St Pete Digital Photo Blog

FREE Photoshop Brushes

2009-07-12T11:36:00.002-04:00

Thats right here are some useful links full of Adobe Photoshop Brushes, ENJOY!

Adobe has this good site that has user made brushes that they send in, many are good and also viseversa some are crappy to, but definitely worth checking out. I am also including some other useful links for free brushes.

http://share.studio.adobe.com/axBrowseSubmit.asp

http://brushes.500ml.org/brushes/500mloldmaps.php

http://inobscuro.com/brushes

http://getbrushes.com/

http://gfxfever.com/

http://www.brusheezy.com/brushes

http://www.photoshopbrushes.com/brushes.htm

http://veredgf.fredfarm.com/vbrush/main.html

http://www.gfxfever.com (nice brushes)

http://www.coolvectors.com

http://trueplayers.ru/brushes_aerosol

http://trueplayers.ru/brushes_torn

http://trueplayers.ru/brushes_aerosol_arso_letters

http://www.brushfed.com

http://trashion.cjb.net/

http://annikavonholdt.com/brushes/

Creating your own Bokeh

2009-06-30T22:09:00.001-04:00

Bokeh is an adaptation from a a Japanese word meaning blur. In photography this term is used to describe the quality of the areas in the picture which are not in focus.

Complete story

The best way to shoot fireworks this July 4th!

2009-06-26T18:44:00.001-04:00

Here are few thing you will defiantly will need to do:

1. Tripod.
2. Manual focus (pre-focus)
3. Manual exposure settings (set your aperture and vary your shutter speeds)
4. Tripod.
5. Having a remote release is a good idea.
6. Stick with a low ISO
7. Tripod. (Did I say use a tripod?)

It really depends what you want. A wide angle lens with long shutter speeds will allow you to capture streaks and many explosions. Short shutter speeds will result in crisp patterns at the time of capture. Don't use a flash; if your camera is set on auto, it will probably attempt to do so.

Based on my own experience, you can also set your camera on 'Bulb', the aperture at f16 or so (fireworks are -bright- and it's easy to lose color in the brightest portion of the burst) and use the remote release to hold the shutter open for 3 or 4 bursts. This assumes that the sun has gone down and it's pretty dark.

Experiment with your camera settings to see what works best for you. By all means use the telephoto at some point. Look for reflections from the bursts to include in the composition. I usually shoot in portrait orientation and try to include the trails of the rockets. Prefocus in manual and use the shutter delay. I think you will really enjoy this type of photography, you never know what you will get and each shot will be surprising.

Also doing a little scouting work may also be in order. Check out the area you'll shoot in ahead of time, during daylight hours, and figure out where you'll set up. Visualize the crowd that will be there on event day. Nothing worse than getting there early and then having your view obstructed or blocked as the crowd files in. If you'll be in an area amongst folks who will be seated on a lawn, please be considerate and set your tripod low and try to stay seated yourself, or get behind them where you won't obstruct their view.

You'll also want to get very comfortable locating/using all your camera's controls/settings beforehand. You'll be shooting in minimal light to darkness, and using a flashlight will annoy those around you who are trying to watch the fireworks themselves.

If you set up near a pedestrian traffic area, allow for running kids, drink spills, etc., and be ready to catch the tripod/camera if someone knocks it over. Make sure your camera battery is fully charged, and maybe bring a spare battery...holding the shutter open with 'Bulb' setting and/or long exposure NR can drain some batteries pretty quickly. Also, try using multiple exposures - you can try that to catch multiple bursts that way, too.

Shoot lots of photos. Look at the results later, and figure out how you'll improve for next time. Above all, have fun and enjoy the show. Happy 4th to you.

Learn Adobe Photoshop CS3

2009-06-23T20:45:00.000-04:00

Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing software package developed and marketed by Adobe Systems Incorporated: it is the market leading program for editing professional raster graphics.

Today, most people who purchase Photoshop will probably get as one of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 packages. Adobe Creative Suite 3 is a collection of graphic design, web development and video editing applications. The package is available for both Apple Macintosh computers and PCs running Microsoft Windows. In the case of the Apple Macintosh, all major programs are provided in the form of "universal binaries", a single program file that can run on both PowerPC and x86 (Intel) Apple Macintoshes.

There are several variants of the Creative Suite 3 package available: Design Standard, Design Premium, Web Standard, Web Premium, Production Premium and Master Collection. Each of these packages includes a different bundle of software applications. Adobe Photoshop CS3 or Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended is included in all variants of package except for Web Standard (in fact, most variants include Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended).

It should be noted that Adobe Photoshop is a very powerful program, but because of its sophistication, it can quite hard to learn. This difficulty arises not because of any flaws in Photoshop - on the contrary, Photoshop is very well thought-out and easy to use - but simply because the program has so many features. Additionally, many news users to Photoshop will need not only to learn the program itself, but also to learn graphic design and prepress terminology and techniques. However don't let that stop you - there are many excellent online tutorials, software training packages, books and even DVDs that can help you quickly learn Adobe Photoshop CS3.

By S. Tanna. Learn Adobe Photoshop CS3 - find websites, software and books at http://www.graphicsacademy.com/howto_tutorials_adobe_photoshop.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sunil_Tanna

The Tools and Features of Adobe Photoshop

2009-06-23T20:40:00.002-04:00

Adobe Photoshop is one of the world's leading graphics editing programs, developed by Adobe Systems. Available on Mac OS or PC, Photoshop is used as one of the leading image design programs for the World Wide Web. The most recent version of Photoshop, or Photoshop CS2, "bridges" between other Adobe products such as Image Ready, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, and Encore DVD to produce professional videos and DVDs. Photoshop uses a file format called a .PSD or .PDD to store multiple layers of an image. Recently Adobe released a program called Photoshop Elements in order to give a less expensive version of Photoshop with many of the same features. Although Adobe Photoshop is used primarily in doing touch-up for digital photos, it is also used for creating designs for web pages and professional companies.

