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Posted on 07/07/07 3:55:54 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply  |
Something doesn't look right
On the right is a picture of my dad and his friend taken fifty years ago. Recently he got in touch with him after not seeing him for so long. I thought it would be cool to put a recent picture of them in the same setting that the original picture was taken. Okay, so how can I fix this so it doesn't look like they were cut out and pasted on the background. Something isn't blending and I need another perspective because I can't figure it out. Thanks.  _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 07/07/07 5:04:06 PM |
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Deborah Morley
Makeover Magician Posts: 1319 Reply  |
Re: Something doesn't look right
Hi Steve, To me, it looks as if they are standing just that bit too close to each other and with not enough shadow on the man on the left from the man on the right. Also would it help to increase the contrast so the black of the jeans corresponds more with the black in the background and maybe add some noise to them. Don't suppose this has been much help! |
Posted on 07/07/07 6:39:51 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
That's a great help Deborah. Thanks. _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 07/07/07 7:14:44 PM |
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Wayne
Printer’s Devil Posts: 312 Reply  |
Re: Something doesn't look right
Hi Steve What a great idea! You've done an excellent job cutting those figures out. I agree with Deborah about adding some noise. There are a couple of other things you could do in my opinion: I think the original's highlights are a bit 'blown out' in the men's faces, so you could do something similar in Levels. Also, I think a small amount of blurring to the new figures might help blend them in better. Hope this helps |
Posted on 07/07/07 7:36:07 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
Thanks Wayne. I also added a little sepia to help the aging. I think I'm close but one thing that really bothers me is the shoes on the right. Part of it is the perspective thing which I've already tried to fix. They seem to distort every time I manipulate them. I think the other part is that he is in more modern clothes so it's sort of hard to make it convincingly old. My dads pants (on the left) were blended with the bottom half of the originals. My sister took the picture and didn't include his feet. Here's the update  _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 07/07/07 7:38:15 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
maybe the highlights in the shirt could be toned down. _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 07/07/07 8:20:34 PM |
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Wayne
Printer’s Devil Posts: 312 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
Steve, I've had a shot at this, hope you don't mind! Separated figures to their own layer. Blur tool on right shoe. Levels to increase contrast on figures. Added grain to figures, sampled from original sky. Flattened image. Slight Gaussian Blur. Slight Unsharp Mask. Lowered saturation slightly.  |
Posted on 07/07/07 8:29:18 PM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
Thanks Wayne. That's about as much as I can do with it. I think he'll like it, I just wanted it to be the best I can get it. Thank you and Deborah for your input. More eyes, better results! _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 09/07/07 1:51:14 PM |
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steve hill
Brain Basher Posts: 228 Reply  |
Re: Something doesn't look right
this is probably too late but it seems as if the background on the new image is larger and showing more detail than the the original may be a slight blur on the background. |
Posted on 10/07/07 02:33:51 AM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
sorry Steve, that was my fault . They are the same size. I just posted them different because I was too lazy to make them the same. ... it's never too late! _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 10/07/07 09:35:08 AM |
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Tabitha
Feline Foto Fanatic Posts: 221 Reply  |
Re: Something doesn't look right
Im not sure if this was what Steve Hill meant but I have noticed that the backgournd is closer to the figures and hence larger than in the original? Also the original pic was obv taken on a sunny day, judging by their squints and shine from the top of their heads... was the new photo of your dad and friend taken indoors? Could it be that the lighting/contrast does not match the background? Sight is such an amazing sense, but it can notice the slightest thing the doesnt seem right so easily... not good when it comes to creating something photo-realistic  _________________ "She had lost the art of conversation but not, unfortunately, the power of speech." George Bernard Shaw. |
Posted on 11/07/07 12:57:28 PM |
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Glen
Montage Maestro Posts: 282 Reply  |
Re: Something doesn't look right
I'd say it was the black points not matching from figures to background. In my quick fix (very quick too) all I've done is isolate the figures, adjust the levels so they match the background more, I'll leave it to you to play with the amount - see what you think  _________________ most of the lack of sunshine in our lives is caused by us standing in our own shadow |
Posted on 11/07/07 3:14:21 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6935 Reply  |
Re: Something doesn't look right
I'd say somewhere between the two: yours seems just a little too strong, Glen. But don't you think the rather washed-out appearance helps the sense of aged photography? |
Posted on 11/07/07 6:52:59 PM |
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Eggbox
Ovoid Opportunist Posts: 797 Reply  |
Re: Something doesn't look right
And just to add my two cents worth. Are thay not perhaps a little too 'clean'? The original picture has scratches, spots and marks all over it except the imported pair. Ted |
Posted on 12/07/07 03:34:20 AM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
Thanks Glen, Steve and Ted. I was trying to keep the contrast not too strong so it would look aged like Steve said. Tabitha, I think I see what you and Steve H mean. I think I made the new figures a little too big and maybe they look too close in comparison. I wonder if I should start over now that I have a fresh perspective from all of you. This is greatly appreciated by the way! Some other things that bother me . 1. My father's clothes don't really look so "up to date". 2. They don't look as though they are dressed in the same time period. I need to find some better clothing for my dad. 3. The perspective of those sneakers bug the heck out of me! Please check back. I will try to post an update in the next couple of days. In the meantime, comments still very welcome. Thank you all! _________________ Steve Mac |
Posted on 22/07/07 01:07:47 AM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply |
Re: Something doesn't look right
I have completed my photo. Thank you all for the help. _________________ Steve Mac |