"How this was done: Sister in law and Younger Brother" Corel

Sister in law and Younger Brother

I was visiting my family up north in Farwell, Michigan and received some photographs from them for our albums. I took them and scanned them in using my Canon MP495 All-in-One. I set the scans for 300dpi and saved them to a Family Photo Folder.

I opened this portrait in Corel PSP Pro X3. The first thing I did was to crop the image, ridding it of some of the White Sky on the top of the original photograph. I applied the Smart Photo Fix:

• Brightening
• Increasing shadows
• Upping the color a bit

I then used Adjust Curves for Depth, and  Saturation Vibrancy set at +20 for greater color.

I next opened the altered photograph in Corel Painter Essentials 5. First I tried a Pastel Drawing:

• Chalk, Pastels and Crayons Brushes
• Selecting the Sharp Charcoal Pencil Brush
• size 7.0
• opacity 100%
• grain 25%
• Clone Color from Source Image

I digitally painted the image for the first time, saving the iteration.

I next decided I wanted to experiment with the Modern Painting settings in PE5:

• I painted from the Clone Color Source Image
• After that was done I could see where more detail was needed
• I Selected Photo Painting Brushes
• Soft Cloner
• And I Hand painted the Details back in with the setting for the Cloner Brush:
• Size 15.7
• Opacity 24%

I liked the resulting image, very painterly, and still with more details for the Faces, making a better portrait of my subjects. I saved that iteration with a differing name.

In PSP Pro X3 I added my Signature as a layer and sized and placed it with the property Multiply, merging and saving again.

As you can see I have used a combination of Narrative and Outline description of the process, workflow explanation. I hope you find it easier to follow the steps I took for this photograph to Digital Painting.

Musically I recently found online, three songs to learn to play on my Seagull 12-String Guitar and sing along in accompaniment. They are:

• Good Riddance, Time of Your Life: by Green Day
• I'm Fixing A Hole: by the Beatles
• Big Yellow Taxi: by Joni Mitchell - the Counting Crows version 

I am hoping this warmer weather continues as my Studio/Office gets pretty chilly this time of year. I would be more apt to practice and record Covers for my own enjoyment if it remains warmer in here!

The last poem I wrote, is not good fodder for lyrical or melody development, so I await until a new song strikes me for writing and recording. 

"Long time Family Friends" PicsArt

I am using my tablet again today.  Here are some Family Friends we have known for decades.  I used PicsArt on the tablet to create the image. 

I am getting interested in PicsArts features,  especially the Artistic FX.  Slowly and having fun as I learn more about it. 

I have not determined how to resize the images just yet,  so they overlap parts of the blog posting.  I may have to send the images to my email, and resize on my PC.

"Vintage Family and Bronx Intl Expo Map" Corel

Vintage Family and Bronx Intl Expo Map

Had some time today to browse my Public Domain Maps and Portraits. I selected this Vintage Family and a Bronx International Exposition Map. I opened the family portrait in Corel PhotoPaint. I also opened the Map in PhotoPaint. I layered the two images, after rotating the Map 90 degrees, and played with the property of the Map. I used Multiply and in addition changed the Opacity of the Map.

I applied a Gaussian Blur to the merged layers to soften the piece. I then applied a Filter Forge Film Frame to the image. I neglected to apply my usual signature to the piece, but that is not a big problem as these are Public Domain Images I am using to create another in my series of Map Layering 'Texture Blended,' images.

I hope you are enjoying my Musical contributions, even if you are only listening and not buying it is a pleasure to share with all of you. "Blind Guide," is to be followed by a song containing a warning for that type of person. Keep on the watch for it and subsequent offerings Musically.

NOTE: I now have a CDBaby Music store at the bottom of the posts. Please Scroll down to it and see the other tunes I have for sale. All are Full Preview songs, so you get an idea of what they are like. Comments, Pluses, Shares are welcome. 

"Grunge Family Foto - Gustav, Christina, Unidentified" Corel - Mayang's Texture

Grunge Family Foto

I was looking for a Texture in my Mayang's Texture folder and grabbed this Grunge Green, Blue, Rust image for my background. As I searched through my images and photographs I found this one that is repudiated to be of my Family Ancestors Gustav and Christina, with an unidentified young lady. 

I opened all layers in Corel PSP Pro X3 and did some cropping and resizing of them to create this Grunge themed piece. I used Hard Light applied to the family photograph for transparency. I added my signature layer in white, using the property Lighten for the background making it transparent allowing the signature to show by itself. I merged all layers together.

I added Image Information, Title, Copyright, Programs used. Then, saving that, I resized for display.

