Before & After #53

[qtaran111]

This game is to help those of us who are trying to learn new tricks when it comes to editing.

Here's the breakdown of the game. I will post a picture that I choose, resized to exactly 800 pixels maximum on the long side. Outside of being resized it has to be unedited...meaning no adjustments to any levels, it has to look like it did as it came out of the camera.

The game will last 48hrs and whoever can produce the best edited image (as judged by me) will be picked and it'll be their turn to post their unedited picture for all of us to take a crack at.

The participants must have their "Image Editing OK" turned on and they must provide at least a simple breakdown of how they edited the image, some entrants are a little vague on this point, please give us all details so we can learn and share tips. For instance if you use the unsharp mask tool or Smart Sharpen, provide us with the adjustments you used so others can try them out.

You can post multiple images, but the first image you post will be the one that is judged - all other images will be considered for knowledge and tip use only.

Also, please keep all comments, be they positive or negative, to yourself until after the game has ended.

If you happen to be the winner of the game please start the next one with the title of the game and the following number. For example…the next game should read (Before and After #54).

This is all about having fun so have at it!!!

This game will end on Friday, May 2nd at 10:00AM BST.

Game on!

http://camdenphoto.smugmug.com/photos/287444914_GcDfd-O.jpg

[S.Horton]

Lab Color Sharp, brightness only, local contrast USM, crop, B/W layer (Ilford effect, Alien Skin Exposure), gradient mask

Good capture!

http://midnightblue.smugmug.com/photos/287454139_McSQ6-L.jpg

[ZeroOne86]

-Graduated filter on sky and brillance/warmth filter with Nik software
-Tinted the windows on the trolley to get rid of the people
-Hue/Saturation
-Brightness/Contrast on the letters
-Enhanced the color on the roof of the trolley
-High Pass Sharpening layer
-Selective color
-Burn layer
-Border

[BitterSweet]

-Cloned out wires and tinted windows.
-cropped signs out
-added clouds to the sky
-bi-color filter (nik software)
-low key filter twice (with two different opacities and different orders)
-added color
-vignette and border. ( I noticed I use the vignette alot lol)

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh261/bittersweetphoto/ba53t.jpg

[Ocron]

- opened in bridge, then opened "as object" in ps, then duplicated the layer.
- brought one layer back into bridge and adjusted exposure to bring back the washed out part of building.
- back to ps and masked out the part that was now underexposed so it all looked balanced.
- added the sky with a cloud and merged visible
- did a lab color apply image to the result to give the colors some pop. blended this layer @75%.
- graduated filter on the upper part of the buildings.
- couple of contrast adjustments and brought the shadows up in shadows/highlight because because it was looking too dark.


http://ocron.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1028159439.jpg

[suzyb]

I was messing around with the filters and I kept coming back to this one.

-Did some cloning first. Cloned out the bright spot behind the triangle sign. Got rid of the people on the sidewalk and the guy hanging out the side of the trolley. I actually just blurred the people in the front windows, but the poster efffect blacked them out.
-Added a vignette. The sky looked weird totally white or totally dark when I applied the poster filter, so this way it was broken up a little bit.
-Poster edges filter.
-Border.

[SQuiP]

I figured this was a good place to start practicing my PS "painting" techniques... :D
Very little was actually done,
Slight contrast and saturation boost, hue adjustment on tram.
Paintbrush history applied to whole image
Then started playing around with various heavy brushes (burn & dodge) using a variety of sizes and opacities.
Burnt vignette and border
Looks nothing like it should, but I learnt a lot about PS!

[TheSonofDarwin]

Used levels to blow out some highlights near the sky (that's a first!)
Increased contrast
Levels again to darken everything, except I masked and painted it in gradually
Desaturated the buildings and street a bit
Painted a blue hue in, more lower to very little near the top
Painted in yellow hue, more near the top to none at the bottom
Lens flare
More contrast
Copy merged those layers, masked and revealed the lights inside the cab, the writing on the sign, and just a little the guy looking out
Used both the vignette and black/white border actions I just picked up here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=495693)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y173/thesonofdarwin/cab.jpg

[qtaran111]

Hi guys,

I have had such a hard time deliberating and I could pick any one of them as the winner. Here's my thoughts:

ZeroOne86: Great colour in the buildings and nice pop. Probably closest to the actual scene.

BitterSweet: Good blending in the new sky and cloning work. Love the warm tone and vignette.

Ocron: I think this has the best replacement sky which fits with the tone of the buildings and I liked the "retro" feel.

suzyb: I really liked this, as it was so different. I think it would work well as a graphic on a wall of trendy cafe or restaurant.

Squip: Again I thought this stood out, a very individual style. It really reminds me of something (advert perhaps?..)

TheSonofDarwin: The glow and subdued colours worked really well together. Very atmospheric.

Argh! So difficult to choose...OK, winner is TheSonofDarwin. Well done!

[BitterSweet]

Congrats TheSonofDarwin and to everyone else.

[S.Horton]

@Son -- Very interesting idea!

[ZeroOne86]

Thanks for your comments. Congrats TheSonofDarwin and to everyone else.

[TheSonofDarwin]

Wow, thanks :)

GJ everyone else! Squip I was really interested in your style. I've never used the art history brushes - it turned out nice.

Next one is up. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=5446893)

[SQuiP]

Congrats Sonofdarwin! Very nice edit, the other's I have to say was also great!
Thanks, I've practiced some more and now this one looks bad! :lol: If I spent more time on it it could have been better... I thought I needed later versions of PS, turns out with mine it just takes a bit longer.

[suzyb]

Great job, everyone!

Congrats, SonofDarwin!

[SilverHCIC]

WOW, Great job to everyone. ... SQuiP - you said that not much was actually done, but that was fantastic!! I will be studying what you did and trying to learn something from that edit. I found it very interesting!!

[SQuiP]

Wow, thanks Silver! I'll try to do a proper one some time soon ;-) (I've been hanging around a concept art forum... oh my greatness, those guys are amazing!)