Adobe Photoshop was originally created as a convenient and powerful way to retouch photos. Its most basic features include easily cropping and straightening photos that were either scanned ore taken with a digital camera. Under- or overexposed photos can be easily rescued with the retouch power of the Camera RAW and other plug-ins. Photos taken in difficult lighting situations can be perfected by a few clicks of a mouse. Filters and plug-ins can be used to make the picture seem old or change to black and white.

Many web and graphics designers use Photoshop to create and design company logos and advertisements. Built in Photoshop effects and filters can make designing professional logos or advertisements a quick and simple process. With the power of layers and opacity, pictures can be blended together and effects such as shadows, blurs, etc. are made possible. And, for those who desire to return to the finger painting days of their youth, Photoshop has a paintbrush tool with countless brush shapes and textures for anyone who just needs to let out their creativity.

Text editing has also become easily accessible because of Photoshop. Perspectives, shapes, and type on a path are just a few examples of the tons of amazing text effects that are available. Slimy, dripping letters or cloud-writing in the sky are made easy from filters and text effects built into Photoshop.

Web designers thrive on Photoshop for making animations using Photoshop with other Adobe products. The things that can be done with Photoshop are literally endless. This is truly and amazing program.

For a tutorial on Adobe Photoshop, visit the photoshop tutorial website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_O'Reilly

How to apply texture to a human face

2009-06-19T17:33:00.013-04:00

This is one of my favorite tuts, I have used this many times with very good success. First thing I will do is make a duplicate of your image, just go to Image>Duplicate or just click and drag on the palette section, then change that image to grayscale and apply a Gaussian blur, around 2 pixels for a low res image and 4-5 for a higher res. Save the image, did I say Save? Always save your work, it will make your work a lot easier. SAVE as a .psd file for editing later if you need to.

Now on the original image you can move the image in which you want to merge into it and on top of the face image, hit control + A to put a selection around the entire image and then go to Filter>Distort>Displace. When the dialog comes up put 10 in the horizontal and vertical, this is trial and error, select Stretch to fit and Repeat edge pixels and hit okay. A new dialog window will open asking for the image to use, pick the grayscale image you saved and hit okay. You might want to get rid of any background you have and then change the blend mode to Soft Light or maybe Overlay, you could also use multiply if you want it darker and if it's too dark just lower the opacity.
From this point you can make as many adjustments as you see fit that will make your photo look more realistic.

Tip #2
I have used a displacement map to wrap the texture around subject. Now there are two ways to Dodge & Burn:

(1) You can use a 50% neutral grey layer (set to multiply or any blending mode that works for your needs), with a black brush (to darken) or a white brush (to lighten) paint in the grey layer.

(2) Use the dodge & Burn Tools.

Use the lighting effects filter for lighting, this can also be done in a 50% grey layer (layer blend mode of choice), doing lighting this way gives you much more control.

How to Create Realistic Photo Reflections in Adobe Photoshop

2009-06-19T17:09:00.001-04:00

Realistic photo reflections and shadows will always be relative to the actual scene you're working on. It then becomes a case of observation of real life, and how you utilize the elements in the scene to cast shadows correctly, and how reflective surfaces reflect the other objects around them. I'm not sure that there is a generic way of rendering reflections and shadows that doesn't look "generic". Realism will always be relative.

Well here’s what I’ve done to get Realistic photo reflections effects, create a duplicate layer of the one your wanting to reflect. With the duplicate selected go to edit/transform/flip vertical then move the flipped layer down to mirror the above image. Cntrl +click on the layer to reflect (it’s now selected with marching ants)

Set foreground color to white /select the gradient tool/foreground to transparent ,now using the gradient tool draw a line from bottom to top (hold the shift key for straight line)
Play around with it to get the effect you want.
Now if you want to make a Realistic Photo Reflections of objects on water you can Go to Filter>Distort>Ripple. By moving the slider we can select the degree of wave movement on the surface of the water. Aim to create the effect of a light breeze, so keep the waves Medium sized and don’t go overboard on the amount of ripple.
There are many adjustments you can make from this point, just play with some of the settings to find what looks right for you, and also it will depend on the picture you chose.

8 Photoshop Tips and Tricks

2009-06-17T15:16:00.005-04:00

Here are 8 Adobe Photoshop tips and tricks that you probably know about (but sometimes forget).

1) Scrubby sliders - Click where it says the word opacity, say on the layers panel - and drag to the left or right to adjust…Works on most elements where a slider can be changed, ie text size, crop sizes, transform measures etc

2) Add the shift key to go in increments of 10, whatever tool you’re in, hit ‘v’ to switch to the Move Tool then just type the percentage of opacity you want using the number keys.

3) Here is a nice tip that is essential for a file with a large number of layers: name all layers appropriately (e.g. logo, background fade) and use folders to group related layers or different versions within one file. Saves you and anyone else using the file a lot of headache!

4) When working in Adobe Photoshop, at any time you can hit the letter D and your color palette on the tool bar will return to the black/white default.

5) To quickly group a bunch of layers in your layers palette, shift click the ones to group, then hit Alt + G (on a Mac), and a group folder will be created and all those selected layers will be put into it. Awesome time saver.

6) Use ruler tool to draw along a line in the image you wish to be perfectly straight horizontally/vertically. Then Image>Rotate Canvas>Arbitrary - Photoshop automatically works out the exact angle you need to rotate. It’s fantastic for aligning things!

7) When using a mask on a layer that already has a layer style applied (especially one with a bevel of any kind) I found that the style stops at the edges of the mask. If you go to Blending Options and check mark the box for “Layer Mask Hides Effects” this will not happen.