I mentioned I was moving away from the Taylor Road Show Photographs for a time. Back to Grunge Textured images and Digital Collage for the present.

"High Contrast Sandbox" Corel PhotoPaint - Plus

Sand Castle

Look!

We sat with my Grandson today and I was able to get a few Photographs. The family bought him a turtle shaped sandbox and some colored sand. As he played in it Grandma was right with him.

I took the photographs with my Canon XTi, and opened them with Corel PhotoPaint. I wanted to create some High Contrast images with bold colors. I applied the Local Equalization first to the images. This gives great contrast when set high.

Then for the color depth and punch I applied the Tone Curve to both of them. I finished the images with a Film frame from Filter Forge's Frames. This workflow is simple and straightforward and makes for High Contrast High Color pieces.

Listening --- Neil Young --- Old Man

"My Brother" Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4

My Brother

Working on the laptop today for a change. I browsed to a folder in Picasa 3.9 of some photographs taken in Alaska while visiting family. I found this great photograph of "My Brother." I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and cropped it for a close up. I then resampled to 300dpi to increase the size of the image. I saved it and opened with Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4.

There I tried various auto paint styles and decided that the Modern Painting looked the best. I allowed the program to do all the work, auto painting this style. Since I was on the laptop I didn't have access to my regular signature so I added a watermark in Arial Narrow Italic.

Using Filter Forge's Frames I added a narrow photograph frame to the large image, saved it and re-opened in PhotoPaint to resample to fit display here.

I invite you to read my page about My Art For Sale, I will consider any piece of my art you find here on this blog and will create the link for you as well if you wish to purchase anything.

Commenting is also welcome, I like to get feedback on my efforts to create images and the explanation of my program use and techniques.  Thank you for taking a look at this blog.

"Daughter and her Doll" Grunge Digital Collage - Corel PhotoPaint Plus

Daughter and her Doll

This is from an actual 400 ASA Black and White film photograph taken years ago of my "Daughter and her Doll," sitting in a little rocking chair. I had scanned it in and saved it. Some time ago I used Corel's Painter to create a woodcut image of her. I've had it for a long time and decided to play with it a bit.

I located it in Picasa 3.9 in a People folder. I had recently downloaded two grunge backgrounds, this one of rusted materials. I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and fit to screen to see the entire texture. I copied and pasted the woodcut into it. I used the property Multiply on it and adjusted the Opacity to 78%, allowing some of the background to seep through.

Browsing in Picasa 3.9 again I went to my Dover Clip Art folder and selected some Victorian corner embellishments for the top right and left corners. I used the Tone Curve on them to increase there depth of black color. I also found an antique Grandfather clock and some floral designs and added those to the bottom, to the right and left of the woodcut. I again used the Tone Curve and the property Multiply. I slightly cropped the image for size.

I saved the large file, and reopened it in Corel PSP Pro X3. Here I increased the Vibrancy with the Hue and Saturation features. I added a gold mat and a simple black frame to complete the image. Saving that iteration, I resized for display here. Back in PhotoPaint I added my signature and saved both the large and medium sized duplicates.

"Zeke Amazed" - Corel PSP Pro X3 - PhotoPaint

Zeke Amazed

Another photograph of my Grandson and his current favorite book. The thick pages allow him to turn them and the buttons on the right hand side make noises related to the Disney "Cars" theme.

Here you see him making a delightful expression full of fun and amazement. I opened the photograph in PSP Pro X3 and made adjustments. I used many of the Noise reduction tools as it was taken at 1600 ISO and it had much noise in the original.

I also cropped the image and focused on my Grandson as much as possible. It is rather asymmetrical in balance. with the floor of the kitchen in the upper right hand area balancing it out.

I used the Adjust, Hue and Saturation Vibrancy tool on it a couple of times for a punch to the colors. I tried other tools to soften it a bit and the blur tools which made it too soft. I applied the Unsharp Mask tool instead.

I added the Image Picture Cyanotype frame and a ten pixel black border as I did with yesterdays image. I saved the large file and reopened with PhotoPaint where I added my signature in white and adjusted the Tone Curve a small amount for depth.

I resampled the file for sharing here and resaved it with a differing name.

Listening --- The Beatles --- Baby You Can Drive My Car

Puppeteer - Art Deco - Digital Collage - PhotoPaint

Art Deco Designs by Edouard Benedictus is the source of the background designs of this image. I scanned in the pieces as high resolution scans in PhotoPaint and applied the Tune Blur to smooth out the scans. I used the Tone Curve to boost colors.

I also opened with PhotoPaint a photograph of my Grandson and applied the Local Equalization tool then cut him out from the photograph and copied to the clipboard.

