PET Comments on Creative Homework week #40

[lisabee]

Please post your comments and questions here.

Here is the link to the thread for your images.
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=323336#post323336

[lisabee]

Tony,
are we missing anything in elements by not having 'rasterize the layer' as an option?

I looked up rasterize on elements help and still wasn't sure I understood it :confused:

thanks for your help :)

Lisa

[TonyW]

Lisa - Rasterize Layer is called Simplify Layer in Elements. It converts the pattern fill layer to a regular layer (so you can't then go back and adjust the pattern size). I haven't worked through this one yet so I don't know if it's necessary to do it but that's the way to do it if you want to follow the tutorial exactly.

Tony

[lisabee]

Lisa - Rasterize Layer is called Simplify Layer in Elements. It converts the pattern fill layer to a regular layer (so you can't then go back and adjust the pattern size). I haven't worked through this one yet so I don't know if it's necessary to do it but that's the way to do it if you want to follow the tutorial exactly.

Tony

Thanks Tony, I'll work through it again and simplify instead :)

Lisa

[smiles]

Oh I love this lesson, it will be one that I will continuously use in the future. I have many images I will convert to cross stitch patterns! Thanks so much!
Again Lisa thanks for devoting your time! I'm off to try another one!

[lisabee]

Oh I love this lesson, it will be one that I will continuously use in the future. I have many images I will convert to cross stitch patterns! Thanks so much!
Again Lisa thanks for devoting your time! I'm off to try another one!

Thanks Shari :),
your butterfly picture looks wonderful. Yes, I think it is a technique that really will suit a lot of images.
Thanks again to Reka for suggesting it :)

Lisa

[lisabee]

Jo,
I think the autumn theme with selective colouring is a great idea. The flowers look good too. :)
Yes, I think there is lots of room for experimenting with size of the pattern too,

Lisa

[lisabee]

Ok, I tried another one and this time rather than skip 'rasterize the layer', I simplified it (so it then became a regular layer in the palette rather than being a layer with a mask). Then I could follow the tut more accurately.

So ctrl click on the layer loaded the selection, I then made the colour fill adjustment layer to go underneath this top layer, did ctrl I to invert the mask, and yes this time I could see a difference. It's like the definition of the stitches against the canvas (if it were real). I found the white was too stark and the mid grey worked better.

However I also liked my results without doing that :).

But if I put the colour fill adjustment layer at the bottom of the palette, I couldn't see any difference.

anyhow, experiment and see what you think :)

Lisa

[jo]

So ctrl click on the layer loaded the selection, I then made the colour fill adjustment layer to go underneath this top layer, did ctrl I to invert the mask, and yes this time I could see a difference. It's like the definition of the stitches against the canvas (if it were real). I found the white was too stark and the mid grey worked better.
NOW I think I get it! Let me try that again! Some day I should learn to read the instructions carefully...

[jo]

Dane, your rose is gorgeous!

[lisabee]

Dane,
very effective on the rose. To post the thumbnail - under the image on pixentral you'll see two boxes, one HTML and one Forum. If you copy and paste the contents after Forum into your post, the thumbnail will show up. The HTML box just provides the link to the picture. But it worked, we still got to see your picture :)

Martha - very nice and the plaid frame sets it off lovely.

Carol - great result on the street scene too. I think the cross stitch adds to the 3d effect of your picture and then the drop shadow is a very nice touch too.

I don't think we are losing anything by not getting the finishes touches

Lisa :)

[lisabee]

Hi Kimmer,

nice to see you here :)
the cross stitch looks good on the flowers.
Re the frame - have you an idea of the style of frame you'd like to make? If you see or have seen one you would like to make, then I'm sure someone can help.
When cloning doesn't work, it usually means that you have the wrong layer active or possibly a mask active instead of a regular layer. Also it doesn't work if the blend mode has changed.
If you are making a frame, you would want to do that on separate layer(s) from your picture.


hth,
Lisa :)

[lisabee]

Tony,

Tony wrote:
"Not much like embroidery and I lost a bit of frame along the way but an interesting technique and I did have to rasterize/simplify so I could color fill the white spaces between the stiches - although I made them so small I'm not sure there's much difference. Might have to try a different starting picture."

that does look like embroidery but more like very fine needlepoint with fine single strand wool or a silk rather than cross stitch which generally is a 'bigger' stitch (she says ;)). That's the kind where if you don't need eye glasses at the start, you do by the time you get to the end.

