"Step by Step: Electric Guitar Player XI" PicsArt App Plus

Electric Guitar Player XI

Another free to edit, a photograph here is the "Electric Guitar Player XI." I opened the picture in the PicsArt App in Windows 10 on my computer. I selected the Tools Enhance and upped the color a tad.

I used the filter in Artistic Effects called Polygon. This gave me some triangular shapes within the image. I adjusted them to show as many as I could without losing the piece's stability. I saved the large picture.

Next, I went to Lighting and grabbed a Bokeh layer, on this I used rotate tools to place the bulk of the lights on the bottom of the image. I used the property Screen to add the lighting. I went back to the Tools and chose the Curves to add depth to the colors, using the full RGB setting.

I added a border, selecting a blue and black balance for it. I then went to the Text tools and added my name and the year choosing black for the fill and outline. I saved this again.

I looked at the image in Picasa 3+ and decided to add some HDR appearance to the piece. I adjusted the Radius to a level setting and the Strength to a medium low one. I did this with Picasa's HDR Tool. Saving that I opened the image in Paint.Net to resize the piece for display.

72dpi, 1220 X 813, with 75 for compression, were the settings for the display picture. Be sure to click on the image for the larger view in your browser. Use F11 to see the Full Screen and F11 to return to the browser's regular setting.

"Street Musicians" PicsArt App

I downloaded a number of great photos from Pixabay today.  I have been using my Tablet to create images with the PicsArt App. I did at least four images that I posted to PicsArt and Facebook.

This image was one of those I created. I used a number of filters one called Comic Effect. I also increased the Saturation of the piece adding depth with the Curves tool.

I highly recommend both Pixabay and PicsArt App. They are among the top features on the Internet.

I searched for "Street Musicians," on Pixabay, also for free to edit content on the PicsArt community.  They have many choices for doing digital artwork.

I have found that PicsArt has many tools for layering, drawing, and other things that make it a great app.

Some people who want to may get the latest version of PicsArt App for Android devices on the Google Play Store. It is currently free to download and install.

Join Pixabay for the larger image download. I have been very pleased with the content of photos and textures there.

You can also use Pixabay from a browser.

Street Musicians 

"Woman Portrait" PicsArt App Pixabay

Found a new listing of free to edit sites. Chose Pixabay and selected this Woman Portrait.

I saved it and opened it up in the PicsArt App. I applied a Artistic pastel filter, and saved it. Then I hand selected colors to paint with using different types of brushes. Hand painting on the Tablet Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is a lot of fun.

I use a Stylus for the hand painting. It is a little awkward but I think I have been doing this fairly well.

I have been care giving for a family member of late. So I post on the blog using the Blogger App. Still learning and enjoying the apps that I am using.

I have not been able to play the guitars,  neither of them. There is a time to keep quiet and a time to make music. I have found that I am writing a bit of poetry. This is a good time for me to do it.

Soon enough I will be playing guitar again.

"Grandson - A Little Young to be at a Bar" PicsArt - Corel

Grandson

My Daughter took this picture with her LG Phone. They went to a restaurant for lunch and found that they had added a Bar to the place they went. So it appears that my almost 5 year old Grandson is at a bar. Look closely at the background of this image.

I had her send me the photograph and saved it on my phone. I used two effects filters in PicsArt App to create this image. I emailed it to myself, downloaded it, and opened in Corel PSP Pro X3. here I added the black frame and my signature in white. Oh, yes, I increased the image size as well. I merged all the layers to one.

Simple as that I had an interesting image of my Grandson.

"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.

"Custom Truck Mashup" Corel PSP Pro X3

Custom Truck Mashup

This little experiment shows the value of having a tripod for differing exposures of the same subject to use for HDR images. I ended up with an Abstract image playing around with Corel PSP Pro X3's HDR feature.

I took three exposures of this same custom truck, owned by a friend of mine, and united them in the HDR feature. I used the Align Image tool and it did its best to give me an HDR photograph. I did not use a tripod, only stood there with my shadow on the bumper of the truck. So my photographs did not align properly, as is evident in the image.

Nonetheless, I found the end result rather interesting as an abstract image. I used the Vibrancy tool for the color and a couple of other photograph smart fixes on it. I added the blue and black borders as a finish to block in the abstract image. I also added the visible watermark, my signature prior to adding the borders.

Musically I worked on the song "Playing In A Vacuum," last night with my 12-string searching for a chord progression and melody. I went back through some chord progression notes I have and found a group of chords that fit the subject well. Using them with the lyrics, already written, I created the song. I found a drum beat that was a blues Shuffle and adjusted the speed in Audacity to the pace I had for the tune. I recorded it today and did some over voicing as well for added balance to the piece.

Listening --- Kirk Mathew Gatzka --- Playing In A Vacuum

Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 Experiment - Dodge Truck

I just won Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 in a contest, (@corelapps on Twitter hosted it) and downloaded the program today. It took a while to install and search for all my photographs and images, but I have quite a few on my PC. (All backed up on an external hard drive.)

