Today.. (Page 2): I don't have a problem with removing the hawk from the light blue background, BUT, now the bird is lost. The background is way to busy and to close in the colors to...

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

PapaJon wrote:

quote=evandr These are great captures but they do... (show quote)

You're absolutely correct, I would never call this a done picture; I was just slapping something together that was on hand and convenient to illustrate how easy it can be done. Although Xara ( http://www.xara.com ) is my primary editing software, the bird was masked by a dedicated masking program (and Xara plug-in) called Vertus Fluid Mask, probably my most used plug-in.

jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.

with Viveza you can put a point on the sky and render it most any color you want

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

TraceyG wrote:

WOW, Thanks so much, for all the info, and I love the one with the clouds! Is Xara a large program? I would imagine it would be. I have aperture, viveza 2, neat image, was debating on Redynamix, but Xara sounds like a good program. Is it fairly user friendly?

Xara is beefy but the learning curve is quite level, its power to usability ratio is probably the best one out there; also Xara has a whole library of easy to understand tutorials. Xara understands that the majority of users out there are not hard core professionals and they need power to easily do what they want to do the most and even a lot more without having to learn a program that you could take college courses on.

Truth be told, the engineers that developed Xara are the core engineers that originally developed Corel Draw; for some reason they left Corel and went to Australia and developed Xara designing the Xara engine after the Corel design but making it much better. I may be wrong about some details but one thing is for certain, the developers of Xara were not some new "flying by the seat of their pants" software wannabees, they started Xara with a firm foundation of know-how in both the business and technical end of the Xara project.

TraceyG Loc: SW, Fl.

PapaJon wrote:

TraceyG wrote:

WOW, Thanks so much, for all the info, and I love the one with the clouds! Is Xara a large program? I would imagine it would be. I have aperture, viveza 2, neat image, was debating on Redynamix, but Xara sounds like a good program. Is it fairly user friendly?

I also would be interested in knowing some more about Xara.

Also, I don't agree that your photos are not sharp. MHO.

Thanks PapaJon, I didn't want to comment on the sharpness but on my monitor, these pics are crystal clear. Just a really bad background.

TraceyG Loc: SW, Fl.

jdtx wrote:

with Viveza you can put a point on the sky and render it most any color you want

\

Really? I didn't know that, I've only had it (Viveza for a couple of weeks) guess I need to spend more time with it! Thanks!

TraceyG Loc: SW, Fl.

Thanks EvanDr, you just might be my hero!

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

TraceyG wrote:

Thanks EvanDr, you just might be my hero!

Awww, you're making me blush :)

SpiffyPhoto Loc: Southern Wisconsin

TraceyG wrote:

Went looking for Bald Eagles, came up empty...still a little early here for them. But found this guy.

Would love some comments on how to edit. The sky was flat, and I'm new to this editing stuff, so I would appreciate suggestions.

PS...I do NOT have photoshop. On a Mac, with Aperature, and Viveza 2.

Hi TraceyG .... I love these photos especially the one with the flying bug ... very nice ..... thanks for sharing.

PapaJon Loc: Oregon Coast

TraceyG wrote:

quote=PapaJon quote=TraceyG WOW, Thanks so much,... (show quote)

No worries, mine too.

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

evandr wrote:

These are great captures but they do need a better background or at least a more vibrant sky. The good thing is that due to the solid and plain background it becomes an easy cut and past. It took me less than 5 minutes to do this picture; I chose the Kennecott copper mine because it lends well to the color and lighting conditions, and it was fun.

only problem is, the bird barely shows up against that backdrop!

PapaJon Loc: Oregon Coast

evandr wrote:

quote=PapaJon quote=evandr These are great captu... (show quote)

I went to the Xara web site, unfortunately they have combined three programs into one. I have no interest in web design, so not sure how useful the program would be. And I was terrible as a graphic designer in Illustrator so not sure I'm smart enough to even use a vector based program.

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

PapaJon wrote:

quote=evandr quote=PapaJon quote=evandr These a... (show quote)

You can get just Xara. If you download the trial that is all you will get unless you want all three and then you have to download all three, at least the last ime I looked that is the way it was.

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

SQUIRL033 wrote:

evandr wrote:

These are great captures but they do need a better background or at least a more vibrant sky. The good thing is that due to the solid and plain background it becomes an easy cut and past. It took me less than 5 minutes to do this picture; I chose the Kennecott copper mine because it lends well to the color and lighting conditions, and it was fun.

only problem is, the bird barely shows up against that backdrop!

Yes, I acknowledged that to PapaJon. I was demonstraiting what could be done and the backdrop was handy. I would never call it a finished photo.

TraceyG Loc: SW, Fl.

OK, here's my first try with Viveza 2. I haven't had it long, just a beginner, but I think I'm beginning to get there...How ever, I can't add the clouds that evandr did. :cry:

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

TraceyG wrote:

OK, here's my first try with Viveza 2. I haven't had it long, just a beginner, but I think I'm beginning to get there...How ever, I can't add the clouds that evandr did. :cry:

If this is your first effort then pat yourself on the back, it is well done, nice work:thumbup: To add the clouds you have to replace the background not simply manipulate it. I removed the background and then layered it onto another.