Post-editing makeover. Today: 'The Terrible Twos?'

11/05/2003 08:58:28 AM · #1

There have been lots of post-editing threads recently.
I thought I'd try one with a bit of a twist...
I'm going to select a photo at the end of each challenge which I think could do with a post-editing makeover.
This time, the makeover is entirely DPC-legal.

The chosen photo for 'Grace' is:

'The Terrible Twos?' by 'christian'

And here is my makeover:

In Photoshop:
Auto Levels
Auto Colour
A curves adjustment to subtly increase contrast, and raise gamma.
A crop... if we're going to chop the toes off, we may as well chop off the top of the head!
Decrease saturation on all colours by about -50
Save image, and open in NeatImage.
In 'Device Noise Profile' tab, make the smallest selection you can, and sample the bottom right hand corner of the frame with as little foot as you can manage in the selection. Then press the blue diagonal ruler on the right to sample, then click on 'auto fine tune'.
Apply these settings in the 'outut image' tab.
Open the newly NeatImaged photo in Photoshop.
Apply USM (100%, radius 0.4, threshold 2).
Apply Gaussian Blur, radius 3
Go to Edit -> Fade Gaussian Blur, and reduce the opacity to about 20% in normal mode.
And there you have it!

I hope the original photographer has no problems with me doing this... if it's a problem, let me know.

Perhaps other people would like to post similar examples?

Message edited by author 2003-11-05 09:11:27.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/05/2003 09:57:25 AM · #2

Does anybody find this helpful?
Is anybody else going to try another?

sonnyh

Canon EOS-7D

11/05/2003 09:58:13 AM · #3

I think your version is much more attractive than the original and I would have given it a higher rating. Keep doing what you are doing. I enjoy reading how you have done the makeover. Learning a few things. Thanks!

11/05/2003 10:02:43 AM · #4

Thanks! :)

Beagleboy

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

11/05/2003 10:04:34 AM · #5

I would just ask the photo's creator before starting to fiddle around with his or her photo. Some people may take great offense to having someone mess around with one of their shots without being consulted about it. You may want to do this before considering further posts of this nature.

Just a thought.

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/05/2003 10:06:28 AM · #6

True dat.

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

ellamay

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/05/2003 10:11:05 AM · #7

I am curious about the before and after looks, mostly because I do so little posy-processing, it is interesting to see what others might do and see which I like best.
I agree asking may be good and I would volunteer a shot to you, but I think asking is generally a good idea : ).

ScantyNebula

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/05/2003 10:21:11 AM · #8

Cropped image
Border -> 5 px
Adjust -> color balance
Adjust -> contrast/lighting
Filter -> Gaussian blur, 4.0
Edit -> Fade Gaussian Blur 50
Filter -> Unsharp Mask
Adjust -> Hue/Saturation

JC_Homola

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

11/05/2003 10:28:55 AM · #9

I warmed this and softened it a bit.
crop
levels 15/.83/255
colour -30/-19/-38
curves 41/37
median 2
dust & scratches 1/10
despeckle
USM 50%/5/5
new high light layer (via that wonderful tutorial) 12% opacity / 20% fill

Neuferland

Google Pixel 2

11/05/2003 10:34:01 AM · #10

The original:

My edited version, sharpened, neat image, desaturated, brightness lowered, contrast heightened and recropped.

Deannda
She's a cutie for sure

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/05/2003 11:40:48 AM · #11

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

Fair enough... I thought it would be enough to state that I would take it off if it was a problem, but I see where you're coming from.

Perhaps this thread would work better if people volunteered their shot from the last challenge once voting has finished.
If you feel it scored badly, and you're not too confident with Photoshop, let us know in this thread, and we'll give it a makeover!

heida

Canon EOS-5D

11/05/2003 12:18:14 PM · #12

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Great idea!
I love playing around with pictures in photoshop while voting too see if they could be better

11/05/2003 12:25:34 PM · #13

process shown under image details
i tried to keep the original image tones true as i didnt want to re-interpret the color scheme

i would at least state whose image it is you chose to use in the initial thread post...

soup

Message edited by author 2003-11-05 12:31:18.

OneSweetSin

Nikon D3000

11/05/2003 12:46:22 PM · #14

I just hope when you are doing this you have asked the photographer's premission. Some don't appreciate anyone else messing with their images.

11/05/2003 05:36:50 PM · #15

Does no-one else want a makeover?

11/05/2003 05:41:51 PM · #16

you mean does no one else want to have a go at it?
or whats it that you mean?

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Does no-one else want a makeover?

soup

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/05/2003 05:46:43 PM · #17

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Perhaps this thread would work better if people volunteered their shot from the last challenge once voting has finished.
If you feel it scored badly, and you're not too confident with Photoshop, let us know in this thread, and we'll give it a makeover!

No one "got" mine from the last challenge (maybe any of them) -- if you can improve them, feel free ...

I think it's often more effective to demonstrate what you suggest instead of trying to describe it.

11/05/2003 05:53:22 PM · #18

you aren't confident with photoshop generalE? ;}

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Originally posted by GeneralE:
and you're not too confident with Photoshop, let us know in this thread, and we'll give it a makeover!

soup

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/05/2003 05:58:39 PM · #19

No, I just didn't read it too carefully ... besides, we all know it's not the tools, it's the esthetic sense which really counts.

Actually, compared to an awful lot of people, I have a long but limited knowledge of Photoshop -- there's ton's of things I've never even explored ....

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

11/05/2003 06:04:54 PM · #20

LOL. My grace entry could use a make-over, especially in the crop, which was suggested in nearly every comment I received. I submitted it at the last last minute because I didn't have any photos taken for the grace challenge and I was looking through my photos from the week thinking, "grace, grace, grace." By the time I chose the one I did I really didn't have any time to edit it much. Even right after I submitted it I realized the crop was pretty terrible. Ideally, I would have liked to keep the crop the same and blur the background anyway, but that's not DPC legal. I'll probably do a cropped version of it when I get some time, but if anyone else wants to take a shot at it, feel free.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/05/2003 06:27:38 PM · #21

Originally posted by JasonPR:

LOL. My grace entry could use a make-over, especially in the crop, which was suggested in nearly every comment I received...

I'll try and ruin your's too when I get home from work!

WildflowerJoy

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

11/05/2003 06:35:20 PM · #22

My grace photo really needs a remake. Many thought it was too pixelated. I can email the original if you want to give it a try. I don't have photoshop... just paintshop pro.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/05/2003 06:43:09 PM · #23

Originally posted by WildflowerJoy:

My grace photo really needs a remake. Many thought it was too pixelated. I can email the original if you want to give it a try. I don't have photoshop... just paintshop pro.

I'll mess up your photo tonight too! My email address is on my profile page.

For the purposes of DPC-type editing, I don't think there's any practical difference between PS and PSP except maybe price ....

11/05/2003 07:31:17 PM · #24

i was being semi-sarcastic GeneralE...

sorry if taken otherwise...

soup