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Posted on 29/09/19 4:23:27 PM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 4898

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A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
Michael, I am sure that there is not one single one of us who has not, at one time or another, gasped in near disbelief at one of your impeccable re-builds or clean ups. I am constantly amazed by your impeccably executed work.

Here is my ultimate clean up challenge. Please do not feel obliged to rise to the bait. It really is not a matter of honour. In fact, if I am honest, it is seriously evil of me.

But first a bit of background because this is a completely surreal, only in Belgium, story ........

This is the Palais de Justice (Courthouse) in Brussels.





Constructed between 1866 & 1883 during the Reign of Leopold II it is a truly massive stone building that has been crumbling and decaying for years. Despite the fact that parts of it had to be condemned and closed until they could be repaired, it is still in use. In 1983 the government decided to scaffold it to keep it intact and protect the public. Twenty seven years later in 2010 the scaffold was still there and so rusty that the scaffold itself was condemned and had to be replaced or supported with supplementary scaffolding!! Street jokes about 'scaffolding the scaffold', and the 'courthouse behind bars' were rife.

Now in 2019 just the top of the dome has been repaired and the scaffolding gone from the very top. The rest of the scaffolding is still there and estimates for completion of the repairs now vary between 2028 and 2040. That means that, by the time the work is completed, the Palais will have been scaffolded for between 45 and 57 years!! Urban legend has it that the lucky man who got the contract to lease to the city the vast quantity of scaffolding needed is already a millionaire ...........










So now to the challenge .........

................ I am sure you can see this coming a mile off.

It's a mixture of skill and deduction. Show us what this last photo will look like once the scaffold has gone .........

I know you like working in decent size images. This will (right click) download at 2448 x 2533 pixels.




Oh ....... and take your time please ....... no rush.

....... and, of course, if anyone else wants to have a go all comers are welcome!

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The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 30/09/19 6:01:55 PM
Steve Caplin
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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
You must be joking!

Posted on 30/09/19 8:34:00 PM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 4898

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
Pretty much Steve yes. But "One never knows, do one?".

The only person I can imagine could ever do this would be Michael.

Although frankly I think he'd have to be a bit bonkers to try .........

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The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 01/10/19 00:00:30 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
DavidMac wrote:
Pretty much Steve yes. But "One never knows, do one?".

The only person I can imagine could ever do this would be Michael.

Although frankly I think he'd have to be a bit bonkers to try .........


We all have to be a bit bonkers to be able to live on this planet. By the time you reach middle age you are sure to be suffering to some extent from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
When I have finished this week's Challenge I shall attempt to remove the scaffolding from the sloping tower, as it looks the easiest. Gulp.




Posted on 01/10/19 07:23:58 AM
tooquilos
Wizard of Oz
Posts: 2793

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)

Ohh you are brave soul, Michael BUT if anyone can do this, it's you. I have complete faith in you!

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Posted on 01/10/19 10:06:21 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)

For you, Anna, I will do my very best.



Posted on 01/10/19 11:23:17 AM
lwc
Hole in One
Posts: 2615

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)


Posted on 01/10/19 5:16:18 PM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 4898

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
I wonder if the preceding picture with the scaffold 'bridge' in profile might not be a better bet for restoration. If you are mad enough to have a go you might want to look at this instead.

_________________
The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 01/10/19 5:16:32 PM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 4898

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
I wonder if the preceding picture with the scaffold 'bridge' in profile might not be a better bet for restoration. If you are mad enough to have a go you might want to look at this instead.

_________________
The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 01/10/19 5:17:09 PM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 4898

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
Ooops double posted. Sorry!

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The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 02/10/19 04:55:51 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
No, David, because there is yet more scaffolding on that one and I don't want to be doing this forever. Also, the sky is mainly white, making the building harder to extract.

Posted on 02/10/19 05:01:38 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
David wrote
...It's a mixture of skill and deduction...

Yes, but it's mainly staying power and the infinite ability to take pains.



Posted on 02/10/19 07:01:23 AM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 4898

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
Mariner wrote:
No, David, because there is yet more scaffolding on that one and I don't want to be doing this forever. Also, the sky is mainly white, making the building harder to extract.


Interesting. I just thought that although there is more scaffold it looked easier because there is much more building visible.

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The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......

Posted on 03/10/19 02:49:30 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Step 1
If you don't think you can finish the task then don't start it!
You need to be able to see your target as clearly as possible. This is an extract from something from the net. Oh look! Statues! It is unlikely that close-ups of these can be found, so we will need to find a cheat. For Step 2 I will extract some images of Queen Victoria's statue, Kensington Palace.



Posted on 04/10/19 01:24:02 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Step 2

Hopefully these two statues will be good enough. They will be needed later





Posted on 04/10/19 03:28:10 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Step 3
It is generally easier to work with vertical lines, so we will straighten the tower. We can always slope it again later if we like it that way.
We need a clean extraction of the dome and gables, and a rough extraction of the rest.




Posted on 04/10/19 04:12:16 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Step 4

The two gables and band need cleaning up. They will also help guide the placing of the pillars and statues hiding behind the scaffolding. It helps to extract these with a pen as it makes the cleanup easier.
Generally the clone, smudge, and paint brushes are good for the cleanup job. I have added two new gables, but given the amount of time it took to warp them into place it would have been quicker to create them from scratch.





Posted on 04/10/19 05:11:03 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Step 5

I have cut out part of the image in Step 1 to use as a guide. Warping it to fit can be difficult. Cutting it into three pieces helps.





Posted on 04/10/19 05:32:25 AM
Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 2789

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Step 6

Now it fits a lot better. This is just a guide, remember. It doesn't need to be perfect. You can refer back to this image whenever you lose your way (often).





Posted on 04/10/19 07:57:55 AM
DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 4898

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Re: A problem for Mariner (and anyone else mad enough to try)
This is fascinating Michael! I am totally impressed already.

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The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it .......
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