KEVIN AGAIN!

KEVIN AGAIN!

Following on from his presentation of two weeks ago, Kevin Wells LRPS, used images chosen from his own library to give practical demonstrations of a range of Photoshop techniques.

His first ‘subject’ was an old monochrome print of a family group in need of restoration. The print had tattered edges, creases and some of the emulsion missing. Kevin demonstrated, via the digital projector, how as a first step, careful cropping could discard some of the damage and reduce the need for some of the restoration work,

Using mainly the Clone Tool and the Healing Brush Kevin removed a range of creases and blemishes. Zooming in close on the damaged area and using small brush sizes, he demonstrated how it is possible to alter very fine detail that would not be detected in the final print.

Having ‘mended’ the basic image he then went on to illustrate the use of selection tools then brushes to add colour to faces and clothing, using the opacity tool to allow the original texture and features to show through.

Kevin then reversed the process showed how to turn coloured images into monochrome with a full range of tones. He warned that not all coloured images gave a good result in this process. However a close up shot of a purple lily, which he then proceeded to turn into a delicate monochrome, showed the possibilities of the process.

Taking a completely new direction, Kevin fascinated the members by showing how very attractive abstract designs could be developed from simple strong images. Selecting a simple image of a caterpillar on a leaf, he cropped it carefully then increased the canvas size by a factor of four. He then placed his cropped image in the bottom right-hand corner of the canvas and flipped a copy horizontally. He then carefully linked the two images together, again made a copy and flipped it vertically. He used the Move Tool to make final adjustments to the image that was now a dramatic abstract.

Kevin suggested that a photographer’s imagination could be challenged by the clean and simple smoke spirals emitting from a joss stick. He had set up a very simple black background and placed a lit joss stick about two feet in front of it. The smoke trails were illuminated from the side with a flashgun. To provide a lot of choice he shot about forty images, selected four and adjusted their contrast in Photoshop.

To make his point he showed one of the images and asked members what the smoke swirls suggested. Clouds, Monsters, Faces, Mountains, Flowers and Insects were all suggested. Kevin decided to develop the ‘Monster’ theme. Bits were borrowed from another image and blended in. Eyes appeared as glowing red orbs in deep sockets, nostrils became elongated and blackened; tendrils became lengthened and threatening. The final result looked like something from a nightmare.

A member suggested that this process could be further explored in a Table Top session in one of our weekly meetings.

In the discussion that followed, a member commented on the speedy and deft way that Kevin used the mouse in making precise selections; he asked if there was any secret. Kevin replied that it was probably just practice and experience but if the member is using an optical mouse it would be best not to use a mouse-mat with text and images on it that could affect the smooth response of the cursor. He also suggested that, for working in Photoshop, it is possible to reduce the speed and sensitivity of the mouse in the control panel and this was worth a try. It is easy to change back the settings for regular work.

In his vote of thanks President John West said that after each of Kevin’s presentations members imaginations were always highly stimulated and eager to try out the new techniques.