8) You can control the opacity of a layer with the number keys (while in Move Tool) and the number keys will control the opacity of your art brushes (brush, dodge/burn, etc) if you have them selected.

Tips and tricks on blending a cutout into a new background.

2009-06-14T15:44:00.003-04:00

Here is a nice technique to use when you want to take one photo and place it into a totally different background:

I use the channels for my cut outs.......... look at your channels to see what part of your image that you want to cut out is clearest in, copy that channel, I then mask that but can't get all of it or clearly see all of it. So I have been going to edit apply image and set it to screen to make the other parts whiter so I can see what I want clearly. Sometimes I do this several times then I use gaussian blur just a tad, then select the channel go back to layers and copy and paste. Viola!

For most photos, I like to paint the Layer Mask by hand. Other popular methods include Pen tools, Magic Eraser tools, and Extract. There are 3rd party tools to help with extracting subjects. The best advice I can give is to do it in a document. That is, drop your subject into place, then Layer Mask it. This tip alone can really help with pixel bleeding and halo control.

Okay, I have another bit of advice: learn the different ways of extracting. Every instance is different and will require individual attention. The bigger your Bag o' Tricks, the better you will be. You can also try moving your subject onto a new background, I have used a layer mask, and then make sure my foreground color is BLACK then I use my paint brush to apply the blend. If you think you over blended then switch the foreground color to WHITE to undo the blend.

Now depending on what you want to do, and if the subject isn't too complicated (like wavy hair), you can use the lasso etc, then make the selection shrink or grow a bit, and finally step over to Quick Mask mode. In this mode you can soften the edges where necessary with your brushes. Use lots of different ones for this; broad, soft edged ones are best, but even very small and hard ones can be handy.

If it's a house or a shape where the computer can tell the difference between the background and that object you want (let's take a house for instance), I use the magnetic lasso tool, and go around it. Then I use the regular lasso tool to add or remove parts of the selected, to make it a perfect selection. Then when I copy that object onto a new landscape, I settle it in (erase lower parts, make it look like there is stuff in front of it), and then for touch up's I use gaussian blur on the bottom part of the house very lightly to blend it a little more in. Then at the end, I use a couple options to make it realistic such as the shadow option under the blending options.

Use these tips and you will look like a pro.

How to create bullet holes in Adobe Photoshop

2009-06-14T13:26:00.003-04:00

Here is the tut, below you will also find a free download of Bullet Holes Photoshop Brushes.

1. File > New (Any Size, I used 500.250 px), Any background,
2. Choose a rather small-sized Soft Edges brush. (I used 21px),
3. Open up Brushes Pallete,
4. You can uncheck the Shape Dynamics it doesn't matter,
5. Scattering, Scatter 280% Control Off. Leave the others at default,
6. Texture Now this is up to you, pick any pattern that suits you the most. I picked the default Bubble Pattern.
7. Ok back to the document, Create a New Layer
8. Paint using your newly created brush using black as Foreground color, OMG Bulletholes!
9. Ain't finished yet, duplicate your current layer
10. Invert it (Ctrl + I)
11. Nudge the inverted layer 1 px down and 1 px right (depending on your lightsource)
12. Load Layer 1's transparency (Ctrl + click Layer 1)
13. Select Layer 1 Copy (The Inverted Layer) and press Delete
14. Bulletholes!!
15. Optional: Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask both layers, play around with the settings

PS: Of course, play around with the brush settings and textures..

Download Bullet Holes Photoshop Brushes here
34 abr | 1.19 Mb

How to create realistic shadows in Adobe Photoshop

2009-06-14T12:49:00.005-04:00

Scientists and computer gamers alike could benefit from a new method for creating soft, realistic shadows in computer-generated images. Engineers at Ohio State University have created computer algorithms that model how light passes through translucent three-dimensional objects or fluids such as water, clouds, fire, and smoke. The result: shadows that begin to approach the realism of Hollywood animation, but don't require as much computer memory to create.

I don't know about Adobe Photoshop , but I've sure worked my way around with 3Ds max for shadows. You shoud check that out.

Here is how I do it in Photoshop.

1) I would select the people.
2) Transform the selection, perspective etc
on a new layer fill it with black
3) Then select the image where the shadow will go and create a er, is it gradient map, some kind of map anyway, that you then apply to the shadow layer, so that it follows the contours of the image. You may have to transform again and warp things as bit.
4) Then a little play with the layers opacity and blend modes and you should be good to go.

Now it also depends on the image you start with, and I'm just learning myself, so there will be other better ways to do it.

The most important thing is to understand how the light travels on the image and follow the trajectory for the shadows. A good starting point is to read a drawing book about lighting and shadows my recommendation Light and Shadow in Drawing

A link to find it

Amazon.com: Light and Shadow in Drawing (Drawing Academy Series): Parramon's Editorial Team: Books

Adobe Photoshop Video Tutorials Best Ever

2009-06-12T17:52:00.007-04:00

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials have hit a new level in being able to learn any Adobe Photoshop software in record time. Yes it's true - You can dominate any Photoshop software with these specially prepared photoshop video tutorials and you don't have to wait as access is immediate. You can get started right away with photoshop video tutorials and master any Adobe Photoshop software in record time.

"Hang on!" - What makes these Adobe Photoshop tutorials so special? That is the question that will be fully answered below showing just how effective they are in producing quality edits with ease.

Statistics show that most Photoshop users want to learn how to transform old pics into new looking pics. This system will provide that knowledge and other important shortcuts that will turn your low quality photos into real masterpieces.

I quite often watch the news and am disgusted with the images they show of people with "red eye". This photoshop edit is so basic but you will discover how easy Photoshop makes it to remove red eye from your digital photos as well as other great tricks to make turn family and friends into Hollywood stars.

