PaintShop-Pro X2 - How do I...?

[Halcyon]

I realise that this may alientate me from everyone one here for not using Photoshop, ;) but I've been using PSP from very early days and I guess I'm used to the tools and interface.. It normally does everything I need, except now....

A girl I shot recently has asked if I can "photochop" her love handles a bit. Bless her, she absolutely gorgeous but felt slightly self-concious about these tiny, tiny bulges above the waist-line of her trousers (pants).

So, how would you, and is there an easy way, to remove, blend, use pixie dust and magic, to make this girl feel slightly (however falsely!) better about herself?

Many thanks

[Coach]

There's "Thinify" from the makeover tools, "push" from the warp tools, or cloning. Try not to over-do it or it won't look natural.

[Halcyon]

Thanks Coach

The thinify affects the whole body - you click in the centre-line of the body and it brings everything "in" so the bulges will remain.

I'll try the push tool from the warp section and see how I get on.

Anyone else have any tips? :)

[dekalbSTEEL]

Post an example so we can have a go at it? ( blur out the face first if needed)

[Halcyon]

I had a go at my self, a bit of a manual process, by here goes:
using the freehand selection tool I looped around the side of her body (a few mm either side) from the curve as the hip starts going out to the belt line. I rotated that selection a couple of degrees, moved it in slightly so the top lined up then used the clone tool to follow the body line back down to the waist-line.

It's not perfect, but this is a very close crop and it was my first attempt! :-D

Before:
http://www.nimbusphotographic.co.uk/images/before.jpg

and after:
http://www.nimbusphotographic.co.uk/images/after.jpg

I'm happy enough with the result and so was she, and I guess that's what counts, in the end!

[number six]

Interesting exercise. Looks to me the best tool is the warp mesh. It's in PSP XI in the Effects menu: effects -> distortion effects -> warp.

I played with it for a while and found some reasonable parameters, then pushed the picture around in six steps.

Here's your before:

295263

and here's my after:

295264

You could make her as skinny as you like with more steps.

-js

[number six]

Here are the six steps, working downwards on the bulge:

295265


and these are the numbers I used (note that vertically minus is up, horizontally minus is left, and minus strength is to the left):

295266

[number six]

Oops. Halcyon, I didn't see that you don't have "image editing OK" checked in your profile. If it's not OK I'll delete the above posts.

-js

[Wilt]

Next thing you know, you'll be offering bust augmentations to your female clients!

[number six]

Next thing you know, you'll be offering bust augmentations to your female clients!


Hmmmmm.....

[Beaufort 12]

Isn't the best advice against love handles not Photoshop, but making love?

Uses up a lot of calories.

[Halcyon]

Thank you number 6, you've obvioulsy spend a lot of time researching this, you are indeed a free man ;-)

I see that the warp tool maintains a more realistic shadowing, which is great improvement. Thanks!

I'll have a go myself and I'll keep my fingers crossed that my results are anywhere near as good as yours ;-)

As for Beaufort's comment:
Well, I'd offer, but you'd be amazed at how many gorgeous women don't throw themselves at me...

[Wilt]

Isn't the best advice against love handles not Photoshop, but making love?

Uses up a lot of calories.

Only about the amount equivalent to eight olives or equal to HALF of a slice of bread, and only when very vigorously done! Otherwise about 4 olives or a 1/4 slice of bread.

[Beaufort 12]

Only about the amount equivalent to eight olives or equal to HALF of a slice of bread, and only when very vigorously done! Otherwise about 4 olives or a 1/4 slice of bread.

Doesn't this depend on the technique?