How to Cheat in Photoshop

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Posted on 25/10/11 9:48:33 PM

chris berry
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New Poster

Poster for http://hblt.org.uk latest production.
Feel free to suggest improvements! (prefer heaped praise tho!)

Chris

Posted on 26/10/11 07:59:39 AM

Steve Caplin
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Re: New Poster

Very interesting. Great lighting on the woman, I like the muted colours and that strong red lipstick.

One thing about using a silhouette of a plane is that you can't tell whether it's coming or going. Maybe lights would help to indicate its direction.

The position of the smoke trail seems wrong to me. I'd have thought it would be in line with the fuselage (but Gordon will give the definitive answer on this):

And... are you sure you need the extra text? Surely the image should tell the whole story, without needing explanatory notes?

Posted on 26/10/11 08:37:42 AM

GKB
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Re: New Poster

The position of the smoke trail would depend on what, exactly, the aircraft is doing at any given moment and also the dynamics of the airflow around the aircraft. I could go into 'induced drag', 'wing downwash' and the vortices around the wing-tips but I suspect that you might find an urgent need to re-arrange the socks in your drawer

Either way the smoke would would look ok. It just comes down to aesthetics in the end.

I saw a production of The Deep Blue Sea at Chichester about a month ago. I hope your production comes up to the same standard.

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Posted on 26/10/11 08:54:39 AM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

GKB wrote:
The position of the smoke trail would depend on what, exactly, the aircraft is doing at any given moment and also the dynamics of the airflow around the aircraft. I could go into 'induced drag', 'wing downwash' and the vortices around the wing-tips but I suspect that you might find an urgent need to re-arrange the socks in your drawer

Thanks Gordon - I'll leave the smoke where it is then. And of course our production will be up to scratch - I'm playing Dr Miller!

Thanks again.

Posted on 26/10/11 09:00:57 AM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

Steve Caplin wrote:
Very interesting. Great lighting on the woman, I like the muted colours and that strong red lipstick.

One thing about using a silhouette of a plane is that you can't tell whether it's coming or going. Maybe lights would help to indicate its direction.

The position of the smoke trail seems wrong to me. I'd have thought it would be in line with the fuselage (but Gordon will give the definitive answer on this):

And... are you sure you need the extra text? Surely the image should tell the whole story, without needing explanatory notes?

Thanks Steve
Gordon's happy with the smoke trail, so I'm not going to argue with God! I want the effect of the plane having just taken off and leaving her, but can't find a Spitfire at the right angle, which is what has caused the problem.
The use of text, or strapline has caused some debate at the theatre - so thanks for adding to it! Being an adman by trade, I use them the same way picture and text are used in a press ad, to sell the story, much the same as a movie poster. My argument is, that it seems to work as we've had over 97% average attendance over the last two years since I've started using them.
Not sure what to do with lights on the plane - do you mean to use navigational ones on the wings?

Posted on 26/10/11 09:06:52 AM

GKB
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Re: New Poster

If it's a Spitfire in the correct attitude you need then why not go to Anders Lejczak's website ( http://www.colacola.se/ ) and download his Spitfire model. It comes as an obj file so you could open it in Photoshop or Cinema 4D then render it it in any position or size you choose. As it's a silhouette you don't need to worry about the colours scheme.

If this causes a problem for you then let me know and I'll render it out for you if you give me an idea of the angle you require.

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Posted on 26/10/11 09:26:58 AM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

GKB wrote:
If it's a Spitfire in the correct attitude you need then why not go to Anders Lejczak's website ( http://www.colacola.se/ ) and download his Spitfire model. It comes as an obj file so you could open it in Photoshop or Cinema 4D then render it it in any position or size you choose. As it's a silhouette you don't need to worry about the colours scheme.

If this causes a problem for you then let me know and I'll render it out for you if you give me an idea of the angle you require.
Thanks Gordon - I need one at a similar angle to the one in the poster but in more of a climb attitude. Can't find one on his site - which is brilliant. Would you be able to to machine one together?

Posted on 26/10/11 09:29:41 AM

GKB
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Re: New Poster

Expect something very shortly via Yousendit.

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Posted on 26/10/11 10:30:18 AM

GKB
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Re: New Poster

Chris,

It just occurred to me that, in the play, the pilot doesn't crash in his aircraft so there shouldn't be a smoke trail anyway ... or have I forgotten something in the plot?

