"Guitar Soundholes with Lutes" Corel - Plus

Guitar Soundholes with Lutes

Would you believe that I did this image of Guitar Soundholes with Lutes in so many steps I did not track them all! I used two Photographs taken with our Canon Rebel Xti of our guitars.

I worked on the image in these following programs, altering, cutting, pasting, and adding texture. But I can't remember all the steps I used, only the Programs:

• 1. Picasa 3.9
• 2. Corel PhotoPaint
• 3. Corel PSP Pro X3
• 4. KPT Collections
• 5. Dover ClipArt (Lute)

I usually share the process better than this and I must apologize for not keeping track of my workflow in this instance. I just created the image as it flowed out.

Sometimes the process of creating just goes that way.

"Digital Collage Guitars Mashup" Corel - Plus - Open G Tuning Instrumental

"Digital Collage Guitars Mashup" Corel - Plus

Today I am sticking with the motif of Guitars. I opened Picasa 3.9 and using the Collage function I browsed to the folder of my Guitars photographs and holding the Ctrl key I selected a number of landscape photographs. Then I chose Create Collage. I selected a Mashup of all the photographs the size of a CD cover 72 dpi with 5120 x 5120 size.

I pressed the key to create the collage. I applied the HDR tool for effect. I used the Pencil Sketch tool to show the outlines of the various guitars making up the overlaid collage. I saved that file. I opened with Corel PhotoPaint. 

There I increased the sharpness with Adaptive Sharpen, to show the strings and headstocks more clearly. I used the Tone Curve to deepen the tones. Saving this iteration I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3.

There I played around with a few Effects and was not satisfied with the results. I applied the Photo Effect Sepia for color. Then I used the Saturation tool Vibrancy to add to the color a bit.

Using the Visible Watermark I added my signature. I saved again. I resized for display on the blog.

Lastnight I was able to find time to play my 12-String in the Open G tuning. I used my Toneport UX1 and the Gearbox software and selected a Clean Guitar tone called "Bad." I turned up the volume and the Bass for the drone of the open tuning.

I found a drumming file I had created from a snippet of real life drumming lasting about 4 minutes. It begins with a Jet Plane like sound that I had made while playing around with sounds, then the drumming comes in.

I opened Audacity and loaded the drum background importing the file. After some playful practicing with the Open G tuning I had a number of chord structures to play with.

I started the recording and built from a softer beginning to a uptempo rhythm. Using the chords I had practiced I recorded for about 4 minutes. I saved as an Audacity Project to my external drive and then converted to an MP3 for playback. I titled it "Late Jet." I saved this MP3 to my Current EP songs titled "Celebrate Now." And using my Headphones for playback I listened to the results. I was pleasantly surprised with the mix. SoundCloud Link:  http://soundcloud.com/gatzka-music/open-g-late-jet

"My Seagull C12 built circa 1990" Still Playing! Corel - Plus

My Seagull C12 built circa 1990

A full length shot of my Seagull C12 Guitar built circa 1990, in it's case, taken with my Canon Rebel XTi. I browsed to it in Picasa 3.9 and opened with Corel PhotoPaint.

There I applied the Local Equalization tool for contrast, and adjusted the Tone Curve for color depth. I used the Art Strokes Watercolor on it for a painterly feel.

I then used Filter Forge's plugin Photo Effects for the Vibrancy, some punch to the native colors. Also from Filter Forge's Frames I added a slight Film frame. I added my signature in white and saved that large iteration.

I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3 and Fit to Screen. I upped the Color Vibrancy once again with the Saturation tool. I Then Added Image Information a title, the artist name and copyright information.

I have been so busy with my Grandson I haven't been playing my C12 much and I need to get back to it, possibly this evening. It's currently tuned in Open G for some fun improvising. I hope to find some time tonight!

"Artists In The Plus 'Studio Sessions' Myrna Braza" Corel - Plus

Myrna Braza Artists In the Plus

I was not able to watch the Live HOA on Google+, but I caught the show on YouTube. I did a full screen capture of the band playing and Myrna Braza singing.

I took the clip into Corel PhotoPaint and cropped it then saved it to my first iteration. I used Picasa 3.9 to Warmify and also applied the HDR tool there. I saved again and opened with Corel PSP Pro X3.

