richrd
New Forum Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by richrd on Jul 3, 2024 13:30:34 GMT
I've been wanting to take a certain pic to hang on the wall. After putting it off for 4 years I finally took the shot. Now I don't know what to do with it. I think I want to desaturate a bit, add noise, and maybe a square crop?
My first question is would a square crop work? and what would you do with it. The first shot is as taken,
  |
|
|
|
Post by hmca on Jul 3, 2024 15:00:09 GMT
I always struggle with cropping myself. While I do like a square crop I'm not so sure I would use it on this picture as I think it might make it look too "boxy". As far as your picture goes, I really like the original. I like seeing the blue evening sky behind the trees and the light on the bike. I might crop a bit off the bottom. Will be interested to see what others suggest. Just a quick crop. 
Wanted to see what it might look like in B/W. Plus always like thinking about what a picture would look like framed.  |
|
|
|
Post by hmca on Jul 4, 2024 0:03:09 GMT
Reread your post and the look you might want for your picture and tried something else. Wondered if this might be closer to what you had in mind?  |
|
richrd
New Forum Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by richrd on Jul 4, 2024 0:07:46 GMT
I'm looking at the files. I shot in raw then converted to jpeg, some have minor cropping and some none. the raw files had around 13.5 mp, but jepg only 8. This makes me wonder how big I can print this, and if I need to over sharpen if I want to print on canvas. I seldom have anything printed so school me a bit.
|
|
richrd
New Forum Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by richrd on Jul 4, 2024 0:12:59 GMT
Helen, I think that might be a little bright, I would maybe bring down the high lights and then maybe drop the over all exposure.
|
|
|
|
Post by hmca on Jul 4, 2024 0:34:13 GMT
Helen, I think that might be a little bright, I would maybe bring down the high lights and then maybe drop the over all exposure. That would be easy enough to do....but still not sure what "look" you are looking for. Also wondering if you might like more of a "Grunge" look. As far as creating a canvas print. You might want to check out Canvas Champs. There prices are reasonable. I have used them for two canvas prints and was satisfied with the results. I'm hoping some of our other members might try to help you out. You may have to wait a bit to hear from them. |
|
|
|
Post by Lillias on Jul 4, 2024 9:53:30 GMT
First off I am not a photographer so, just sayin’... I think the first thing you have to address is what look you are going for and really only you know that. I get the impression that you want something a bit understated perhaps, low key, moody even. I could of course be off on the wrong track entirely. Anyway with that in mind for my first attempt I took the original into Topaz Studio and applied the Bluesy Trees filter from the Texture Effects - Earthy selection. For my second attempt I applied the Stormy Seas filter from the Texture Effects - Earthy selection. For the reasons Helen mentioned I don’t think a square crop works so well with this image hence I have cropped it as you see. I also noted that the resolution of your image is given as 240. I changed that to 300 because that as I understand it is the minimum required for printing but I am not an expert on this. Bluesy Trees Filter applied.  Stormy Seas Filter applied.  |
|
|
|
Post by cats4jan on Jul 4, 2024 10:03:11 GMT
I am torn. I can’t choose a favorite. Although, not usually a fan of b/w, in this case, b/w looks very good. I’m also leaning towards Helen’s last attempt. As for cropping, I’m not against square., but again, they all look pretty good. Guess this isn’t very helpful …
|
|
richrd
New Forum Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by richrd on Jul 4, 2024 15:51:08 GMT
Lill, your two pics are pretty much what I keep coming back to. I'm getting pretty much the same in literoom. What I'm wondering is would that be too dark in print, or would I want to bump the exposure a bit.
Does what looks good on the sscreen always look good in print?
I know I don't want true b/w. I want to de-saturate but leave a small amount of tone or color.
|
|
pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,359
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by pontiac1940 on Jul 4, 2024 16:35:37 GMT
My first question is would a square crop work? Hi richrd NOTE: Before playing, I did not look at any of the suggestions offered just so I'd not be influenced. I tried a square crop and felt it did not work to my eye. Extra space is needed on top and bottom. The image was desaturated and the sepia tone applied. (Effects>Effects>Monotone Color>Tint Sepia) Somewhere in the process I opened it in Adobe Camera Raw and played with levels, contrast and clarity. It became somewhat noisy which along with the sepia hue seems to work. Good luck, Clive EDIT: I now think this needs more red.  |
|
pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,359
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by pontiac1940 on Jul 4, 2024 16:39:04 GMT
2.0 .... more red  |
|
|
|
Post by Lillias on Jul 4, 2024 17:42:56 GMT
Lill, your two pics are pretty much what I keep coming back to. I'm getting pretty much the same in literoom. What I'm wondering is would that be too dark in print, or would I want to bump the exposure a bit. Does what looks good on the sscreen always look good in print? I know I don't want true b/w. I want to de-saturate but leave a small amount of tone or color. To take your first question “ would that be too dark in print, or would I want to bump the exposure a bit” honestly, I don’t know. I don’t really have any experience in this field myself but I know that where you get your prints done can make a difference and I don’t have any info on that. If you plan on printing them yourself, again, a lot depends on your printer set up I guess. It’s all trial and error as far as I can see. In regards to image lightness you could also check the histogram and you could possibly print out a small photo before ordering prints. Perhaps this link will afford you some help as to printing and quality of prints. shotkit.com/how-big-can-you-print-a-photo/ Can I also point you to a thread on the forum here which I think you may find helpful in that it explains the advantages of creating a file for the size you want and then convert your image to a smart object and clip it to the image size. photoshopelementsandmore.com/thread/9376/printing-phone-files |
|
|
|
Post by tourerjim on Jul 7, 2024 19:23:53 GMT
Thought I'd have quick play as well  |
|
richrd
New Forum Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by richrd on Jul 8, 2024 20:44:43 GMT
Well, I went back and played again. still come up with a slight foreground crop, a bit of noise, and desaturated not quite to b/w. I thought I was happy. Then Jim shows up with cool shadow of the bike and ..................
|
|
richrd
New Forum Member
Posts: 16
|
Post by richrd on Jul 8, 2024 20:52:38 GMT
Now for details, when I started this edit, I noticed that only had 8mp and dimensions of about 2900 x 4300. Not enough for the large print I wanted. I went to a couple of camera forums trying to figure out what happened. One forum gave me one answer that was highly technical goobledygoop and had nothing to do with the answer. The other forum stumpped a few people before one guy suggested checking a setting in the menu that I've never heard of. That was it. So I will most likley not print this one, but wait til next may when I can go to eastern Tennessee to reshoot.
|
|
