Saturday, May 24, 2008 | 12 responses | Filed Under: Daily & Dude, How I Did That: Photography
Remember in that last post where I said that "Photoshop is your best friend." No? Then go back and read it again…
Because I totally said that Photoshop is your best friend.
And I said that because:
PHOTOSHOP IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
All of those things that we're currently learning the ins and outs of- like lighting, composition, etc.- can be faked (we're talking Pamela Anderson faked) with a little PS know-how. The so-so becomes the fabulous (and, no, not the Pamela Anderson kind of fabulous. Perhaps I should have chosen a different sort of comparison, eh?), the dark becomes the light, the dull becomes the bright… And so on and so on and so on.
Don't have any PS know-how?
No worries.
There are some really benevolent people out there who are more than
willing to pass along a little of their genius to us unexperienced
fledglings- FREE.
Yes, free.
As in "I will have your babies because I am so grateful" free.
Photoshop
actions are simply little bundles of pre-recorded processes. They take
your photo and run it through the same assembly line that the creator
used to make his/her photo so bloody terrific.
At the touch of a button, your Toyota becomes a Cadillac.
FOR FREE.
Gotta love it.
And the added bonus? Actions are great teaching tools as well. By
following along with the steps, you can learn a lot about the
flexibility of curves, layers, hue, et cetera.
Lens: 75-300mm Zoom
Shutter Speed: 1/800
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 400
I really love this picture of The Baby hunting for trolls. I like
the way the bridge crosses the frame and how she's leaning forward…
Overall, pretty darling.
But a little dark.
This is the same photo after running it through the FREE Sunshine in Your Hand Action by Phaunt Actions (they've got one for Photoshop Elements as well. Woot.).
Now, I'm plum happy with this… I like the new light, and I'm
loving the new life the action gave the colors. It's like sunshine…
in my hand. Imagine that.
However, Peter (of the discerning eye) was plum happier after I did THIS:
This version is the result of a combination of the above mentioned
Sunshine in Your Hand action followed up by Fresh & Colorful from
the Pioneer Woman's FREE Action Set 1 (much thanks Cheaper than Therapy Jen for turning me on to this little jewel).
All it needs now is a little *professional* tree removal (top right) and some sharpening, and it's ready to go.
Kind of makes me feel like I know what I'm doing…
Regardless of the fact that I don't.
Oh! And did I mention that they're FREE?
FREE.
FREE.
FREE.
FREE.
FREE.
Great word, that.
Wouldn't you agree?
(And it's so easy to rhyme as well…)
May 25, 2008
If you're ever looking for Photoshop tutorials, you must visit worth1000.com. It's one of my all time favorite websites. You can enter contests and do all sorts of fun stuff. But the best is the tutorials. My husband is a graphic designer who knows a ton about Photoshop and even he has learned some neat tricks at worth1000. Check it out.
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May 25, 2008
Free, you said free? Thanks for the tips.
Beautiful shot, BTW, all of them ;)
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May 25, 2008
Great shot!! I gave up that aperture/F stop stuff a while ago with the homemade macaroni and cheese. Thanks for the tip.
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May 25, 2008
Great shot. It's great to see it evolve as you "shop" it. I too LOVE photoshop. There is pretty much nothing you can't do with it. It makes me dangerous…..
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May 25, 2008
You are my hero and goddess. Now I have lots MORE fun things to experiment with. :)
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May 25, 2008
OHHH COURTNEY!!!!! HERE IS A PLUG IN TO DIE FOR I KID YOU NOT. ITS CALLED VIRTURAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND IT IS KICK ASS. ENJOY!!!!
http://www.optikvervelabs.com/
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May 25, 2008
That is super cool. I'm going to have to visit those and the ones your readers suggest!
Yup, that's a Koozie/Coozy whatevah.
Shannon had one made for me. I think I might be able to get one for you :-) In lieu of the hot Australian and all.
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May 25, 2008
Jude, email me, I have a gift for you, FREE!
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May 25, 2008
Cool….learning more all the time.
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May 25, 2008
i love free. totally.
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May 26, 2008
Photoshop rulez!
Freakin' adorable photo too.
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May 27, 2008
So jealous! I understand PS is user friendly. I have Gimp (well, my brother gave me PhotoShop, but I'm not allowed to install it) because hubby is all about open source. So he bought me this big ass manual that I'll never read.. I suck at it.
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