Team Suck Headquarters - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

12/05/2007 10:18:46 AM · #2227

Originally posted by Melethia:

Pat, if you've never used the extraction tool, it has a learning curve (and I'm still on it) and can be a wee bit irritating, but it does work nicely. I believe it's under Filters. You have a nifty magic marker tool to draw the outline. On the right is the place you can change the size, and select "smart edge" which will make it find the edges if they are well defined. Once you've outlined the whole shape you want to extract, use the paint bucket tool to fill the inside. The use Preview (back over on the right) to see how it looks. There are clean-up tools to fix the outline if need be.

To make a generic background, make a new layer, use the gradient tool, pick a neutral color, and create a gradiated background. One thing to try is a double color background - on the first layer pick something like pale green and draw the gradiation from top to bottom. On another new layer (not duplicate layer), pick a pale blue and draw from right to left. You could even overlay a texture on top of those layers, too.

Thanx to Deb & kelli- I will try those things :) Pat

kashi

Nikon D60

12/05/2007 10:39:15 AM · #2228

What are the hazards of requesting a self-DQ ?

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

12/05/2007 10:52:13 AM · #2229

Originally posted by kashi:

What are the hazards of requesting a self-DQ ?

They treat is a real DQ, and you can't enter into challenges for two weeks I believe.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

12/05/2007 11:05:23 AM · #2230

<------------ GRIN!

xianart

Canon EOS-7D

12/05/2007 11:07:58 AM · #2231

if it's your first DQ in a while, then there are no penalties, but, if you are subsequently DQed in the near future, then you are suspended. it's just like a regular DQ. it's really not worth it, unless it's truly, truly, gut-wrenchingly humiliating and exposes a part of your soul that should remain private. if it's just getting poor comments, it's really not worth it.

(i speak from experience - i got the SC to dq, and completely delete, an image i submitted while ~~drunk~~ tired and emotional after scattering my parents' ashes. don't drink and DPC)

12/05/2007 11:08:07 AM · #2232

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by kashi:
What are the hazards of requesting a self-DQ ?

They treat is a real DQ, and you can't enter into challenges for two weeks I believe.

It is treated as any other DQ, but you need 2 in a 25 challenge period to not be able to enter challenges. It's a one week penalty for 2. This is exactly what happened to me. I self dq'd an SP and then got a dq and couldn't enter for a week.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

12/05/2007 11:50:01 AM · #2233

Originally posted by xianart:

o, and the trolls hit my SP - down to 6.1. ah well - i'm still hoping to get that window shot off my front page - it's been there a very, very long time.

I'm still trying to kill off the baby birds... I think my Free Study will be a new third place on the top row.

Oh, and looks nice on you, Kelli! :-)

kashi

Nikon D60

12/05/2007 12:24:39 PM · #2234

Originally posted by xianart:

I guess it's not THAT bad, but I REALLY wish I'd put in a different photo.

12/05/2007 01:09:08 PM · #2235

OK, this isn't great, but it's the first picture I took with the new camera and my first RAW conversion. The white on the rose is snow. Learning curve, here I come!

jaysonmc

Nikon D200

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

12/05/2007 01:21:51 PM · #2236

Congrats on the new camera Kelli. It is always fun to play with new equipment.

My Self Portrait is doing to well, but I expected as much.

My FreeStudy is doing nicely, though not as well as some of the other Team Suck members. I have a ton of comments so far, 16, a couple from Team Suck members too. Love those comments. :)

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

12/05/2007 01:36:32 PM · #2237

I count 16 comments so far on my SP. The bulk of those are "Hi Deb!" though. I guess I'm somewhat recognizable in it. Darn. :)

jaysonmc

Nikon D200

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

12/05/2007 01:49:41 PM · #2238

Here is something funny:

FreeS: 6.4
Fairy: 5.4
SelfP: 4.4

Talk about a downward spiral. Next challenge I need to get a 3.4 to complete the picture.