Don't shy away from all of the special effects like "flip", "add shadows" and "crop" as these video tutorials will make them look so easy and you will soon be turning out photos that will impress all of your family and friends.

You will soon come to terms with features like "effects", "text tool", "gradient fill", "layers", "paint bucket", "lasso" and "magic wand". Remember that this training system simplifies Photoshop into just a few video tutorials, so you will never be overwhelmed with these professional editing tools.

Discover how to create your Adobe Photoshop environment with the "Palette Well" tool, which isn't as complicated as it first may seem. These Adobe Photoshop tutorials will assist you in dominating all of those tools, providing you with optimum results as well as saving a lot of your time. The "toolbox" is another great feature that sometimes causes learning difficulties but you will soon feel comfortable about it after seeing just how easy it is explained in Photoshop video tutorials.

Do you know how to find your digital images on your hard drive through your Photoshop software? You won't ever have that problem again as these photoshop videos will reveal just how simple Adobe Photoshop software really is!

Interesting article? Curious about Learning Photoshop Fast? Well now you can by getting this Free Report what are you waiting for?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Martin_Peters

Great Features of Adobe Photoshop

2009-06-12T16:48:00.002-04:00

When it comes to image editing software, Adobe Photoshop is one of the leading and the best software programs in the market. Developed by Adobe Systems, Adobe Photoshop have become one of the standard programs by a lot of people, especially web developers, designers, advertising agencies, and even professional photographers world wide.

So, just what makes Adobe Photoshop so popular among a lot of people? And, what does it have that it can be used by a lot of different types of people with different types of work?

First of all, Adobe Photoshop is filled with powerful features. The tools it offers will be able to let you do quite a lot of possibilities in image editing. This is what basically makes Photoshop stand out from the rest of the other graphic software in the market today. Basically, the Adobe Photoshop contains all the necessary tools needed to enhance, edit, and alter images.

What are the features of Adobe Photoshop you may ask?

The first feature is the selection feature. This is one of the most basic tools in Photoshop but it is also one of the most powerful features. With this tool, you will be able to select a part of an image or a photo where you want the changes you made to take effect. The unselected areas will not be affected by the changes. This particular method is done with the use of lasso tools, pen tools, and the marquee tool.

Image size alteration is another feature that Photoshop is known for. This particular feature will be able to enlarge or reduce the overall size of an image as needed. This particular tool will enable you to determine the size of the image.

Cropping is another powerful tool that is included in Adobe Photoshop. This particular tool will enable you select a portion of the image you want to retain. The unselected portion of the image will be deleted. It's like cutting the picture.

Sharpening and softening tool is another great feature that the Photoshop is known for. With this tool, it will be able to let you sharpen blurry images, and also give a blurred effect on images.

Merging images is another great tool that is included in Photoshop. With this feature, you will be able to merge two or more images as one. What this means is that you can convert individual pictures in to group pictures.

Removal of unwanted objects of elements in an image is another great tool that Photoshop is known for. With this technique, one of the tools you will be using is the clone tool, which is essential in maintaining the texture of the image. This particular feature is particularly useful when getting rid of objects that are distracting in order to give more focus on the subject. This feature can also be used to get rid of acne marks in the face in close up portraits and it can also be used to make someone look younger by removing wrinkles and age spots.

Layers are another great feature offered by Photoshop. With this feature, it will be able to let you work on different parts of a photograph and lets you put them together for a dramatic finish.

These are just some of the many features of Adobe Photoshop. With these features, you can be sure that you will be able to have lots of fun editing and altering images. Whether you are a web developer, or a photographer, Adobe Photoshop will be able to help you out.

Did you enjoy this article? Curious about learning photoshop fast? Well now you can by reading this free report What are you waiting for?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Martin_Peters

Learn Photoshop Now - Straighten Crooked Photos Using the Measure Tool

2009-06-12T16:39:00.002-04:00

I have found the best way to straighten images in Photoshop is to use the Measure Tool, which fortunately takes all the guess work out of the process. As you will see in a moment, as long as you have something in the photo that needs to be straight, Photoshop will do almost all of the work for us! The Measure Tool is hidden behind the Eyedropper Tool in the Tools palette and you'll need to click and hold your mouse button down on the Eyedropper Tool for a second or two. A fly-out menu appears and shows you the other tools hiding behind it. Click on the Measure Tool to select it.

You first want to look for something in your image that needs to be straight, either horizontally or vertically. Next, you want to drag along its edge with the Measure Tool so Photoshop has something to work with when trying to calculate how warped the photo actually is. In this instance, I will click and drag horizontally along the roof of the building behind Ms. Liberty. Clearly the roof should be completely level, yet it obviously isn't at the moment. I can simply click once on the left side of the roof and, holding my mouse button down, drag over to the right side of the roof. Photoshop uses the angle of the line we just created to figure out how far the image needs to be rotated in order to straighten it.

So, basically, to straighten something all you need to do is click and drag with the Measure Tool along the edge of something in the photo that should be straight horizontally or vertically. You can look up in the Options Bar at the top of the screen and see the angle of the line you've just drawn (it's the number listed to the right of the letter "A"). In my case, we can see that my line is on an angle of 1.9 degrees:

The Options Bar should be showing the angle of the line you have drawn with the Measure Tool. Photoshop now uses this angle to find out how far to turn the image in order to straighten it. To find the "Rotate Canvas - Arbitrary" Command Click on the Image menu at the top of the program, choose Rotate Canvas, and then select Arbitrary:

Go to Image > Rotate Canvas > Arbitrary. I have to laugh every time I do this because the word "arbitrary" actually means "random or by chance", yet that's exactly the opposite of what we're doing here. We're not randomly rotating our image or leaving anything to chance. We've used the Measure Tool to find out exactly how much of an angle our image needs to be rotated by, and now Photoshop can use the information we've given it to straighten our image without any guess work. As I've said before, much of the problem with learning Photoshop comes from getting around the terminology, and in this case, I don't know what Adobe was thinking.

