March Graphically Challenged

**Robyn Gough** · 03-04-2009, 07:42 AM

Are you ready for the next Graphically Challenged?

Ok, so last month was an easy one, this one will be a little trickier!

This months challenge is to create a layout with the photo filling the entire page AND use a creative photo editing technique on the photo.

To give you an idea of what I mean I have done a tutorial on Cross Processing in photoshop.

Hopefully those of you using other software may be able to replicate the effect. It is a bit of a tricky tutorial, so if you are unable to manage it feel free to use a different CREATIVE photo editing technique to make your photo POP.

The Rules

You must use a DSP product (or lots and lots of products) in your layout. This can be store purchased, freebies, etc.
You must have your layout in the Graphically Challenged with Robyn gallery by midnight on the 31st of March in order to be eligible for the drawing.
You must link back in this thread, so that I can grab a random winner from this thread.

What can you win?
One person will be randomly chosen at the end of the month and will receive a $3.99 store coupon!

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with! Lets get blending!! You can get your Graphically Challenged Flair Here!

caraffle · 03-04-2009, 11:49 AM

marking this thread, I will find time to play sometime this month.

jemtred · 03-04-2009, 12:09 PM

OK - I should find time for one of these if I can understand the tutorial!! I'll be back later this month....

bludlfn003 · 03-04-2009, 12:30 PM

marking my spot.

debilou · 03-04-2009, 12:45 PM

Falling Creek Falls

Ok, I didn't do cross processing - instead I did a infared conversion and a new way of sharpening black and whites that I learned..

I first worked with the photo in camera raw to pull out the colors as much as possible.
Then a B & W conversion
Then I used Scott Kelby's Infared Conversion - using the Color Balance in the CS4 new Adjustment panel.
Added a mask and painted with white.. on the water falls to bring out those highlights.
Painted with white (or he calls it painting with LIGHT) on the falls
Sharpened using Filters > high pass (.6)
then a blend mode of Luminosity
Ok a had a photo I could use at this point.

The started a new document to build a layout using
Lauren Bavin's Blended Memory Overlays. This of couse required Blend modes on all four layers to get these results.

Comments are welcome, please...

evergreen100 · 03-04-2009, 03:21 PM

Registering my interest

...now to go study the tut and see if it is within my powers to convert it to my programme...any PSPers out there who would like to do it for me????

mom2bsa · 03-04-2009, 03:28 PM

Marking my spot as well - getting ready to review the tutorial.

**Robyn Gough** · 03-04-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evergreen100

Registering my interest

...now to go study the tut and see if it is within my powers to convert it to my programme...any PSPers out there who would like to do it for me????

I so wish I could do it for you! I don't even have PSP let alone know how to use it. I must have a play in PSE and see if you can do Cross Processing in there.

*stitchmich* · 03-04-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evergreen100

Registering my interest

...now to go study the tut and see if it is within my powers to convert it to my programme...any PSPers out there who would like to do it for me????

Jill, I don't think I realized you were a fellow PSP user. I am going to give it a go and we can help each other out.

debilou · 03-04-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robyn Gough

I so wish I could do it for you! I don't even have PSP let alone know how to use it. I must have a play in PSE and see if you can do Cross Processing in there.

Gosh I know PSE WAY better than CS4 (which is all I use now)... But I did my best to cross process a photo in PSE - that I had done in CS4.

Without the curves channels... it's pretty hard..

The rest of the process is pretty easy the fill and the levels adjustments...

but the first part - the separated red, blue green input/output channels.. I found pretty hard to accomplish, unless you knew EXACTLY what the numbers needed to be in levels...

maybe you found another way around, hope so..

**Robyn Gough** · 03-04-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debilou

Gosh I know PSE WAY better than CS4 (which is all I use now)... But I did my best to cross process a photo in PSE - that I had done in CS4.

Without the curves channels... it's pretty hard..

The rest of the process is pretty easy the fill and the levels adjustments...

but the first part - the separated red, blue green input/output channels.. I found pretty hard to accomplish, unless you knew EXACTLY what the numbers needed to be in levels...

maybe you found another way around, hope so..

I will have to play around with it later on. I don't know PSE really well but can fumble my way around it! Might do some googling as well. ;-)

debilou · 03-04-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robyn Gough

I will have to play around with it later on. I don't know PSE really well but can fumble my way around it! Might do some googling as well. ;-)

That Mr. Google is pretty darn smart.

I have access to Lynda.com this month...hey I look there too.

tg13 · 03-04-2009, 05:50 PM

This is something I want to try, I love the Graphically Challenges - I learn so much from them

Going to find a cool photo to work with.

**Robyn Gough** · 03-04-2009, 06:35 PM

Just found this, a smart curves plugin which appears to work for PSE.

I can't try it right now, but will give it a go a little later on.
http://free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html

debilou · 03-04-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robyn Gough

Just found this, a smart curves plugin which appears to work for PSE.

I can't try it right now, but will give it a go a little later on.
http://free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html

Drats it's for Windows, I have a Mac..