Virtual University, Week 4, Lesson 4-2.1A, Color Changing

Moving on to Lesson 4, Playing with Vectors. The picture here was created with the following:

Line
Stroke Width = 7
Stroke = Rainbow
Angle = 60
Repeats=0

Fill
Pattern = Clouds
Angle=326
Scale = 25



Flood Fill Background
Pattern = Stars
Angle = 0
Scale = 25

I made a 2nd flower using the preset shape which was a purple flower. Since I do not like the color purple, I decided to change the color of the flower. I found the preset flower already had five layers. I experimented with several different colors of each individual layer - finally arriving with the flower on the left. My final step was to use the materials palette to select the yellow toward the center of my flower and the flood fill tool to fill the background.

The picture for Week 4 homework (framed picture at the top of the page) was created using a photo of the fireworks I took after the Sammy Hagar concert on July 6, 2008 and Photo Shop Pro X2. The concert was pretty good (actually a little loud for my taste and I would have enjoyed it more if Sammy didn't keep dropping the F-bomb), the fireworks were sensational. I tried to give a concert patron my camera when he stopped at our office to pick up his $1,000 professional quality camera. We stood together on the steps of the office shooting pictures. I can't help wondering how his pictures compare to mine.

Anyway, I took the original shot and cropped out the excess black sky. My next step was to resize the image to 400 pixels wide. I added a distortion twirl of 60 degrees. My next step was the Effects Menu, Reflection Effects. The setting I used were:

Horizontal Offset -2
Vertical Offset 50
Rotation 2
Scale -20
Edge Mode: Reflection
#petals 10
# orbits 0
Radial Suction 5

My next step was Image/Picture Frame. I experimented with various frames and finally settled on Round Edge. I used the Materials Pallette to pick a color from the firework and used the Flood Fill tool to make the background around the fireworks the same color as part of the fireworks image. I added a border using a color I picked from the fireworks. When I added a matt border, it overwhelmed the photo so I skipped ahead to the frame and added a gold picture frame. I'm pretty impressed with the final picture. The original photo is to the right.

VU Week Three, Part 4.3, Added Effects - FIREWORKS!

After watching and photographing fireworks twice this past week, I decided to use one of my own photos of the fireworks for this lesson. The first photo is the original, shot with my little Lumix camera on the fireworks setting. I had a lot of fun changing the effects of this photo.







Tiles
Tile Shape: = Hexagon
Angularity: = 70
tile Size: = 14
Border Size: = 2
Smoothness: = 38
Depth: = 1
Ambience: = 7
Color: = White
Angle: = 315
Intensity: = 45
Elevation: = 28

Neon Glow
Detail: = 63
Opacity: = 41









And then I had the most fun playing with the kaleidoscope effects. Here are a couple of my expamples:
I had a lot of fun playing with many more effects with this one photo of fireworks. I am amazed with the many changes we can do to one photo.

VU Week Three, Part 4.2, Perspective Correction

The building in the original photo looks like it is leaning. Using the "perspective correction" tool I straightened the building. After straightening, I cropped the building, matted & framed the photo.

Boy, I've come a long way since my original refrigerator art. The next lesson is going to be fun.

VU Week Three, Part 4.1 Straightening Tools...

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The photo on the left is the original photo. I used the straighten tool to make the landscape horizontal. The photo on the right shows the horizontal straightening and a little cloning. I moved the large white building and a bush using the cloning brush. Notice the reflection in the water where the building used to be. I probably should have cloned the water too. Hmmm. I think I'll leave it this way for now - it adds a rather erie effect.

The framed picture shows changes I made using the the photo enhancement tools used in the previous lesson. To be honest, I don't like the final effect & would work more if it were a photo I wanted to us. I'm leaving it this way for this lesson just to show what can be done to mess up a really good picture.

VU Week Three, Part 3, Exercise 3.1B Red-Eye Removal

I used the Red Eye Removal Tool to remove the glare/red eye from the picture on the left. The picture on the right is not perfect but it definitely looks better than the original.


With a little practice, I am looking forward to touching up a lot of photos.

Week Three, Part 3, Clone Tool Exercise 3.1A

The came picture on the left is the original picture. I used the clone tool to remove most of the wire across the legs and above the humps. As I removed the wire above the humps I found it interesting that I could make the wire look like it was behind the trees instead of in front of the trees.





I did not make any other changes to the picture except remove the wires. I can't wait to use the clone tool on some of my own pictures. Unfortunately, I don't have time to experiment today.

VU Week Three, Part 1, Enhancements

The picture at the left was cropped once. After looking at the picture, I decided to crop it one more time. Then enhancements were added. To be truthful, I think my final picture is too crisp but it is a learning process...

I hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July! The picture above is one of many I shot during our fireworks during Summer Celebration. Thanks to DD, Stephanie, I learned my camera has a fireworks setting. Obviously it works! This one was cropped using Windows Photo Gallery. I can't wait to learn how to edit it in PSP. Photos editing is covered in lesson 3 - which is this week. I need to find time to do my homework! Tomorrow is the last day of Summer Celebration. We are headed downtown shortly to spend money at the art fair. At noon I'm driving the accessibility cart. I'll be home by 6 pm today. Tomorrow is a double shift. And, it is less than a week until vacation...

Busy week

In 11 days we will be stepping on the plane - we will be in the air for 18 hours, 40 minutes and have layovers in Cleveland, Los Angeles and Fiji. Our final destination is Vanuatu to see Steph - our oldest daughter - for the first time in over a year. I'll be honest, I do not look forward to flying. I'd rather take the train - oh wait! The train doesn't go over the Pacific Ocean!

Back to the present, we are on day six of the eleven day summer music festival. I have worked/volunteered from approximately 11 am to 11 pm, give or take an hour (or two) since Thursday. We meet a lot of interesting people while working at Summer Celebration. I'll try to post some pictures later. I didn't meet her but I briefly stood directly next to Julienne Hough (from Dancing with the Stars) last night. I was impressed with her dancing on Dancing with the Stars but even more impressed with her singing - that little girl can sing.

I'm sunburned, tired and totally excited - tonight, I'm taking the night off and going to the concert to see REO Speedwagon. We have tickets that get us directly in the gate when they open at 5:30!