Photo editing programs

[hhpminis]

OK, I have several photo editing programs. Before I get another one I want some opinions of which one will do what I want.

The programs I have do a lot as far as correction with color, clarity, etc. What I would really like to be able to do nicely is take a picture and cut the horse or whatever object out of it and place it on a trasparent background. Create a mural or collage of different objects that I can put on any background that I want.

I know photoshop can do it but it is really expensive and am looking for a less expensive program that will do similar. For what I have spent in trial and error I could have bought photoshop! OH!

I have programs that I can trace the object but I am not steady enough, or patient, to get a nice cut out.

What do you all use and like?

 

[Reble]

I do not have a steady hand either, what people have done, I am guessing need a steady hand?

Love to see the replys

 

[Buckskin gal]

I have several photo programs on the computer but find Photo Shop does the best. You can upload a trial version of Photo Shop Elements and give that a try. There is also such a thing as feathering around the picture which makes it look more natural when we don't get a real good cutout. Mary

 

[MiniHunterHorseFan]

I use Photo Impact Pro and you can mask everything around the object and 'paint' over the object and then take it out and use it on another picture. The lines are not so sharp and not easily noticed as a 'cutout'.

 

[Sterling]

I use Photo Explosion Deluxe. What I do is use the crop or clone. It's not that hard to work with....I can't remember what I paid for mine tho, but it has so many other neat features. I use it all the time so I'm happy with it. I'll see if I can get a sample of what I've done for ya.

Here's a few that I did up as Christmas cards. The first two was when I first got the program. The last one was a cut out from Micro Soft Picture It.

 

[Lucky-C-Acres-Minis]

I have programs that I can trace the object but I am not steady enough, or patient, to get a nice cut out.What do you all use and like?

Believe me, you gotta have a steady hand AND patience to get a good cut.. And it takes practice, practice, practice!!! I know each program varies, but the one I use (Microsoft Picture It) has the option of trimming/cutting an area out, so when I started I would cut a small section at a time away from the picture I wanted to keep.. With time and practice I've developed a steady (or at least steadier) hand and am able to trace out the whole horse for a cut..

This is one of the first ones I did for our boy:

As you can see the edges are rough..

and here is the new one of our guy I did after doing this for a couple years!

As you can see the manes and tails still give me fits, but my edges are MUCH more smoother!

You can see many other stuff I've done on my graphic website.. Link is in my signature

 

[Farmhand]

Although MS is discontinuing Digital Image Suite you can still buy it from

Amazon and you can get the anniversary edition so there will be no problem

using it on XP or Vista if you use this in the future.

I use and have recommended DI because it is easy to learn and it holds your

hand as you edit to prevent you from mistakes and very good help support and

it has great editing tools. Perfect for a beginner or for someone who wants

to edit with great tools but only uses the software once in a while.

So what if MS will not issue a new version. You can still use your version

with full support.

If you want to switch you can go with Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0. Will

certainly do the job, great tools but not as user friendly as DI.

 

[angel_cowgirl]

I love Photoshop and ImageReady.

Anyone got any good tips (or know a website for tips and tricks) about using Photoshop, especially cutting things out like being discussed here? I can do pretty good at the stuff I do but always looking for ways to improve. I LOVE how feathering looks on pictures. I have fits with cloning, it gets complicated and doesnt go into small areas well. The wand works well to select things too but sometimes I just can't get it to select the entire area I need. So, anyway, just lookin for some tips.

 

[coopermini]

We've got Microsoft DI and I can do lots with editing and fixing light and colors. i can take out items leads etc. but have not been able to take an image out and past into new backgroung with it. Some times it will not take out everything I need it to.

We have one version of Adobe that is not very user friendly at all. I took it off my computer.

Also looking for everyone opinion.

Lucky C did a couple photos for me that came out great and i thought the original photo would be very difficult to even use at all.

mark

 

[ClickMini]

Annette, you just can't beat Photoshop! I think Photoshop Elements will also allow you to do this. People who do it for a living use Photoshop and a Wacom Tablet. It is HARD to do it using a mouse! Photoshop has some tools in it that allow you to paint over the area with the edges you want to extract, and it does the work for you to a large degree. Use Masking rather than cutouts while doing the editing, that way is non-destructive and you can restore areas where you accidentally went too far.

Here is a good tutorial for exactly what you want to do. http://www.equusluminous.com/masking_demo.htm

You can download a free trial of Photoshop Elements from the Adobe site: http://www.adobe.com/products/psprelements/

Honestly, I would get the combination of Photoshop and Premiere Elements if I were you. That way you can create some nice little videos to put on your web site! EASY! Give these products a try and let us know how they work for you. It is so great that you can get the trials from Adobe.

There are a ton of tutorials on the Adobe web site. I love doing web work and photo stuff, and video too, so I also subscribe to the http://www.photoshopuser.com web site for their extensive tutorial library and discounts.

If you are a member, you get 15% off from the Adobe web site.

Here is a pic I just did, it is the first time I've tried it. It was fun! And I did this one using a mouse, though I did use the extract filter which did most of the work for me.