However, life goes on. Once you choose "Arbitrary", Photoshop opens up the Rotate Canvas dialog box, and as we can see, all the work has already been done for us. In my case, Photoshop has already entered a value of 1.85 for the Angle option, and it even recognized that the image needs to be rotated counter-clockwise, which is why the CCW option is also selected:

Photoshop Tutorials: The "Rotate Canvas" dialog box with the angle and direction already selected for us. You may be wondering why Photoshop entered an angle of 1.85 when the Options Bar showed an angle of 1.9 a moment ago. The reason is because Photoshop rounds off the angles in the Options Bar to 1 decimal place, so it showed 1.9 even though the angle of the line we drew with the Measure Tool was actually 1.85. The angle shown in the Rotate Canvas dialog box is the correct angle.

Finally all we need to do is click on the OK button in the Rotate Canvas dialog box to exit and have Photoshop rotate and straighten the image for us. You should see that the image is now properly rotated and straightened. Everything looks great, and thankfully the Statue of Liberty is no longer leaning to the right. We straightened the image without any guess work thanks to the Measure Tool and the Rotate Canvas command.

You might notice that there is a minor problem. When we rotated the image inside the document window we created some blank white canvas areas around the outside of the photo. We will want to end things up off by removing those areas using Photoshop's Crop Tool. You can select the Crop Tool from the Tools palette, or simply press the letter C on your keyboard to select it with the shortcut:

Using the Crop Tool click near the top left corner of your image and drag down towards the bottom right to create a border around the area of the image you want to keep. You can fine-tune your selection by dragging any of corner handles or by dragging the top, bottom, left or right sides of the selection:

Use the Crop Tool to drag out a selection around the part of the image you want to keep. Once you've dragged out your cropping border, press Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) to have Photoshop crop the image.

Did you like this article? Curious about learning photoshop fast? Well now you can by getting this free report ...what are you waiting for?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Martin_Peters

Adobe Photoshop V Adobe Illustrator

2009-06-10T20:38:00.000-04:00

What are the differences between adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator? Produced by the same company, there are some that say the difference between the two programs is small. In actuality, adobe illustrator takes some key elements of adobe photoshop to the next level and beyond.

Abobe photoshop is a very popular program used by digital photographers around the world. The abundance of photoshop tips and tutorials make this a very easy program to learn and to use. Photoshop can be used to take any existing image and give it a professional, polished looked. Borders can be added and pictures tweaked to look better than any digital camera could make possible. Almost anything you can imagine doing to a picture is capable when using adobe photoshop.

Abobe illustrator is a different program entirely. Illustrator is a vector-based drawing program that allows you to create your own unique graphics. Adobe illustrator graphics can be used in print, online, in video, and even on your cell phone. Want to create your own background for your cell phone? It's possible when you have adobe illustrator, and something that can't be done with photoshop alone.

Both programs are vastly talked about on the web. You will find a huge array of photoshop tutorials and illustrator tutorials, illustrator and photoshop tips. Forums, chat rooms, and discussion groups that focus on both programs are also abundant on the web. Once you start looking, you'll find more and more information on adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator.

While photoshop does have some photoshop drawing and vector art tools, the tools are nothing compared to what is available on adobe illustrator. With a vast array of templates that can help you get started and a number of different drawing tools, you can create your own unique graphics and artwork using adobe illustrator. You can create unique graphics with photoshop, but you must start with a base image and your tools are limited in comparison to adobe illustrator. For the serious graphic designer, adobe illustrator is the best program to use. However, if your drawing needs are small, photoshop will probably work just as well.

Photoshop tutorials do not extensively cover photoshop drawing, and you'll have to look for some photoshop drawing specific tutorials to find truly useful information. Photoshop tips pages mention little regarding photoshop drawing and vector art tools. However, to make your digital images look perfect adobe photoshop is the perfect tool for you. Once you learn how to use photoshop to make your images perfect, you won't be able to stop yourself from "fixing" every digital image that you use.

Adobe illustrator is a different program. Where photoshop helps you create a unique look using existing images, illustrator helps you create your own brand-new images. In graphic design, adobe illustrator may be one of the best and easier tools you can use. The software is user friendly and tutorials to help you use illustrator better are all over the Internet. Whatever you need to learn about adobe illustrator, there's a tutorial for that.

There's no reason you cannot work with both adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator to create brand new images or polish existing ones. The two programs have some basic, shared components, so by mastering one you will already have a working knowledge of using the other. To make your images as stunning as possible or to create graphics that no one else has seen before, you can use both adobe photoshop and illustrator. There is no reason to pick between the two and use only one program if you have uses for both. Because the two programs and their uses are so different, it's probably preferable to use both adobe programs for your digital photography and image creations.

In their own unique ways, adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator and great additions to your existing software. Each program has vast uses for the digital photographer and graphic designer, and you'll find that both are equally useful when it comes to creating the best and most sophisticated images. Tutorials, photoshop tips, and adobe illustrator information that you'll find online make using these programs quick and easy. The more you use these adobe programs, the more you'll want to use them. Who knows what you'll create next?

This article was written by Kevin M. Sugrue the creator of TutorialHell.com! For more go to http://www.tutorialhell.com/ebooks

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_M._Sugrue

The Common Myths of Photoshop

2009-06-10T18:23:00.001-04:00

Adobe Photoshop, the top choice for digital darkroom use, can be a complicated program to use. Many options and possibilities, some of them completely unexplained, make Photoshop as once mysterious, intriguing, and downright difficult to use. Photoshop enjoys a lot of buzz on the Internet, and there are plenty of myths associated with the program. Get to the bottom of these Photoshop Myths.

