the old days of "wet" darkrooms when you made a cardboard cutout that you waved under the enlarger to block light when exposing the print paper. Using black in the digital darkroom mimics that process for one layer.

What is different about the digital darkroom is when black is used to block out things in one layer it then translates into being transparent for the rest of the image below it. That is why you will read that black means complete transparency. Strange, but true!

It is VERY important to know when you are in the mask part of the layer or in the data part of the layer. It can be confusing and cause trouble. It you paint a big white or black brushstroke across the screen when you expected to hide or show something using in the mask part that means you are in the data part of the layer. Undo that and return to the mask layer and continue. It is guaranteed you will do that a lot!

Down to business!
Now you are probably saying to yourself, "Self; I got it, you can add a layer mask to a layer and you can paint with black, white and/or grey on the mask to hide or show things... so how do I ACTUALLY do it?!"

Assuming an unadjusted rose layer is above the face layer, here is what you do to work with the rose using GIMP...

Layer masks using GIMP
1-Select "Dialogs->Layers" to bring up the layers dialog.
2-Right click on the Rose layer and on the popup menu scroll down to and select "Add Layer Mask". Now a white box shows up to the right of the rose image box on its layer. White, of course, means it is opaque to everything below that layer.
3-Click once on the mask box and return to the image. That is critical, otherwise you will paint on the actual layer data. As you can see the rose now completely covers the face just like it is supposed to with a completely white layer mask.
4-Be sure the default black/white foreground and background colors are selected.
5-Select an appropriately feathered brush size and opacity and with the foreground black color simply paint away the parts of the rose you don't want visible in the picture. Make a mistake and switch the foreground color to white and paint with white to bring it back. Neat, huh? Change the opacity of the brush to paint with grey to blend the images together just the way you want. Now you are an artist!

It is THAT simple! :)

Message edited by author 2006-02-22 14:18:35.

02/22/2006 12:56:15 PM · #8

Thanks Steve! :) I appreciate your help.

edit: because it sounded off

Message edited by author 2006-02-22 12:57:03.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/22/2006 02:23:07 PM · #9

yes, I prefer your outtake. I thought it was a nice shot except for the yellow nose...