Sale on canvas prints! Use code ABCXYZ at checkout for a special discount!

Blog

Displaying: 1 - 5 of 5

Quarantine Blues Sale

May 16th, 2020

Quarantine Blues Sale

To spread a little joy during these Covid-19 times I am giving a 75% discount off my mark up starting today 5/16/2020 through 6/16/2020 on every item.

At Checkout enter this Discount code: NPFMRH

Focus Blending with Photoshop CS5

April 11th, 2020

Focus Blending with Photoshop CS5

To see these images in a larger format or more Blog posts click on the button below to see additional information.

I am blending two images with different focal points to make one image with sharpness front to back using CS5. I found learning the process with fewer images in the beginning to be helpful. As you progress you can take nearly as many images as you need to make the sharpest image.
I have recently found CS5 has a very easy process to make this happen. It is most useful on subjects with no movement. The images I used here were shot during a slight breeze and with low light. A higher ISO to be able to use a faster shutter speed would have made for a better finished product.
Camera settings:
• ISO 200, 1/50 second at f.11.
• It always helps to have a camera set on a sturdy tripod, with mirror lock up on and a cable release.
• Manual setting with the first image focusing on the foreground and the second focusing on the background.
CS5 Post-Editing Steps:
1. After making adjustments in on first image in Camera Raw, apply the same setting to the second image. Then select both images. To do this select your first image by clicking on the thumbnail. Then while holding the Ctrl button select each thumbnail to include. In my case I had only 2 images but you can use several images with varying focal point front to back.
2. Select Tools>Photoshop>Load Files into Photoshop Layers.
3. If as in my example you know there was movement in the subjects, select both layers by holding down the Ctrl button and clicking on all layers.
4. Select Edit>Auto-Align Layers which will bring up a dialog box where you click on the Auto button, then OK.
5. Now to work the focus blend magic you select Edit>Auto-Blend Layers selecting the Stack Images button and clicking the Seamless Tones and Colors box. Then click OK.
You will see the complicated masking and blending in the layers that CS5 will do behind the scenes for you. It's not always perfect so you might need to go into the masks and make some manual adjustments by using the brush tool and painting with black (to conceal) or white (to reveal) areas that aren't quite right. But you will get the idea the more you play around with it.

How to Apply an Orton Effect Using Photoshop CS5

April 11th, 2020

How to Apply an Orton Effect Using Photoshop CS5

The original image can be seen by clicking on the button below for more information.
Here is the step by step procedure to give your photos the painterly look that you see on this sample. I use Photoshop CS5 so these instructions may need to be adjusted a bit according to your system.

1. Duplicate image (image>duplicate). Close original
2. Lighten the image: Image>Apply Image. In the dialogue box that comes up, change blending mode to ‘screen’ & opacity to 100%
3. Duplicate this overexposed image: Image>Duplicate
4. Blur this 2nd layer: Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blue..in the dialogue box that comes up use Radius setting of 15 to 50 pixels. The higher the number the blurrier the photo & the more ‘painterly’ the image.
5. With both layer copies visible, select the move tool. Hold down ‘Shift’ key and drag & drop the blurry layer onto the sharp one. Don’t release shift key until you release the mouse or they won’t line up.
6. In the top layers change the blend mode from ‘normal’ to ‘multiply’. Chg opacity to alter effect
7. Flatten the layers and make any additional adjustments in Photoshop.

This artsy touch doesn’t seem to be something for every image but works really well with scenery and some nature shots. It certainly can make some stunning images even more stunning. Enjoy.

How to Create a Photo with a De-Saturated Border

April 11th, 2020

How to Create a Photo with a De-Saturated Border

These instructions are for a PC using Adobe Photoshop CS5 to create a desaturated border for your images.

1) Open the image of your choosing to add this type of border.

2) Duplicate the background layer by using Control J. This will create a duplicate layer of the original image in your layer palette.

3) With the newly created duplicate layer highlighted/active, click in the Edit drop downs. Click on Free Transform. Then click Alt & Shift buttons & drag the handle towards the center to make the border. It is important to hold the Alt & Shift buttons down until you obtain the size image you wish. Press enter to commit when you are happy with the size.

4) Now click on Background layer to make it active. Create a Hue & Saturation adjustment layer. Lower the saturation & increase lightness to your liking.

5) Click on the scaled down photo layer (should be the top layer) and use Layer Effects to your liking. I like the drop shadow, inner glow, and bevel & emboss. These can all be adjusted individually in the Layer Styles box.

6) Before flattening you can also move the scaled down photo layer if you want to align the background layer to line up objects by clicking on the Move Tool.

7) If you want add some text in the border, select the Hue and Saturation layer you created directly above the Background layer.
Select the Text tool and click in the border where you want the text to appear. Using the background color and font type and size of your liking add your caption caption. To complete the look select again in your layer palette the Layer Effects. Try many combinations and remember you can also change the fonts.

8) The last step is to flatten your image and as always with all new images do a 'save as'.

How To Create An Image Using A Twirl Effect

April 11th, 2020

 How To Create An Image Using A Twirl Effect

To see how I created this image please click on the 'Click here button' below that will take you to my website blog.