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Exchanging Artwork Between Illustrator and Photoshop

Illustrator and Photoshop are remarkable programs individually, but when they are both used together toward a common goal the results are nothing less than amazing. Artists can utilize features from both programs to create stunning artwork for publication. There are three basic methods for moving a document between Photoshop and Illustrator.

You can “place” a Photoshop image into an Illustrator document, or place Illustrator artwork into a Photoshop file a using the File > Place command in either program. This is the “time-honored” method of moving a file into the other program. The only caveat is that the image (or artwork) must be in a file format that the other program can read.

Photoshop is very good at reading multiple file formats. Illustrator is a bit more limited in the formats it understands, but once a Photoshop file is in a readable format (e.g. TIFF, GIF, JPEG, etc.) you can simply use the File > Place command and select the image. Illustrator will place the desired image inside of the Illustrator file, and you will have some ability to manipulate the file within Illustrator.

The second way to convert a Photoshop file into Illustrator (or vice versa) is the Clipboard method. Simply copy the file elements you want from one program using the Copy command, and paste it into the other program using the Paste command. The Copy-Paste method does come with certain limitations. It does not work as well for files of large size and you can easily overload the receiving program by pasting a large file into it.

The third method for introducing a file from one program into the other is dragging and dropping. If you want to take Photoshop art and put it in your Illustrator file, both programs must be open. Select the artwork you want to transfer, and simply drag it out of the Photoshop window onto the Illustrator window. To take Illustrator art into Photoshop, simply select the artwork from an open Illustrator window, drag it to an open Photoshop window and drop it into Photoshop.

You can also place paths from Photoshop into Illustrator files. Using the Path Selection tool in Photoshop, select and copy the paths you want to move, then paste them into Illustrator.

Tags: Photography   Posted in Photography

Infrared Photography

Infrared Pictures have always had a certain magical appeal for me. The mixture of real and almost surreal creates a fascinating image in infrared photos.

Now, what I was wondering, is if there are digital infrared cameras that are not used for security stuck up on a wall. Rather, I want a digital point and shoot or digital slr that does infrared. It turns out that there are digital cameras that can do infrared photography.

In fact most digital camera sensors see infrared light but the cameras often have a filter built in to get rid of the infrared information making for a sharper or clearer traditional color photo. There are ways to remove this filter but be careful and know that it will usually change the focusing of the camera.

On the bright side, (pun not intended but… never mind, let’s continue) there are some cameras now that allow you to choose if you want to shoot infrared or not.

One example is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50. This camera includes a special “NightShot” mode that uses infrared to take shots in the dark.
( The lowest price I found at a trusted store is at Abe’s of Maine.)

Another option is using an infrared filter on the lens. (These appear to range in price from about $35 to $150.) I don’t know what size of lens you have so I’m not going to try and find the best place for you to get a filter, but just do a search for infrared lens filter.

This method with the lens filter works for some digital cameras but not all. There is list compiled at Cocam.co.uk of cameras that work with this method. If you know of more digital cameras that can do infrared photography please leave a comment for us.

Then of course the obvious option is to use a good old film camera and buy some infrared film for it from your favorite camera/film store. You can even get some from Amazon. (Is there anything we can’t buy from Amazon these days? )

Speaking of Amazon, there is a brand new book coming out that you can pre-order called Digital Infrared Photography. It is from the O’reilly group and looks like a great book for taking great infrared photos. The O’reilly group puts together great books and guides. If you are truly interested in shooting infrared photos, it’s highly recommended you try this book.

Enjoy and feel free to share with us your methods and/or equipment for taking infrared pictures, by leaving a comment below.

Posted in Cameras, Digital Cameras, Film Photography, Infrared Photography

Using Photoshop to Shape Text

One of the great advantages of using Photoshop CS2 is its tremendous versatility. In addition to applying great effects to images, you can also use Photoshop to manipulate text.

Photoshop’s Warp Text tool allows you to wrap or bend text around an object in your image to make attention-grabbing, personalized banners or headlines. You can also warp text in both horizontal and/or vertical directions to give your text an individual look and feel. Photoshop has many means by which to manipulate text, but this will provide a starting point that will especially come in handy if you have not had the chance to use these text features before.

First, open an image to which you want to add text. Choose the horizontal text tool from the toolbar and click the image near to where you want to position your text. Type in the text you would like to add. You can also add the more traditional style enhancements such as bold, italics or underline to your text while in text mode.

When you are done adding your text, select and right-click this text to open the contextual menu. To open the Warp Text dialogue box, choose Warp Text. From this box, you can choose from a selection of pre-defined text warps using the Style pull-down menu. Select the warp that best fits the effect you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re undecided on the kind of warp you want, try some out to see what effect they have on your image text.

