Hey Jon!

[jimnyc]

Any good programs (besides photoshop) that you can recommend for a newbie with photos, to be able to fix, cleanup or enhance photos? I tried the one you recommended in the other thread, Neatimage, but couldn't do anything with it because I suck! I need an easier one apparently! :)

[Jon]

Any good programs (besides photoshop) that you can recommend for a newbie with photos, to be able to fix, cleanup or enhance photos? I tried the one you recommended in the other thread, Neatimage, but couldn't do anything with it because I suck! I need an easier one apparently! :)

NeatImage is great for removing noise (grain) from an image, but it doesn't really do much else.

Hmm. How about this. Post a link to a high resolution photo that you'd like to improve, and perhaps how you'd like to improve it.

Then, I'll give you a step-by-step on how I would approach 'fixing' it?

Do you have a copy of Photoshop CS2?

[jimnyc]

NeatImage is great for removing noise (grain) from an image, but it doesn't really do much else.

Hmm. How about this. Post a link to a high resolution photo that you'd like to improve, and perhaps how you'd like to improve it.

Then, I'll give you a step-by-step on how I would approach 'fixing' it?

Do you have a copy of Photoshop CS2?

I don't have CS2, but I can have it, and installed in a few hours. :)

Here's just one photo I took a few days ago. Just an example of course, but it's a start. I never get the great coloring or clarity that you guys get. And hell, I even had my camera on a tripod to make sure my coffee infested shaky hands didn't ruin the picture! (click on it for full resolution)

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/9009/img0161uz2.th.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0161uz2.jpg)

[Jon]

I don't have CS2, but I can have it, and installed in a few hours. :)

Here's just one photo I took a few days ago. Just an example of course, but it's a start. I never get the great coloring or clarity that you guys get. And hell, I even had my camera on a tripod to make sure my coffee infested shaky hands didn't ruin the picture! (click on it for full resolution)

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/9009/img0161uz2.th.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0161uz2.jpg)

:thumb:

I'll try to get back to you with something by the end of the day. 1600X1200 is pro'lly big enough to play around with, but it would be best to have the original size. Garbage in, garbage out dontcha know. ;)

[Jon]

Yeah. I'll need the original version to do much with this. The JPEG artifacts are messing with the quality.

[jimnyc]

Yeah. I'll need the original version to do much with this. The JPEG artifacts are messing with the quality.

That is the original! Is this your polite way of telling me my camera sucks? :laugh2:

I have the resolution set to 1600x1200 but it can go up to 2592x1944. The higher resolution I use the larger the pictures come out, and then everyone yells at me!

[Jon]

That is the original! Is this your polite way of telling me my camera sucks? :laugh2:

I have the resolution set to 1600x1200 but it can go up to 2592x1944. The higher resolution I use the larger the pictures come out, and then everyone yells at me!

Hrm. Maybe your first lesson should be "Image Resizing in Photoshop".

Baby steps. :poke:

:laugh2:


I'll play around with that one a bit more later today and see if I can give you some pointers.

[diuretic]

I don't know how useful this is but I use The Gimp to help with my photos. But there are a couple of reasons for that:

1. I use Linux as my os
2. I am a frigging cheapskate and will not pay for Photoshop (The Gimp is free, as in free beer)

I'm not a Linux fanboy (really, I'm not) but there are a lot of free (as in beer) programmes for touching up photos. I've got one that makes me look intelligent, wealthy and successful with women (okay, that's liquor, I lied :laugh2:)

[jimnyc]

Hrm. Maybe your first lesson should be "Image Resizing in Photoshop".

Baby steps. :poke:

:laugh2:


I'll play around with that one a bit more later today and see if I can give you some pointers.

Don't have PS, but I'll try the CS2 you recommended sometime today. I do have a program I downloaded last year specifically for image resizing. It's just that whenever I resize them I lose too much quality. Would PS allow me to resize without losing quality?

[jimnyc]

I use The Gimp to help with my photos.

Do you think he can swing by my place and fix my camera/photos? :)

[Jon]

Don't have PS, but I'll try the CS2 you recommended sometime today. I do have a program I downloaded last year specifically for image resizing. It's just that whenever I resize them I lose too much quality. Would PS allow me to resize without losing quality?

CS2 is a version of PS. ;)

Yes, PS will allow you to resize without perceptibly losing quality. In fact, downsized correctly, your images will look better.

[jimnyc]

CS2 is a version of PS. ;)

Yes, PS will allow you to resize without perceptibly losing quality. In fact, downsized correctly, your images will look better.