Photoshop tips, photoshop tutorials, and photoshops myths abound on the Internet, many of them not at all helpful. Some photoshop tutorials only make using Adobe photoshop more impossible. How do you separate the photoshop myths, tips, and tutorials to come up with a great picture of what photoshop really is? First, you have to start debunking the most common and popular photoshop myths.

One popular photoshop myth is that you cannot get a quality print from a jpeg image unless the final output image resolution is a multiple of printer resolution. This is untrue. Another popular and oft-touted myth is that a printer resolution of 300 ppi is superior to resolution of 240 ppi. While this myth is true, it's really a non-issue that photoshop tutorials throw in to confuse users. Some tutorials even claim that every image should receive 16-bit treatment - which is an unnecessary waste of time.

Of all the photoshop tips available on these tutorials, one holds more importance than others. When working with Adobe photoshop, it is essential to use layers and masks. You cannot use photoshop to its fullest without taking advantage of adjustment layers and masks that will give your photos that perfect, polished look. Not mentioned often in photoshop tutorials or in photoshop tips list is that you should only fix one problem at a time instead of trying to take care of several at once. By working on each problem in a step-by-step basis, you will get much better results from photoshop - and your pictures will be the proof of your effort.

While there are some photoshop tutorials that will only confuse you and make using photoshop seem like an impossible goal, there are many helpful tutorials and photoshop tips available online for those who want to learn more. Several books have been written that discuss the uses of photoshop much more in-depth for those that need longer explanation and more photoshop tips than the average digital photographer.

Adobe photoshop is actually a program that can be used by anyone who wants to make downloaded images or digital photos look more professional, or add borders and stylistic changes to their photos - not just those who understand complicated computer jargon and know how to wade through the mess of available photoshop tips and tutorials. Start out slow and do some experimenting and playing around with your images. The more you use Adobe photoshop, the more comfortable with photoshop you'll be. Soon, you'll be able to do anything to your photos - you might even write your own photoshop tutorial for the web.

Playing around and experimenting with photoshop may go against the photoshop myths that say you should study first and take a photoshop tutorial before you begin using the program, but it's much more fun to learn on your own and usually more beneficial in the end. The more you learn on your own, the more information about photoshop you will retain. Going through a tutorial isn't the same photoshop you will retain. Going through a tutorial isn't the same as learning on your own, so it's always best to experiment with photoshop on your own no matter how many photoshop tutorials you read. In spite of the photoshop myths, you really will learn much better on your own what techniques and tricks to use when working with Adobe photoshop.

Whether you're working in color or black and white, don't be afraid to use different layers, tools, and masks to fix one problem or make one embellishment at a time. The good thing about photoshop is that your picture possibilities are almost endless, and there is almost no limit to what you can do. Whether you're an amateur or professional digital photographer, or just want to make some images look better for your web site, there is one photoshop myth that is true: anyone can benefit from using Adobe photoshop, and every picture could always stand a little improvement.

This article was written by Kevin M. Sugrue the creator of TutorialHell.com! For more go to http://www.tutorialhell.com/ebooks

Nikon Coolpix L19 Review

2009-06-10T18:12:00.002-04:00

The Nikon Coolpix L19 is probably the simplest digital camera you can buy from a known brand at this moment. Nikon have cut the features you have access to right back to more or less the bare minimum. This cuts right down the number of menu options you have to contend with. In fact it will probably take about an hour to learn all you need to know about every feature The Coolpix L19 has.You can still do all you need to if you are looking to take snapshots and there is the obligatory movie mode as well. The 8 megapixel sensor may not sound a lot with other cameras offering 14 megapixels and upwards, but it is more than enough if all you want to do is print of your holiday photos and other social snaps. In fact the fact Nikon has limited the number of megapixels to 8 may even help you to produce better quality photos. This is because too many megapixels packed on to the small sensors used in this type of camera can lead to a loss of picture quality.

The features you do have access to can come in handy. For example you have access to a selection of scene modes. I have found that by delving in and using some of them can certainly improve the quality of the photos you take. This is especially true of scenic type shots. I find some of the cheaper Nikon digital cameras have a tendency to take photos that get softer towards the edges of the shot and sharpness is lost. This problem can be overcome by selecting the Landscape scene mode. The Coolpix L19 is then able to increase the accuracy with which it selects the settings to use and this can result in a much sharper photo. I have also found it worthwhile experimenting with the white balance settings when taking a portrait shot. If your subject is in the shade or weather conditions are cloudy you can warm the picture up by selecting the white balance setting of cloudy. This can help you to create a much more flattering image.

Overall I was impressed with the quality of my test photos. They were better than some more expensive cameras manage. One problem I did come across was that the corners of a shot could become dark if the lens is not zoomed in at all. This is a problem that can affect cameras with cheaper lenses.

Shutter delay times were good for a relatively inexpensive digital camera, although it did take over a second longer than standard to turn the camera on and take the first photo.

I have reviewed two very similar cameras in the past fortnight as at this time of the year there is a sudden rush of cameras becoming available in the shops. The Coolpix L19 compares well against both of them. The first one up is the Canon Powershot A480. This camera has some extra features when compared to the Coolpix L19. For example you have access to features such as ISO levels, color filters, metering and continuous shooting. There is not a great deal to choose between the two camera when it comes to picture quality, so you have a choice over the extra features of the Powershot A480 or the better ease of use of the Nikon model. The other camera that I can directly compare this model against is the Sony Cybershot DSC S950. Again the Sony camera has more features while the Coolpix L19 has better ease of use. This time though the Sony Cybershot DSC S950 was unable to match the picture quality of the Coolpix L19, so I have a clear preference for the Nikon digital camera.