In PSP Pro I applied the Skin Smoothing and a slight Soften to the image. I also adjusted the Saturation and the Lightness  in PSP Pro. I applied the lighting Effects Color Balance Fluorescent Standalone. I added my signature with the Visible Watermark and Resized the image to 300 pixels 1220 x 633. I saved that iteration for display. Before I displayed I added a Museum Matte and frame in Picasa saved and displayed.

Thanks to +Artists In The Plus +John Voshell and of course +Myrna Braza and her fabulous band!

If you missed the show here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr14zavPZ4E

"Guitars Digital Collage Textured" Corel - Paint.NET - Plus

Guitars Digital Collage

Taking four photographs of our Guitars shot with our Canon Rebel XTi, I opened the first as a layer in Paint.NET. There I turned it into an Ink Sketch using that Artistic Effect. I imported as layers the other three photographs. Applying the same Ink Sketch tool with varying Opacities I overlaid them showing guitar parts all over the image.

I flattened the layers and saved that iteration. I used Picasa 3.9 to browse to it and opened with Corel PhotoPaint. My first step there was to turn the image into a Duotone with Sepia like tones. I converted the image back to RGB 24-bit and saved again.

I opened with Corel Painter 11 and selected the Papers Tools, I used the capture tool on the image to create some Guitar Parts Paper Textures. I used these with the Chalk tool to add some colors of soundholes and their strings. So I painted the textures in around other Guitar pieces. I saved that iteration with a Pntd name.

From Picasa I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3. I applied the Smart Photo Fix, Increasing the colors, the sharpness, and Highlights. I used the Saturation Vibrancy to increase the punch of the colors. Then I selected the High Pass Sharpen tool and used that to sharpen even more the lines of the image. Using the Image Information tool I added a title and copyright info. With the Visible Watermark tool I added my signature. I then added the Platinum Frame using Picture Frame.

I saved the large image and resized in PSP Pro for display. I used the Curves to apply one more Darken for color.

"Blocks Tower and Grandson" Corel PSP Pro X3

Blocks Tower and Grandson

Blocks Tower Alone

We have been very busy watching our Grandson lately, as my Daughter works part time. He is 3 and 1/2 years old and loves to play hard, all boy! What I am sharing today comes from that play. A photograph of him with his Blocks Tower, big blocks of course. And a shot of the tower itself.

I used our Canon Rebel XTi for the Photographs and took a number of different poses as well as the Tower itself. I opened the photographs in Corel PSP Pro X3 and did some adjusting.

First I applied the Digital Camera Noise Removal and then the Smart Photo Fix on both images. I adjusted the sharpness a bit and kept the color much the same as the originals.

I added a colorful, playful frame to both using the Image Picture Frame feature in PSP Pro. Then I added my signature using the Visible Watermark tool, using a PNG of my signature. I saved the large iterations and then resized for display.

Being a Grandparent is an enjoyable thing! I get so much more exercise when he comes to visit that he wears me out, but it is so much fun. We also had some Bubble blowers from a Grad party we attended and we blew Bubbles for hours! He really enjoyed that. My wife got some video on her phone video camera of him popping the Bubbles that were floating near his head, so he would smack his forehead to pop them, hilarious.

Years ago had no idea that being a Grandparent would be so much fun and at his age right now is the cream of the relationship. We read to him, share DVD's with him, draw with him and generally have a wonderful time!

Love is a Great thing isn't it?

"Infrared 12-String and 6-String Guitars" Corel PSP Pro X3

Infrared Guitars

I was browsing my folder of Guitar photographs. I selected this one as it is a nice representation of our two guitars. My favorite Seagull C12 and a Lyon by Washburn 6.

I opened from Picasa 3.9 with Corel PSP Pro X3. I wanted a simple, straight forward approach to processing this photograph. I selected the feature or tool Photo Effects Infrared for a simple black and white exposure. I picked the setting Clean and processed.

I then added my signature using the Visible Watermark tool. I picked the Picture Frame Polaroid for interest. I saved the large iteration and resized for display.

I have been really busy with my Grandson lately and I have not been able to keep up with a post a day. Even today I am busy but I wanted to do a simple photograph of our Guitars. I hope you enjoy this straight forward approach to processing. I do so enjoy PSP Pro X3!

"HDR, High Contrast 12-String Guitar" Picasa - Corel

HDR High Contrast Seagull C12 Guitar

I shot this photograph of my Seagull C12-String Guitar with our Canon Rebel XTi. I am trying to leave the EXIF data available for this photograph. I enhanced it in Picasa 3.9 with some of the tools there available.

