"Raw!" Grunge Digital Collage - Corel PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

Raw!

I returned to Grunge Guitars Digital Collage for this image. I browsed in Picasa 3 to a folder with rust textured images for the background. I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and resampled boosting the dpi from 72 to 256 in increments to enlarge the texture.

I used the Tune Blur on it, both the Directional Blur and Soften, then the Unsharp Mask to keep some textural detail. I browsed to an image of a 12-String guitar and placed it with the property Color Burn. I selected my Dover Publications folder and used the music notation, with Color Burn and reduced the opacity to 69.

I scanned in a image of three guitar players from an old magazine and used the Threshold to change it's transparency. Selecting the white areas with the Wand tool I applied a Hubble Telescope image to the unmasked areas.

I added a Victorian corner to the upper left hand corner. And I scanned in a scrap of a poem entitled "Raw!" that I wrote in 1996. I angled the poem and used Color Burn to make it transparent.

I applied Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance and also a Grunge texture and slight frame. I turned down the grunge filter and upped the stains before I applied it to the piece.

I finished with my signature and saved the large file, then resampled to display here as today's image.

Listening --- Kirk Mathew Gatzka --- I'm Raw

"Acoustic Magazine No. 3" Fake Cover -Corel PhotoPaint

Acoustic Magazine No. 3

Digital Collage is great fun for a creative exercise, so I did another "Acoustic Magazine No. 3" for today's image. Old magazine tearings and cutouts were used and scanned in with my Canon MP495. I used Corel PhotoPaint to assemble the pieces scanned at 300 dpi.

I used the fonts I have previously used on these projects (please refer to the first "issue.") I saved the large file with my signature and then resampled for display here. I don't know if I will make anymore of these fake parody covers or not, I hope you enjoy the humor and the balancing of text phrases and images.

Listening --- Blind Blake --- West Coast Blues

"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

"Favorite Book" Corel Painter 11 - PhotoPaint

Favorite Book

Today I felt like digital painting so I opened a photograph of my Grandson and his "Favorite Book," in Corel Painter 11. I quick cloned it with a white background and began painting in Gouache. I painted his head, face and body with it and then switched to a large Chalk. I used texture with the Chalk brush for the background.

I also used the Soft Cloner for some detail in his face. Then I used a Digital Watercolor brush and painted in some flesh tones, and a touch of color in the background. I selected a thin Pastel chalk brush and added the lines for definition.

I adjusted the texture with Image Luminance, and upped the saturation to boost the colors. I also decreased the value for some depth. I cropped the image to show only him and his book. Then saved the large file.

I opened it in PhotoPaint and added my signature, saved again then resampled for display here, saving that iteration. I opened the file in Picasa 3 and viewed the full screen image. I like the image so I am sharing it for your enjoyment.

Listening --- 4Hero --- Morning Child

"Acoustic Magazine No. 2" Fake Cover - Corel PhotoPaint

Acoustic Magazine No. 2

I liked doing the first "issue" of "Acoustic Magazine," so I did a second. I scanned in ripped pieces and cutouts from old magazines and created issue No. 2., though both lack real magazine content. I only do fake covers.

I used Corel PhotoPaint for the project and after placing all pieces and text phrases I merged then used the Tone Curve for some depth to the colors. I did use the same fonts as the previous fake cover.

I saved the large file before resampling for displaying here. I think it is a nice parody. Some tongue in cheek humor here for you to enjoy.

Listening --- Alan Jackson --- Gone Country