Interesting, will be scouring my "user friendly" sites in a few moments for CS2! That's what I get for relying on them damn freeware programs. I knew I should have been a pirate from the get go! LOL

[jafar00]

Any good programs (besides photoshop) that you can recommend for a newbie with photos, to be able to fix, cleanup or enhance photos? I tried the one you recommended in the other thread, Neatimage, but couldn't do anything with it because I suck! I need an easier one apparently! :)

http://www.gimp.org/ its free :)

[jimnyc]

http://www.gimp.org/ its free :)

My bad then! Thanks, Jafar! I thought it was only for those running linux. :)

[jimnyc]

Ok, Jon, I went out and "bought" CS2. This is my first attempt at resizing the pic, also ran the "sharpen filter".

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9517/jordan2je1.th.jpg (http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jordan2je1.jpg)

[Abbey Marie]

Do you think he can swing by my place and fix my camera/photos? :)

I don't think gimps can swing much. He can perhaps hobble on over, though. :D

[Jon]

Ok, Jon, I went out and "bought" CS2. This is my first attempt at resizing the pic, also ran the "sharpen filter".

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9517/jordan2je1.th.jpg (http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jordan2je1.jpg)


Here is my take:


http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=584&stc=1&d=1189621488


Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Levels
Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Color
Filter -> Distort -> Lens Correction -> Vignette Amount = -50
Ctrl+Alt+I ->width=640, height=480, resample image=bicubic
Filter -> Unsharp Mask -> 150%, 0.3, 0
Ctrl+Alt+C ->width=660, height=500, canvas extension color=white
File->Save For Web->Quality=100

[jimnyc]

Jon, I saved those settings to a txt file to practice myself. Are those similar settings that will be taken with most photos, or are they all going to vary based on lighting and background?

[Sitarro]

Here is my take:


http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=584&stc=1&d=1189621488


Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Levels
Image -> Adjustments -> Auto Color
Filter -> Distort -> Lens Correction -> Vignette Amount = -50
Ctrl+Alt+I ->width=640, height=480, resample image=bicubic
Filter -> Unsharp Mask -> 150%, 0.3, 0
Ctrl+Alt+C ->width=660, height=500, canvas extension color=white
File->Save For Web->Quality=100

Looks great Jon. I have had some really bazaar stuff happen with auto levels, have you?

[Jon]

Looks great Jon. I have had some really bazaar stuff happen with auto levels, have you?

Yep.

I don't normally use auto...anything. I didn't want to get into any more advanced stuff with Jim. Baby steps. ;)

[Jon]

Jon, I saved those settings to a txt file to practice myself. Are those similar settings that will be taken with most photos, or are they all going to vary based on lighting and background?

They're going to stay pretty similar.

You can vary the unsharp mask settings depending on how far the individual image can be sharpened before getting 'jaggies' or 'halos'. Play around with those settings and you'll see what I mean.

The vignette settings are optional and will vary depending on the individual shot and your personal taste.

[jimnyc]

How about this one, Jon? Ran the stuff you recommended! This is my little buddy that stops by from time to time outside my upstairs window. He apparently likes the acorns that get caught up in the gutters!

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8076/img0127gc9.th.gif (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0127gc9.gif)

[82Marine89]

I don't know how useful this is but I use The Gimp to help with my photos. But there are a couple of reasons for that:

1. I use Linux as my os
2. I am a frigging cheapskate and will not pay for Photoshop (The Gimp is free, as in free beer)

I'm not a Linux fanboy (really, I'm not) but there are a lot of free (as in beer) programmes for touching up photos. I've got one that makes me look intelligent, wealthy and successful with women (okay, that's liquor, I lied :laugh2:)

Why don't you use that one here? :poke::laugh2:

[Jon]

How about this one, Jon? Ran the stuff you recommended! This is my little buddy that stops by from time to time outside my upstairs window. He apparently likes the acorns that get caught up in the gutters!

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8076/img0127gc9.th.gif (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0127gc9.gif)



It looks like Save To Web defaulted to the .gif filetype. You want JPEG.

;)

Go through the steps again and it should come out with a bit better quality.

[darin]

How about this one, Jon? Ran the stuff you recommended! This is my little buddy that stops by from time to time outside my upstairs window. He apparently likes the acorns that get caught up in the gutters!

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8076/img0127gc9.th.gif (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0127gc9.gif)

Just say it jim - that little fella likes your nuts.

[jimnyc]

Just say it jim - that little fella likes your nuts.

Probably a female squirrel, and that's the response I generally get from all females. :laugh2:

[Sitarro]

Probably a female squirrel, and that's the response I generally get from all females. :laugh2:

if it's a male you will be able to tell from across the yard, their yarbles are way out of proportion.

[jimnyc]

Alright, Jon, been messing around with some older pictures and the settings you gave me, varying just a little to what seems to work best. These aren't the greatest of course but are a lot better than the originals!

[Jon]

Alright, Jon, been messing around with some older pictures and the settings you gave me, varying just a little to what seems to work best. These aren't the greatest of course but are a lot better than the originals!


:thumb: :clap:

I'm glad I was able to help.