Learning thread - Photo Impact Pro.

12/10/2006 10:52:18 AM · #51

Thanks for sharing this. I will download it and see about using it for some portraits I have planned this week.

Originally posted by Alienyst:

Well, the easy way is to use tone charts for sampling. I have one for skin and one for hair. When I want to correct skin/hair, I open them up in PI, sample the tone I want, and color correct or replace as necessary.

All please feel free to download and use these. I don't do much work with people, but the times I have these have come in handy.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8

12/10/2006 10:54:57 AM · #52

Onward and upward. I am interested in finding out if there is a way to extract a part of an image. Right now what I do is use Object, extract, then I use a paint tool to outline that part that I want to extract. This becomes difficult, because my mouse isn't very intricate or exact. I have looked at the manual and tried to figure out how to extract a part of the image, but when I follow the instructions it never works. Anybody have an example of how to do this successfully without having to cut it out manually? I think it might be helpful if anybody is interested in trying an expert editing challenge in the future.

Message edited by author 2006-12-10 10:56:09.

MaryO

Nikon Z8

12/10/2006 11:39:02 AM · #53

Originally posted by ladymonarda:

The object extractor works pretty well on a clearly defined object; not so well otherwise. You can change the width of the paint tool and the touchup tool and magnify when you draw to finetune, but yeah, it can get very manual.

Sometimes I have better luck selecting on a color range and then using the marquee selection to subtract what I don't want, but that's pretty manual, too, as is creating another layer and erasing bits.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8

12/10/2006 07:07:54 PM · #54

I have tried color selection, but I never get the entire piece I am extracting. What is the marquee selection tool? Are you talking about the magic wand, bezier tool, etc? I do have an erase funtion which I do use a lot. Wondering if that is what you mean.

Originally posted by MaryO:

Originally posted by ladymonarda:
Onward and upward. I am interested in finding out if there is a way to extract a part of an image. Right now what I do is use Object, extract, then I use a paint tool to outline that part that I want to extract. This becomes difficult, because my mouse isn't very intricate or exact. I have looked at the manual and tried to figure out how to extract a part of the image, but when I follow the instructions it never works. Anybody have an example of how to do this successfully without having to cut it out manually? I think it might be helpful if anybody is interested in trying an expert editing challenge in the future.

The object extractor works pretty well on a clearly defined object; not so well otherwise. You can change the width of the paint tool and the touchup tool and magnify when you draw to finetune, but yeah, it can get very manual.

Sometimes I have better luck selecting on a color range and then using the marquee selection to subtract what I don't want, but that's pretty manual, too, as is creating another layer and erasing bits.

MaryO

Nikon Z8

12/10/2006 08:56:39 PM · #55

The marquee is the regular selection outline (square, rectangle, circle, etc.), although I can use the magic wand for the same reason with the + or -. With the marquee I am less likely to select too much and have to Undo. Haven't really messed with the bezier too much.

I've only used the eraser with layers.

There must be someone besides us who's played with this stuff!

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

12/16/2006 10:53:16 PM · #56

USM - I am curious how to use this particular sharpening tool. I have three settings when I go to advanced settings. One is radius, one is amount and one is threshold. Each has a range to go up and down the scale. What does each do, and how does it affect the photo? I have tried using the usm, but can't figure out if I should go up or down on the scale.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

12/17/2006 07:54:02 AM · #57

Amount controls how weak or strong the mask image that is blended in will be. Thus, it controls how much edge contrast will be added and how much apparent sharpness we will get. If set too low, we won't see any change at all, but if set too high, the inverted halos from the mask will be visible in the final image and it will look artificial.

Radius controls the degree of unsharpness the mask image will have. Thus, it determines the width of the halos the mask will produce. The higher the radius the more evident the sharpening effect will be. Set too low, the effect will be invisible or too subtle to be effective. The appearance of the halo will also vary with the content of the image since the amount of contrast already present will play a role.

Threshold selects how much adjacent pixels need to be to be considered an edge. Thus, it prevents sharpening of unimportant or incidental detail while reserving the effect for detail that should stand out. It separates signal from noise, if you will. Set too low, sharpening will be applied to every edge or change of tone throughout the image including such things as film grain. If set too high, no transitions will be viewed as being edges and no sharpening will result.