I used the Saturation tool turned up as high as I could take it. Then applied the HDR tool for more contrast. I used the Glow tool for adding more light to the HDR. Then I applied the Vignette tool for framing.

I opened in Corel PSP Pro X3 and added my title, Artist's name and copyright to the EXIF info with the Image Information feature. Using the Visible Watermark I placed my signature in the upper right corner for clarity of marking. To finish the image I added some Texture to it using PSP's Effects Texture tool.

If you examine the image closely you can see pick scratches on the front of it below the soundhole. Also some wear on the soundhole surrounds themselves. Some say, as this comes from playing the guitar, that it adds Character to it. I like that idea, not a pristine underplayed guitar but one that has seen its licks and strums.

You can also clearly see my Etching of the Bird and Florals on the Pickguard that I added to it freehand. More Character? Perhaps. But it definitely is MY guitar and has my marks on it! It's my best musical Friend!

"Abstraction Guitars Multiplied" Corel - KPT Collection - Plus

Abstraction Guitars Multiplied

I opened Picasa 3.9 folder of my recent guitars shoot and selected a portrait styled photograph. From Picasa I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3. There I applied the Digital Camera Remove Noise and the Smart Photo Fix. I increased the Vibrancy in Hue and Saturation. I saved this image.

I opened the image with Corel PhotoPaint. Using the capture rectangle tool I selected a portion of the image from the center of the photograph. I copied and pasted, removed the mask, and placed the cutout, in effect dualing the Guitar necks for three pieces and aligned them. I pasted one more and turned it on it's side, placing it on the bottom.

Using the same cutout I pasted and resized the piece and using the property Difference I reproduced and lined them up along the bottom of the image.

I used the Circular capture tool and created the using the property Invert a number of the round circles. At full size I applied the Art Strokes Effect Crayon to the entire flattened image.

I then used the KPT Collection Equalizer and adjusted the transparency. I also adjusted the tiling in KPT Collection, which created the vertical texture of the image. I inverted my signature to white and placed it using the Property Add. I saved that iteration.

I have enjoyed playing my Seagull C12 today in the Open G Tuning. I tuned the strings to the following "DGDGBD." As you strum the open strings you have the G chord. Finding some open chords and flatpicking I strummed and picked the tuning to my delight at the tone of the 12-String Guitar. A creative day indeed.

"Acoustic Guitars Hyper Tiling" Corel - KPT Collection

Acoustic Guitars Hyper Tiling

Another photograph of Guitars I've taken, recently manipulated. I opened my folder in Picasa 3.9 and grabbed this photograph of our Seagull and Lyon guitars.

I opened in Corel PhotoPaint and applied KPT Collections filters to create this image. I used Hyper Tiling for the duplication of the strings and sound holes. I adjusted the transparency to allow the Tiling to show through.

I then used KPT Collections Equalizer for an HDR effect. And I added a Lens Flare to the image as well. So the entire image was manipulated with KPT Collections filters.

Here I demonstrated that the use of filters for Manipulation can be rewarding and enjoyable. Sometimes a simple approach to a creative image can yield decent results.

"Abstract Guitars Digital Collage" Corel - Paint.NET - Plus

Abstract Guitars Digital Collage

I have used more of the photographs of our 12-String and 6-String Guitars to create another Digital Collage. I browsed in Picasa 3.9 to my folder of a recent guitar shoot and selected three photographs separately for this collage.

I opened the first two with Paint.NET and using the Ink Sketch tool I made them into pen and ink sketches. I copied them to the clipboard and then pasted as New from Clipboard into Corel PhotoPaint. I fit the images together with merging them with the Multiply property. I used the wand tool and selected large dark areas of color and then filled them with a blue gradient with the fill tool.

After I did that I copied to the clipboard the third photograph of the guitar necks crossing each other. I opened as New from Clipboard and applied the Local Equalization tool. Then I used the Art Strokes tool Conte Crayon on it. I copied to the clipboard again and pasted upon the other merged pen and ink, gradient guitar image. I merged those and saved that iteration.

In Picasa tools I applied Warmify to the image for color warmth. I saved that image with a new name. I then used the plugin from Filter Forge Frames film frame to add a light frame, adding my inverted signature to the whole piece saving one more time at the larger size.  I then resampled for display size and saved that.

For a finishing touch I ran Filter Forge's Photo Effect Vibrance on it to add some punch to the colors.

I ended up with a very Abstract Composition of Guitars Digital Collage. I enjoyed the process. I hope you enjoy the results.