"Bright Petunias and The Bridge" Corel Painter - Paint.NET - Corel PSP Pro X3

Bright Petunias

The Bridge

I began this image with a Dover Publications Sampler of Petunias in black and white. I opened in Painter 11 and selected the Camel Watercolors Brush and painted the Floral. I selected unusual colors for a punchy effect to the image. 

I then used a Gouache Cover Brush resized for the solid colors in the background. I saved that iteration and from Picasa 3.9 opened with Corel PSP Pro X3. I upped the colors with Saturation Vibrancy. I added my signature with the Visible Watermark tool. 

I then proceeded to experiment with differing frames for enhancement of the painting. I selected the black and white scroll work and then I added the ornate frame, still in PSP Pro X3. 

The second image is from a Challenge photograph on Painter Talk Forum. I manipulated the image in Paint.NET, using the Oil Paint effect. I saved that iteration and opened from Picasa with Corel PSP Pro X3 and added Brush Strokes and some Vibrancy to the colors. 

I simplified the colors using Posterize for an even more painterly feel. I then added a Paper Texture to the image and saved, then resized for display, added my signature and saved..

Two Painterly Images today! Click on them for more detailed views.

I had time to practice my guitar playing yesterday and worked on the finger calluses on my left hand. I did play some Blues lead with a Backing Track as well as played chord progressions and some songs. I ended up with a gravelly throat for I was really punching out the choruses! Sore fingers today but a satisfied inner self. 

"Grunge 6 and 12 String Guitars Digital Collage" Picasa - Corel

Grunge 6 and 12 String Guitars Digital Collage

With today's digital collage I started with Picasa 3.9. Using the CTRL key I selected individual photographs of the 6 and 12 String guitars photos. I used Picasa's Collage maker feature and selected a mosaic of the photographs. The touch of red comes from our dining area that is a sittings area now. and I used the couch as a background for the photographs.

I saved the collage automatically in Picasa and then opened with Corel PhotoPaint. I applied the Local Equalization tool, for the High Contrast with a full 255 setting. I then used the Tone Curve tool for adding depth to the colors.

I like what I had but decided to add just a touch more Grunge to the image. I saved the original large iteration, resampled to a display setting, adding my signature. I used Filter Forge's Metal Rust to that. I used a rust addition that added only a small amount of metal rust to the image. I saved that digital collage.

With this collage I have just about used up the 28 or so photographs I did with my recent Guitars Photo shoot. I may use them in other images but I think it's time to practice on my 12-String, I could use some practice!

"High Contrast Guitars" Corel - Plus

High Contrast Guitars

From my recent photo shoot of our two guitars, I used my Canon Rebel XTI DSLR to take these. I opened Picasa 3.9 and browsed the photographs, I selected this one of the full bodies close up, with just a small gap between them.

I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and applied the Local Equalization, for the High Contrast. I used the Tone Curve to give depth to the image. I like the wood and lines that are emphasized.

Using the Filter Forge plugin I added a slight film frame deepening the color of the edges. Keeping the color dark and contrasting I saved the image with my signature and then resized for display.

"Waiting to be Played Today" Corel PSP Pro X3

Waiting to be Played Today

I really should practice on my Seagull C12 12-String today, it is my favorite guitar, of our two. Here is another photograph taken with sunlight coming from the right hand side of the image with darker shadows to the left. I laid them out on the brown couch, the C12 on it's side and the Lyon 6 on it's back.

I opened Corel PSP Pro X3 and selected this photograph to adjust. I am enjoying the workflow I have done recently on the other Guitar photographs. Noise Removal, Smart Photo Fix, Saturation Vibrancy, Color Balance Tungsten and High Pass Sharpen. This really warms up the image and shows off the deep wood tones of both of them.

If you look close you can see my etching on the 12-String's pick guard. I selected a Hummingbird instead of a Seagull. It being a smaller bird and the addition of some floral touches. Just above the pick guard you can see my playing scars on the soundhole, this guitar has seen many years of stylized rhythm playing and now some scale playing. It's hard to bend two strings at a time when playing lead. But it is rewarding to play a little Blues in pentatonic scale with a backtrack.

The Lyon 6 is my least favorite guitar. If it were a higher priced Washburn I would be happier with it's tone, but unfortunately it sounds more muddy than I like. Lesson learned when it comes to guitars spend a little bit more to get a better guitar! It is my son's guitar and he has a hard time pressing on the fingerboard as it is a narrow one and his hands are on the large side. So he is trying to learn to play his Yamaha Portable Grand Piano. He likes it much better.

"Of Crossed Guitars Seagull C12 and Lyon 6" Corel PSP Pro X3

Crossed Guitars Seagull C12 and Lyon 6

From my photography session the other day. I crossed the two guitars to contrast them and their differences. I used a brown couch and a patterned pillow to prop them up at the crossing point.

I opened from Picasa 3.9 update with Corel PSP Pro X3, I recently reviewed Corel's newer X5 version, very nice implementation.

In PSP Pro X3 I applied the Digital Camera Noise Removal, and the Smart Photo Fix with an increase in color. I wanted a sharp warm image so I applied the High Pass Sharpen tool and the Effects Color Balance Fluorescent Warm. I then increased the Saturation with Vibrancy to punch up the colors. I used KPT Collections Equalizer for some additional Vibrance, turning up the settings.

I added my copyright and name and saved the large iteration. Then I resized for display and saved with an new iteration name.

Today is a busy day so to even have time to do this was precious time. Glad I could do it!