Hope this helps. I have found that with my camera, in RAW, I can apply almost the same sharpening to the same kinds/types of images. If you look at the PP details of challenge entries you will see that a 'favorite' setting of mine is .5/150/0 for USM. This seems to work quite well for me in general. If I need more sharpness after this then I use the regular Sharpness tool and go in small increments up or usually in large increments then down. I usually start around 35 or so and work down after application of USM. I seem to settle on 10 or 20 most of the time. However, your shots and your eye will tell you what is right for your image.

Message edited by author 2006-12-17 07:58:47.

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

12/17/2006 11:23:18 AM · #58

An alternative to selection may be "Select by Color Range" under Selection. I use it to create layer masks, but just found that it does create an object that you can move.

I sometimes enlarge the image so its much larger than the screen. I then use the lasso tool (smart and dumb) to select part of what I want. Then, click the add and remove section buttons (the "+" and "-" buttons) to refine the selection, move the image so I can get more of it, and add more to it.

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

12/17/2006 11:34:36 AM · #59

I've heard that you should keep the threshold at 2 or 3 pixels so noise isn't magnified.

A quick discussion of how USM works will help you understand it. See //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsharp_masking and //www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-usm.shtml

Note that all the PI sharpenings increase accutance, not resolution. See //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acutance (its very important to read this to understand USM.)

pamelasue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/22/2006 01:23:15 PM · #60

would someone be willing to post a quick tutorial on how to use layers in Photo Impact? I think I've figured out how to create a new layer but I'm not sure how to process the different layers and merge them all into a new base image ... I guess I'm asking about adjustment layers ...

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

01/29/2007 03:02:11 PM · #61

I just downloaded PI 12, up from PI 10 and XL. Is anyone else using this version yet?

I prefer PI over PS for most tasks, perhaps because I've had more experience in PI, but it seems the new PI version is closer to PS.

Is anyone else using this yet?

Maureen

rhodagraphs

Canon EOS-30D

01/31/2007 07:45:11 AM · #62

Hello everyone.

I have used PI since V8. JUST upgraded to V12 and LOVE it!! I got my dream camera...Canon EOS 30D and 'had' to upgrade, but did not want to get PS. I have always liked PI, but 12 is MUCH better!

Ok, I have figured out how to import and use 8bf files in Effects, and that is VERY cool!

I will give an example:
//gopog.net/?p=10
Here is one I use a lot now.
//www.thepluginsite.com/knowhow/tutorials/plugin/MakingAvailable.htm
Here there are directions on how to put 8bf files in PI.

I read in an earlier post of converting PS actions to 'Tasks'....anyone game to share this??

Thanks! And SO excited to see a group of PI users!
Rho

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/31/2007 08:15:06 AM · #63

To use an .8bf file (effect, filter, whatever) all you have to do is put the file in the PLUGIN subfolder of PI (any version) and it will appear on the effect menu next time PI is opened.

Converting Actions to Tasks can be done but it is on an individual basis. Some can be converted and some can't. You have to take each step in an action and find the equivalent in PI if there is one.

rhodagraphs

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

01/31/2007 12:59:09 PM · #64

That is what the second link explains in 'detail'. The first link is a good 8bf file to work with in portraits. :)
Rho

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/01/2007 02:53:13 AM · #65

Originally posted by rhodagraphs:

Boy do I feel the ninny! What is an 8pf file?

I'll pop over to your links there and I have to admit, I LOVE PI, too! I've also used it since V-8, to XL, V-10 and now V-12. I'm still working my way round the newest version, though!

Maureen

rhodagraphs

Canon EOS-30D

02/02/2007 07:21:50 PM · #66

Maureen,
They are plug-in files that people post for PS but we can use in PI.
Rho

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

02/02/2007 07:24:16 PM · #67

If you have the full install of PI 12, navigate to the Pi directory and look in the sub-directory called PLUGIN. There you will see *.8bf files and by the names you can match them up to options on the EFFECT menu.

02/03/2007 02:17:50 AM · #68

Originally posted by rhodagraphs:

Maureen,
They are plug-in files that people post for PS but we can use in PI.
Rho

Thanks, Rhoda! Thanks for the message, too!

Maureen :-)