I love these images, but what can I do with them?

[Aussie Nan]

I love the expression on Chelsea's face in these images so would like to 'save' them somehow. I have no idea what to do to salvage them though. The lighting and shadowing is just so bad. Any suggestions? ?????

Toni

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1AmuYQNXizMJOCS8csVmt1hoY2kX_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1AmuYQNXizMJOCS8csVmt1hoY2kX)

[kevq]

Toni,
you could try this -

Open your photo
Control J to duplicate.
With the top layer selected - Control + Shift + U to remove colour.
Control I to invert.
Go to Filters - Blur - Gaussian Blur and increase the amount of blur, in this case to about 24.
Set Blending Mode to Soft Light.
Open a Levels Adjustment Layer, adjust to your taste.
Hope this helps.
Have posted one I did very quickly.
Kev.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1JpaopOM42tF9flmYqXywpTQ73xk_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1JpaopOM42tF9flmYqXywpTQ73xk)

[Aussie Nan]

That looks heaps better already. Thanks Kev

[jhariton]

Kevq: this is probably so basic that it is embarrassing to ask, but how do you import images from these emails to work on them?? And, I guess,I have the same question about interesting pictures from the internet that aren't photos I've taken. How do I import them to PSE to edit them further, etc. Many thanks...

[TonyW]

Lots you can do. Kev goes for the soft look - I go for the sharp look :). Done by opening the JPEG in Camera Raw 4.2 (in PSE 4,5 or 6) and tweaking the sliders:

PS to bring in from the internet just right click on the picture and "save picture as" and give it a file name.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1i7VoPhwx927Gtes6Dqvkf1qC8BFq_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1i7VoPhwx927Gtes6Dqvkf1qC8BFq)

Tony

[Goofup]

Dark shadows? There's several ways to do this (levels, curves, etc.) but a simple fix is just to Enhance/Adjust Lighting/Shadow/Highlights and lighten shadows +60.

[kevq]

Jhariton,
to use photos like this just click on the photo, it will open in Pixenral. Right click on the image and Save As to a place of your choice. I usually save them to Desktop until I've decided where to store them. Same thing for photos from the net, just Rt Click and Save As. Make sure they are not copyright.
Kev.

[Aussie Nan]

Tony, can you instruct me in opening up an image in camera raw? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

Toni

[Cmcburnett]

Tony and Kev, I like both the edited versions. Thanks for posting the tutorials.

[Aussie Nan]

Thanks Tony and Kev. I'm still working on it, but so far this is my favourite. It may be the only one I keep in the end. Like I said, I'm still working on it, but without your help I would certainly have discarded it and not even tried to enhance it.

Toni

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ccHj3tLgZpi7G5cYJfqlnwO6hRtMY_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ccHj3tLgZpi7G5cYJfqlnwO6hRtMY)

[mom to 4]

Toni:

They are all adorable!!! Why don't you use all three and insert them into a matting??? either a real matting or one made in elements??? How cute would that be hanging on a wall??????

What a sweet face!!!!

[Aussie Nan]

Yes, she is a character Colleen. I also have her scowling, and boy oh boy, does she scowl well :)

I might end up matting them as you suggested. Quite frankly, I am sick of looking at them for now, and will try again in a couple of weeks or so.

Toni

[mom to 4]

Toni:

I understand that feeling completely!!! Just make sure you go back to them. So often I do that and then never go back and finished what I wanted to do!!!

[christellf]

Toni,
I love all three especially her expressions. I think matting them would be precious. Why don't you try doing Dane's new watercolor technique on all three & matte them, also. Sometimes techniques like these work great on photos that are not so perfect because you don't really need the detail. Give it a try & see how they come out.
Christell

[Aussie Nan]

Hey Christell, I had thought of that too, so will definitely carry through on the idea now. Toni