Andy writes and reviews digital cameras for Cameras.co.uk. See his test shots and ratings for the Nikon Coolpix L19

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Needham

Cropping Photos Without Changing The Aspect Ratio

2009-06-10T17:41:00.001-04:00

Cropping images is by far one of the most common, every day uses for Photoshop. It's so common that Photoshop comes with a tool designed specifically for cropping photos, conveniently named the Crop Tool. One of the great things about the Crop Tool is that you can easily crop your photos to common photo sizes like 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 simply by entering the width and height values into the Options Bar before dragging out your cropping border, or by selecting a preset crop size from the Preset picker. Click here to read more.

Using natural light

2009-06-09T18:28:00.007-04:00

Developing an eye for the quality of light is one of the most important keys to success as a photographer.It’s worth taking the time to pay close attention to the direction and interaction of light sources as crucial components of the quality of light.In other words, if you are aware of what light does to things you are well on your way to being an accomplished photographer.

When it comes to the direction of light,it’s easiest to think of things from the viewpoint of the object being illuminated,rather than the light’s directional relationship to the camera.

In the photo below I used natural lighting to my advantage by using 2 reflectors, to bounce the natural light. One reflector was on the ground at an angle and the other was off to the models right side well off camera at a distance of about 15 ft. Bouncing that light off the side and top walls I was able to illuminate the scene with enough soft light for the shot. The color of the background and model blended quite well.

fig.1

I dont necessarily shoot in broad daylight unless I have adequate cover, and I try and make great use of diffused lighting. In the photo fig.1 I created some soft natural light using 2 homemade reflectors, photo was taken @ 4pm in the afternoon .

My best time for outdoor shoots are early mornings and late afternoons (right before the sunrise and sunsets) usually provide the best lighting. But if you cant wait till then, there are many creative to use the sun to your advantage.

St Pete Digital Photo Blog: Using Bed Sheets as Backdrops

2009-06-08T21:41:00.000-04:00

St Pete Digital Photo Blog: Using Bed Sheets as Backdrops

Using Bed Sheets as Backdrops

2009-06-08T17:37:00.002-04:00

I am el cheapo when it comes to spending money, and these days being cheap is not such a bad thing, with the prices of everything on the rise, and that includes gas prices, sometimes it feels darn right good to get a deal these days.

Case in point, Muslins (Muslin is often the cloth of choice for studio sets. It is helpful in masking the background and helping to establish the mood or feel of different scenes. It can be painted to look like countless different settings, and if treated properly it can become semi-translucent).

You can find Muslins at different sizes, colors and prices, now as for me I like the word “Free”. Got an old sheet stuck deep in your closet? Use it for your backdrop!!! It’s just that simple, but wait there’s more interesting and creative ways to use that old sheet as a backdrop. If a sheet is smooth and out of focus in the background, it should work just fine. You can also try Goodwill or other thrift shops for curtains, sheets, etc.., which might work as well. I have often use a white bed sheet as a reflector in the studio.

IF you make the decision to use a bed sheet, please at least use an iron on it, some people like seeing a wrinkled effect, but thats not for me, I won’t leave home without ironing my clothes. I've used sheets many times, random fabrics, shower curtains, even brown craft paper, just anything I could get my hands on, try it, you will never know, sometimes the results will surprise you. When I use sheets as seamless backgrounds, I would hang them and clamp them on the sides so they would be tight and smooth as possible.

A friend of mine uses some tarp clips and ball bungees, and he does not iron them. Three per side works fairly well - top corners to stretch horizontally across the bar, bottom corners to pull it down and tight, then middle sides to pull any remaining wrinkles out of the middle.

Also try fabric stores; they are a great place to find backgrounds. The selection is unlimited and you can save a fortune. If you do decide to use bed sheets as a backdrop just shoot a shallower depth of field so it's not in focus and it works great.

Well that’s it for now, so if you need a quick backdrop, don’t go and buy one just use your trusty old bed sheet and happy shooting!!!

Film vs Digital or is it Digital vs Film?

2009-06-08T15:35:00.000-04:00

Are you one of the many people who still prefer to shoot with film? Film? Are you kidding me? People still use film? For those that still shoot film is it something different about it than shooting digital for you? Or is it just the same?

Well I can answer that, I still use film, even though sparingly in some of my work, I have been shooting film that has been totally unrelated with the work I am doing so it has has not been a real big problem for me. Yes I know it is a hassle to shoot with film, you have to take the photos to your local processor and wait perhaps an hour before you see the results and of course you don’t get that instant gratification as you do with digital.

Sometimes, when I shoot both film and digital, I will store them together as I categorize them by date and subject. That being said, its a lot easier for me as when I get the film developed, I get it digitized all at the same time, so I always have a digital image of the film version. Some people think they know photography "the science of capturing images by means of light” you need to learn how to capture images by using light either thru digital or film the essence of the art form. Best way to learn that is by the use of film. Believe it or not... you can do things with film you cannot obtain by digital. (you can't shoot 6x7 slides with a digital camera)

I have done only a handful of model shots, and those were shot with both film and digital. I like the instant feedback that digital offers, but really like the film look. I've been experimenting with different films as my prior film shooting was a long time ago and primarily kodachrome. But I am getting away from film and moving solely onto digital, its been a slow and little painful process.

Now I do believe that film excels above digital in its ability to record a wider range of the light spectrum, but both film and digital captures the primary light (RGB) coming through the lens to record it either on a digital sensor or a sensitized piece of film. For colors to be viewed on paper, in a book or other printed matter, even an apple or orange, CMYK (subtractive complimentary colors) are used to provide the pigments which produce the visual color you observe.
So tell me which do you prefer and why?