Have fun! Oh yeah...could you please PM me your snail mailing address? I have a little present for you.

 

[wantminimore]

I went to the equusluminous web site and followed the direstions, I was doing good up until step 3. My work space looked the same as my original photo but the side space looked like the one on the equusluminous site. I have no clue about the masking part, help please!!!!

Leslie

 

[Farmhand]

We've got Microsoft DI and I can do lots with editing and fixing light and colors. i can take out items leads etc. but have not been able to take an image out and past into new backgroung with it. Some times it will not take out everything I need it to.We have one version of Adobe that is not very user friendly at all. I took it off my computer.

Also looking for everyone opinion.

Lucky C did a couple photos for me that came out great and i thought the original photo would be very difficult to even use at all.

mark

You can start here, http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/d...it/default.mspx

I have some other sites, have to find them.

 

[Sterling]

That Photoshop Elements looks pretty awesome! Maybe I ought to put that on my Christmas list!!

 

[Farmhand]

OK, I have several photo editing programs. Before I get another one I want some opinions of which one will do what I want.The programs I have do a lot as far as correction with color, clarity, etc. What I would really like to be able to do nicely is take a picture and cut the horse or whatever object out of it and place it on a trasparent background. Create a mural or collage of different objects that I can put on any background that I want.

I know photoshop can do it but it is really expensive and am looking for a less expensive program that will do similar. For what I have spent in trial and error I could have bought photoshop! OH!

I have programs that I can trace the object but I am not steady enough, or patient, to get a nice cut out.

What do you all use and like?

How to save a cutout as a separate object:

[SIZE=14pt]If you are using Digital Image:[/SIZE]

First, choose the Freehand Selection Tool

and carefully outline your subject by Left click

/ Dragging your Pointer. Just think of carefully

cutting out a paperdoll with scissors.

After you define your selection (cutout), copy

the selected object by typing...Ctrl+C...

(Also...you can add the cutout as a separate

layer to the original image by typing...Ctrl+D)

Now... open a blank canvas by left clicking

the "New" button (or Ctrl+N)...and Paste the

cutout...Ctrl+V...the blank will autofit the cutout.

You can smooth the edges of your finished

cutout by going to...Effects / Edges / Soft...

one or two points should do it.

So the simple steps are...

1) Define your selection with the

Advanced Selection tools...

2) Ctrl+C

3) Ctrl+N

4) Ctrl+V

Now you can open the image that you wish

to add the cutout to and drag the cutout onto

it. The cutout can be resized by dragging the

corner handles and repositioned by dragging

the 4-way arrow. Also...a selected object can

be nudged into position with your arrow keys.

More info.....

Mary's Graphics (Picture It! / Digital Image

Pro tutorials)

http://www.marysgraphics.com/picit.html

Scrapbook-Bytes

http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/

DIP Divas

http://www.dipdivas.blogspot.com/

kimlizzy's Digital Image Pro Tutorials

http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~kimlizzy/

Microsoft Digital Image Pro and Picture It! User Resources

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/digitalimagepro/

 

[AppyLover2]

Sterling I'm sooo glad you posted those examples of what you've done. I love 'em. I have PhotoExplosion Deluxe....now if I can just figure out how to use it. LOL

Guess I'll ask again.........where are you ladies getting the beautiful backgrounds you're using??? I know there has to be a site somewhere.

 

[Sterling]

Thanks Donna!! When I first got my Photo Explosion Deluxe I played with it and played with it. I still have things I probably don't know it can do OH! ...so I just take the winter time when there's not much going on to do that.

If you have any questions I can try and help you with it...just pm or email me!

I'm not a pro, but I work my way around things usually...if not I grab hubby and he helps me out...

As far as the backgrounds re concerned you have a CD disk that has all images that came with your Deluxe package....it's entitled "photographs" and in there there are a bunch of folders you can browse.

Edited: Forgot to mention...the second picture is a wreath I made. I hung it up on the shed, took a pic of it and then took it to Photo Explosion Deluxe. The last picture is a template I got out of my Microsoft Picture It program.

 

[Lucky-C-Acres-Minis]

Farmhand thanks for the links, especially the one for MPI!! Now I have even MORE stuff to play with!

 

[Farmhand]

You're welcome

 

[Shelley]

Sterling I'm sooo glad you posted those examples of what you've done. I love 'em. I have PhotoExplosion Deluxe....now if I can just figure out how to use it. LOL

I'm with you on that one...I purchased it and haven't used it because I couldn't figure it out. Also have Photoshop but I bought the book on it from Amazon and it was so intimidating I uninstalled the program! I have Adobe Photoshop Deluxe and can do a few things with that. But I still can't do a decent cut-out!

Shelley

 

[Dontworrybeappy]

I just upgraded to Photoshop CS3 for my Advanced Photoshop class.... have spent the last two weeks doing pretty much nothing but computer work. (Web work and photoshop assignments!)

It still takes patience and time no matter what! (and I love my Wacom tablet!)