Need help with picture

[Cmcburnett]

I am making a Christmas card for my BOSS from a picture he has of his daughter. I have attached, hopefully anyway, for suggestions. I couldn't quite get the picture look the way I wanted, which is like a coloring book look, or old card look. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I will be away from my computer until later this evening, so if I do not answer please don't think I'm ignoring your help.
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1TFBlFGuYPjRrHHlbxL6VXKyRnd0
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ZNfOt6R1eUj5LqIvGynyeroaU7eUP

[Russinator]

With that wonderful picture, anything you do will be good. Anyway, that's my opinion. Russ

[kevq]

Charlotte,
the first thing you must do before you try to work on your image is go to Image - Mode and change it from Index to RGB.
Theone I've posted was done using a filter called Radiance fron Xero. I don't have the URL but a google for Xero should find them. I believe it is a free download.
Don't know if this is the effect you want but it shows what can be done.
Kev:) :) :)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1KpRuypTQeYIwS6lXWYREloo0rq0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1KpRuypTQeYIwS6lXWYREloo0rq0)

[karen donnybrook]

Charlotte,

Here is my try:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1N6w9y7m9P2D1gf9f8rKYd9wOfFSI0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1N6w9y7m9P2D1gf9f8rKYd9wOfFSI0)

and my method:
1. Ctrl+J (duplicate image)
2. Ctrl+Shift+U (to take colour out)
3. Ctrl+J (duplicate grey scale layer)
4. Ctrl+I (makes the layer a negative)
5. Change the layer mode to Color Dodge
6. Go to Filter > Other > Minimum
7. Ctrl+E (to merge the top two layers)
8. Lower the opacity until you have the colour effect you want.

Hope that helps.

Karen :)

[GaryK]

Hi Charlotte

Not sure if this is what you are after or not.:)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1jl2Zdsq0XJ71pkmtRx0coPcyjHC1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1jl2Zdsq0XJ71pkmtRx0coPcyjHC1)

[NMarti]

Those are all really nice Kev, Karen and Gary.

I love the soft angelic look of yours Gary.

[GaryK]

Thanks Nancy

It was a beautiful picture to start with.:)

[kimi_boo]

Great work everyone. Charlotte she is a cutie. Was that your original or did you make the modifications? I thought about the buzz filter.:o

Gary just what did you do to your image. Love the effect.

[kimh]

Kimi, you read my mind! Was wondering the same thing, honest:eek:
I like how smooth it looks. The others are great too.
Kimh

[GaryK]

Ummmmmmmmm :D


I think it was just a duplicate layer and the smart blur filter

[Cmcburnett]

Oh my goodness, you guys never cease to amaze me. Thanks sooo much everyone. All of your remakes are so good I don't know which one to use. The look I was looking for but for the life of me couldn't figure out how to do or explain what I was trying to do was the smooth look that Gary posted, or Kev's with the painting look. Too bad Kev can't remember what he did. I think I can copy his from the one he pasted into the forum. I'm so bad. The orginal picture was just snap shot taken outdoors by a bush and the little girl was holding a teddy bear. I cropped and added the clouds, sky and wings because her dad always refers to her as his angel. Thanks again, you guys are the nicest people.;)

[msbrad]

I am just blown away by what y'all did with this photo.
Charlotte, good luck selecting.
any of them would be great. and...what is the buzz filter:confused:
Every time I think I've learned something, a whole bunch more shows up that I haven't a clue!
m

[Cmcburnett]

M, I was going to ask what the "buzz" filter was but I didn't want to push my luck. Thanks for the compliments on the photo. I'm so pleased with the things everyone has done to improved it. Can't wait to put the words on it and finally finalize the card. Only 2 more photos to make cards out of, hope it doesn't take me as long as this one did. Wish I had posted sooner.:o

[msbrad]

Well if you find out about the filter...let me know.
m

[karen donnybrook]

buZZ filter is a plug-in filter, if you go to http://www.skydancers.com/_fo2pix/buzzsimplifier_pc.html you can read all about it.

Karen :)

[Cmcburnett]

Karen, I went to the link you posted for the Buzz filter, very interesting. Do you have the filter and does it work in PSE? If it does I think I will download the 30 day trial to see how it works. Thanks for the link.:p

[karen donnybrook]

Charlotte,

Yes, I have the buZZ filter and I am running PSE4 and it works well. Someone else may be using PSE5 and will be able to tell you if it works or not.

Karen :)

[kevq]

Charlotte,
the URL for Xero is -

http://www.xero-graphics.co.uk/freeware.htm

this is were I got the filter that I used on you photo.

The filters are free, there's lot to download.
I use the buzz filter in PSE 5 and it works perfectly.
Kev.:) :) :)

[msbrad]

Thank you Kev and Karen for the directions to those filters.
That wil give me something to download today :) when I get home.
m

[Cmcburnett]

Thanks Kev. I will download when I get home tonight. I loved the effect you used on the picture you repaired for me. Maybe the buzz tool will cut down on time and frustration as I weave through Elements.

[kevq]

Charlotte,
maybe this will whet your appetite for the buzz filter.
It took maybe one and a half minutes to create this effect.
Kev:) :) :)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1twI28c0JrMppUXlamYjLEz5gaFX_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1twI28c0JrMppUXlamYjLEz5gaFX)

[Llist]

Kev

All I can say is WOW... I'm gonna have to check out that website tonight...

Laura

[Cmcburnett]

Kev, that is awesome. I will most definately download tonight. I love that look on pictures, that is one of the reasons I joined the forum was find out how to get that effect because I could not for the life of me figure it out. Great:p It will probably take me a bit longer than it did you though, I don't have the magic touch for revising photos.

[Caroleen]

I went into the xero-graphics website and didn't see that filter. Is the name of it the Buzz filter? I didn't see one that name. Thanks, great effect. Carol

[kevq]

Carol,
the buzz filter can be foud here,

http://www.skydancers.com/_fo2pix/buzz_tutes.html

It is not one of the xero filters.
Kev.

[hukari]

Kev, that is a wonderful picture! Do you think I could have a higher res copy of it? My daughter's best friend, my best friend's son, has just lost his dad and his all-time favorite animal is the leopard. I would love to use it in a creation to print and frame for Christmas.