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1. Re: seeking suggestions ...
(Donald_Reese) Nov 9, 2008 2:15 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)Not sure what you want to do to it? one idea i had was to take a modern shot of each child in the photo and vignette the current faces into the areas that are on the sides. 6 little ovals feathered so you have then and now. may be a dumb idea,but i have nothing else at the moment. -
2. Re: seeking suggestions ...
greenjumpyone Nov 9, 2008 2:32 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)I actually do have shots of all six kids during that timeframe ... that might work! :)
I was more concerned about keeping my grandma and not so worried about the kids. I just love the expression on her face! Of course, without the kids there, I would imagine it might lose some context.
I guess I'm not sure exactly what I want, but I do want to somehow preserve her expression. :) -
3. Re: seeking suggestions ...
(Donald_Reese) Nov 9, 2008 3:02 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)I meant use current shots as adults, as kind of a then and now, which creates a memory of grandma and the influence she had on everyone.if you had three looking to the right and three to the left,you would be golden. and yes removing the kids would defeat the moment.
you could always hand tint grandma to give her more draw. -
4. Re: seeking suggestions ...
(Silkrooster) Nov 9, 2008 3:46 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)Since the grandmother is the most important, you could create an oval mask around her face. Then either fade the background to white, or blur the background.
Just a thought. -
5. Re: seeking suggestions ...
<shep> Nov 9, 2008 6:32 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)Hopefully LT will weigh in on this. I know he's a pro retoucher. <br /> <br />'Til then here's my offering. <br /> <br />Obligatory Disclaimer: <br /> <br />This was just a quick dalliance while I was waiting for dinner to cook. <br /> <br />I don't know if you were looking to do anything along this lines, Hop. I did something "similiar" on some portraits of two of my nephews a few years ago---I'd post it, but the file's on my other computer. <br /> <br />I like the effect because it reminds me of the old Polaroid process where they gave you this fixative that you had to drag across the surface of the print. If you were a "little un-even" in doing this, after a couple of months or weeks even you would get theses streaks on the print which would change color and eventually fade. I think that was my favorite part of the Polaroid. XD <br /> <br />Anyway, if you're interested in doing something like this, briefly what I did was: <br /> <br />1) A few little level and bright/contrast adjustments on the print you posted <br />2) Dodged gramma, to make her a little lighter and stand out from the crowd <br />3) Selected the whole canvas <br />4) Cleared (deleted) the image <br />5) Grab the "History Brush" of your choice. I just used a "24 pixel Spatter". <br />MODE=Normal OPACITY=25% <br />6) Brush back in the image. What you want to do here is concectrate on your gramma first---getting her back to "full opacity". This is where the OPACITY=25% comes in. You'll have to make a few "passes" to bring that about. DON'T be so meticulous about it, especially when you are "reclaiming" the rest of the image. Then just keep on with the history brush until you achieve something you like. Again, keep the kids at less than full opacity/density. <br /> <br />At this point, you'll have a B&W "brushed" image. <br /> <br />7) Grab "Magic Wand": TOLERANCE=75 ANTI-ALIASED: "Check" CONTIGIOUS: "Check" <br />Again, you can mess with the Tolerance 'til you get what you want. Then...click anywhere *on the white area surrounding the picture*---it will select what it will select. <br />8 ) Go to: SELECT>INVERSE Now you should have the main part of the picture selected again. <br />9) Go to: IMAGE>ADJUSTMENT>COLOR BALANCE and adjust to your heart's desire. <br /> <br />Like I said, I did this on the fly, but you could also probably play with HUE/SATURATION...or...even convert it from an RGB to a GRAYSCALE to a DUOTONE image and play with that. <br /> <br />Hope that helps at least stimulate some ideas if nothing else, Hop. Post back and let us see what you decided to do...when you do it. <br /> <br />:) <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ADoZhZNTpuecy7EU2JD7iAfLka3Dy" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ADoZhZNTpuecy7EU2JD7iAfLka3Dy_thumb.jpg" border="0" /> -
6. Re: seeking suggestions ...
(Silkrooster) Nov 9, 2008 6:58 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)Thats a similar technique to what was shown on photoshop tv. I believe the difference was that they added a layer and used one of the blending modes and brushed with black or white(I don't recall). -
7. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Nick Decker Nov 9, 2008 7:42 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)Shep, you da bomb. I like it. -
8. Re: seeking suggestions ...
(Donald_Reese) Nov 9, 2008 8:00 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)Sheps post reminds me of a program i use rarely called auto fx edges. here is one edge with the kids blurred and grandma sharp. just another option. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1n6gkhCB1wsmDiCrF59wzresQ" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1n6gkhCB1wsmDiCrF59wzresQ_thumb.jpg" border="0" /> -
9. Re: seeking suggestions ...
<shep> Nov 9, 2008 8:18 PM (in response to greenjumpyone)>I believe the difference was that they added a layer and used one of the blending modes and brushed with black or white...