Any Spitfire pilot with a smoke trail like that would be looking for somewhere to put the aircraft down within the next couple of minutes or signing his application for immediate membership of the 'Caterpillar Club'.

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Posted on 26/10/11 12:39:51 PM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

GKB wrote:
Chris,

It just occurred to me that, in the play, the pilot doesn't crash in his aircraft so there shouldn't be a smoke trail anyway ... or have I forgotten something in the plot?

Any Spitfire pilot with a smoke trail like that would be looking for somewhere to put the aircraft down within the next couple of minutes or signing his application for immediate membership of the 'Caterpillar Club'.

You're right, Gordon, it doesn't crash, but I wanted a vapour trail for dramatic effect. Or should it definitely not have one?

Posted on 26/10/11 1:05:00 PM

GKB
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Re: New Poster

I appreciate the dramatic effect idea but any pilot looking at it would be thinking that the guy is about to jump over the side so, personally, I would leave it out.

For dramatic effect you could have the Spitfire banked over at, say, around 30 degrees to the left from the same angle of view and rather less than a silhouette. You might also make it slightly larger. I'll send you another render and see what you think

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Posted on 26/10/11 1:27:01 PM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

GKB wrote:
I appreciate the dramatic effect idea but any pilot looking at it would be thinking that the guy is about to jump over the side so, personally, I would leave it out.

For dramatic effect you could have the Spitfire banked over at, say, around 30 degrees to the left from the same angle of view and rather less than a silhouette. You might also make it slightly larger. I'll send you another render and see what you think

Thanks Gordon - nice idea, look forward to receiving it.

Posted on 26/10/11 1:28:36 PM

GKB
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Re: New Poster

You might want to tweak the lighting in Photoshop but this-ish ?

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Posted on 26/10/11 1:48:05 PM

Jota120
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Re: New Poster

Just a small idea. Maybe add a bit of motion blur to the Spitfire, not the whole aircraft the rear part. Our eyes focus on one part of the motion, the rest becomes a blur, less saturated, or not so interesting to the brain and our retina colour receptors only in the centre of vision. Its just a thought. Like it the way it is, just a thought.

Its working out really well Chris. Great ideas shared from Gordon and Steve. (BTW I tried masking with CS5 Magic Wand and selection refine, quicker, but basics work well in this case).

Posted on 26/10/11 1:51:24 PM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

Jota120 wrote:
Just a small idea. Maybe add a bit of motion blur to the Spitfire, not the whole aircraft the rear part. Our eyes focus on one part of the motion, the rest becomes a blur, less saturated, or not so interesting to the brain and our retina colour receptors only in the centre of vision. Its just a thought. Like it the way it is, just a thought.

Its working out really well Chris. Great ideas shared from Gordon and Steve. (BTW I tried masking with CS5 Magic Wand and selection refine, quicker, but basics work well in this case).

Nice thought - will try that out!

Posted on 26/10/11 5:58:50 PM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

I've tried highlighting the plane - I think it may work better in this position but as a silhouette?

Any opinions?

Posted on 26/10/11 6:50:13 PM

Jota120
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Re: New Poster

My brain is flipping between forward and backwards, reasons as Steve. Others here think it is coming fwd.

Just another thought, change the profile to show the beautiful spitfire wings more in profile and maybe see cockpit too i.e. to establish the top.

Gordon's offered image is not ambiguous to me.

Posted on 26/10/11 7:21:40 PM

BigVern
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Re: New Poster

Chris, it may not be what you want to hear but I prefer the size of the plane in Gordon's image. How about trying that but changing the colour cast to blue.

Posted on 26/10/11 7:30:18 PM

chris berry
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Re: New Poster

BigVern wrote:
Chris, it may not be what you want to hear but I prefer the size of the plane in Gordon's image. How about trying that but changing the colour cast to blue.

Hi
Just seen Gordon's - didn't realised he posted it! The plane was only ever intended as a background detail - the focus has to be on the woman. The size of the plane in Gordon's is, I think, too distracting.

Posted on 26/10/11 7:40:54 PM

GKB
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Re: New Poster

I think you're right Chris; it should be rather smaller than in my post. I think that the aircraft does need to be there because it emphasises that this character in the play is an RAF pilot.

Perhaps somewhere between your first post and mine might be a good compromise.

It's nearly there!

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