"How To: Hills, Mountains, Cloudy Skies Oils Plus" Corel

Hills, Mountains, Cloudy Skies

These are the Programs and settings I used to create today's image. I am still experimenting with the outline format. Please let me know if you prefer this format or a Narrative Style format explaining how to use the stated Programs. Comments welcome!

• Corel Painter Essentials 5
  • Landscape – Hills, Mountains, Cloudy Skies
    • Effects
      • Tonal Control
        • Increased Saturation
    • Select Oil Painting
      • Acrylics and Oils
        • Real Wet Brush
        • Size 25
        • Opacity 100%
        • Freehand Brush setting
        • Artists Rough Paper
        • Paint with these settings
    • Select Detailed Watercolor
      • Still using Real Wet Brush
        • Size 10.2
        • Opacity 82%
        • Straight Brush
        • Same Paper setting
        • Paint with these settings
        • Stop before complete for just light effect
    • Select Colored Pencil Drawing
      • Pencils, Pens and Markers
        • Dry Ink Brush
        • Freehand Strokes
        • Size 31.5
        • Opacity 24%
        • Grain 100%
        • Same Paper setting
        • Paint with these settings
        • Stop before complete for just light effect
• Corel PSP Pro X3
  • Adjust
    • Smart Photo Fix
      • Brighter 32
      • Shadows -10
      • Highlights -5
      • Saturation 50
      • Focus- Original 47
    • Opened Signature
      • Placed as new layer
      • Sized to fit
      • Merged all Layers; Added 10 pixel Black Border

This photograph was from the Morguefile Free Photos. I truly appreciate their sharing some very good compositions for Digitally Painting and adjusting.

"How to: Pier at Sunset - Impressionistic - Pen and Ink" Corel

Pier at Sunset - Impressionistic - Pen and Ink

This photograph is from Unsplash Free Photos. I selected it for the perspective and great color of the Sunset. Below are the Programs and Settings used to create todays Digital Painting:

• Corel Painter Essentials 5
  • Impressionist Painting
    • Impressionist Cloner Brush
    • Size 19.0; Opacity 100%
    • Straight Line Setting
    • Concrete Paper
  • Pencils, Pen, Markers
    • Felt Marker Brush
    • Size 8.3; Opacity 21%; Grain 21%
    • Concrete Paper
    • Straight Line Setting
      • Paint two times
      • Switch to Curved Line Setting
        • Paint once more
  • Save large iteration
• Picasa 3+
  • HDR tool
    • Mid High Radius
    • Medium Strength
    • Low Fade; Apply and Save
• Corel PSP Pro X3
  • Smart Photo Fix
    • Brighter +12
    • Shadows -20
    • Saturation; More Colorful +50
    • Focus; Original 26
  • New Layer for Signature
    • Open Signature file
    • Resize
    • Place
  • Merge all layers
  • Save Large iteration 72dpi
  • Resize Image for display
  • Save with New name

I hope this format is informative, I want to explain a bit more of what I do to create my Digital Visual Artworks. Comments and shares always welcome!

"How To - Impressionistic Lighthouse" Corel

Impressionistic Lighthouse

Today I wanted to work on a Landscape, particularly this Lighthouse from Morguefile's Free Photos. I opened the full color photograph in Corel Painter 11. There I Quick Cloned the image, selected the Artists Brushes Auto Van Gogh. Using a small Brush size I used Select Esoterica Auto Van Gogh to auto paint. This gave me a beginning point for an Impressionistic piece.

I changed to the Digital Watercolors Brushes, a Coarse Dry Mop brush. I used a Purple Lavender like color to add some shadowing to the Lighthouse and surrounding area. The image was still very much like the original photograph but with small brushstrokes and now the Lavender shading.

I wanted a more distinct Impressionist feel so I selected the Auto Van Gogh brush again and enlarged it's size. I applied the Auto Painting. I was pleasantly surprised to see how this moved the Lavender color into the Skyline. I adjusted the Exposure a touch in Painter 11 and then saved the large file.