Yes, I needed to simplify to fill the spaces between the stitches, though they didn't look 'wrong' if they weren't filled.

Lisa :)

[lisabee]

Martha - very effective against the black background.
some of these remind me of the sewing in junior school when we used to make lots of decorative tray cloths and dressing table mats etc :)

Marie, Challenge 246 looks great stitched!

Bamagirl - very striking daisy and I like your frame with words :)

Bayla - that looks great, especially in the wooden frame.

Lisa

[smiles]

Great job, Reka! Now that looks like a fun cross stitch pattern!

[swalkr]

I looked and read everyone's comments about the cross-stitch homework. They all look good, but to me, some of them look like you're looking through the screen of a door. Have to give everyone a big E for effort. Sounded like a more difficult homework task, but hey, that's how we learn. If it was too easy, what would be the point?

[hukari]

Suzanne, I didn't see an entry from you. Wouldn't you like to try, too?:) It is fun, and a learning experience for sure.

[Bayla]

They all look good, but to me, some of them look like you're looking through the screen of a door.


Suzanne,

Are you just looking at the thumbnails or clicking on them to view? This is one homework where you have to look at them full size to see the cross stitch detail. Otherwise I agree, it's like looking through a screen!

Bayla

[lisabee]

I looked and read everyone's comments about the cross-stitch homework. They all look good, but to me, some of them look like you're looking through the screen of a door. Have to give everyone a big E for effort. Sounded like a more difficult homework task, but hey, that's how we learn. If it was too easy, what would be the point?

Hi Suzanne,

why not have a go, it really isn't too difficult :)

I'll change the grade mark to A+++++ though as in England 'E' would be one of the lowest grades and technically a fail :eek:

Lisa

[lisabee]

Tony - the cottage has the essence of traditional tapestry pictures :)

Toni - your night scene looks great, please don't give up though :)

Reka - great result.

Becky - lovely result with the bison.

I found that setting the mosaic and the cross stitch both to 27 meant that the stitches 'fitted' in to the mosaic squares, so although my pic went very blurry with the mosaic filter, the blur disappeared when the pattern went on it. Maybe it was luck with the dimensions of the picture, I'm not sure.

Lisa

[swalkr]

Suzanne,

Are you just looking at the thumbnails or clicking on them to view? This is one homework where you have to look at them full size to see the cross stitch detail. Otherwise I agree, it's like looking through a screen!

Bayla

Yes, I did look at the full screen image on Pixentral. I will give this a go and see what my rendition looks like. I really wasn't trying to be critical, just an observation.

[swalkr]

I went through the tutorial as best I could. Never could get to the point where I could simplify. It was always grayed out, even though I tried it on all the layers. Some of the others posted look a lot better than mine, so maybe I missed something.

[swalkr]

Hi Suzanne,

why not have a go, it really isn't too difficult :)

I'll change the grade mark to A+++++ though as in England 'E' would be one of the lowest grades and technically a fail :eek:

Lisa

Whoops! Sorry! A++++++ for good effort. Wasn't aware of the English version of "E".

[lisabee]

I went through the tutorial as best I could. Never could get to the point where I could simplify. It was always grayed out, even though I tried it on all the layers. Some of the others posted look a lot better than mine, so maybe I missed something.

I think you can only simplify on the adjustment layer (not regular layers).
The pattern can look different with resizing (via the adjustment layer) or changing blend/opacity. hth


Lisa :)

[lisabee]

Bill

a car :D
actually I think the cross stitch adds to the retro effect, but has that car really got six beach balls for wheels? :D ;)

cool image

Lisa

[lisabee]

Jo,

a lovely picture of your grandson and the technique works really well :)

Lisa

[lisabee]

Hello Coco and welcome, :)

Good to have you join us.
Your picture is really cute, the cross stitch effect worked well.
Cool idea for the frame too.

Lisa

[qcocoq]

Thanks Lisa. It was a fun one since I didn't do the last steps. Now that I know rasterize means simplify I'll try to simplify and finish the rest. I want my sister, who is excellent at x stitch to see if she can use it as a pattern to make for my niece.

coco

[lisabee]

I want my sister, who is excellent at x stitch to see if she can use it as a pattern to make for my niece.

coco

That would be great! Do let us know if she is able to do that. :)

Lisa