'fixing' an image, aka "PhotoShopping"
Dec 20, 2023 13:17:48 #
Here's an example of 'fixing' an image, aka "PhotoShopping".
For those with new versions of PSE or the subscription version of PhotoShop, this example should be rather quick and easy. Being someone who leverages existing hardward and software investments to exhaust every last penny of value, I'm still processing JPEGs with PSE-10.
Background
The original image, below, was captured on film using Ilford FP4+. This film is renowned for the 'sharp' details it will capture. I used one of my sharpest lenses on the camera. But, I also wanted a depth of field that covered the 'face' of this Grateful Dead Nite giveaway at Sox Park. Alas, the wider f/6.3 aperture didn't blur the background as much as desired.
(Original) Grateful Dead Night
Photoshop Action
The solution was a simple masking 'selection' of the skeleton from the background and application of a Gaussian Blur on the masked background. Then, I just merged the two layers back together and output the JPEG result.
Issues / Considerations
1, I might have applied even more blur to the background?
2, The 'selection' of the skeleton takes some practice in this ancient PSE-10 software. I'd expect newer software to make this a few-second process with little manual (human) effort.
3, The human also has to consider the pixel-width of where the two layers met so the merge of the two layers is subtle and natural.
Grateful Dead Night @ Chi-Sox by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Final Thoughts
Other approaches exist to 'blur' that background, including:
a, Shooting in digital where I might have created more distance between the camera and subject and 'cropped into' the pixels to get the same framing.
b, Used a different background. Here was a marble counter top, but I could have found a solid dark sheet / paper background.
c, Other ideas the UHH community might suggest?
For those with new versions of PSE or the subscription version of PhotoShop, this example should be rather quick and easy. Being someone who leverages existing hardward and software investments to exhaust every last penny of value, I'm still processing JPEGs with PSE-10.
Background
The original image, below, was captured on film using Ilford FP4+. This film is renowned for the 'sharp' details it will capture. I used one of my sharpest lenses on the camera. But, I also wanted a depth of field that covered the 'face' of this Grateful Dead Nite giveaway at Sox Park. Alas, the wider f/6.3 aperture didn't blur the background as much as desired.
(Original) Grateful Dead Night
Photoshop Action
The solution was a simple masking 'selection' of the skeleton from the background and application of a Gaussian Blur on the masked background. Then, I just merged the two layers back together and output the JPEG result.
Issues / Considerations
1, I might have applied even more blur to the background?
2, The 'selection' of the skeleton takes some practice in this ancient PSE-10 software. I'd expect newer software to make this a few-second process with little manual (human) effort.
3, The human also has to consider the pixel-width of where the two layers met so the merge of the two layers is subtle and natural.
Grateful Dead Night @ Chi-Sox by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Final Thoughts
Other approaches exist to 'blur' that background, including:
a, Shooting in digital where I might have created more distance between the camera and subject and 'cropped into' the pixels to get the same framing.
b, Used a different background. Here was a marble counter top, but I could have found a solid dark sheet / paper background.
c, Other ideas the UHH community might suggest?
Dec 20, 2023 13:50:54 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
b Here's an example of 'fixing' an image, aka &qu... (show quote)
I suspect you may have excellent taste in music.
Dec 20, 2023 14:01:48 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
b Here's an example of 'fixing' an image, aka &qu... (show quote)
"Being someone who leverages existing hardware and software investments to exhaust every last penny of value..."
That's a heck of sentence!
Dec 20, 2023 14:02:45 #
bsprague wrote:
"Being someone who leverages existing hardware and software investments to exhaust every last penny of value..."
That's a heck of sentence!
That's a heck of sentence!
LOL!!
Dec 20, 2023 14:03:41 #
srg wrote:
I suspect you may have excellent taste in music.
We have some excellent music here in Chicago to choose from.
Dec 20, 2023 15:52:51 #
bsprague wrote:
"Being someone who leverages existing hardware and software investments to exhaust every last penny of value..."
That's a heck of sentence!
That's a heck of sentence!
Another way to say "I'm cheap thrifty"
Dec 20, 2023 16:09:49 #
For someone "someone who leverages existing hardward (sic) and software investments to exhaust every last penny of value", you should still be working in the darkroom! I do miss the darkroom but you could figure out a way of doing it there. I have an idea; how about you. The new Adobe masking tools would knock your socks off but I am sure you know that already.
I find your monochrome original very much nicer than most of what I have seen here. Thanks for posting.
I find your monochrome original very much nicer than most of what I have seen here. Thanks for posting.
Dec 20, 2023 16:10:40 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
We have some excellent music here in Chicago to choose from.
Yes, it is called WFMT and WDCB.
Dec 25, 2023 16:37:46 #
abc1234 wrote:
Yes, it is called WFMT and WDCB.
Thanks for the tips Paul, I really miss the Grateful Dead. Did you ever make a New Years Eve concert?
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