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12/21/2011 12:06:23 AM · #1 |
Hey all, I posted alittle while ago about finding tutorials and I got some awesome responses. Now, I still don't have the cajones to take a stab at entering an expert editing challenge, but I did come across some questions when practicing. So for fun, I started working with this image...
Added a texture to it,
then a background
and now,
I got to this
this is question one: As far as textures go, do I have to shoot the photo and make it a texture, or can I just grab a texture from the web? I ask because of this rule...
use images that do not meet the source or date requirements as textures in your entry if they function specifically as textures and not to circumvent other rules.
Secondly, I know the masking is choppy, that, I can clean up. My question is what's the best way to smooth some of the edges in the hair. To me, it looks very pasted there, and part of that is because I had to create it because if you look at the original photo, the top of my head was cut off... Also, I noticed around the neckline on the shirt is too straight and the hand masking needs work... Overall, allot of the masking needs work, I'm just curious on how to soften some of the edges so it doesn't look so pasted
Lastly, I'm really knew at this, so any and all suggestions are welcome, I'm really looking to improve and learn how to create some interesting art. There's a ton of inspiration on here... Thanks for your time
p.s. I know there's alittle sensor dust at the top, I left it there for good measure :P
Message edited by author 2011-12-21 00:10:25. |
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12/21/2011 01:23:27 AM · #2 |
Yes. Textures can be from elsewhere but only as Textures.
link
As for tips- I'm not a big expert editor, but I'll warp the edges using various tools. Sometimes I'll select portions and use the distort to literally pull them around to create smoothed edges. You can also do a bit of smudge to do that a bit, as well. Depends how fastidious you want to be. Make sure to dodge/burn your "pasted" part where there should be light from the other scene and that will help make it much more believable. It's also key to have the perspectives fit. Your road shot is from lower than we would assume an eye level shot should come from, so it's not congruent visually. It feels like you're bursting from the soil.
Message edited by author 2011-12-21 01:31:45. |
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12/21/2011 02:22:26 AM · #3 |
About the texture, while it is legal to use one from the web as such, I recommend reshooting it if possible. I'm saying that because in your image, the texture is applied very strongly, and the SC might judge that it is not a texture anymore but another image over the skin.
As for smoothing the mask in the hair, I recommend using the "refine edge" tool (if you use Photoshop, that is). I love it, and it can produce great results on such case. There are many tutorials about it on the Internet, for example this one. Among other features, it offers much control over the smoothing of your mask, and should work like a charm given your original photo is made against a white background.
Have fun! |
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12/21/2011 07:19:54 AM · #4 |
| personal experience, shoot every thing. dont leave it up to the powers that be to determine if your texture is texture worthy. |
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12/21/2011 10:48:38 PM · #5 |
Hey thanks guys for the responses.  Gyaban you raise an excellent point about the texture and how it could be judged. I never thought of it that way and it makes total sense. That's one of the main reasons I posted, to get a feel for the expert editing rules. I'll end up just shooting my own textures, that way, it will never be an issue. Thanks again!
Oh and thanks for the tutorial, giving it a look now...
Message edited by author 2011-12-21 22:50:03. |
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12/21/2011 11:27:01 PM · #6 |
| Background is fine as long as you shot it during the challenge. |
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