I pasted the large clip into the background after I applied feathering to smooth out the edges of the cutout. I used the Tone Curve again and also increased the color saturation by 15.

I scanned in the image of the teacher and little schoolboy from North Light's People at Work clip art series. I used Multiply for transparency and Color Replace for the pinkish color. I hand drew the strings attached to the teacher and schoolboy "puppet."

I used the font A bite for the word Puppeteer and selected a complimentary color and added the text.

In Filter Forge's frames I selected a photography frame for a 3D finishing touch.

Listening --- Archie Roach --- Beautiful Child

Neighborhood Stroll - High Contrast - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

A Neighborhood Stroll for the Grandparents, Parents and Grandson is the image for today. I cropped this photograph in PhotoPaint which shows us taking a walk with our Grandson near where he lives.

I used the Local Equalization tool for the High Contrast adding back in depth with the Tone Curve and upping the saturation for color. To add punch to the color I used Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance, then a film frame.

It's great when your grandchild begins walking well enough that you can take a stroll with him. An easy family outing that goes at his pace and that is leisurely.

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Now playing: Kirk Mathew Gatzka - I Walked Along the Lakes Song
via FoxyTunes

High Contrast Family Images - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

A short post today of some High Contrast images of my family. I used my usual workflow for high contrasting images on these photographs. Two of them were taken at my Daughter's place and the other at our home. I used PhotoPaint and Filter Forge's Freepacks in creating these images.

I like the depth of these enhanced photographs and the use of the Filter Forge film frames give them some character they would not otherwise have. These photographs were taken in late April of this year during a visit from family from out of state.

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Now playing: Kirk Mathew Gatzka - Evening Jam DADGAD
via FoxyTunes

Time in the Sand - High Contrast - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

As you know I really enjoy time with my Grandson. We spent some time taking a walk around to the Park near his home. There he had some fun in the sand filling both hands with it and sifting it, watching it very carefully. His attention to detail constantly amazes me for such a young age.

I browsed to this photograph in Picasa 3 and opened with PhotoPaint. I used my High Contrast workflow on it for today's image. I had cropped the photograph, which has one flaw in that I just barely got the top of his head in the frame. So I cropped to a tight fit for his sitting there in his new sandals.

I also used Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance for a boost to the colors as well as the Tone Curve in PhotoPaint for depth.

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Now playing: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - Teach Your Children
via FoxyTunes

Two Gals on a Bob-Lo Cruise Vintage Tritone - PhotoPaint

A Vintage Bob-Lo Cruise photograph from the Detroit, Michigan area. I scanned this photograph and frame in with my Canon MP495 at 600dpi. I opened it from Picasa 3 with PhotoPaint.

I made a couple of adjustments for this image. I resampled it to a display size, used the Image> Color Mode Tritone> on it and then converted it back to RGB. I took that and applied the Local Equalization tool for higher contrasts.

The gal on the left is my Mother in law as a young lady, with a friend.

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Now playing: Elo - Moment in Paradise
via FoxyTunes

Vintage Family Photographs - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

Digging through some vintage family photographs I found a few that I could scan in and enhance and restore. The first image is a close up of my wife as a child on the swing set. The second is a collage of her Mother and Grandmother and herself. I used PhotoPaint to do restoration and enhancements.

I used Picasa 3 to create the collage of photographs after I had worked on them. A little color in a yellowed sepia tone and a tritone for the collage. I had thought of putting a photograph of my wife's graduation picture with her Mother but decided that I may or may not do that at a future date.

I have an old copy of Family Tree Maker, a genealogy program and have some family records back some 5 or 6 generations. It allows you to display photographs of family if you have them for individuals and married couples. You can show these on one of the reports that can be printed. These photographs may be useful for this program.

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Now playing: Sly and the Family Stone - Family Affair
via FoxyTunes

Design Perfection - New Graphic Design Online - High Contrast - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

This is an enhanced photograph of my Daughter, Dresden Solomon, who is the Owner / Designer of Design Perfection Graphic Design online. She has attended college to learn the skills of a designer, but has been interested in art since she was a child at home. She is a talented artist and designer. And we are very proud of her accomplishments.

I did the enhancement in PhotoPaint where I cropped the photograph and then resampled 200% larger for display here. I applied the Tune Blur to soften the image. I then used the Local Equalization tool for High Contrast.

I adjusted it with the Tone Curve for depth and color. Then I used Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrant on it for a greater punch to the colors. I finished with my signature and a film frame from Filter Forge.

If you want a quote or a bid on a Graphic Design project contact her at Design Perfection.