There will be several sliders under the Style pull-down that will allow you to make fine-tuning adjustments to the warp effects. You can change the horizontal and vertical distortion and the text bend here. An option to using the sliders is to enter a percentage value for these properties. Once you have reached the effect desired, simple click OK and the Warp Text effect will be applied to your image.

Tags: Photography   Posted in Photography

Restoring Old Photos with Photoshop

There are times that people may have old photographs they would like to restore to save the memories. Photos usually get damaged through the times. The pictures may get blurred, the color fades and the picture might acquire marks and scratches. Thank the technology of today. People can now save and restore their old photos with the help of Photoshop.

The person may use the Elements in Photoshop, which are Dust and Scratch Filter to remove the marks, scratches and blots in the photo. The Dust and Scratches Filter is located on the Menu Bar and click on the Filter Tab. A drop down will list elements and then he can choose the Noise tab and select on the Dust and Scratches.

Once Dust and Scratches is selected, a window will pop up holding two control sliders. The first slider is for the Radius and the second is for the Threshold. If the preview box is checked, there will be another window visible. This window will show the main options to be used in treating the picture.

Adjusting the Radius slider may remove the scratches. However, there is a tendency that overdoing it may make the edges blurred too. If that happens, the option is to adjust the Threshold slider and this will allow the details to go back and make the picture clearer with the scratches disappearing. The person should be careful not to set them too far or it will only create blotches on the picture.

Selecting the whole photo will not diffuse these marks when going to remove them. The alternative is to choose only the part where the scratches are to be found. You may use the Lasso to do this.

You can then feather the edges of the chosen area so that the selected area will not be apparent on the picture. You can do this by clicking the Feather option and click the Scratch and Dust Filter again. You can repeat the process of adjusting the Radius and Threshold sliders to get the texture desired and do away with the scratches.

You can do the method again by selecting the spot you would like to alter if there are still detectable marks on the other areas of the picture. To complete the procedure and make the picture acceptable, you can crop the image enough to remove the cracks and torn edges of the picture. The canvas may be use to uniformly crop the image.

A person may add drama on the picture by adding a drop shadow on it. This will make the picture appear as if it has been lifted off the page. The color may also be removed using the controls Shift+Ctrl+U. He can then add color by putting a little amount of Sepia. He can do this with the Hue or Saturation tab. The contrast may be adjusted using the Levels option.

This is a simple solution to removing blotches and marks on an aged photo. It will make the photo look new and fresh, but still maintain a classic appearance. Photoshop offers an easy and fun way to restore photos for viewing for years to come.

Tags: Photography   Posted in Photography

Fashion Photography and Elephants

Digital photography has changed the way photography is viewed and the edge that many professionals had has closed a little. With photo editing software available relatively inexpensive, it is easy for almost anyone to play with special effects. The use of digital photography has also been a major step forward for both internet and non-internet companies.

One particular area that has benefited from this new technology is digital fashion photography and in an industry that relies on speed, this has been a huge benefit. This is probably one of the more challenging areas, because digital fashion photography has to recreate and capture everything on the catwalk an off.

It can focus on the figures of the stunning women, in their most fancy, magnificent and often extreme fashion outfits. The world of fashion is fast moving and short lived so digital fashion photography is an excellent medium to both capture and portray these images. Like fashion designers, digital fashion photographers also work in a prestigious field, filled with beauty and glamour.

There are few points to consider about digital fashion photography that will help if you are thinking about taking this step in your career. Any professional photographer will always have their camera with them at all times so they will never miss a shot; this is something you will need to stay focused on.

Be focused about your goal for the shots and concentrate on how you intend to create the image you have in your mind. Organize your subject and place emphasis on their most striking features by blurring certain areas and increasing the contrast as sharpness in others. A picture not only has a pleasing effect for others, it also shows the way it was created to those who know what to look for.

Knowing what you want and having the knowledge of how to obtain it are two different things and you cannot be a serious digital fashion photographer without learning this. Studio shots and sometimes outdoor shots require the use of a tripod, background Curtains and other backdrop materials can produce wonderful color emphasis and for bright light, a polarizing filter can be used.

Do not forget to use filters, see-thru transparencies and diffusers to neutralize colors; improvements can also be achieved quite easily by using grey and white backgrounds. For the uninitiated there work may seem quite mysterious until they publish it, a bit like an artist only working on one section of a canvas, you won’t know how it is going to look until it is finished. Lastly, although generally speaking, the aim is for the attention to be on the subject, there may be a relationship with the background that is not immediately seen.

Tags: Photography   Posted in Photography

Commissioned Paintings Are Exquisite Masterpieces For A Lifetime

Commissioned paintings can be a way to preserve memories you want to save for a lifetime. If you want to find a way to turn a simple photograph into true art, one of the ways to do this is with portrait commissions. If you want to turn a family portrait, an event, or a favorite location into a true masterpiece that will last forever, commissioned artwork can be the exact answer you’re looking for. Portrait Kingdom’s experienced staff can work with you to create a beautiful work of art with commissioned paintings.