This iteration I opened in Corel PSP Pro X3 and played with the Saturation Vibrancy (33,) and the Curves to add punch to the colors. I saved again and opened this in Picasa for a full screen view. Some of the coloring was too dark. I applied the Smart Photo Fix tool, in PSP Pro X3 adjusting the color, upping it a tad. This also Brightened the image. I added my signature as another layer, sized and fit it, used the property Lighten and merged the layers to one. I saved again to a JPG format 72dpi.

I added a painterly frame and the Ornate Gold Frame to the finished image. This lent it some elegance. I saved this iteration as an 16-bit TIF file and then Resized for display here, saving as an 8-bit JPG.

Be certain to click on the image to enjoy the large view of it. Please remember my Art and Music (10 songs on CDBaby) are For Sale as Posters simple or framed and matted at Zazzle. If you see an image you would like to purchase see My Art and Music For Sale Page for my email to request I post the image to Zazzle for you to buy.

I don't have all my images currently on Zazzle for purchasing, so write me and request the image you would like. Thank you.

"Boats and Skies" Corel

Boats and Skies

I received a photograph from StockVault's Freebies of this wonderful scene. I opened it in Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 and watercolor sketch painted it. I used Intense colors to highlight the skies and reflections. I saved the large iteration and opened with Corel PSP Pro X3.

There I added my signature and a frame with Picture Frames. I used Image Information to add Title, my name, date and sources.

A very simple and straight forward way to create a acceptable Digital Watercolor.

Please Don't forget to listen and consider buying my new single, "Open Secret." Thanks for your kind attention!

"Triple Play, Images From Near Clare, Michigan" Corel

Creek Woods Digital Watercolor

Grunge Old Pallet

Small Windmill

Programs used:

• Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4, Corel PSP Pro X3 on "Creek Woods."
• Corel PhotoPaint, Corel PSP Pro X3, Filter Forge Freepack Frames on "Grunge Old Pallet"
• Corel PhotoPaint, Corel PSP Pro X3, Filter Forge Freepack Frames on "Small Windmill"

I used various tools like Local Equalization and Tone Curve in PhotoPaint, Frames from Filter Forge, And added signature in PSP Pro X3. I took the original photographs with my Canon Rebel XTi, near Clare, Michigan. 

My August 2014 Project was a success and I am hoping to post more often to gatzkART!. Look forward to other postings this month. I still have photographs from the Clare, Michigan area, and a lot of Dover Publication sample Clip Art for Digital Collages. 

"Michigan Snowstorm" Corel PSP Pro X3

Outside the Side Door

Snow Covered Road

It's Snowing in the Midwest today. I got out my Canon Rebel XTi and took a few photographs from our side door, without venturing too far. Here are two of the photographs I took today.

I had Picasa 3.9 open and from the folder I opened each with Corel PSP Pro X3. I applied the Digital Camera Noise Removal, then the Smart Photo Fix. I made little to no adjustments in these tools.

The snowfall is seen as light but steady, no big snow flakes at this time of day. But as you can see we are getting a few inches, as the Road photograph shows. I added my signature to the photographs and a black border for better display, resizing them in PSP Pro X3.

I am in my Studio/Office sitting next to a large window overlooking Bald Eagle Lake. Watching the snow falling is peaceful and calming. I do like the change of seasons, I just don't care for the cold. It is beautiful outside.

"Autumn Walk Collage" Picasa 3.9 - Corel - Plus

Autumn Walk Collage

A short post today. I went for a walk with my Grandson and got some Autumn photographs. I used my Canon Rebel XTi. I did some cropping, color vibrancy, sharpening on each photograph prior to making the collage in Picasa 3.9. I used Corel PSP Pro X3 for processing and Corel PhotoPaint for my signature.

In Picasa I used Ctrl Click to select the separate photographs, a 16:9 ratio size setting and Picasa formulated the collage automatically. I used PhotoPaint to resample to a display size before posting.

985th Post to gatzkART!

"Missing Alaska Late Summer" Corel PSP Pro X3 - Plus

Alaska Road South From Anchorage

I browsed some photographs on my external HD and went to one of my Alaskan trip folders. I selected one of our road trips, South from Anchorage. I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3. I applied the Smart Photo Fix to it and the Digital Camera Noise Removal. I adjusted the Shadows and used the Saturation Vibrance as well.