Really enjoying voting on the self portraits. Good too see some more faces of the community. Cheers

kashi

Nikon D60

12/05/2007 02:01:04 PM · #2239

My SP is still sitting at 4.3

Anyone care to debate that I *am* getting the brown for this one ?

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

12/05/2007 02:11:13 PM · #2240

Originally posted by Kelli:

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by kashi:
What are the hazards of requesting a self-DQ ?

They treat is a real DQ, and you can't enter into challenges for two weeks I believe.

It is treated as any other DQ, but you need 2 in a 25 challenge period to not be able to enter challenges. It's a one week penalty for 2. This is exactly what happened to me. I self dq'd an SP and then got a dq and couldn't enter for a week.

This is true. The main difference between a self-DQ and "real" DQ is that self-DQ's are not visible at the end of the challenge results page. They are, however, counted towards penalties should further DQ's occur within 25 challenges.

In order to be eligible for a self-DQ, you need to be DQ-free within your last 25 (so it doesn't result in penalty) and also the self-DQ cannot be because of a rules violation.

HTH, L2

basssman7

Nikon D500

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

12/05/2007 02:16:53 PM · #2241

Originally posted by Melethia:

I'm still trying to kill off the baby birds...

Please don't use that big gun on the poor baby birds! ;)

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

12/05/2007 02:37:17 PM · #2242

One more playing around picture. This RAW stuff is complicated. I'm not sure if the changes are actually working before I export to PS.

raish

Olympus C-2500L

12/05/2007 02:45:01 PM · #2243

Originally posted by basssman7:

Originally posted by Melethia:
I'm still trying to kill off the baby birds...

Please don't use that big gun on the poor baby birds! ;)

She stakes them out with her 'camera' and calls in the artillery.

Originally posted by kashi:

My SP is still sitting at 4.3

Anyone care to debate that I *am* getting the brown for this one ?

You got me. Mine inexplicably anti-Jebbed all the way up to 4.5714.

basssman7

Nikon D500

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

12/05/2007 06:00:30 PM · #2244

Originally posted by Kelli:

One more playing around picture. This RAW stuff is complicated. I'm not sure if the changes are actually working before I export to PS.

Hi Kelli, you will see very little difference between RAW vs Jpg-fine settings on properly exposed settings. Where you will notice the difference is in situations where you are forced to shoot while slightly underexposed and where the shooting situation is not controlled and perfect, or if you want to change the colour balance. (and do not be afraid to play with the raw conversion settings a lot, the "automatic" setting sucks!)

If I am shooting in good conditions I shoot jpg-fine because the difference is negligable and it speeds up processing so much.

Bruce_the_Robert

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR

12/06/2007 03:24:01 AM · #2245

Originally posted by Kelli:

One more playing around picture. This RAW stuff is complicated. I'm not sure if the changes are actually working before I export to PS.

Hi Kelli,

What software are you using for processing? I've not heard of a RAW tool that doesn't export with whatever settings you've set prior to export, but I haven't used all the tools (though I've tried an awful lot of them). RAW shouldn't actually be that complicated, so let's see what we (collectively) can do to get you onto the right path (and then hopefully, once you're there, you can bring me along with you; I'm always lost these days, it seems).

Best,

Bruce

12/06/2007 08:22:16 AM · #2246

I'm using Raw Shooters Essentials. I couldn't get the canon conversion software to work that I downloaded from the canon site. I also can't get the Raw Shooters to pick PS to open the picture with. I can pick it, but the OK button stays grayed out. So, I save the picture to RSE's picture folder then using PS open the file. I have to play with it a bit more and see what I can figure out. I have to do Christmas portraits for a "paying" customer Friday night, so I figured I'll play around with stuff most of the day today to see what I can figure out.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

12/06/2007 08:30:29 AM · #2247

Kelli - you said you have Photoshop CS, right? Does it have Adobe Bridge? (I started on CS2 so I don't know.) If it has Adobe Bridge, that will process RAW files.