Interfit EX150 2-Head Studio Strobe Kit

2009-06-07T16:53:00.005-04:00

Here is my second post about the Interfit EX150 2-Head Studio Strobe Kit. From my first post, I am including pictures that I took using the following setup:

2 x EX150 heads, 2 x bulbs, 2 x stands, 1 x 60cm (24") Softbox, 1 x translucent umbrella. I am not using the 2 x Sync and power leads!

I am also using a homemade foam core bookend as a reflector. I built the reflector basically on cheap. All parts were picked up at Home Depot. I begin by purchasing Cellofoam Panels they come in a pack of 6, the size is 3/4" x 14 1/2" x 48". From this point I purchased a can of 3M General Purpose Spray Adhesive, then went to the local supermarket and picked up a box of 18" Aluminum Foil. After cutting to my size I sprayed the foam with adhesive and spread the foil on one side, left the other side unfoiled. I put 2 panels together and made hinges from zip ties, i used four of those, this will allow to fold it. Below you will see a picture of the setup.

Total cost under $20.00 and it took me about $20.00. Now you have nice reflector for that extra added light.

Check out the photos that were taken with the setup.

Interfit EX150 2-Head Studio Strobe Kit

2009-06-06T22:59:00.007-04:00

After much researching I made a decision and purchased the Interfit EX150 2-Head Studio Strobe Kit! below you will find some pics of the kit. Interfit EX150 2-Head Studio Strobe Kit was very easy to setup, the system was built very sturdy and easily adjust to height and angles.

I hooked those up to my Nikon D70 and they flash fire automatically. The 2 head setups include 2 x EX150 MKII heads, 2 x bulbs, 2 x stands, 1 x 60cm (24") Softbox, 1 x translucent umbrella, 1 x Educational DVD,2 x Sync and power leads.

I use my Nikon D70 to fire these babies wirelessly, a big bonus for me as it allows me greater mobilty than before. This kit will not give you enough umph to light a large studio but for portrait work up to full length for two people no problems and if you use both heads bounced off the ceiling gives you a nice even light source.

They are very controllable and give a good quality of light with consistent output. They are a little warm but compensate this with white balance. Build quality is good for the price. If you throw them down the stairs they will break, but my advice is not to throw them down anything. the reflectors/spil kit, is a little flimsy but if your are a hobbyist that uses them occasionally and your store them with care they, i am sure, will give you a lot of use.

The power of the lights far exceeded my expectation. This product is a great investment for beginners and professionals alike. Keep watching my blog and you will more photos using the Interfit EX150 2-Head Studio Strobe Kit.

St Pete Beach Car Show

2009-06-06T10:33:00.006-04:00

Last summer I visited a local car show near St Pete beach, the following photos were taken during my visit there.

Photography home studio setup

2009-06-06T08:05:00.001-04:00

I have been researching possible lighting configurations for a home studio. The main purpose would be for capturing product photographs to be used online. I have spent about 3 or 4 hours trying to get a handle on all the various lighting options and trying to figure out what setup would suit my needs best. I will be photographing a variety of products ranging from ping pong balls to glass sculptures; needless to say reflection is not an option. I thought I had some “good choices” lined up until I spoke with a gentleman at Cameraworld. My budget is around $500, he said I would be much better off buying lighting and a light tent individually rather than as a kit for that amount of cash.
I was leaning toward a Smith Victor FLV-3 light tent kit. I was informed that I could do much better for the money, if I was to buy individually and not as a kit. The problem is that, I still have no idea what to buy, there are so many choices, and after hours of research, I am still no further along in making a final decision.

My question is this:
What would be a clean bright light source for product photography in the range of $500 bucks? Would you recommend 2 lights, or 3 lights (one being a boom light)? Is a light tent better/worse/the same as a lightbox? I already have a Nikon D70 SLR, a sturdy tri-pod and a remote shutter release. So if I was to opt to buy things seperately and NOT as a kit, what else would I need?
I truly thank you for any insight or suggestions you might have.

Testing a 67mm Quantaray Pro UV filter

2009-06-06T08:03:00.000-04:00

I did a quick and dirty test recently with a 67mm Quantaray Pro UV filter versus no filter. There was no discernible loss of sharpness even beyond 100% viewing size. There was the slightest, barely discernible hint of color change, but I had to look extremely close to notice it.

I haven’t done a similar test with a Quantaray Pro circular polarizer filter, but I think there is a slight softening and brownish cast from it. I also think the coatings are a little soft, as mine developed cleaning marks from a cheap synthetic cloth.

Comparing having a $70 Quantaray versus having nothing because a filter isn’t worth $150-200 to me, I picked the Quantaray.

However, that only applies to the Quantaray Pro line. Rumor is they are the Hoya HMC thin profile filters re-branded (and about 2/3 the cost), but I’ve been unable to confirm this. I tried the cheaper versions, but they weren’t worth it for me. They are single coated, and suffer from visible green and red ghosting in high contrast situations. The thicker frames also cause vignetting on some wide-angle lenses.

A Few helpful tips about Photoshop Brushes

2009-06-06T07:59:00.000-04:00

As you start painting in Photoshop you need to set a palette for colors and for palette you need to pick different colors with the help of eye dropper tool hot key is (I), so its pretty confusing sometimes to switch between brush tool, eye dropper tool and many others, you don’t need to worry its pretty simple.
Pressing (b) takes you to the brush tool and while you are in brush tool you want just press alt key and hold it the tool changes to eyedropper tool so that you can pick your color, pretty cool huh!

Well this way you can toggle between brush tool and eye dropper tool. [ button decreases the size of brush and ] increases the size of brush and if you hold shift+ [ it makes the brush a soft edge brush and holding shift+ ] makes brush a hard edge brush , press and hold spacebar it will take you to hand tool which is very helpful while you are working at 500% zoom to access different areas of a image.