It’s easy to add a portrait oil painting to your art collection simply by selecting a photo of the event, scene or loved ones that you want memorialized. No longer do you have to spend a lot of time posing in front of an artist to obtain a piece of artwork that you have no control over the creation of. The traditional sitting method of portrait creation gives all control to the artist in terms of the finished product. However, when you order custom oil paintings through Portrait Kingdom, you have control over the image that is produced.

If you’d like to get started with a photo portrait, simply upload a digital image. Commissioned paintings are then done by Portrait Kingdom’s experienced staff so that they meet your exact wishes. Right from the start, you’ll choose every detail so that the final artwork is planned exactly as you wish. First, you’ll need to decide the size of the canvas for your portrait. You can choose from a wide variety of sizes, including those that can be hung on the wall as its focal point, or that will simply grace a table or mantle top.

Every Portrait Kingdom artist carefully determines how the scene is composed before they begin to create your portrait. This will help the artist understand how many subjects you’ll have depicted in your final masterpiece, and this will also allow the artist to carefully plan out your painted portraits. You can also communicate whether you want certain background elements included or excluded, so that you can modify the final image.

A professional artist who will be transforming your photo into unique personalized paintings needs you to provide a digital image where subjects’ faces can clearly be seen. Once you select the style of the finished artwork and the medium to be used, Portrait Kingdom will assign you an artist who can best do your project. The commissioned paintings will then receive the artist’s utmost attention. Before you approve the final design, you’ll be given a proof so that you can approve what has been done or request modifications.

Possibly the most difficult aspect about the creation of commissioned artwork is that you’ll need to decide what you want it to be. Do you want a family member’s portrait proudly displayed in your home? Would you like a childhood event, graduation, or wedding memorialized? Would you like a favorite scene captured through a digital photo to be turned into a lasting image for your home? You have many possibilities to choose from, but it’s fortunate that Portrait Kingdom can more than manage whatever type of image you want to memorialize.

It’s easy to begin the commission process with only a few clicks of your mouse. After you decide several things about the final image and how it will be displayed, work can start. Your input will be included every step of the way, and you’ll work along with the artist so that you’ll have your beautiful piece of artwork in less than a month. The process is easy and can be started simply by getting in touch with Portrait Kingdom today!

Tags: Photography   Posted in Photography

15 Tips to Chase Away Scrapbooking Burnout

If you’ve been scrapbooking for a while, you know how easy it is to get burnout and lack of motivation to create pages. It seems we still tend to pile up a stack of photos just waiting to be placed in an album, but we haven’t found just the right paper or embellishments yet, or maybe we can’t decide what scrapbooking techniques to use on them. Here are a few ideas to help overcome scrapbooking burnout.

1. A new scrapbooking technique may be just what you need to spark your imagination. Grab some photos and try one out today.

2. Don’t think you have to get through your entire photograph backlog. Just pick one photo today, and showcase it on a page. Just getting started may be just what you need.

3. Clean out your photos. Why are you hanging onto blurred or poor quality photos? Give yourself permission to toss them, and watch your backlog shrink.

4. Your supply stash can bring inspiration. Organize your supplies, and see if you are inspired to mix embellishments or papers in a new way.

5. Flip through scrapbooking magazines for inspiration. They are filled with great page ideas, techniques to try and information on the latest products.

6. Take a scrapbooking course or workshop. This is sure to bring your some motivation.

7. Gather your friends together for a scrapbooking crop. There’s inspiration and motivation in numbers. If you prefer not to set up a party of your own, check out your local scrapbooking store for a group crop.

8. Go shopping! Browse through your local scrapbooking store or craft store and get inspired by all the new products available.

9. Stop trying to be perfect. Thinking every page you create must be a work of art only stops you before you ever get started. Give yourself permission to make a less than perfect page layout.

10. Scale down your scrapbooking supplies. Give away or sell some of your stash and cure supply overload.

11. Don’t try to take on too much. Are you trying to create a whole album in one night? Try to scrapbook just one page at a time.

12. Sign up for a scrapbooking challenge. You can find these online in scrapbooking community message boards. Joining the competition and excitement will start your scrapbooking creativity going again.

13. Try digital scrapbooking. Learning how to creative scrapbook albums on your computer can be inspiring.

14. Check out the message boards and galleries at online scrapbooking communities. The excitement of the members and seeing their ideas and pages provides plenty of inspiration.

15. Let others see your scrapbooks. Show your pages to your friends and family. Seeing how others react to your albums can motivate you to create more albums.

Try these tips today and watch your scrapbooking burnout disappear.

Tags: Photography   Posted in Photography