I cropped the photograph and saved the large iteration. I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and cleaned up with the cloning Brush. I also blended the road with the Smear Brush. I cloned out some road markers (red ones.)

I was an overcast day that day with light rain but over all our visit to Alaska was amazing, we hope to go back someday. This was also when my Canon Rebel XTi was brand new. We took a massive amount of photographs. We used an online vendor to create a large size photographic book with many of the images, untouched by processing. It's a great remembrance of our visiting family and the beautiful area around Anchorage, Alaska.

I digress. I finished the image for display with the Visible Watermark of my signature. I resized to display size and saved the file. I did these in PSP.

982nd Post!

"Two Alaskan Landscapes" Corel PSP Pro X3 - Plus

Above the Clouds

Alaskan Forest

I searched some of my Alaskan photographs on my external drive. I liked this one "Above the Clouds." I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3. I first applied the Hue and Saturation tool Vibrancy, which gave me a bit more color.

Then I applied the Curves tool to lighten it a bit, as it was taken late in the day. I wanted a painterly look and feel so I used the Art Strokes tool set with the density at 33 and stroke length at 10.

I added the signature with the Visible Watermark tool. I looked for an appropriate framing in Picture Frame, selecting the rough edged Photo mount frame. I saved that iteration and resized for display.

I wanted to use Corel PSP Pro X3 as my program of choice for this photograph's enhancement. So I stayed in PSP using it's tools to complete my digital manipulation.

The Second image is also an "Alaskan Forest," landscape. I opened this with Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4. Selecting the Classical Oil Painting auto paint I applied the Random Sketchy Circle strokes set at 80% for size and 40% for Amount.

Saving the file I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3 and added Vibrancy to the colors. The using Picture Frame I added the mat and gold frame. I saved that iteration. I added my signature in Corel PhotoPaint and resampled for display saving that file.


Listening to the Boats on the Lake and Grass Being Mown

"Alaskan Sunset" Impressionistic - Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 - Plus

Alaskan Sunset Impressionistic

Simple post from my laptop today. I opened from Picasa 3.9 this sunset and applied the HDR effect for color enhancement. Then I selected this photograph of an Alaskan Sunset and applied Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 Impressionist style with no changes to the setting. I deepened the colors using the Tone Curve in Corel PhotoPaint and added a watermark signature. Saving the large file I then resampled for display here.

Listening --- Peace and Quiet

"Sky and Clouds" Fun with Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4

Detailed Watercolor

Modern Gouache Pen and Ink

Seurat

I had some fun with Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 and three cloudy sky photographs today. I took the photographs off my external hard drive where I saved them as back ups. I opened the folder using Windows.

I applied differing styles of auto painting to them. On one, with the deepest colors, I used Modern Painting first then switched to Gouache Painting, and then Pen and Ink, for the finish I Applied the Texture Luminance.

For the one with the noticeable brush strokes I chose the Seurat Painting mode. And for the other I applied the Detailed Watercolor painting.

I saved all 3 images and opened with Corel PSP Pro X3 from Picasa 3.9. I used the Watermark to add my signature. I added a black border and black frame to each. I also resized them for display.

I have to say that all three are interesting in there own right. Each one has it's own elegance. I'm glad I took each of these photographs coming back to Michigan from Chicago one autumn.


Which one is your favorite?

"Guitar and Spring Garden" Picasa 3.9 HDR-ish - Corel PSP Pro X3

12-String Guitar

Spring Garden

Picasa 3.9 has some new features with it. One is a filter called HDR-ish, which as you might surmise allows you to take your photographs and apply an HDR appearance to them.

I selected two examples to demonstrate the feature. First I did the Guitar, adjusting the strength, fade and radius of the image, I also touched up the Tone Curve in PhotoPaint. The second image is of our Spring Garden on which I applied the HDR filter again with some adjustments. I saved that larger file and opened with Corel's PSP Pro X3 and upped the saturation and added an Albumen fade and the golden frame.

I like the new feature in Picasa 3.9 and also the HDR function in PSP Pro X3. I need to experiment with my tripod and get some photographs to use for PSP Pro X3's HDR feature. Maybe when the snow really flies I'll get some interesting shots to share.