I opened my pictures and chose a folder or two to see what I might play with. I found my Dodge Truck folder and opened one of the photographs.

I went to the editor and fooled around with some adjustments. This one a painterly brush stroke and used the default settings. I then applied a Light filter which made it look like the sun was shining. This was also in the default setting.

Next I tried out the cropping tool and narrowed the focus of the image to the Truck and sun flare. I saved that iteration.

I wanted to do a bit more so I opened that with PhotoPaint and applied Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance with each setting set at 100%. This really enhanced the texture and the light, as well as deepen other colors in the image.

I added a twenty pixel black border and my signature to complete my experiment.

I must say I am impressed with Paintshop Photo Pro X3 and it's ease of use. I did not read any of the help files to begin using some of the features, which is my playful way of approaching new software. I would recommend this software to those who want great control over the photographic process.

Listening --- The Beatles --- She Loves You

Colasanti's Landscape - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

A photograph of Colasanti's Picnic Area with geese and bridge, complete with picnic table is today's subject. I had taken many differing photographs of our visit to Colasanti's from about a year ago and browsing in Picasa 3 I ran across this one. I like the stone walls and the bridge as well as the setting.

I opened with PhotoPaint and went for that vibrant deep image look and feel. Using Local Equalization and the Tone Curve for depth, I upped the saturation by 15, I also added vibrancy with Filter Forge's Photo Effects. I have found this process produces some HDR like photographs, which is nice as I don't use Photoshop or Lightroom for doing my digital visual art.

So we have a landscape for today instead of the grunge guitar motif I have been sharing lately. A nice break in the flow.

----------------
Now playing: Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken
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.

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

The Gift - Mayang's Textures - Dover Clip Art - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

I browsed my Mayang's Textures in Picasa 3 and selected this textured glass piece. I opened in PhotoPaint and cropped the image a bit. Then I selected some Dover Publications Clip Art from Picasa 3's Dover folder.

Two images of old time transportation and a maiden tying a bow on a gift. I also selected a border piece which I replicated and lined the top of the image. After I had placed the individual pieces I applied the Local Equalization for some contrast and It left the maiden's skirt appearing as if the Sun were shining through the glass. I used the Tone Curve for some depth and a boost to the color was added using Filter Forge's Photo Effects Lumo.

This gave me a saturated image. I also applied KPT's Collection Lens Flare for a flaring where the Sun appeared to be shining through.

----------------
Now playing: Avril Lavigne - Fall To Pieces
via FoxyTunes

Grunge High Contrast Guitars - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

High Contrast images from photographs of 12-String and 6-String guitars. I browsed in Picasa 3 again today and came across these photographs of my 12-String Seagull Guitar with it's Woody Seymour Duncan pickup installed in the sound hole. The other was a dual guitar photograph taken at an angle for a fun effect.

You can also see in the second image my Line 6 Toneport UX1, that the pickup is plugged into along with the Shure PG58 Microphone. The only thing I cannot do with this equipment is play the guitar and use the mic simultaneously. I have to do over dubbing of one or the other using the Toneport. The Gearbox software that is part of the Line 6 package is great for variations of guitar types and styles ranging from Soft Archtop Jazz sounds to hardcore lead settings which make my 12-String sound like an Electric guitar.

I again used a High contrast Grunge look and feel for these images. It is my current favorite workflow as I like the resulting effect. I used PhotoPaint and Filter Forge's Freepacks for the image creation.

----------------
Now playing: Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots - Trippin On a Hole in a Paper Heart
via FoxyTunes

Grunge Golden Shadows - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

Simple image of a High Contrast nature for today's post. I opened this photograph in PhotoPaint and cropped it, losing some wainscoting on the bottom. I used a similar technique for my high contrast images as in recent posts. Local Equalization for the contrasts and the Tone Curve for depth.

Filter Forge's Photo Effects for a color boost. Which gave a lovely golden cast to the right hand side of the photograph. I really like the shadows on this piece. I used my flash diffuser of which you can see some reflection, but it is not overwhelming, and the shadows are more subtle.

A film frame from Filter Forge's Frames finished the image. As you can see they are Van Gogh fans in this household, with two prints of his paintings on this wall arrangement.

----------------
Now playing: Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall - Part 1
via FoxyTunes

Grunge Still Life - Lamps - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

A couple of High Contrast still life's are today's subject. I was visiting and snapped these photographs using the regular flash with a flash diffuser on to minimize the shadows you usually get with them. My fellow photographer David Benjamin introduced me to diffusers they do soften the harsh shadows well.

I opened these photographs of lamps in PhotoPaint and cropped them both. I really focused on the fern lamp in the one photograph, and the table arrangement in the other.

I applied the Local Equalization tool for the high contrasts and then added back in depth with the Tone Curve. I again went to Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance for boosting the color and this time I did not up the saturation.