Experimental Family Portraits - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

I have a new Canon PIXMA MP495 All in one inkjet printer that I got a great deal on. I wanted to experiment with the scanner so I took two images that were printed on plain paper with my old Epson C88+ printer and scanned them in. Opening the images from Picasa 3 I used PhotoPaint to enhance them.

There I used the Tune Blur smooth feature as they had some lines in the scans that came from the printouts. I did not print them out using the highest settings on the Epson, so the quality was not great but sufficient. I applied the Tone Curve for depth and increased the saturation by 7, a lower setting than what I usually use.

I cropped both images one for portrait display and one landscape display. This also got rid of some of the white border that the scan produced. While in PhotoPaint I applied Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance for more punch to both images. I basically used the same technique on each one.

I finished off the images with Filter Forge's film frames.

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Now playing: Sly and the Family Stone - Family Affair
via FoxyTunes

Phone Camera Portrait - Paint.NET - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

Short post today with a Phone Camera photograph that was printed out on a Kodak printer. I scanned it in with auto scan on my Canon MP495. I opened with Paint.NET and applied the Kuwahara Filter Modified for a painterly feel. Saving the large file I reopened it in PhotoPaint.

In PhotoPaint I applied Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance for additional punch to the color. Then I gave it a film frame with Filter Forge's frames.

The photograph credit goes to my Daughter, Dresden Solomon of Design Perfection.

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Now playing: Chuck Berry - Johnny Be Good
via FoxyTunes

High Contrast - Auto Van Gogh - Portrait - Painter 11 - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

First time I have had a problem with Blogger, they were down due to maintenance and they lost my Thursday post. According to their blog they are supposed to repost that posting. But I am still waiting. I hope that it is corrected soon. Other than that I have no complaints about Blogger as a great blogging platform.

That aside I browsed my folders in Picasa 3 and grabbed another photograph of my Grandson. I haven't been painting much lately with Painter 11 but wanted to create a painterly image today. So I opened the photograph in PhotoPaint and applied the Local Equalization for high contrast. Then I adjusted the Tone Curve for depth and upped the saturation by 7. I saved the large file.

I reopened it in Painter 11 and applied the quick clone tool with an ocher background. I then used the Auto Van Gogh cloning painting at two brush sizes one small the other a medium brush size. I resaved that file at excellent jpg quality.

I opened it again in PhotoPaint and using Filter Forge's Photo Effects I selected the grunge effect. I adjusted the settings so the grunge texture would not obscure the Van Gogh like brushstrokes. This resulted in a painterly grunge style portrait. I saved the large file.

I resampled in PhotoPaint for sharing here.

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Now playing: Sly and the Family Stone - Thank You
via FoxyTunes

Two Landscapes - Red Schoolhouse - Sunset - PhotoPaint - Paint.NET - Filter Forge - Flaming Pear

Two more Luminous Landscapes for today. The Red Schoolhouse was taken by my son, Keir M. Gatzka. I used PhotoPaint's Tone Curve for depth and increased the color saturation for boosting the color. I saved that large file and opened in Paint.NET to apply the Ink Sketch tool. I used the Kuwahara Filter Modified on it for a painterly look. Saving that I opened in Painter 8.

There I applied the Flaming Pear's Chromasolarize filter for a glow. I saved it again with a new name and reopened in PhotoPaint and applied the Filter Forge Grunge frame with the red grunge touch. I resampled it to display here and saved that file.

The second photograph was taken by a relative that wishes to remain anonymous for personal reasons, but I have family permission to enhance it. I kept this Sunset digital manipulation simple. I opened the scanned photograph in PhotoPaint and adjusted the Tone Curve, upped the saturation and added a film frame from Filter Forge. I resampled for sharing here. I had applied Tune Blur on it as well.

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Now playing: Kirk Mathew Gatzka - Talk It Over
via FoxyTunes

Walking Without Help - Painter 11 - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

My Grandson is walking without help now and it is a joy to watch. I snapped this photograph of him doing just that. In Picasa 3 I browsed to the folder of my recent photographs of him and selected this one. I opened it in PhotoPaint.

I used the Local Equalization tool for a high contrast piece. Applying the Tone Curve for some depth and increased the saturation for a color boost. I saved the large file.

I reopened with Painter 11 and made a quick clone of the image with an ocher background. I used the Artists Brushes Auto Van Gogh and applied that cloning technique. I saved a new file and reopened in PhotoPaint.

There I applied a film frame from Filter Forge. I again played with the Tone Curve for more depth. I tried different Photo Effects from Filter Forge but was unhappy with the results so I decided to leave well enough alone. I resampled in PhotoPaint for display online.

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Now playing: Pretenders - Walking on Sunshine
via FoxyTunes