Listening --- Kirk Mathew Gatzka --- Reckonings II

"Autumn Color" Corel PhotoPaint - PSP Pro X3 - Filter Forge

Autumn Color

Although the color isn't at it's peak here yet, I browsed in Picasa 3 folders and found a photograph of "Autumn Color." I applied my High Contrast workflow to it in Corel PhotoPaint and used Filter Forge's Photo Effects on it. I applied the Tone Curve to it for depth.

Saving the large file I added my signature and resampled for display. I thought it needed just a bit more punch to it so I opened it in PSP Pro X3 and used the Vibrancy tool. I also added the Cyanotype framing and a ten pixel black border. I resaved the slightly larger file and am sharing it here for today's image.

The original photograph was taken at Kensington Park here in Michigan. If we have a good peak this year we may go to the parks again for more fall photographs. That's a project I would really enjoy.

Listening --- The Moody Blues --- Forever Autumn

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.

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Now playing: Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken
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.

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Now playing: Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks
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

Cows in a Field and a Winter Barn - Paint.NET - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

Here are two more landscapes from the recent vintage photographs I had received. I used PhotoPaint and Filter Forge's tools on the Cows in a Field image. I applied the Tone Curve, upped the saturation, used a Lumo tool on it.

The second Winter barn image I opened in Paint.NET and used the Ink Sketch tool and also the Curves and saturation tools. Finishing with a film frame in Filter Forge.

These were the best of the photographs and I think will conclude this series of images of Luminous Landscapes. I truly enjoyed working on these pieces.

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Now playing: Kirk Mathew Gatzka - Collision Warning
via FoxyTunes

More Luminous Landscapes - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge's Freepacks

This derelict barn coop was one of the photographs I received recently taken by a relative. I scanned the photograph in at 300 dpi, and opened it with PhotoPaint.

In PhotoPaint I applied Tune Blur directional smooth to soften the image. I then upped the saturation for the color boost to the image.

In Filter Forge's Photo Effects I used Vibrance for additional punch to the piece. Then I added a Filter Forge film frame to it. Saving that file, I resampled for display here.

I applied the same basic techniques to the second, barely there barn image, for similar results.

These photographs are both intriguing and great to work with. I thoroughly enjoyed creating a look and feel for them. I have a few more to share next post.

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Now playing: Henry Mancini - Peter Gunn
via FoxyTunes

Luminous Landscapes - Paint.NET - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge's Freepacks

I was given some photographs taken years ago by a relative to enjoy and to digitally enhance. Here is a barn-like shed with a silo water tower together with trees and grass.

I scanned the images in at 300 dpi and opened them in Paint.NET to apply the Ink Sketch tool. I lightened the ink and boosted the color all the way up for these pieces.

Saving each, then I opened with PhotoPaint and used Filter Forge's Photo Effects Lumo on the first for the combined frame and increased luminosity. I applied the Tone Curve to it and upped the saturation by 15 for a depth and color boost.

I used Filter Forge's Vibrance Photo Effect on the second image and a film frame instead of Lumo and a grunge frame. Here I also boosted depth and saturation.

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Now playing: Carbon Leaf - Life Less Ordinary
via FoxyTunes

Exercise in Digital Manipulation and Auto Cloning - Painter 11 - Paint.NET

"Exercise in Digital Manipulation and Cloning," is today's image for display. I opened the photograph of a Koi Pond, taken by myself, in Paint.NET. I applied the Effects> Artistic> Oil Painting> filter to the image. Then I applied the Kuwahara Filter Modified to it for an even more painterly appearance.

Saving that file I decided to try cloning it in Painter 11, so I opened it there and did a quick clone with an ocher background. I selected the Artists brushes, first the Sargent brush and Auto Cloned. This gave me a light image. I also used the Van Gogh brush, and the Impressionist brush concurrently on the image.

I applied the Surface Texture Image Luminance, altering the Light Direction and the Amount of Depth of the texturing. I saved the iterative large file. I reopened in PhotoPaint to use Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance on the painting. I also applied Filter Forge's watercolor framing to it with a forest green color and increased roughness.

I resampled the large file for display here, in PhotoPaint.

Listening ---- Kirk Mathew Gatzka ---- Warm and Green