I added film frames in Filter Forge's Frame Freepack. I don't do a lot of still life work but I enjoyed doing these images.

I really like the bronze colors of the second photograph of the fern lamp. The combination of the lighting and the applied tools allowed the color to blend and speak up. I liked the wood grain of the base of this lamp as well.

The first image was taken later than the second and I thought the balance of the picture and plant and other items on the table made a nice composition. The unshaded window in the background added some interest, if you look closely there is a bird at the top center on the lawn.

----------------
Now playing: Kirk Mathew Gatzka - Bo Diddley Fun
via FoxyTunes

Always Fresh - Water Fountain - Water Fowl - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

Browsing in Picasa 3 I came upon my Colasanti's folder with a number of photographs in it of the grounds outside the store. I liked the asymmetrical fountain and the water fowl photograph and used it for creating this vibrant image.

I used both PhotoPaint and Filter Forge's Photo Effects and Frames with my current workflow for such High Contrast images. The Tone curve gave it depth and the Vibrant tool gave it the color boost. I used a light film frame, to allow the fountain to show clearly.

----------------
Now playing: Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks
via FoxyTunes

Coffee Cups - Grunge - High Contrast - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

A diversion from Guitars and Portraits today. This photograph was taken by my son Keir M. Gatzka with the Canon Rebel XTi. In it you can see coffee cups in a row along a deep red ledge in our kitchen.

I opened with PhotoPaint and created another High Contrast Grunge image, using my favorite workflow techniques that I do for these types of images.

I used Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrant and KPT's Collection Lens Flare for a boost and some flare. It's a departure from my favorite motifs but is still in the vein of high contrast and grunge images. It has depth and color and was enjoyable to create.

----------------
Now playing: Kirk Mathew Gatzka - Talk It Over
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.

----------------
Now playing: Chuck Berry - Johnny Be Good
via FoxyTunes

Son in Law with Grandson - Grunge - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

A slight change of pace today. I browsed in Picasa 3 for a new subject and found this photograph of my Son in Law and my Grandson. I opened with PhotoPaint and cropped to focus on just them.

I still am creating high contrast images so I selected the Local Equalization in PhotoPaint. I took that and applied the Tone Curve for depth and upped the saturation for color boost.

I used Filter Forge's Photo Effects Grunge for the texture and framing. I saved the larger image then resampled for display on the internet, still in PhotoPaint.

If you look closely you can see the resemblance between father and son, of course there is a touch of Mom in there as well. A warm family image.

----------------
Now playing: Go Betweens - Born To A Family
via FoxyTunes

Grunge Acoustic Electric Guitars - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

I recently purchased a new Canon Pixma MP495 Photo Inkjet printer.(only $49.00 at Walmart.) It has the scanner copier feature and wireless for our laptop. It prints great photographs. But unfortunately it uses the black ink up quite rapidly, a disappointment to be sure. I printed out one of these High Contrast Guitars images and really like the results. It's vibrant and has great color depth.

I also printed out a few of my grandson for my wife and I, brag photographs! I did one of the paintings in watercolor, of my grandson, that I had done in Painter 11 and it also was a great print. I would recommend this printer with a warning about the excessive use of black ink. But, 4"x6" photographs look fantastic, and the scanner works great for color scans. It comes with software as well so it makes printing, scanning and copying a breeze.

I chose to create another high contrast Acoustic Electric Guitars photograph from Motor City Guitar. I first cropped the photograph to focus on the group of guitars. I used the same tools in PhotoPaint and Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance and frames. This time I selected a watercolor frame with the color black for that Grunge appearance. I adjusted the width of the frame to allow more of the image to shine through.


----------------
Now playing: JJ Cale and Eric Clapton - Danger
via FoxyTunes

Grunge - The Drumline - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

Motor City Guitar in Waterford, Michigan also sells Drum kits. I selected two photographs of drums and cymbals for digital manipulation. I browsed in Picasa 3 to the proper folder and opened each photograph with PhotoPaint.

I again went for high contrasting images so I applied the Local Equalization tool and then used the Tone Curve tool for depth. I also upped the saturation by 15 to boost the colors. Lots of chrome and brass in these pieces.

I applied Filter Forge's Vibrance to both images for even more punch. Then I used Filter Forge's frames, a film frame and a grunge frame, respectively. While in PhotoPaint I resampled for the web and display here.

----------------
Now playing: Alison Krauss Robert Plant - Rich Woman
via FoxyTunes

More Motor City Guitars - High Contrast - Grunge - PhotoPaint

Electric Guitars at Motor City Guitars, Waterford, Michigan

More grunge high contrast electric guitars from Motor City Guitars. I really like doing this series of images. Something about the colors and the grungy feeling appeals to me. I followed many of the same steps as recently posted using PhotoPaint and Filter Forge's tools.

Hard pressed for time today so little in the way of a written post. See previous posts for the steps taken to produce this image, please.

Listening --- Kirk Mathew Gatzka --- Circus