"Of Headstocks Seagull C12 and Lyon by Washburn 6" Corel PSP Pro X3

Seagull C12 and Lyon by Washburn 6

I got out our two guitars again for more photographs of them. I took this one on a Macro setting, a close up of the Headstocks of each guitar. I used my Canon Rebel XTI for the photographs I shot this afternoon.

I loaded them onto my computer and opened in Picasa 3.9 update. I used Corel PSP Pro X3 for my workflow. As usual I applied the Digital Camera Noise Removal first, then used the Smart Photo Fix where I increased some color and sharpened it a bit. I then went to Saturation and used the Vibrancy for punch to the colors.

I went to the Effects Browser and selected lighting and tried differing lighting effects. I chose Tungsten as it gave the whole image a golden look and feel. I added my copyright and name as for some reason my PNG of my 2013 signature file is not completely transparent. I will have to adjust this so I can use my signature. I feel that a signature is better with the copyright symbol and year date, it adds class to the images I create.

I have found that if I go into Corel PhotoPaint that my bitmapped photograph loses all EXIF data which I want to keep. So I did not use it to add the signature. PSP Pro X3 allows my adding a title and copyright date and artist information using the Image Information tool. This shows up in the EXIF data of the image, which would be lost in PhotoPaint.

"A Rainy Day at Peggy's Cove" Corel Painter 11 - Paint.NET - Filter Forge

A Rainy Day at Peggy's Cove

A challenge photograph from the Painter Talk forum. I downloaded the photograph and opened it in Paint.NET. There I used the Effect Ink Sketch with the color set to zero for a black and white image. I saved that and opened it in Painter 11.

I selected various Watercolor Brushes native to Painter and painted away at differing sizes. I used a Bristle brush for the Rain - like sky adding the yellow highlights and the reflections in the water. Saving that iteration at display size I opened from Picasa 3.9 update to Corel PhotoPaint.

Here I added my signature and used Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance for punching up the colors. I saved that file to share here. Be sure to click on the image for the larger view. Thanks for your interest!

Listening to Eric Clapton Unplugged from YouTube.

"Seagull C12 Cedar 12-String Guitar Painted" Corel PSP Pro X3

Seagull C12 Cedar 12-String Guitar Painted

I angled this photograph, taken with my Canon Rebel XTI, to show the full dreadnaught body and length. I also like the colors of the Cedar top and it's Red plush case interior.

I opened the photograph with Corel PSP Pro X3 and used my beginning workflow, Noise Removal and Smart Photo Fix on it. I then went to the Effects list, selecting Art Media Effects, Art Brush Strokes, and applied the Factory Defaults to the image.

This gave it a painterly feel. I also applied the Effects, Texture Effect, Texture, selecting a noticeable Texture for the image. I used the Curves on it to give some depth to the colors.

I added a copyright notification to the EXIF information with Image Information tool and with the Text Tool on the image itself. I resized the image to display and saved that iteration.

"Of Guitar Bodies and Grunge" Picasa - Corel - Filter Forge

Of Guitar Bodies and Grunge

"Of Guitar Bodies and Grunge." Another digital collage made in Picasa 3.9 update from the Photographs I recently took. Here are four images in the collage. Three of our Lyon 6-String, at varying angles, and one of my Seagull C12 Cedar 12-String guitars.

I selected the photographs, taken with our Canon Rebel XTI, based on the bodies of the guitars. In Picasa I applied the Warmify feature for color. Then I used the HDR tool for Sharpening the image.

I was going to do an overlay of a Pencil drawing of the collage but did not like the end result so abandoned it. I decided to add texture the same way I did with my last collage of guitars. I used Corel PhotoPaint, and Filter Forge's Photo Effects Grunge. This gave me more of what I wanted and helped to make a second in a series of similar images.

I added my signature in white to the display sized collage and saved that iteration.

"Grunge 6 and 12 String Guitar Collage" Picasa - Corel - Plus

6 and 12 String Guitar Collage

Using my Canon Rebel XTI DSLR I shot a number of angled photographs of our two guitars. My Seagull C12 Cedar 12-String and my son's Lyon 6-String were both subjects. I was experimenting with angling from long end to end shots and close ups.

I put the photographs on the computer and using Picasa 3.9 update I created a collage of four of the photographs. Picasa creates large files with as much detail that is in the photographs as possible. I used the Warmify feature of Picasa to make a more unified color scheme. I then applied the HDR tool to the image.

I also used Corel PSP Pro X3 for some touch up and enhancement, saving the large secondary collage file. I resized to display size to use in Corel PhotoPaint.

In PhotoPaint I removed more noise from the collage as the HDR had made some hot spots on it. I opened Filter Forge's Photo Effects and applied the Grunge tool. This darkened the edges and gave the overall feel I wanted. I added my signature in white and saved again the display iteration.

I have playing my 12-String more often lately and today my fingers are very sore even for typing. I use a pick for strumming and playing leads to jam backtracks from GuitarTricks, which I have a complimentary 30 day subscription. I was invited to this offer recently and I am taking advantage of Acoustic and Blues Guitar lessons, with a touch of DADGAD alternate tuning lessons. It is very enjoyable, but some of the lessons are challenging.