Yep...I'm sure they did it the proper way, Rooster. I tend to be like a kid slopping around in a mud puddle when it comes to doing this stuff. XD
Thanks, Nick...again, kid+mud+slop=something. 8)
>... a program i use rarely called auto fx edges.
XD
I have that same program on my old Grape iMac. I think I got a freeware version download a lo-o-ong time ago when they offered it. I laugh because I don't think I ever used it for anything either. It looked to have some cool effects, but as I recall, it was one of the few things that ever froze/crashed PS and/or the machine, so needless to say, it didn't get used much after that.
I always like distressed looking images like that and especially in this context, it would seem to work...and she certainly stands out from the rest in your example. -
10. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Laurentiu G Todie Nov 10, 2008 3:23 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)funky is fun and useful in some magazines
http://retouching.com/~hiphop.jpg
family pictures are best when they represent the family,
not an artist's skill : )
http://retouching.com/~hop.jpg -
11. Re: seeking suggestions ...
LRK 2 Nov 10, 2008 5:12 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)[Edited]
Hopper, Do you have a high res version of this photo? If you intend to put a lot of work into it, you will want a high res scan that will give you enough information to make it worth the effort. -
12. Re: seeking suggestions ...
greenjumpyone Nov 10, 2008 5:31 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)shep, Donald, LT,
thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to play with the image more and see what direction I want to take with it.
Linda,
This image was scanned at 300dpi (I dropped it down to 500 px wide for the web view). I might, while I am up in MI for Christmas, rescan it at an even higher resolution.
My sister is the custodian of all my mom's photo albums. We intend to spend some time scanning the ones we feel to be the most important. Good thing I have 2 weeks up there! ;) -
13. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Wade S Zimmerman Nov 10, 2008 5:34 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)Merry Christmas Hopper. <br /> <br />The simpler the better. maybe red and green. Everyone will love it. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=13FSjluY1dSABmkCOdh4gLs6gjWR1" /></a> <img alt="Picture hosted by Pixentral" src="http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/13FSjluY1dSABmkCOdh4gLs6gjWR1_thumb.jpg" border="0" /> -
14. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Laurentiu G Todie Nov 10, 2008 5:39 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)300dpi is nothing but a widely accepted compromise for those who don't know exactly what they're doing : ) -
15. Re: seeking suggestions ...
greenjumpyone Nov 10, 2008 6:04 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)LT,
okay, I'll accept that I don't know what I am doing ... so ... what do you suggest that I should do?? ;)
Wade,
thanks for the attempt! -
16. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Phil Scarsbrook Nov 10, 2008 6:13 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)Hopper, Depending on the size of the original and the size that you want to print, you may want to scan at a higher resolution. I would highly recommend scanning at 48 bit color depth (16 bit in Photoshop). The extra bit depth will give you greater latitude in adjusting density with less damage. Also look at the 3 color channels, you might be surprised at the info hidden there. -
17. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Hudechrome-sd9sPI Nov 10, 2008 6:33 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)I'm glad LT said what he did. I think that the dignity of the people needs to be respected, and the retoucher's hand not evident at all.
I did a similar job on my 7rh birthday party with my Grandma looking almost angelic. All I did was to clean up any defects and tweak it so that her face retained as much of a glow as I could remember her for as I grew up. I set the black and white points carefully then did a very mild sepia, more like the Nelson Gold effect. Ant that was faded back from the basic application.
Looking back at yours, Hopper, I would try to bring her up a bit and drop the value of the white shirt next to her. It's the first and last thing I see. -
18. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Laurentiu G Todie Nov 10, 2008 6:37 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)first you have to figure out how/where you're going to print
then, what the printer's optimal resolution is
then, the largest print size you may go for
the rest is math and variations based on Phil's suggestion : ) -
19. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Laurentiu G Todie Nov 10, 2008 6:41 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)larry, the best retouchers are like ninjas or magicians : )
[their work shouldn't be evident unless they brag] -
20. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Hudechrome-sd9sPI Nov 10, 2008 7:04 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)It's what I shoot for, but still, I am the Sorcerer's Apprentice! -
21. Re: seeking suggestions ...
Laurentiu G Todie Nov 10, 2008 7:26 AM (in response to greenjumpyone)stay away from buckets of water and brooms : )


