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Posted on 13/02/10 5:16:16 PM
Faith Ince
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Posts: 28

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Image Doctor
I took this during the heavy January snow. I will remove the telephone wires but am confused as to how to put an interesting sky behind the tree. As both the sky and snow are white, I cannot use my usual methods. Any ideas?

Posted on 13/02/10 6:07:43 PM
Sophie
Political Parodist
Posts: 595

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Re: Image Doctor
Hi Faith,

Can you supply us with a link to the image or post the image? Even without seeing the photo, it sounds like a challenge.

Posted on 16/02/10 11:00:42 AM
Faith Ince
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Posts: 28

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Re: Image Doctor
Hello Sophie,

I cannot get the image size low enough to send - it will only go down to 162 Kb and I don't have a website ro provide a link. Will keep having a try and will send the image as soon as I succeed.

Posted on 16/02/10 11:34:10 AM
Nick Curtain
Model Master
Posts: 1768

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Re: Image Doctor
Hi Faith

Try going to the Image Size dialogue box and change the resolution. If for example the pic is 12X8 in @ 300ppi, change it to 72 ppi and reduce the size to say 9x6 inches. if you then go to Save for Web, you should find that you can go to an optimum 95k to show us.

Hope this helps.

Nick


Posted on 17/02/10 6:07:03 PM
Faith Ince
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Posts: 28

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Re: Image Doctor
Hello Nick,

I followed your instructions - hadn't notice the 'Save for Web' bit before. I have managed to get the 'k' down to just below the 100. I am afraid that it is rather blocky, although the original is not. With help from the Forum, I should be able to put another sky behind the tree. I have at least 20 images to play around with so look forward to all the help I can get to get started.

Faith





Posted on 18/02/10 07:33:25 AM
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi
Posts: 2157

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Re: Image Doctor
First of all, In save for web, reduce the size to about 800 - 900 pixels at the largest side, and then reduce the quality to about 50%. the size and how far you far you have to reduce the quality depends on the amount of detail in your image.
Looking at the very small image you have supplied, I think you are going to have great difficulty getting a blue sky in there, you will really have to select all the sky, separate it from the snow and tree. You might have to use the pen tool as the shades are so similar.
Good luck


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Posted on 18/02/10 07:44:39 AM
Steve Caplin
Administrator
Posts: 6935

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Re: Image Doctor
Make sure the resolution is set to 72dpi, as well, so it's the right size for screen display.

Posted on 18/02/10 08:45:10 AM
Nick Curtain
Model Master
Posts: 1768

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Re: Image Doctor
I think Vibeke is right and it's going to be a real challenge to achieve what you're after without the tree looking cut out. My opinion is that the tree would lend itself nicely to a high contrast mono conversion and if you have three good pics, why not consider placing them in a triptych with a fine stroke border around each one. You could try a white background with black stroke and then inverse to see which one you prefer.

Nick


Posted on 18/02/10 3:12:39 PM
Jota120
Ingenious Inventor
Posts: 2615

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Re: Image Doctor
Agree with Vibeke and Nick. In this case Nick's suggestion seems to give best creative suggestion I think maybe.

If you really want to push it, then masks and channels + some pen is probably the only solution, but can not see the image large enough. This can still be quite time consuming and may have to use several other image/mask/channel methods depending on your image.

Here are a couple of rough examples:
1st combined after and before, adding some blue sky.
Next 2nd post another method.
They would both need more work to refine.

Either way, if you change your sky you will also need to change the rest of the image contrast, enhance the modeling I think to make it convicing.



More PS7 - CS2 based


Posted on 18/02/10 3:14:36 PM
Jota120
Ingenious Inventor
Posts: 2615

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Re: Image Doctor
2nd using more CS4 features +mask and channel


Some artifacts on branches would need to be removed with e.g. Pen.

Posted on 18/02/10 5:10:55 PM
Faith Ince
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Posts: 28

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Re: Image Doctor
Thanks everyone. I realise that there is much hard graft ahead. I did choose the most difficult to put on the Forum! I will work at the images and see how I do.

Faith

Posted on 18/02/10 7:00:47 PM
Jota120
Ingenious Inventor
Posts: 2615

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Re: Image Doctor
Good luck Faith. As many recommend much easier to start with a good prepared photo image if at all possible.
I'm sure some will try to give hand here when we can.
Don't do your head-in, its meant to be fun! (Not that I feel that some times )

This may be useful from Redsnapper on Links thread today
redsnapper wrote:

and something that might be of interest too, just because it is available:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/12/17/unveiling-photoshop-masks/


Thanks Redsnapper,
and I think the masks info should be useful here, a reminder, reference, and insight into CS4 useful new mask features that can help speed workflow. (I'll reference your post in my earlier comment (
here) I guess you saw earlier on another thread here).
Trevor







Posted on 18/02/10 7:21:16 PM
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi
Posts: 2157

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Re: Image Doctor
Steve Caplin wrote:
Make sure the resolution is set to 72dpi, as well, so it's the right size for screen display.


When you use Save for web, Isn't the resolutuion automaticaly set to 72dpi?

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Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.

Posted on 19/02/10 05:57:38 AM
Nick Curtain
Model Master
Posts: 1768

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Re: Image Doctor
Quite possibly, but you have to make the image manageable in the first place. If you try to process a large file which is too big for Save for web, a warning box appears. Must admit I've never proceeded beyond that point.

Posted on 20/02/10 6:35:04 PM
Wideangle
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Posts: 12

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Re: Image Doctor
Ahh the 72dpi myth...I've found much debate on this topic.

When dealing with the web, dpi is irrelevant. It's all about pixel dimensions. Pixels become the unit of measure at this point and regardles of the dpi settings, the image will look the same size.

for example 1000px by 800px at 72dpi will look the same size on the web as a 1000px by 800px at 300dpi.



There is also a website that illustrates the whole thing.
here
http://www.scantips.com/no72dpi.html


Posted on 22/02/10 00:39:39 AM
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi
Posts: 2157

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Re: Image Doctor
Nick Curtain wrote:
Quite possibly, but you have to make the image manageable in the first place. If you try to process a large file which is too big for Save for web, a warning box appears. Must admit I've never proceeded beyond that point.


I do, all the time, just click O.K. and unless you are veryshort of memory the program will continue.

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Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.

Posted on 04/03/10 5:02:51 PM
Faith Ince
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Posts: 28

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Re: Image Doctor
Have I cracked the under 100K rule at last? Thanks, Steve for your advice. I will now get onto retouching the images and then put a decent sky behind the lot.



Posted on 04/03/10 5:40:21 PM
Jota120
Ingenious Inventor
Posts: 2615

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Re: Image Doctor
It looks quite different now.

I think you can a lot of support from here when we can........

My previous comments apply I think and I agree with others too.

Enjoy what you want to do and you will learn a lot.

... don't for get the art, e.g. the art of perception and emotion

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