Wednesday 16 May 2012

trying something new...

Nancy, over at A Rural Journal, posted about a Photo Challenge blog called Edit Me
where a photo is provided weekly for participants to try their hand at editing...

I recently scratched the surface of PSE
and found layers upon layers of possibilities
so many that I have been almost paralyzed in my attempts
to figure them out!

I experimented a bit with textures a while back, after watching a PSE and an online tutorial
and I took a short online (skinny mini) Photoshop class with Kim Klassen...
I realized that there is so much to learn about Photoshop to even know what you can do!

So...I generally don't post the photos I have 'played' with on my blog...

Today seemed to be the day to stick my neck out and give it a shot with this challenge.
*deep breath*

This is the photo, provided by Nancy, who is also the judge this week!



I used PSE to (hopefully) give the background a painted effect 
and to move the cat more into the foreground.
...and the quotaholic in me had to add a quote!



I did this by:
(please forgive my lack of proper photo editing nomenclature *lol*)

duplicating the photo in soft light at 60%
applying the 'pencil sketch' effect in soft light at 100%
and adjusting levels and brightness
I added a layer mask between each and soft brushed the cat only
I added the text, taking the colour from the flowers in the background.

Rudimentary, I am sure, but I enjoyed the exercise 
and had fun comparing the final product to the original photo...
and I have to admit to a certain amount of exhilaration
at putting 'out there', a photo to which I have done more 
than add a quote or texture and my initials!

I am thinking that I need to participate regularly in this Edit Me Challenge 
to push myself to grow in the area of photo editing!


My next task is to figure out HOW to make these photo icons LINK to blogs!!
(in the mean time I have linked to the text above!)

Always something new to learn!

Update: I think I've got it!!


Edit Me

24 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness!! You've done an excellent job! And I totally understood what you were talking about! :)

    Wonderful!!! Janet, you are good! I love how you've darkened up the bench a little along with kitty's ears. And of course you know I love the quote you've added. This is fantastic! Well done!

    xo

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    1. thanks Angie!! your encouragement is always welcome!

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  2. Proud of you for coming out of the editing closet Janet and happy that you chose my photo to do so. I'm loving your edit -- it looks like dusk and the quote is perfect. xoxo

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    1. hahaha!! Thanks Nancy! Most of what I know so far I have learned from both Angie's and your 'recipes' for photos on your own blogs!

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  3. I really like what you did with this photo! It turned out great.

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  4. I think you're edit is wonderful, the texture looks great and I love the quote. Embrace pse, it is an amazing program and is so much fun!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/78234591@N03/7209086038/in/photostream

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    1. Thanks Julie! Thanks for the feedback and encouragement! I can't wait 'til I can make cool frames like yours! ... I have dabbled with making my own textures but need to do more work on that!

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  5. Thanks for your comment on my blog. You have done a great job with the photo above, I also find it very interesting that there's so much to learn about photography.

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    1. you are very welcome Ella..I admire your ambition and your achievement in learning English through your blog!

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  6. Thanks for visiting my entry Janet! ;) I am thoroughly enjoying your edit as well!

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    1. I loved the focal blur on yours Yolanda! I need to figure out how to do that in PSE as I love that effect but used picnik in the past and it is sadly no longer available!

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  7. You've done a great job on this Janet!
    What really catches my eye is the way you have adjusted the lighting on the cat.
    There is much more detail in the fur now.
    Very nicely done!!

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I am so new to this that it is all guess work!

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  8. Janet, so glad you joined in! You look you've been doing this a long time. I like the reduced brightness/exposure and that quote is perfect!

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    1. Thanks Sarah! Just faking it 'til I make it *lol* That quote came to my mind as soon as I saw that photo!

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  9. I just realised I did not ask you about the "pencil sketch" is this a feature of Photoshop? Cheers

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    1. It is an option in PSE 10...I'm not sure about other Photoshop software. It is under Full Edit - Effects...one of those little apples *lol*
      It is a fun effect! Hope that helps!

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  10. Congrats on your bravery. It's always scary to put yourself out there but once you do, you almost feel like a new person. Plus you have the support of a great community right here. You did a really great job on editing your image. I like the contrasts and the texture work you added. I know there seems to be a million button to use on PSE and it almost seems overwhelming. A great place to learn more on how to use Adobe products is on Linda.com. For $25 a month, you can watch all the tutorial videos you want. This is how I keep learning new tips and tricks on Photoshop and stay in control of it instead of it control me. Beautiful job and I hope to see more of your work!

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  11. Nice, I like what you did with Mr. Kitty. The painterly background is pretty.

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  12. Beautiful edit! I love how the pencil sketch effect looks. I really need to get photoshop and try it myself. So many amazing things to learn! :-)

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  13. yes well done on the edit... I too am a PSE user. It's easy once you have a play around !
    jennie. x

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