Image Editing software

I've been playing around with my editing software today, and it's astonishing how much you can achieve from very poor originals. Of course, if I learned to expose the picture properly in the first place I wouldn't have to do this.

Before
After

Most of that was done with adjusting levels. It's far from perfect, but at least I managed to retrieve something from the picture.

This next one is more exotic. In the original, the background is a sludgy pale brown. It was nice, but didn't show the foliage off to its advantage. I wanted to sharpen the whole thing up. I used layers to create a template of the plant (which is untouched), and then created a new background with a colour gradient tool. The effect is of studio back-lighting, and although slightly extreme it brings a lot more life to the image.

Click to enlarge

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This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. Ramunas

    5 Jan 2007

    /me loves his GIMP 😛

  2. Words

    5 Jan 2007

    Hi Darko

    Thanks for the feedback.

    For the landscape I mainly used the software which came with the camera (Digital Photo Professional) to adjust the RAW files. Then normal software to finish.

    I'm using PhotoImpact (old software, but I'm exploring more of it). I wondered about the lines in the blue area and I think you're right about the pencil tool. I remember testing it out. I'll remember to use the brush in future! I used the brush rubber for removing the original background, but yes probably should have softened edges slightly.

    I'm just debating whether to upgrade PhotoImpact or switch to PS Elements 5 (I can't afford the CS series).

  3. gdare

    5 Jan 2007

    What kind of software you have used? I think, the same results can be achieved with Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photopaint… Is it maybe a software you got with camera? You did good job with leaves (good idea), but some smoothing edges should have been used. I am not sure, but I think you have used pencil tool to fill some areas with blue colour 🙂 And brush rubber tool for cleaning…

  4. ALLY_G

    5 Jan 2007

    I love your exotic style photo with leaves. It looks very alive. :up:

  5. Words

    14 Jan 2007

    Just to update on the software… I've downloaded the Gimp and may give it a go, though I'm not wild about the interface. For now mostly I'm sticking with PhotoImpact until I get more time to deal with learning new tricks… old dogs and all that… 😉

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